The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1866-11-21
From The Land We Love
SKETCHES OF BISHOP POLK.

:
Leonidas Polk was born in Raleigh, n. c.,
April 10th, 1906, the fourth son ofCol. Wm
Polk.
His boyhood was full of fun and frolic,
but never mingled with cruelty or unkind-
ness with the quickest sensibilities he felt
and resented the least injustice to Others
His character for truthfulness was early es-
tablished, and he has been heard to say that
the highest compliment he ever received, and
the most valued, was once, when at school
dispute occurred between teachers and pu-
pills, and it being considered needful to have
a statement of fact, he was selected as the
one who would tell the truth, even if he in
culpated himself in so doing. His sole aim
at first was to do what was becoming gen.
tleman, and when higher standard was
/, formed, duty was always paramount, every
thing yielded to that comfort, fortune.
family, weighed as nothing in the scale with
this.
He entered West Point in 1898 What he
was there will be best told by those who
were his companions all liked him and adj
mired his character. which was free from
everything low and bad. AT the end OF two
years he was much interested in the subject
of religion. After he became soldier of
Christ, his great desire was to bring no stain
upon his character as christian, and rather
than fail in what he thought duty, he exert
ed himself when suffering from illness, refus-
ing to yield to it the consequence was an
aggravated attack ofpneumonia, from which
for years he did not recover, an adhesion
having taken place in the left lobe of the
lungs previous to this illness. he could
one at West Point. He always esteemed it
one of his blessings that he became the room
mate of Albert Sidney johnson, who watch
ed over him at first as if he had been an ell
der brother, and finding him worthy, though
somewhat his junior, made him his friend
for the three years during which they occu-
pied the same room, nothing marred their
friendly relations. which indeed were kept
up until severed by death. He graduated in
1927 Was ordained Deacon in 1880, be-
coming assistant to Bishop Moore in the
Monumental church in Riclimond.Va. His
health already weakened Ivy hard study, gave
way under the duties of large parish. and
the following year, after having received
Priests Orders, he by the advice of physi-
Clans. took sea-voyage and went tn Europe,
where ne remained for more than twelve
month";
The following anecdote will illustrate his
determination not to submit to unlawful eX-
ercse of authority. He was travelling from
Rome to Naples, and at the Neapolitan from
tier his baggage was searched and his Bible,
Prayer-Book and copy of Shakespeare de-
tanned, with promise to restore them to
him on his return. On his demonstrating, he
tpll ~ ncalo,c tt,ax, ~,
by the officials, unless he chose to have his
effects sealed and go under guard. at consid-
cradle expense, to Naples. To this he agreed.
and the guard was accordingly mounted on
the carriage box and thus escorted he set
out for the Capital. At the inn where he
stopped for the night he found two elderly
English ladies. travelling under each others
protection, who entering into conversation
with him asked how he had passed through
the custom-house he Informed them that he
was then under the escort of n genes ddrme
with all his baggage sealed-they then re-
marked that they had also heen detained at
the frontier, and worse still. had been rob
bed OF their tea and teapot a grievance upon
which they dwelt most eloquently. He i'm
mediately inter, sted himself in their case,
drew up statement of the impertinence to
which they had been exposed, which they
signed, and the next day on reaching Naples
lie was driGen at once to the cust6m-house,
where he laid the whole affair before the
proper authorities and the result was the
immediate restoration of books, tea and tea
pot. and the dismissal of the officers for ex-
ceeding their order. The gratitude of the
old ladies procured him many pleasant ac-
qlIaintances both in Italy and England
On his return to the United States with
renewed health. he removed to Tennessee,
and resumed the exercise of his profession, as
Rector of the church in Columbia He was
consecrated Missionary Bishop of the South
west in 1888, and entered upon his duties
with all the energy which characterized
him.
Upon one occasion descending one of the
South western rivers i'll small steamer the
boat struck snag and sank, the passengers
got ashore with part OF their baggage, when
it was proposed to walk some seventy miles
to the nearest port, the chances for another
boat overtaking them speedily, being very
slight. The Bishop, an excellent mechanic,
thought the boat could be raised and submit
ted plan to the captain who begged him to
undertake it with the aid of the crew and
some deck passengers this was accomplished.
when a boat passing, the Bishop with the
Others went to the next town below here
on asking the inn-keeper ifthere was place
for holding Church services, he was told
that there never had been any preaching in
the tow, that they did not want it, and that
he would be mobbed ifhe attempted it. How
ever,if Mr.. -, the principal merchant in
the place would agree, they would not OBJ
ject On being applied to Mr. IS ex-
clamation was, L left New England to get
rid of preaching and don't want it here."-
His consent having been obtained arrange
ments were being made for service on the
following Sunday. Flat-boat men, always
lawless set. being in strong force in the town,
declared there should he no preaching and
if it were attempted they would break it up.
In the mean time the steamer which the
Bishop had assisted in raising came down,
and the hands hearing of this, said this
was not common preacher, he knew how to
work, and if he chose to preach, he should
preach, and the would like to see the flat
boat men who would hinder it." A row be-
tween the parties was apprehended, hut the
steamboat hands being most numerous. the
boatmen were quiet, and the services passed
off without disturbance, a very large and
attentive congregation being present Fonr
years after the Bishop made another visit to
this town and was told there had been no
preaching there since his last visit.
An incident is often related which occur
red at the mouth of White River. The Bish-
op from constant living in the open air, a
great deal of exercise and very temperate
habits. had acquired anappearance of robust
health; he always wore, even in the days of
thin boots. soies as thick as the present Ral