When Thomas Jefferson became President...
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When Thomas Jefferson became President of the United States in 1801, he had many detractors in the Christian community. But he also had as many devotees, and at least one, a Baptist minister, John Leland, in Cheshire, Massachusetts, heard the call of Paul to "welcome one another." To welcome the new President, Leland organized a stunt worthy of the Guinness Book of World Records. Beginning in his own congregation, he set about making a special gift to take to the White House: the world's biggest cheese. He asked everyone he knew who owned a cow to give the milk production for one day to the project. He had a cider-press converted to form the cheese in. The event became an act of worship. People came carrying their milk and wearing their Sunday best. Hymns were sung and prayers were said. The dried cheese weighed 1,600 pounds. Leland transported it on a sleigh to Washington. Everywhere he travelled on the three-week-long trip, crowds gathered to see the big cheese and support the project.
At the White House, Leland preached a sermon in support of Jefferson, who received the cheese with gratitude. The Chief Executive gave a large piece of the cheese back to the people of Cheshire, and invited the attendees to partake of it, but neither action made hardly a dent in the cheese.
Records show that the White House was still serving the cheese with cake and hot punch four years later.
At the White House, Leland preached a sermon in support of Jefferson, who received the cheese with gratitude. The Chief Executive gave a large piece of the cheese back to the people of Cheshire, and invited the attendees to partake of it, but neither action made hardly a dent in the cheese.
Records show that the White House was still serving the cheese with cake and hot punch four years later.
