On the first three ballots, although all candidates received some votes, Cheshire led each time. But after the third ballot, the contest was narrowed down to Cheshire, Barrett, and Murdoch. Cheshire remained ahead through the sixth ballot; Murdoch then took the lead, which he held, with the exception of five ballots, through the twenty-fourth. During this balloting, Barrett led all candidates twice and tied with Murdoch for the highest number three times. After the twenty-fourth ballot Cheshire asked to be excused from further attendance. He explained that he had expected the convention to last only one day and had accordingly promised to marry a friend on the twenty-eighth.[26] He was excused, and without further balloting the convention adjourned at eleven-thirty in the evening. The following morning balloting was resumed, with Murdoch continuing to hold his lead. On the twenty-ninth ballot the Rev. Arthur S. Lloyd, of Norfolk, Virginia, was nominated and remained in the contest until the end. From the thirty-second through the thirty-fifth ballots Cheshire did not receive a single vote; while from the thirty-sixth through the thirty-eighth he received only one vote on each. Before the thirty-seventh was taken, Rev. W. S. Barrows moved that if no one was elected within the next two ballots, the clergy should retire from the convention for a conference. His motion was carried. Since no election took place, the clergy repaired to Christ Church chapel for prayer and conference. There was a small minority in the convention, numbering ten or twelve clergymen, who were opposed to electing anyone from the Diocese of North Carolina. This minority held the balance between the stronger candidates and thus prevented an election. All attempts to compromise with the minority on some candidate other than Murdoch or Cheshire failed. Thereupon, when the clergy met in the chapel, it was agreed that they should arrive at a choice by the process of elimination. After several votes were taken, the selection lay between Cheshire and Murdoch. The supporters of both men then agreed to vote in the convention for the one who received the highest vote in this conference. When the votes were counted, it was found that Cheshire led by a majority of one. The clergy then re-entered the church and took the thirty-ninth ballot, which resulted in twenty-nine votes for Cheshire, seven for Lloyd, and five scattered. The laity quickly confirmed the choice of the clergy by a vote of twenty-four to seven; whereupon the Bishop declared Rev. Joseph Blount Cheshire, Jr., elected assistant bishop of the Diocese and appointed a committee to notify him of his election.