The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-03-17
DIR. NICHOLSON In DOUBT.
The Newly-EIected Bishops Letter to
Rev. j. b. Wakefield.
He Has Not Yet Decided Whether He VIII
Accept the Great Honor Proffered Him.

From the Richmond Palladium of yesterday is
taken the following letter from Rev. j. L. Mich
olson. rector of St. Marks Church, Philadelphia,
and the newly-elected bishop of Indiana, to
Rev. j. B. Wakefield, rector of St. Paurs Church,
Richmond. 1t is the first utterancc of DR.. Mich
olson, and while uncertain as to whether he W ill
accept or decline the proffereo honor. the infer
ence is that he will come:
PHILADELPHIA, l 500 SPRUCE STREET,
March 49, 1888.
"Rev. and Dear Brother-Your very kind let
ter Ia here. l must also thank you for the affec-
tlonate tone OF the telegram received by me on
the night of last Wednesday. L cannot tell you
of the woe and pain which has been my meat
and drink day and night since the matter of
this election was put before me- 1t yet reads to
me only as dream and vision And even now
am 10th to believe that indeed this call to the
office of a bishop, and one who shall represent
our Lord Christ To his church and people, does
really rest upon me.
"What urges me to say yes to this call is the
strange unexpectedness OF it in every way, both
to the church in Indiana and to myself. But
what on the other hand staggers me, is my utter
lack of experience, my unknown name in the
church and my age. TO say that love my peo-
pie here, and have nothing but tender and SYM
pathetic hearts all about Inc is, know, say
ing nothing unusual, since that is one
OF the many blessings God is ever CIV
ing to his priesthood, ana many others
IN the cure of souls can say the same. But
when l say, TOO, that | deeply love my work,
even the hard and grinding parts of such work,
one has to meet in a parish SO large st.
Marks, am then saying what will be a terribly
hard thing for me to give it up.
81 am yet in painful anxiety as to whatss the
will of God; can only write at this moment that
my one and only longing is to do His will, what
ever that may be. l am half persuaded
to let Easter and the large helps the resur-
reetiOn brings to us settle the matter for me.
also am half in mind TO act upon your sugges-
ton of hasty trip of few days to Indiana,
and then finally determine. Just now, with
sixty people in actual preparation FOR con-
trmatiun next week. and with Passion Tide
upon me. dare not think of going away. You
must pray for me, and remember me IN the way
one most loves to be remembered. do hope the
good brethren of INDIANA Will not think me at all
nsensible of the great honor they have placed
fright is so great and my courage so weakened
that only the sense of a dread responsibility
rests weightlly upon me. One thing let me
frankly say. that If God calls me to this work l
my people, AID will be willing TO toll and work
and even die in their service and for the NIyati-
cal Body of Christ. Very affectionately yours,
81. L. NICHOLSON.
1.-THE Rev J. b. Wakefield, D. D., Rector st. Pauls
Church, Richmond Ind"
In connection with this matter, it will be of in
terest to know that Rev. DIR. Runcie, so long con-
nected with the diocese of Indiana. continues
still to take the deepest interest in It's pros
perty. He writes thus OF the Dishop-elect:
'Your special convention has made q grand
selection. have known DIR. Nicholson for some
time. He ia a strong man, using the word in its
very best sense-strOng int ellectually and strong
in devotion and earnestness. There is nothing
small about him. He is among the manifest of
meE. L do hope that he Will accent, althOug RI
his doing go Will be a great personal sacrifice.
mration of all who love good, aggressive, telling
charCn work"