Murray Hall -- now the east wing of Murray-Dodge Hall -- was the product of the tremendous upsurge in evangelical activity on the campus during the 1870s. it was constructed as the headquarters for the Philadelphian Society, the student religious organization that was at the height of its influence during the McCosh era, and was conceived as a place for members of the Society to meet and pray.

Funds for the structure were donated through the estate of Hamilton Murray, Class of 1872, who had died at sea the year following his graduation. As a measure of McCosh's favor for this project, Murray Hall was rewarded with a prime location on the east side of the campus, parallel with Whig and Clio. Construction began in 1878, and the building was completed the following year.

(This location became even more prominent a few years later with the construction of Marquand Chapel. Students attending mandatory chapel services at Marquand passed by Murray, making it one of the most heavily trafficked spots on campus.)