Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-12-12
DR.. Satterlee Asks for Time to Make
a Decision.
bis STATEMENT TO TEE COMMITTEE
Reluctant to Leave His Work in
the Metropolis.
A PLEASANT INTERVIEW
Special DISPATCH TO The Evening Star.

OIL tnat most beautiful CITY. WISH were III
position to rake your pilgrimage more
profitable than 1 fear it will be-"
This was the greeting with which Rev.
DR.. Henry Yates Satterlee, rector of Cal
vary Protestant Episcopal Church in this
city, received the delegation from the ma
tional capital yesterday afternoon. He
stood in his study at the rectory, a noble
figure of ecclesiastical and scholarly dig
nifty, hemmed in by half circle Of friends
and the members of the two committees
that had come from Washington to notify
him of his election to the bishopric of that
city and to urge his acceptance of 1t. DR..
Satterlee's daughter, with two or three
members of his congregation, stood little
apart and listened to the tender of the hon
or to preside over the Episcopal diocese Of
Washington.
One of the committees from Washington
represented the diocesan convention which
elected DIR. Satterlee, and the other was
composed entirely Of laymen, having been
appointed at a meeting of laymen to visit
Dr. Satterlee and urge his acceptance. The
gentlemen composing them reached New
York at o'clock and went Immediately to
the rectory of Calvary, which is at 21st
aristocratic sections of the east side and a
short distance from Stuyvesant square.
The committee representing the conven-
ton was headed by Rev. DR.. John H. Elliott
president of the recent convention; the
other members of it were Rev. DIR. Mackay
Smith, rector of ST. Johns Episcopal
Church, and Gen. Parke of the United States
army. The committee of laymen consisted
of Messrs Lewis ]. Davis Gilbert B. Towles
and w. H. Webster.
DIR. Satterlee I'D Eeen apprised by tele-
gram of the coming of the committees from
Washington. and gave them an extremely
cordial welcome. DIR. Elliott and DR. Smith
are old personal friends of DR.. Satterlee,
and he was extremely genial In receiving
them. The notification to DR.. Satterlee by
DR.. Elliott was a formal one. The party as
sembled in the study. and DIR. Elliott, ad-
dressing Dr. Satterlee said in part:
The Committees Address.
DIR. Satterlee, the diocesan convention of
Washington directed myself and my asso-
ciates to officially notify you of an event
of which you have all eady doubtless heard.
You were the unanimous choice of the mem
bers of that convention to fill the vacancy
existing in the head of the diocese Your
selection was inspired no less by your ad-
mirable personal qualities than by your
high and deserved reputation as church
man, and it is with the fondest hopes of
myself and colleagues that we come to you
today to notify you of your selection as our
bishop, and to urge upon you the accept
ance of an honor that is intended to en-
phasize our appreciation Of your fitness for
that position
Ii.
Davis, representing the delegation of lay
men, urged DR.. Satterlee to accept the prof
fered honor. He assured DIR. Satterlee that
the people Of Washington would extend to
him most cordial welcome
DIR. Satterlec's Reply.
DIR. Satterlee listened to both DR.. Elliott
and Mr.. Davis most attentively, with a
pleasant smile on his face and when thew
had concluded, he replied:
at is with haa ri falt tituda That ~
cefve and acknowledge the honor which the
diocese of Washington and its citizens have
conferred upon me. The invitation to be-
come resident of your beautiful city is a
ost alluring one, and were to consult my
personal feelings in the matter I fear 1
should not hesitate very long to consider
favorably your offer. Other considera tons.
however, make it, l regret to say absolute
~ impossible for me to decide whether
can accept or shall be forced to decline.
have already discussed the matter with
members Of my own beloved congregation,
and so strong are the ties that bind me to
them. as weighed against your splendid in
vitation, that l have not yet been able to
definitely decide just what shall do
Il think l will have to crave your in
dulgence for a more extended period-until
perhaps the hrst OF the year. I have been
so engrossed in the interests of Calvary
during my fourteen years pastorate that it
will be an extremely difficult task for me
to sever my connection with it. The sug-
dear to me during these fourteen years is
not easily to be waved aside even upon the
receipt Of so tempting an invitation as
you. my brothers. have extended to me-
Before giving my answer one way or the
other, l shall want to devote much more
serious thought to the proposition than I
have been able to give it. 1 think that by
the first Of the new year 1 shall be in
position to send you my decision in the
matter"
DR.. Elliott and his associates urged Dr.
Satterlee to decide in favor Of coming to
them at Washington. He received their
though the gentlemen from Washington
attempted to secure some significant eX-
preston from him, he resolutely declined to
give them the vaguest sort of idea as to
what his ultimate decision will be- The
committees from Washington remained at
the rectory for some time, and were pre-
sented to several members of DR.. Satterlee's
church, who dropped in to learn If he had
Washington. The Washingtonians return
ed to the capital city last night.
What He Said to n Star Reporter.
DR.. Satterlee granted an interview to a
reporter for The Evening Star last evening
either accepting or rejecting the offer of
the bishopric of Washington.
"As told the committees. cannot decide
the matter before January L." ne said
During the fourteen years 1 have been
rector of Calvary 1 have declined the offer
Of two bishoprics because I felt that my
work here was a solemn duty, and that
had to carry 1t out. There are so many
branches to my work that it would be very
difficult to tear myself away, no matter how
flattering the inducement, but then, on the
other hand. the honor the people of Wash
irgton have paid me is SO generous and fiat
tering that 1 cannot say just what shall
do I must ponder on the subject. The
question with me is whether my church
here or the diocese Of Washington needs me
most"
1t was learned last night that influential
members of DR.. Satterlees parish will call
upon him next week in a body and urge
him to remain. The doctor is one of the
most popular churchmen in New York, and
his departure would be regretted by his
confreres of all denominations. The gen.
eral impression among members of the
Protestant Episcopal Church is that he will
remain in New York.
The Committee Feels Encouraged.
The Rev. DR.. Mackay Smith. who was one
of the committee appointed by the diocesan
convention to formally convey the call of
the diocese OF Washington to Bshop-elect
Satterlee, was seen by representative of
The Star this morning In relation to yes