Evening star., 1896-10-05
HE WILL NOT ACCEPT
DR.. Mackay-Smith Declines the Call
to Old Trinity Parish.
TO REMAIN With ST. JOHNS
A Letter Sent to the Vestry on
the Subject.
AFTER CAREFUL THOUGHT

Rev Dr. Mackay-Snith. the rector of
St. Johns Episcopal Church, has declined
the call which was recently extended to
him by the vestry of Trinity Church to
become the rector of that church, to sue
ceed the late Rev. DIR. Addison.
For the first time in a couple of months
DIR. Mackay-Smith occupied the pulpit of
St. Johns yesterday, having but just re-
turned from an extended summer vacation.
1t was during his absence that the call 10
Trinity was extended to him and his an
swer has been eagerly waited for by the
people of Trinity, who hoped that it would
be favOrable,ani by The people of St Johns,
who feared that they might have to give
up their popular rector. To the former DIR.
Mackay-Smith's decision will be genuine
disaI pointment, and the latter will ttd in
it cause for congratulation.
DIR. Mackay-Smith was notified a couple
of weeks age of the wish of the vestry of
old Trinity, but he requested an opportun-
ity to give the matter serious considera-
ticn. A day or two ago he forwarded his
letter of reply to Mr.. W. A. Meloy, one
of the vestrymen, and the letter was re-
ceived this morning. but the contents will
probably not be made public beyond the
fact that it contains q negative answer.
The action of Trinity Church in extend
ing a call to DR.. Mackay-Smith attracted
an unusual amount of attention at the time
from the fact that st. Johns is the wealth.
ier and more fashionable church and in a
position to pay 4 much larger salary. Trim
lty has the larger parish, but it has been
left tehind, to Il certain extent, by the ex-
tension of the city toward he west.
1t would offer splendid field of useful
reSS to an energetic minister who was not
afraid of work, and DIR. Macks y-smth is
known to be Just that sort of man. The
opportunities for work are of the sort that
wculi seem to appeal particularly to his
talents, and the vestry were hopeful that
he would accept The fact that Trinity
would be able to pay not more than half
ard perhaps even less than half the sal
airy which st. Johns can do would not
IS a man of means and rot dependent upon
his salary. On the contrary, it is known
ever since he has been at st. Johns he
mas made 1t his practice to devote it all to
charitable purposes. Had ne decided to ac-
Cept the invitation of Trinity's vestry It
would have served to strengthen the new
diocese materially. as St. Johns could af-
lord to secure the services of some other
nrSt-claSS preacher at a high salary. But
for reasons that seemed good and sufficient
to him DR.. Mackay-Smith has decided TO
remain at St. Johns
To a Star reporter who called at his
house this morning Dr. Mackay-Smith ad-
mitted that he had declined the call.
II do rot care to discuss the matter"
said he, in advance of its being made
public by the vestry of Trinity Church
Still do not see that any harm will he
done by my admitting the substance of my
letter. All | care to say is that after ma
ture consideration of the invitation, ani
after consultation with my friends. I have
decided to decline it. l might say further
that the bishop approves of my decision"
special meeting of the vestry of Trim
ity will probably be held some time this
week to take action upon DIR. Mackay-
Smiths letter, which leaves the question
a n nr i,,ct have =
was before a humber of names have been
suggested as likely candidates for the pull
PIT, but no consideration has been given to
the matter since the name of DIR. Mackay-
Smith was suggested.