The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-06-28
BISHOP CHESHIRE FORCTBLY PRE-
VENTED FROM PREACHING.

TO the Editor: We, the undersigned
citizens of Ashe county, \. c., and o.
| the vicinity Of Beaver Creek, wi,hOur
distinc tion Of religious opinion or con
| nection, desire to express our most un
qualified condemnation of the conduct
of those persons who ON Sunday, June
21st, riotously and unlawfully inter
fered with the service that Bishop
Cheshire had appointed to hold in the
Beaver Greek Academy. This academy
was rented for AN agreed pecuniary
consideration to the Rev. Minor Jones
whom Bishop Cheshire had sent to this
county as a missionary of the diocese
OF Nocth Carolina The lease is for two
years, and was mde by the trustees
who hold the property with the writ
cen consent of the majority of the
stockholders. Bishop Cheshire it at
this time paying the SALARY of two eN-
cellent and efficient teachers who are
atlOrding TO our people the advantages
Of a good education for their children
at a cost far below anything we have
before known in this neighborho0d.
Though the academy is thus rented by
Mr.. Jones, and is used by him for reli-
glous services on one Sunday each
month, he has never objected to
It's being used for religious services as
other times by any respectable body OF
people. Bishop Cheshire, with the
knowledge and consent Of all our peo-
pie Of intelligence and character, has
had his appoinmen for services in the
academy for some weeks. On Friday
,if,rr is,s fg,
preliminary service, and all persons
present We're pleased and edited by he
service, and the preaching. On Sunday
morning, June 2lst, crowd Of men be-
gan to gather at an early hour at the
Academy and about nine O'Clock they
sent depuat;on to Mr.. Rufus A. Ham
lton to inform him that no services
could he held at the academy on that
day. Bishop Cheshire being told OF
this, declined to believe that any BODY
OF his fellow citizens OF North Carolina
would prevent his having service in a
building TO which he was Justly enti-
tied. Accompanied by Mr.. John c. Sea
gle. the teacher Of the academy, he pro-
ceeded TO the place about half past 10
O'Clock, for the purpose of making the
necessary arrangements for the ser
vices. He was met at the door by q
crowd OF men who refused to allow him
to enter. Upon being demonstrated
WFah i'm a respectful manner. they per-
sisted in their refusal, and when the
bishop warned them that they were
breaking the law, and attempted to
pass on TO the door, they laid hands
upon h'm and thrust him from the
L.
desiring all persons present to witness
that he was forcibly prevented from
keeping his appointment, and
protesting against this outrage
against the Constitution and
laws of the State At the
same time he gave notice that he pro-
posed to have the service at the resi-
dence of Mr.. William H. Hamilton. and
invited all persons present to attend
the same, where he preached to large
and appreciative congregation assem-
bled in the porch and on the ground.
and confirmed a class of nineteen per
SONS who, by the ministry of Rev. Mil
nor Jones, have become deeply interest
ed IN and attached to the services and
principles of the Episcopal church.
This is brief but fair account of
the matter. We wish to say briefly.
but emphaticaly, that we repudiate
with the utmost Indignation all the
sympathy with such Illegal and unius-
tif1able proceedings, and that the Der-
petrators thereof were entirely with
out justification or excuse. that we
feel moved 10 this public and formal
expression of our judgement in order
That our community may be vindi-
Gated in the eyes of the world. so far
as is possible, from responsibility in
this matter and we denounce persons
concerned in this disgraceful proceed
ngs as deserving the reprobation of all
intelligent and law-abiding people.
(Signed) A. w. Jones. T. c. Boraie.
q. II. Hardin, stakeholder; r. A. Ham
Ilton, trustee and stakeholder: j. G.
Hardin, trustee and stockholder: VIM.
II. Hamilton, stakeholder: II. H. Har-
din, stakeholder; J. A. Estop; G. II.
Phillips, stakeholder; A. W. Rotin.
Many others to follow as the origi-
nal is out in other hands.
Beaver Creek, n. c., June %.