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For five years MWD Norman served as the president of the Roanoke Collegiate Institute, a denominational school located in Elizabeth City, NC.
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While serving as president of the Roanoke Collegiate Institute, he also served a circuit of four churches-Bethel in Perquimans county, Gale Street in Edenton, Welch’s Chapel in Chowan county and Olive Branch in Elizabeth City.
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In 1901 Rev. MWD Norman accepted the call to pastor the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Portsmouth, VA where he faithfully served as pastor for four years and during which time the church’s membership increased while the church’s indebtedness decreased.
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Upon arriving in Washington, D.C., in 1905, the man Rev. MWD Norman, his mission and Metropolitan Baptist Church met and a match was made.
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Rev. MWD Norman instituted the Scriptural method of raising finances (the duplex system) and was the catalyst for the development of new ministries such as the Baptist Training Union, the Boy Scouts, the Men’s Club, and the Women’s Club.
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In the year 1918, Rev. MWD Norman and the Metropolitan family completely paid off the debt on the sanctuary structure which began in 1888 and had surplus funds available for future church growth.
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During Rev. MWD Norman’s pastorship, steam heat and electric lights were installed in the church along with the addition of a pipe organ.
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On May 21, 1920, Rev. MWD Norman, in the name of the Metropolitan Baptist Church began depositing funds in the Industrial Bank of Washington, a practice that continues to this day.
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By the year 1922, the Metropolitan Baptist Church membership had grown to more than 5000 members.
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After the departing of this life of his first wife, Rev. Norman met and married the former Ethel Fitzhugh.
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In recognition of his many accomplishments, Rev. MWD Norman received the Doctor of Divinity degree (D.D.)from the Virginia Seminary and College, the LL.D. degree from the Guadaloupe College of Texas and the LL.D. degree from the Frelinghuysen University of Washington.
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On December 26, 1926, after an illness of several months, Rev. Dr. Moses Wilberforce DeWitt Norman the profound Christian orator and scholar from “The Old North State” departed this life, at his residence located at 1933 Thirteenth Street, N.W. at the age of 58.
Submitted by the Historical Book Committee
