The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-05-26
BISHOP CHESHIRE'S FINE ADDRESS

The following extracts from the address
of Rt. Rev. Bishop Cheshire at the open
ing of the Episcopal convention in Dur
ham will be read with deep interest by
members of that church and all others
who take interest in religious growth
and development in North Carolina:
Brethren of the Clergy and Laity:
AS we met last year in one of our old
est parishes Salisbury so this year we
are met in one of our newest. There is a
beauty and value in that which is old,
which enshrnes and perpetuates memo
Iies and sentiments of the past, and in
spires us to emulate the virtues and to
continue the good works of our fathers.
But there is value, and not value only,
but its proper grace and beauty also, in
that which is new, in the hope and faith
which press forward to new achievements
and reach after and rise to higher and
better things as time goes on. The
church of God is bottomed on the old,
but her look is forward, and her mission
shall be accomplished only when old
things are passed away, and all things
are become new.
sion in this connection. st. Philips
church, Durham, is especially dear to me.
This was the second of my first efforts
for the extension of the church. | am
most thankful to see in this congregation
and among the members of this conyen-
ton a few of the faces which welcomed
me when / came here deacon of
month in 1873.
Since our last meeting two of our breth-
en- of the clergy have been called to rest
from their labors, July q, 1900, the Rev.
VIM. Shepard Pettigrew departed this life
in the rectory at Ridgeway of Which par
ish he had been rector for oyer twenty
years. Mr.. Pettigrew bore name most
honorably associated with the history of
the church in North Carolina. His grand
father the Rev. Chas. Pettigrew, having
been master of the old Edenton Academy,
was just before the Revolution ordained
by the Bishop of London being the last
minister licensed for the province of
North Carolina. After twenty years of
faithful service he was in 1894 elected
Bishop of North Carolina, though he was
never consecrated. His only son the Hon.
Ebenezer Pettigrew. was the father of
our deceased brother. Mr.. Pettigrew did
nut Gnl6I INC llInlSlIy Until nlo MY III ot
year. At that time he had already lived
beyond the average length of mans life,
and had been a man of the first distinc-
ton in his section of the State, having
served with ability and credit in the State
Convention of 1861, and enjoying in an un-
common degree the affection and respect
of wide circle of 'friends.s He had been
4 man of considerable wealth, and enjoy
cd the deserved reputation Of being a
conscientious master to his large num-
berg Of slaves, whom he treated with the
utmosr hgmanityf and for whose Chris
tian nurture he was most solicitfous.
From his youth he was man of singular
purity and elevation of character, and a
most devout and consistent Christian.
Being unmarried and by the results of the
war relieved of the responsibility and bur-
dens of temporal affairs he was by the
influences of Bishop Atkinson led to de-
vote himself to the work of the ministry.
In that work he labored faithfully and de-
votedly till his death. None who knew
him could fail to recognize the noble and
beautiful qualities of his personal charac-
ter. or doubt his absolute devotion to the
work of his Master. He was a fine type