Lawrence Foushee London

“ After the enthusiasm had somewhat subsided and the question was about to be put, Bishop Cheshire asked permission to say a few words. He stated that he deplored excessive drinking and its evil consequences, suffered {85} as much if not more by the innocent as well as the drinker. He sympathized with the purpose of the resolution to achieve more widespread temperance, but, he reminded them, good intentions unless intelligently directed often did more harm than good. Under the American system each state or community had the authority to outlaw liquor, as had already been done in North Carolina. ”

“ While not meaning to belittle the value of sermons, Bishop Cheshire sincerely felt that the prayers, responses, chants, and hymns of the church's service, climaxed by the supreme act of Christian worship, the celebration of the Holy Communion, held a greater significance for mankind and better satisfied spiritual needs. ”

“ He thought that if the bishop would make himself acquainted with the affairs of each congregation during his visitation, it would strengthen the influence of the episcopate, and would go far towards the "breaking up of our present congregational parochialism." One of Bishop Cheshire's customs which endeared him to his people was that of calling upon the members of a congregation during his visitation. Of this practice he once remarked: "People like the attention and it makes Bishop and people feel nearer together, but in most cases they do not want very long visits." ”

“ Above everything, said Cheshire, "We want a plain man—one who can come down to the plain people of our country." He did not suggest anyone above the age of fifty, since he thought it was better to choose a clergyman "rather under than above his prime." ”

“ He decided to bring out a special edition of the Country Parson in order to make it available to all of the clergy. The work appeared in 1908 and was dedicated to his father, whose sixty years in the ministry splendidly illustrated Herbert's ideal of a country parson. In his introduction to the book Bishop Cheshire commented: "It is not too much to say of it that for beauty and truth to nature, for its combination of the ideal and the practical, for its presentation of an almost heavenly perfection in terms of human experience, it has not its equal in the religious literature of our language." ”

“ A large body of the Negro clergy and many white churchmen throughout the South felt that the welfare of the church demanded some sort of separate organization for the colored work.
When he met his diocesan convention in the spring of 1907, Bishop Cheshire announced his position on this question. Since the colored people seemed to desire an organization of their own, he believed the time had come for the church to take some definite action. He asked the convention to make known its views on the question of separation, since it would come up for discussion in the General Convention that fall. ”

“ After completing thirty-five years as bishop of the Diocese of North Carolina, a longer period than any of his predecessors, Bishop Cheshire felt that he must give up the greater part of his work. He therefore informed the convention of 1929 that he was turning over to Bishop Penick the general administration of the entire Diocese. He thought that the ever-increasing and more complicated work of the church required a younger and more vigorous man, one, as he expressed it, "more adaptable and more in sympathy with changing conditions and methods." ”

“ In a charge to his clergy on the subject of Public Worship, Bishop Cheshire pointed out that the church was {72} established and is sustained by Christ for two purposes: "first, to be the depository and source of spiritual Truth and Power; and second, to bring men into living contact with that spiritual Truth and Power." The Prayer Book is a means by which the church can diffuse and extend the truth, and it is also a means of developing and conserving the influence of the church. ”

“ Cheshire came to know a number of people in the neighborhood of the school who helped to make his life at St. Clement's more interesting and pleasant. He spent a good many week-ends in Baltimore with some of his Trinity friends. When his oldest and best friend, Richard Lewis, came to Baltimore to study medicine in the fall of 1870, his visits became more frequent. On the whole, his life at St. Clement's was happy, and the experience he gained, worth while. He never, however, became fond of teaching, but he enjoyed his students and took a warm personal interest in them. ”

“ I have not one misgiving. Neither love for Dr. Cheshire nor prejudice against any man can warp my judgment in this matter. I say now (as I said when I nominated him) that we have made no mistake." [29] This warm praise from a man of Dr. Murdoch's high character and ability must have been very encouraging to Cheshire.
An amusing and interesting tribute to Cheshire's election as assistant bishop were some verses by Rev. John E. C. Smedes. Dr. Smedes, a former clergyman of the Diocese, had been one of Cheshire's examiners for deacon's orders and had presented him for ordination as priest. ”

“ Development and Conclusion of the Bishop's Work In the first decade of his episcopate Bishop Cheshire laid the foundation for almost all of his future work. The remainder of his life was devoted to expansion and improvement. This program demanded all of his thought and energy and, as it progressed, became almost more than one man could administer. The Bishop never complained of being overworked, but when he realized he was no longer physically able to meet the demands of his office, he did not hesitate to ask for assistance. ”

“ Man and Bishop In addition to his accomplishments as a clergyman, prelate, and scholar, Bishop Cheshire attained considerable skill and reputation as a sportsman. Fishing and hunting were the sports he liked best and the only ones he indulged in. He once remarked that he had been fond of fishing from his boyhood, but he thought his liking for it increased with age. His prowess as a fisherman was well known to his churchmen from the coast to the mountains of North Carolina. ”

