Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-06-11
bRENT'S DECuNAT|ON
Rev. Or. Mckim Gives Inf0rma.
ton on Bishopric Matter.
DENIES CERTAIN RUM0RS
Amazed to Have Learned That He
Cabled in Haste.
HIS LETTER MADE PUBLIC
Did All in His Power to influence
Bishop Brent's Acceptance to
Call to. Warrington.
HIS LETTER MADE PUBLIC

In denying certain rumors current in the
diocese OF Washington regarding the de-
clination of Ri. Rev. Charles Henry
Brent. Bishop Of the Philippines. to be-
come Bishop OF Washington. Rev. DR.. r.
H. McKim. president of the convention
did all in his power to influence Bishop
Brent to accept the call here. and that he
believes Bishop Brent decided the ques-
ton between himself and God.
During the interview DR.. McKim said:
The declination of Bishop Brent has
been a source of great disappointment to
the churchmen OF Washington. In con-
nection with IT, certain rumors have been
circulated which ought. without delay, to
be set at rest
Il begin with one which refers to my
self l have been amazed to learn in the
last twenty-fOur hours that ] am credited
with having cabled Bishop Brent to
hurry up his decision. I want to meet
that statement with an absolute and un-
qualified denial. The only communica-
covered by the following Incidents: First.
l write him. May Z, a letter, as president
of the convention. informing him of his
election and doing all in my power to en-
letter is as follows, as made public today
by DR., Mckim:
Letter to Bishop Brent.
"Rt Rev. Charles H. Brent
my Dear Bishop: I write on behalf Of
the convention of the diocese of Wash
ington to inform you oficially of your
election to the ONCE of Bishop OF Wash
ington yesterday. May g. and to express
our earnest hope that you will feel that
our call Is the call of God to take up the
burden and the privilege Of the bishopric
here in the Capital city Of our great re-
THE convention was singularly har-
moniOus. Nothing occurred and no word
was spoken to mar the spirit Of fraternal
concord which should prevail in an as
filling a ,solemn duty as in the sight of
God and for His glory. This unity OF
spirit In the bond Of peace came. we be-
lieve. in answer to prayer. 1t was almost
more than we dared hope for.
Il believe. my dear bishop. that il You
come to be our chief shepherd. you will
receive the loving and loyal support of
the clergy and laity Of this diocese.
I'VE invite you to a great work and
we pledge you our united prayers and
and success. Very faithfully yours,
RANDOLPH H. McKIM.
President OF the Convention
up. 81 should have said that your
The attestation of the secretary will be
appended below.
Attest: Arthur s. Johns, secretary of
the convention"
Cable Message Later.
munication with Bishop Brent. DR.. Nc
Kim said:
Later. May 20. I cabled him asking
that when he should have reached his
decision he would communicate 1t by ca
BILE. In my letter had forgotten to make
this request. 1 made it then because of
the general desire to learn Bishop Brent's
decision here as soon as possible after 1t
mad been reached. 1t should be observed
that this cable was sent the Goth OF Nav.
sixteen days before his declination was
received.
Next. May %, with the advice and
consent Of the standing committee, I ca
bled him informing him of the amount of
salary OF the bishop. of the episcopal resi-
dence and Of the allowance for the ex-
pense of secretary. 1t appeared to the
committee and to myself that Bishop
Brent should have information on these
points The matter had been overlooked
In the convention and was not thought of
when l wrote the letter Of May q
1T has also been rumored that the
board OF missions in New York had
cabled Bishop Brent that if he accepted
the bishopric Of Washington the SUPPORT
of the work in the Philippines would in
evitably fall OF. When in New York
Tuesday last 1 saw Rev Dr. Lloyd. sec
rotary of the board of missions who in
formed me that he had had no communi-
cation with Bishop Brent on the subject
until after his declnation was made pub
lie. He then cabled Bishop Brent. 'Laus
Deo.'
Effect Of Declination.
He felt, as l think the whole board
did. that Bishop Brent's act of self
sacrifice in declining the Washington
bishOpric would have a great effect in
the hold of our mission
work on the church. I do not believe
that any officer of the board of mis-
sions sent any such cable as the one
referred to above. and it is very UNI
likely that any member of the board. in
his private capacity. would have inter-
fered in the matter. Bishop Brents
noble dispatch makes it clear that he
decided this great question between
himself and God. He says: L would
explanation he refers to the words OF
Jesus: L can Of mine ownself do MOTH
ing: as 1 hear. judge. and my Judgment
is just because l seek not mine own
will. but the will Of the Father which
hath sent me-
I'm reading such dispatch, I know
not what others may feel. but as for nv
self. I feel 1 am standing on holy ground.
listening to the words of one who lives
in the presence of God and for His glory
a man truly imbued with the spirit of a
Christian martyr. When we remember
that Bishop Brent has more than once
in public said he would lay his bones in
the Philippines. it is not strange at ali
that. notwithstanding the great work In
Washington. he preferred to stand by his
post even If he must die