Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Massie, James William

by Gordon Goodwin

MASSIE, JAMES WILLIAM (1799–1869), independent minister, born in Ireland in 1799, was educated by Dr. David Bogue [q. v.], and began his ministry as a missionary in India. After labouring there from 1822 until 1839, he returned home, and was pastor in Perth, Dublin, and Salford, but subsequently removed to London, where he became secretary to the Home Missionary Society. He was an advocate of free trade, the anti-slavery movement, and an ardent member of the union and emancipation societies that were formed during the civil war in America. Massie visited America several times, on the last occasion as one of the deputation appointed to convey to ministers there the address adopted at the ministerial anti-slavery conference held in the Free Trade Hall, Manchester, on 3 June 1863. He was also frequently in Ireland in connection with 'revival work.'

Massie died in Kingstown, near Dublin, on 8 May 1869. He was married, and left a son, Milton, and two daughters. He was D.D., LL.D., and a member of the Royal Irish Academy. His portrait by Wageman was engraved by Holl (Evans, Cat. of Engraved Portraits, ii. 274).

Besides numerous pamphlets and sermons Massie published:

1. 'Continental India,' 2 vols. 8vo, London, 1840.
2. 'Recollections of a Tour: a Summer Ramble in Belgium, Germany, and Switzerland,' 8vo, London, 1846.
3. 'The Evangelical Alliance; its Origin and Development,' 8vo, London, 1847.
4. 'The American Crisis, in relation to the Anti-Slavery Cause,' 8vo, London, 1862.
5. 'America: the Origin of her present Conflict; her Prospect for the Slave, and her Claim for Anti - Slavery Sympathy; illustrated by Incidents of Travel … in … 1863 throughout the United States,' 8vo, London, 1864.

[Massie's Works; Cooper's Regist. and Mag. of Biog. 1869, i. 472, ii. 54; Appleton's Cyclop, of Amer. Biog.]

G. G.