“ Those who are interested in the welfare of the Negro must work for the elevation of his ideals of living, of working, and of self-restraint. The Bishop emphasized the importance of developing a spirit of self-reliance and self-help among the colored clergy and laity, believing this to be the best means by which they could strengthen their economic and social position. ”

“ Cheshire often remarked that during his ministry he never accepted a call to any parish, explaining that the Bishop had directed him to go to Chapel Hill and later to the parish in Charlotte. This was not said in a spirit of criticism of his Bishop but merely as a statement of fact, for he also declared that he "preferred" to have his work given him. Throughout his long life of service he always had the feeling of doing a work assigned to him. ”

“ With his presidential address to the State Literary and Historical Association, Bishop Cheshire concluded his work as an historian. It was a fitting close to this phase of his life. Although history had been to him a pleasant {98} avocation, no professional historian ever took his work more seriously or had a higher ideal of historical accuracy. In the words of Dr. A. R. Newsome, of the University of North Carolina, "Native ability, industry and self-discipline enabled him to achieve a degree of historical scholarship seldom encountered among laymen." ”

“ In a communication to the Church Messenger {24} Cheshire requested the rectors of the larger parishes of the Diocese to contribute one Sunday's offering to the completion of the Durham church. On the general subject of soliciting aid for religious purposes, he declared: "Indiscriminate begging from anybody and everybody to the neglect of every consideration, except the chance of getting a dollar, is not becoming to the cause of religion, and is a positive discouragement to Christian liberality." ”

“ Referring to the religion of the Negro, Bishop Cheshire observed that he found it very little different from that of the white man. He spoke of the Negro's gift of religious emotion, which might be dangerous, "yet it is a gift; and it is needed to give power and life to faith." The Bishop declared that the church set up a standard for the Negro to live by, it acknowledged him as a brother, and it gave him a definite place in its organization. ”

“ Writing to him concerning his refusal, Bishop Lyman stated that he was pleased to learn that Cheshire was to remain in Charlotte, and that he recognized "how great a calamity it would have been to the interest of the Church, in your own, and in the adjacent counties, had you decided to resign your present position. I am sure, too, that your determination to remain will greatly strengthen the hearts of those around you, and greatly increase your powers of usefulness." ”

“ Speaking in general of the election of bishops, Cheshire observed: "I really, and in all seriousness, think that there is something providential in the choice of a man to the office of Bishop. The best men are so often those who were hardly thought of beforehand—sometimes hardly heard of." [24] To illustrate his point, he cited the elections of Bishops Ravenscroft, of North Carolina, Whipple, of Minnesota, and Jackson, of Alabama. These observations are particularly interesting, {48} coming as they did only two years before the proposed election of an assistant bishop. ”

“ Bishop Cheshire never went to extremes in anything. In spiritual as well as in material matters he believed in preserving a sense of proportion. He advised his clergy to use practical judgment in the observance of Lenten services. Very few clergymen were capable of preaching good sermons for forty or more consecutive days and, in his opinion, few congregations desired them. Even in those cases where a preaching Lent had been successful, he thought that a change would have a salutary effect upon the people. ”

“ As Bishop Cheshire grew older he began to plan how best he could provide for his wife and daughter when they would no longer be able to live at Ravenscroft, the Bishop's house. He decided to build a small apartment {121} house in Raleigh, which would produce an income as well as provide a home for them. When the house was completed he advertised the apartments for rent only to families with children. He thought the frequent practice of denying apartments to persons with children was most unfair and, therefore, determined to make his house an exception. ”

“ Complete {2} fearlessness was one of Bishop Cheshire's most pronounced characteristics. In his announced views on public questions, in the administration of his diocese, and in his historical writings, his courage was often manifested. His was not, however, a character which could be described in a few striking phrases. The man can best be understood by observing his deeds as they developed from early youth until the end of a long life of four score and two years. ”

“ While the school was not a diocesan institution, Bishop Cheshire throughout his episcopate gave it his full co-operation and support. He had a personal interest in the school, for his father had been one of the original incorporators. As ex-officio president of the Board of Trustees he kept in close contact with the development of St. Augustine's. Realizing that his state benefited most from the school, Bishop Cheshire time and time again urged his people to give it every encouragement and assistance within their means. ”

“ The beautiful grounds surrounding Calvary Church stand today as a living expression of his love for flowers and shrubs.
By February, 1840, Dr. Cheshire had advanced sufficiently far in his theological studies to be ordained deacon by Bishop Ives. The Bishop placed him in charge of the parishes at Halifax and Windsor. The next year he was ordained priest and was given Calvary Church, Tarboro, in addition to his other work. Shortly after taking over this work he organized a mission at Scotland Neck, which in time became Trinity parish. ”

“ He gave much sound instruction as to how the minister and congregation should conduct themselves in any of the church's services, particularly emphasizing the importance of correct kneeling and audible and intelligent responses. He stressed the value which the clergy and laity would receive from a regular observance of the feast days and fast days. The Bishop expressed his strong disapproval of decorating the church for any purpose other than "for God's honor." The sacred character of the church should not be sacrificed to gratify the vanity of {73} men and women. ”