Obituary of Rev Duncan B. Black -- 1893

North Carolina Presbyterian, Wilmington NC Thursday August 24, 1893

                     REV. DUNCAN B. BLACK

     It is with feelings of tender sorrow that we record the death of this 
venerable servant of GOD.  For nearly fifty years he has preached and lived 
the gospel of the SON of GOD in the group of churches that he was still 
serving when the fatal illness came on him that on Sunday last ended his 
earthly career.  In all this time he has shed round about upon three and four 
generations of parishioners an influence so gentle, so sunny, so loving, that 
there is scarcely any one in all that country side who can remember the time 
when they did not revere and love "FATHER BLACK."
     Mr. BLACK graduated at Union Seminary in 1843 in the same class as Dr. 
MOSES D. HOGE.  Each was licensed in that same year and each received 
ordination in 1845, and both have spent their whole ministry - the one in the 
city and the other in the country - in the same field in which they were 
ordained.  Dr. Hoge is now probably the only member of the class living except 
"Father WILSON," of Montgomery Presbytery.  Rev. COLIN SHAW who, slightly the 
junior of Bro. BLACK in years, was two years his senior in the ministry is 
probably the only minister living who was a member of the Presbytery when Bro. 
BLACK was licensed.
     Mr. BLACK was twice married: first to Miss ANN HOLMES who died in 1851, 
and then to Miss BETSY ARMSTRONG who entered into rest a little over a year 
before him.  By his first marriage he had two children and nine by his second; 
among the former was Rev. J. STEADMAN BLACK, of Fayetteville Presbytery.  The 
character of our departed friend was one of great simplicity.  One glance of 
his honest eyes - one smile from his genial countenance was enough.  You knew 
the man and the Christian at once.  Indomitable energy, sustaining the 
infirmities of increasing years, so that almost to the he continued his 
abundant labors among five churches; unfaltering fidelity in the discharge of 
every duty, however difficult and at whatever personal cost; a singular 
youthfulness of spirit by which he preserved his interest in old and young 
alike, and which made him ready to enter into all truly progressive movements 
in the Church; a childlike modesty that made him ready to undertake any work 
for the MASTER however humble, but that kept him from ever obtruding himself 
or "seeking his own;" above all a heart full of love to CHRIST and love to 
mankind; these were the qualities that characterized his life, and these were 
the elements that shown out in his preaching.  The preaching was just the man 
letting his light shine in words as at other times in acts.  As we have heard 
him in recent years it was characterized by a mellowness of style and ripeness 
of experience that gave it great persuasiveness.
     His funeral was attended by a large concourse from all the churches to 
which he ministered as well as others in the vicinity that he had served at 
times.  The services were conducted by Rev. COLIN SHAW and Rev. A. D. McCLURE

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The Weekly Star, Wilmington NC Friday August 25, 1893

Death of Rev. D. B. Black.
Rev. D. B. Black, senior member of Wilmington Presbytery, died at his home 
near Burgaw, last Sunday, in his 83rd year, and was buried yesterday at noon 
at Pike Church, Pender County.  The funeral services were conducted by Rev. 
Colin Shaw, of Magnolia, a life-long friend of the deceased, and Rev. A. D. 
McClure, of Wilmington.  An immense congregation, representing the eight 
churches he served - Rockfish, Hopewell, Burgaw, Keith, Pike, Players' Chapel, 
Duplin Roads and Mount Williams - were present.  Mr. Black had been in the 
ministry of the Presbyterian church since 1843.  He was a native of Moore 
county.

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Fayetteville Observer, Fayetteville NC Thursday August 31, 1893

Death of Rev Duncan B. Black.
     We are pained to record the death of the Rev. Duncan B. Black, of the 
Presbyterian Church, which occurred last week at his home at Burgaw, Pender 
County.  The deceased divine, who was the father of our esteemed county-man, 
Mr. Isham D. Black, of 71st, and who has a wide circle of friends and 
relatives in the Cape Fear section, was a pupil of Rev. Simeon Colton at the 
old Donaldson Academy.
     The Presbyterian of last Thursday, in the course of an extended notice, 
thus speaks of Mr. Black:
     It is with feelings of tender sorrow that we record the death of this 
venerable servant of God.  For nearly fifty years he has preached and lived 
the gospel of the SON of GOD in the group of churches that he was still 
serving when the fatal illness came on him that on Sunday last ended his 
earthly career.  In all this time he has shed round about upon three and four 
generations of parishioners an influence so gentle, so sunny, so loving, that 
there is scarcely any one in all that country side who can remember the time 
when they did not revere and love "Father Black."
     Mr. Black graduated at Union Seminary in 1843 in the same class as Dr. 
Moses D. Hoge.  Each was licensed in that same year and each received 
ordination in 1845, and both have spent their whole ministry - the one in the 
city and the other in the country - in the same field in which they were 
ordained.  Dr. Hoge is now probably the only member of the class living except 
"Father Wilson," of Montgomery Presbytery.  Rev. Colin Shaw who, slightly the 
junior of Bro. Black in years, was two years his senior in the ministry is 
probably the only minister living who was a member of the Presbytery when Bro. 
Black was licensed.





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