Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1904-06-10
DIR. MURRAY.
Declines TO Accept Bishopric OF
Kentucky.
Special Meeting Of Diocesan cOun-
Gil Will Probably Be Called
In September.

The Rev. Or. John G. Murray, OF
Baltimore, has declined to accept
the bshopric Of the diocese rendered
him by the Diocesan Council, which
met here May Is. His decision is
to remain at the head Of his present
charge in Baltimore, He is rector
OF St. Michael's and All Angels
Episcopal church in that city. A
special meeting of the Diocesan
Coubcil viii probably be called for
a date early in September. when
another will be selected and elect
ed Or. Murray's letter to the
chairman of the notification commit
tee, declining the blshopric, fol.
lows:
On the 18th ultimo you communi-
Gated to me the fact of my election
to the bishoprIc of the diocese Of
kentucky. Ga the 10Th ultimo ac.
knowledged receipt of your com
municatIon, expressing the convict
ION that my immediate duty under
God was to continue in charge Of
my present work, Its condition and
stage of progress, under plans
adopted ia obedience to my suggest.
ion and preference, and being pros
ecuted under my personal supervis-
ION, rendering such action upon my
part not only reasonable but neces
sary. Complying with your urgent
request, however, and feeling it due
the careful and Prayful considera.
ton of such a solemn and important
matter, consented to a personal
interview, which was held at my
home yesterday. The sacred IA
ture Of that conference is known to
those of you who were present.
How it affected me, and the subse.
quent test and trial to which it sub
jected me can never be known to
others than God and myself. The
information you furnished me was
full and complete. The plea you
based upon it was loving and logi
cal, and yet, nay brethren, in the
light thrown upon both sides of the
question, and more particularly in
the knowledge of the continued rev
elatiou of the Father, as it is youch-
safed to me to understand the same
my first conviction remains un-
changed And so, in the fear of
God, and, as ] believe, in obedience
to His will, concerningIus all in this
great issue of life and death, I am
compelled definitely to decline the
call the diocese of Kentucky has so
lovingly and earnestly extended to
me through you.
To you who have been with me
in personal consideration O. this
matter | need to say nothing more.
You have perfect knowledge of my
appreciation, condition and cOnvlc.
ton Through you, however, to my
brethren of the clergy and the laity
of the diocese of Kentucky, whom I
have aever met, and yet who so SUI
Ipremely honored me with their con.
fdence, so sincerely pledged me
their love and loyalty through life
in case God should lead me to them,
l am sure you Will allow me 10 eX-
press my deep sense of Iegrettul
gratitude and assure them OF my
abiding affection and esteem.
Praying that God may bless US
all'in this decision, which l make
IN His name, and that He will
lguide you by the wisdom of the
holy Ghost TO the man for the work
OF His church in your midst, aad
bring that man to a successful ac-
complshment of the same, l an
faithfully and affectionately yours,
JOHN C. MURRAY.