Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1876-08-26
From lie baltimore Episcopal Methodist

From dc Baltimore Episcopal Methodist.
The allusion in tie last two numbers Of orr
paper to the extreme illness Of this venerable
minister of God, have somewhat prepared the
Church for the announcement Of his DEATH
The intelligence will be received with profound
regret not only throughout the bounds Of our
own Conference, hut OF tie entire connection.
For half o century aud mole Bro. Wilson occu-
pied prominent position in the Methodist
ministry. lie belonged to that old type Of
Methodist preachers whose pulpit efforts were
at times attended with extraordinary JUNCTION
and power. UEtiring in labor, the fruits Of
| lis earnest zeal and able ministry have been
proporiiouaLly abundant.
lie contemplated the approach Of death with
the calm compoSure Of assured faith, resting
with holy ard triumphant trust upon the
merits Of that Redeemer whose Gospel he had
preached so long. For several days preceding
/ ! is death lis mind was wandering: but mid
/ It's vaudcriueS he seemed 10 be living over the
| DAYS Of lis holy toll in the vineyard Of his
| Master. As though still amid the assemblies
that bad waited upo his ministry, he would
iutcrsperse Scriptural exposition, cXhoTtation
| and prayer, showing how the habit Of his life
| had ingraiued itself into his very being. II Is
said Of Napoleon that amid tbs delirpus "a
| wings az st. Helena he imagined himself still
/ among the scenes of former conflict, and rs
! though at the head # the army, and engaged
| in some terrible onset. he would Issue his Off
cial orders with an impatient energy and ar
/ dor. So this veteran soldier Of the Cross, who
/ had fought many hard contested battle under
! the Captain Of his Salvation, fought those bat
D Al L.. Z IL Il.
| still dwelt amid the halowcd reculectious of
his faithful ministry f"they who turn ma
ny 10 righteousness, shall shine rs the bright
/ ness Of the armament forever how glorious
| the reward upon which this devoted servant Of
! God has already entered He rests from his
| labors. but his works in their abiding fruits
shall long follow him upon the earth, as they
shall also add untold luslre to the crown Of his
rejoicing in the Eternal World.
We append the Lowing memorial tribute
adopted by a number Of the preachers and
mem bers of the chuffh in attendance at Wes-
ley Grove Camp-meeting. 1t gives as full an
outline of the propinent facts in his minste-
rial career as could be hastily CLEANED together
Alta meeting OF I number Of the Ministerial
members Of the Baltimore Conference OF the Meth
/ odist Episcopal Church South, and Of others, as
/ sombed at Wesley Grove Camp-mcciing, August
! u, 1916, the following preamble and resolutions
were Unanimously adopted:
! WHEREAS. II has pleased Almighty God g. re
move from the ranks Of our ministry and the com
/ uuuion Of the Church militant our beloved and
/ venerable brother, Rev. Norval Wilson, whose
name and labOrs have been identified for more
! than half century with the history Of Mcthndism
| in Marylend. Virginia West Virginia, and the
| District Of Columbia. we deem il but proper to
give some suitable expression 10 \ sense Of the loss
/ which we. i'm common With the Church at large
/ have sustained By his removal. therefore
Hssolr,d That in the death OF this faithful ser
want of God, and devoted minister Of the Gospel
of Christ. We deeply and sadly realize that " a
| prince and great man has fallen in Israel. -
/ Commencing his ministry at the early age Of
eighteen, be continued itthrough period Of iity
six years f5rty-ninc Of which were spent IN the c
/ fcctivc WORK. lie was n clear, practical and for
/ chile CNpuuuGer Of the Word OF God an able min
| istcr of the New Testament "a man full Of faith
aud the Holy Ghost. and through him much pco-
| pie were added to the Lord III united vi h the
/ Baltimore Conference at its session In Baltimore,
commencing March lG. 1921, and filled many Of
the oStimpoiiant appointments Within It's Oouads
W to March. 1851 lie then with his character
istic sincerity and independence became the &C
krowlccged leader OF large majority ofthat body,
who, at that time, in accordance with their previ
ouslv GvCwcd principles. dissolved their conncc-
ton with the General Con Ctence ~ the N. /.
/ NuulCI. IN iNbI ne pFCslttC over lIc InE cifice
that meta ErdEcwater, Virginia aud also over
that which met in Alexandra in 1866, AID Which
fully identified itscfwilh the NJ r.. Church, South.
10 this connection he rendered efciout SCI vice I'M
ul 1866, when his advanced age and cnccbled
health compelled his retiracy from The effective
ranSs. He eii asleep in Christ az the residence
C. his friend. Jane, VI. Brown, near Crarestown,
West Virginia on Wednesday, the 9Th instant,
uiumphantly sustained by that truth he had 30
. long proclaimed 90 others.
Ee,0'rcd. fuIthcr-1hat in the recollection OF
the Christian virtue, which adorned the character
OF oar deceased brother. and his LIE OF consecra-
ted and useful labor. the church has a precious
treasure which We shall, cherish as some atonemcut
Tor our loss and an incentive to like fidelity and
devotion Uron our part
H,,oircd, That We hereby express cur sincere
sympathy with the surviving members ~ bis bouse-
hold 10 their sore bereavement, but with them an
tjciIate a JOYOUS meeting with our departed bro
Their in nat land OF holy rest aad rapture upon
which ne mas doubtless already entered.
Re'o r,d, Z hat copy Of these resolutions be
published in the EPISCOPAL MEruonISr. and The
other Church papers and be also furnished the
family OF our deceased brother.
-" We defer until next week an article
from tie Richmond Christian AirocIte-ED
FP.