The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-12-12
His Sudden Death on
Last Sunday
MOrnipu EakxzE
A'S CS5zza17
The Attending Physician Certfn~,
That His Death Was Owing 10
Rheumatism of the Heart-Remain.
Notwithstanding of the La
mented Dead.

Sunday was a bright. but sad day for
Wilmington when our people read their
Messenger TO see the shocking an
nouncement OF the sudden death OF ,he
Rev. w. c. Norman. d. D.. at 1850
o'clock Sunday morning at the resi-
dence Of Mr.. T. c. Craft. 2fS y. Seventh
street, whose guest he was during the
conference. He died in the mids of
those who loved him, and his death
produced a profound sense Of sorrow
throughout our city. The most touch
ing sentiments Of sympathy were ex-
pressed for Mrs. Norman in the awful
bereavement which fell to her lot in the
death of her devoted husband.
The remains were sent to Lexington
on the $50 train Sunday morning and
We're accompanied to the depot by a
number OF loving friends. Beautiful
floral tributes were lovingly laid upon
the casket. The following acted as paal-
bearers: Messrs. H. NJ. Foard. w. r
Perdew, James F. Post, F. c. Craft. IL.
- N'A y" -" WI dIIu u \. STdII.
Those who accompanied the remains TO
Lexington We're the Rev. F. NJ. Sham
burger. of Rockingham. Mr.. j. II
Southgate, Of Durham, n Mr.. Joseph
@. Brown, of Raleigh.
En- route to Lexington the remains
were stopped in Durham, where Dr..
Norman was pastor of Trinity NJ. +.
church. South, that the people there
may d a tribute to the dead, and
make arrangements for his burial.
AS will be read in The Messengers
conference report this morning it viii
be seen that at the meeting of the Con-
ference Memorial Society on Sunday af-
ternoon, appropriate action was taken
touching DR.. Norman's death. The
conference felt a deep sense Of grief
over his death and passed resolutions
that were ordered to be spread upon the
minutes. Tributes were tenderly spok-
en- by the Rev. John N. Cole, pastor Of
Grace NJ. E. church, South, and other
members of the conference. and the
following poem by the Rev. w. n.
Moore, presiding elder of the Durham
District-Dr. Norman's presiding elder
was read:
Alas! and thou art ONE
Gone like a brilliant star,
Faded in the light Of morn.
Or ships across the bar.
We strain our eyes to see
The ship upo the main:
| But all our efforts be
A task imposed in vain.
AS vain the search for star,
In world that has no night;
Lost not in in distance far,
But hid in greater light.
Thy task was done-well done,
Though blank the page in part:
And now thou art a son,
Ciasped to the Fathers heart
Gone to thy Masters joy,
Now rest thee in His love.
A soul without alloy,
And kin to those above.
The conference sent a telegram Of
coincidence TO Mrs. Norman.
At the closing session of conference
yesterday the Rev. Mr.. Cole again
spoke words of sorrow at the death OF
Mr.. Norman, and said hat as all were
interested in the cause of his death, he
would read a certificate from DR.. d. W,
Bullock, an eminent physician Of this
city. He read the doctors certificate
which ascribed the death OF DIR. Nor
man to angina pectOris, or rheumatism
Of the heart.
The Rev. William Capers Norman
was the son Of the Gate Rev. Alfred
Norman, a native Of Washington, ". G.
and afterwards a resident OF Caswel
county, where the subject of this
sketch was born. His father was z
late honored emb of the North Car
Dina conference. DR.. Norman was aged
% years, and leaves Z devoted wife. but
no children. He was reared in a Meth
odist parsonage and from a child wa
taught in the Holy Scriptures. Very
early in life he gave personal allegiance
to Christ and gave promise of h
larger life of d~evotedHess to the MasteI
that has marked his maturer years. ]
is said Of him hat when quite a you'll
he would assemble his p~layrnates. builC
a rude pulpit and play the role o
preaCher-taking a tex and pTcGchin.
a sermon after the manner of a regulaI
church service. In his young manhoO
ne entered Trinity College and gradu
ated from that institution after a mos
honorable student career. IN 1872 n
joined the North Carolina conference d
its session IN Fayetteville. and in hi
lowing charges: Wentworth circuit
1s73-'74; Person Street Station. Raleigh
lS75-'78: Louisburg Station, 1S19-'S3
Edenton Street Station, Raleigh, 1854
81: Centenary Station. Winston. 1855
81: Grace Station. Wilmington, 1892
70; Edenton street station, Ra4eleIi
| 1868; Trinity Station, Durham. 1860
1902.
II was said in the remarks mad,
ABOUT him at the memorial meeting o.
? Sunday that he was probably the mos
widely beloved member Of the N1rtl
3 Carolina conference. The Rev. Mr.. Col
: who knew him well. said: NO MAJ
among Us has wrought more success
| fully in building the foundations an
. rearing the walls Of our Methodism a
l strategic points than William Caper
Norman. His appointment to a charg
l meant enlargement. strength, prosperit
to that church. His equipment was
seasoned and well balanced mind a bod,
strong and ready TO labor, a heart fuI
of the owe Of Christ and OF the love q
his fellow man."
MIR. Norman was a genial, whole
souled gentleman, and ranked high a