Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1888-09-27
A FAMOUS CHEESE

The town OF Cheshire, situated
among the Berkshire hills of Massacli-
usetts, is one of the pieasautest places
In all the country. says the Boston
Transcript The pasturage of this re-
gion is excellent The land is very
productive, and the dairy farms have
always been noted for tho quality of
their butter and cheese. And here,
about eighty-seven years ago. was
made the enormous cheese whose fame
went abroad throughout the United
States, crossed the water, and even
spread into foreign countries. Elder
John Leland n cello brated preacher OF
his time. was pastor of the village
church. He was vigorous and or
iginal thinker, noted for his exposi-
ton of the scriptures. People came
from far and near to listen 10 his SER
mons. In those days minister's views
upon all public questions were receiv-
ed with respectful attention. and Elder
Leland did not confine his labors to
parochial affairs. ANY delinquency
among the select men of the town.
any failure in rigid adherence to
duty, was boldly attacked by him in
tho pulpit and names were mentioned
with startling directness.
Thomas Jefferson was nominated for
the presidency of the United States in
the fall OF 1900. He was believed by
many TO be an infidel. and the feeling
of New England-the stronghold of
orthodoxy-was severe against him.
An ominous silence that he preserved
in regard to his own religious belief
was regarded as unfavorable, and it
was even declared in some country
towns that churches would be closed
and sacredness of the Sabbath day no
longer preserved if he were elected.
Elder John Leland held no share in
this public opinion. He had been a
preacher in Virginia, where he had
often met Mr.. Jefferson.
The two men were mutually attracted
and held long conversations together.
Elder Leland became an ardent ad-
mirer of Jefferson. He recogni zed his
Christian character in spite of a natural
reticence. and he believed in his repub-
lican principles. When Jefferson was
nominated he began to work for him.
1t was said that the elder stood alone,
but the sturdy opposition became his
inspiration. He preached politics in
the pulpit on Sunday; he rode to neigh
boring towns through the week; he
was ready always with an argument.
So great was the influence that he ex-
erted that when election day came
there was not a member of the whole
church who failed to vote for Jefferson.
Great was Elder Leland's delight over
the victory. and at the close of the
afternoon service on the next Sabbath
he proposed that, as n people, they
should prepare token of their good
Will to be sent to Washington after the
new pres dent had taken his place at
the white house. 1t should be some
thing in which women as we'll as
men could participate, and he sug-
gested an enormous cheese, rs the
natural product of their industry.
had voted for Jefferson should
bring all the curd he felt able
to give. A committee of farmers
wives, who were skilled, should be APP
pointed for the mixing Everybody
was pleased with the idea. Capt.
John Brown. who was known as the
man to first suspect and denOunce
Benedict Arnold as n traitor, was a
member of this village. He offered
his cider-mill as the best and largest
in the town. They had it thoroughly
cleaned, a new bottom of wood set in.
surrounded with an iron hoop, and
thus converted into huge cheese
press. It was fine afternoon when
the crowd came pouring in from all
quarters of the county to Capt
Browns farm. Some wealthy farmers
brought quantities of curd, others only
pailful, but the offerings were poured
into the cider-press. The matrons
then came forward mixed and flavor
cd it. The men stood ready for the
pressing. Then, uncovering their
heads all bowed reverently while
Elder Leland asked Gods blessing up
on their labor They sang hymn.
the minister giving out two lines at a
time and the people singing them,
and a social season followed until
twilight dispersed the crowd.
When the cheese was ready to be re-
moved it was found to weigh LOCO
pounds. The parish requested their
minister to convey 1t in person to the
president. 1t was journey of five
hundred miles, but the sleighing at the
appointed time was excellent. and he
started. He was three weeks on the
road. The people thronged to meet
him in every town and village through
which he passed. and the news OF the
gift had spread. and such a cheese was