The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-12-05
DIR. NoRMAN's LAST SERVICE.
Closes His Third Four Years Term
Large Congregations.

where.
And ut night the crowd was something
immense largest audience that
probably ever assembled there-and
many had to so away without being
able 20 get in
These people went to hear Rev. w. O..
Norman. ID. d.. preach the closing SER
mon of his third four-years pastorate
here. 1t was Il noble tribute to an able
and popular pastor.
lie spoke from the text and we
know that all things work together for
good TO them that love God. Romans
8, %.
"There is" he said, ga heresy that we
often hear, that all things happen for the
best There is no such assertion in the
Word Of God. 1t is a heresy somewhat
akin to that which says. Whatever is is
right. We know this is not true. It bears
falsehood on its face. We know there are
a great many things that are not right
So also we know that all things do
not work together for the good of GER
tain people.
THE very blessings of God are often
turned to curses. 70 such all things
do not happen for good. They will not
permit it. But there are those for
whom all things are for their good and
the text tells who they are: Those that
love the Lord-those that try to serve
and honor Him, those who are His chill
dren.
Il know of no sweeter text in all the
Bible then this, and know of no more
appropriate text for this mornings dis
course.
Now the text does not mean that
Gods children shall have everything to
their own notion. Not at all. 1t does
not mean that you shall not have dis
appointments, or that you shall not
make mistakes. I've never seen n man
so good yet that he did not make blum
ders. Nor does it insure us against
loss. You'd as well set something down
to the loss account. Nor does 1t say
that there shall not be calumnies. Some
of the best men I've ever seen have been
the most misunderstood and maligned.
Nor indeed does it mean that there shall
not come sickness and pain and death.
These things are no sign that God
does not love us and is watching over
us.
but they do promise us that whatever
comes shall be for the best-that we
may know that all things are working
together for our good. Is there loss, it
is best Is there sickness, il is neces-
sary is the plan of the great God who
foresees all things. How often has
something you considered a misfortune
turned out 10 be a blessingi Out of our
very weakness He evolves strength and
from our failure He brings some of our
greatest successes. After awhile as you
stand on some vantage ground yonder
you will look back and see this. The
Lord very often prepares US for tri-
umph by leading us through the valley
of defeat He sometimes uses trouble
to take the conceit out of us. Some
times it is loss and sickness to bring out
the gems of humanity.
''Many a time there is a scourge in a
community that has brought together
hearts and cultivated the brotherhood of
man. Thus it is that every evil that
comes to Gods children, passing through
the divine alchemy Our supports are
knocked out from under US, not that we
may fall, but that His rod and his staff
NAV comfort us. Depriyations and
prosperity, light and darkness, sickness.
and health, joy and sorrow, victory and
defeat-He takes all these and through
them works out our salvation-and it
doth not yet appear what we shall be.
He can gather up all the discords and
turn them into sweetest music.
1.-THE question is the love of God.
Have you the evidence my friend that
there is the love of God in your heart?
''As / shall soon go out from this
church and this city my recollection shall
dwell with tenderest memory on my
ministry here. | remember very we'll my
first service here. How well do | recol-
lect the building Of this temple. How
the sound of hammer and trowel was
music to our ears. How the building
rose and finally the JOY when the cap
stone was put on. Somehow / felt that
I'd like to come back to preach in IT,
and thank God the time has come. My
STAY here has been pleasant. | have
reioiced in the work | have seen you
doing. 1t is matter of regret that my
own efforts have been 50 feeble, but
still God has blessed it and there has
been harvest, and now as ! so away
/ say to you: There will come trouble
and disappointment to You. both as a
church and as individuals, but | bid you
persevere For in the end all things
will come out right for them that love
the Lord"
At the night service the congregation
was even larger, every seat being occu-
nied. many members of other denomina-
lions and who belong to no church be-
ing present DIR. Norman preached
strong and earnest sermon on Perfect
Conservation After the sermon III
few words he reviewed his pastorate
I'M this city, and said as he should leave
Raleigh on Wednesday he would feel
that he was leaving home. He spoke
feelingly Of his gratitude to the con-
gregation and community and said that
he would always retain love for the
people who had helped him and shoWn
him so many kindnesses. He said he
had tried to do two things during his
pastorate: /. Call sinners to repentance;
and 2. Feed the flock.
The few words of farewell which
were spoken from the heart and with
self repression, touched every heart,
and there were few dry eyes in the
congregation when the last word had
been said. 1t is not saying too much
it is short of truth-to say that in its
history no church in this city has had
a pastor to whom it was more devoted