The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-12-09

have rejoiced to welcome him back. His
qualities were those that wear well. He
made favorable impression on first ac-
quaintance, but he grew in the esteem
and affections of the people upon longer
acquaintance. That is the best test-in-
deed, the only sure test.
Mr. Norman was preacher-a pastor
"a shepherd. He never turned aside to
serve tables. This one thing l do was
College and chairman of the Joint Board
of Finance of the North Carolina Con-
ference. In both capacities he showed
wisdom of high order, but it was as
shepherd that he regarded himself. Moth
ing ever came between him and his
flock He knew them all, from the
youngest to the oldest, he entered into
their hopes and aspirations, he SYM
pathized with them in their disappoint-
ments and sorrows. he went after them
if they strayed from the fold. He never
used words of abuse in or out of the
pulpit. He won men by the power Of
love. in his excellent and discriminating
tribute to Mr.. Norman today, Rev. DR..
Frank H. Wood said: You cannot win
men to Christ by scolding them or
abusing them. Mr.. Norman learned the
secret of winning the souls of men-it
was by love-" Never but once in thirty
years did Mr.. Norman stand up to speak
except to preach a sermon, and that was
to deliver a commencement address at
the Greensboro Female College, his
church female college. He even hesitated
about doing that, not because it was not
an opportunity for doing good, but be-
cause he felt that the call to preach the
gospel set him apart from other public
speaking. He did not speak of this feel
ing to many He would not seem to
criticize (and he did not feel that way)
his brethren who were prominent upon
the platform in other good causes, but
he felt that for him the only place to de-
liver his message was the sacred desk.
In pursuance of his feeling that
the call to preach meant that he should
be pastor, Mr.. Norman declined the
presidency of Greensboro Female Col
legc, and other like offers to other i'm
portant church work In substance, he
said to friends: ut is not for me to turn
aside. l know what l can do, what l
am fitted to do, and | Will not accept
any work, however important, that will
take me out of the pastorate."
In the pulpit he did not dazzle by his
who came to hear the Word. He was not
a snowy preacher. he had no brag SER
mons. He was uniformly strong, earnest,
instructive and eloquent with the elo-
quence of the earnest cxpounding of the
Word. He was a wise and practical
preacher, was we'll grounded in theology,
and never preached a poor sermon.
Mr.. Norman was an all-round man. He
had no angles, no sharp places, gave no
offence to any. He neglected no part of
the work as a pastor. He did not send
oft after slang Singing cvangclists to
conduct revivals. but every year con-
Quoted a revival himself in his church.
He was the leader in the Sunday school.
He visited with systematic regularity
the members of his flock, and ministered
to them in trouble and in affliction. He
was a splendid business man and finan-
cier In the entire thirty years of his
pastorate he never reported deficit at
Conference. He worked himself and had
the genius of getting other men to work,
He had TIE business sense that would
have made him an ideal bank president.
He had no love of money, no desire to
make money, no wish for large salaries
Upon his return the second time as pas
tor at Raleigh, he requested that the
salary paid his predecessor be reduced.
Last week, at the close of the year at
Durham, there was over $500 surplus
in the church Golfers. The officers wished
to increase his salary 500. He declined
to accept it. He was economical. pru-
dent, careful, and saved some money
every year, which he wisely invested.
He had not an extravagant habit. he
practiced economy without seeming to do
so. He was generous and liberal, never
letting his benefactions be known
Mr. Norman's picty was unostenta-
tious. He lived his religion. He never
advised others to do what he had not
tested. When he preached. his life was
more eloquent than his sermon. When
he talked to men at their homes or places
Of business upon the subject of religion
it was his own transformations piety that
made more impression than his tactful
and discreet ard earnest appeals lie