The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1883-1893, 1888-06-01
FAMOUS NORTH CAROLINIANS
SOME EMINENT MEN NORTH CAR
OLINA HAS PRODUCED.

son as u -ululStCIs dS d MdHs anu oS Il
Citizen.
The hand of the reaper
Takes the ears that are hOary;
But the voice of the weaper
Walls manhood in glory
The itinerant system of the Methodist
church, while open to objections and often
imposing hardships upon its ministry, has
the effect of making its ministers well
known throughout the Conference in which
they serve, and of giving them knowl-
edge of the habits and opinions of the peo
pie in different localities. To thought
full preacher, who appreciates the advan
tage of frequent changes and makes use of
the opportunities afforded to increase his
store of information and broaden his
views, this system is often the best Of
schools. We once heard a prominent edu
Gator, who was not Methodist, say that
the itinerant system of the Methodist
church was the greatest and grandest edu-
cational system for ministers of which
he knew. That there is an educating
force in the system is evidenced by the
fact that, with few opportunities to obtain
an education, many Methodist preachers
have risen to eminence and to power.
among the great men the Methodist church
in North Carolina has produced visitor
TO the Conference six years ago would have
named as the three greatest, Rev. VIM.
Gloss, D. D., Rev. L. S. Burkhead, D. D.,
and Rev n H. d. Wilson, D. D. Neither
of these leaders Of Methodism was a col
lege graduate in the sense of what is now
a college graduate. They were largely,
after the primary and rudimental instruc-
tious. their own teachers, and they used
with great advantage to themselves the
opportunity of self culture which their
travelling afforded them Whatever of
good there was in the system, their vigor-
Gus minds grasped and held. Under 1t
they grew INTO broad men-leaders of
their brethren. The two first named were
gathered to their fathers before 1888. The
last. Rev. Nathan Hunt Daniel Wilson, the
subject of this sketch, remained as the
acknowledged leader of the Methodist
Conference On the 9th day of May, at
Franklinton n. c., ''he fell asleep and
was not for God took him" He died in
the faith and went up to his reward.
Nothing in his life
Became him like the leaving it; he died
AS one that had been studied in his DEATH
To throw away the dearest thing he ovid,
AS twere a careless trlte y
For several years he had been failing,
but his strong will and conservation to his
work gave him an unnatural strength and
he went to his appointments, weak in the
flesh but strong in the spirit of service.
He died in harness and went from labor
TO refreshment.
DR.. Wilson was of Quaker parentage,
but joined the Methodist church when he
was twenty two years old and soon there
after became an itinerant. He was edu-
Gated at New Garden College, and from
small boy was studious and thoughtful,
and laid good foundation upon which
he builded wisely and well. He ever had
some Of the Quaker characteristics firm
ness, prudence, caution and probity. They
were inwrought into the fibre of his soul.
Plain and avoiding Ostentatlon firm and
determined, but courteous and open to
reason; cautious and prudent, but unbend-
ing and unyielding in the advocacy OF
right and sincere in all his dealings, DR..
Wilson was Quaker and Christian of
the highest type, and his entire life was
an evidence of his deep piety.
AS Methodist preacher and as great
leader of Methodists, DR.. Wilson was
known to all North Carolinians. He was
the acknowledged leader of the N. G. Con-
of &l linz 1tS
Of the General Conference of his church.
He held many positions of honor and use
fulness in his church, and at the last
General Conference, lacked only few
votes of being elected Bishop. But his
prominence and service in his church are
too well known to need emphasis. 1t is
enough to say that now he has been called
to the church triumphant; Methodists in
North Carolina are bereft of the biggest,
broadcast, and ablest minister in their
church. He worthily wore the mantle OF
leadership. and the question is asked:
Who can take his place."
But it is as a man that the CHRONICLE
would speak Of Dr. Wilson. He was a
born leader Of men. He had the rare
power Of controlling the opinions of others.
Be this his highest eulogy: He never used
this great power for his own advancement
raggrandizement He used it cautiously
Conscious of the power he welded, he was
humbled by the responsibility it involved.
DR.. Wilson had this power because of two
things: 1st He was strong reasoner,
lawyer skilled in the use of incontrover-
table logic: End. He had poise.
If he had chosen the law as his life pro-
fession, Dr. Wilson would have been a
Judge. He had legal and judicial
cast of mind. He easily mastered the nice
points and intricacies that only legal
brain can master. He was logician, and
his reasoning was as chain linked into
chain. He saw the strength of his ad-
yersary's positions and the weakness OF his
own. He entered into a contest with no
self deception. He knew how to defend
his own cause with an ability and con-
!. summate skill that nearly always gained
II him the victory. We heard him make an
hot