Born in Carisbrook, J.L. Hurse was educated at state school to the age of 14. He later attended Queen's College, Maryborough. In 1903 he obtained a matriculation bursary to study from the Presbyterian Church of Victoria. He attended Scotch College in Melbourne. He spent two years at Melbourne University but did not graduate. In 1908 he became assistant to Rev. David Millar of Coleraine. He was appointed to Queenstown, Tasmania, where he worked for 3 years. In 1927 he was at St.Andrew's Kirk, Launceston. He was appointed Moderator of the Presbyterian Assembly of Tasmania in 1934.;;He died in 1966;;