Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-06-05
BRENT HAS DECLINED
Will Not Become Bishop of
Washington.
TO STAY IN PHILIPPINES
Cites Bible to Explain Why He Will
Not Accept.
NEW ELECTION IS NECESSARY
DR.. McKim May Exercise Power to
Recall Diocesan Convention
at Early Date.
yEW ELECTION IS NECESSARY

Bishop Charles Henry Brent Of the
Philippines has declined to become Bishop
of Washington.
He announced his decision in cable
gram TO Rev DR.. Randolph H. McKim,
president of the standing committee of
The diocese of Washington, received this
morning.
His message is:
Must decline. would have gone. but
God bids me stay. John, v:3O.
BRENT
The biblical reference at the close OF
the cablegram is:
Il can of mine own self do nothing: as
l hear l judge and my judgment is just,
because l seek not mine own will. but the
will of the Father which hath sent me-"
Decision Quickly Made.
This cablegram was sent by Bishop
Bren;. it is believed here after he had
received and read the letters from Wash
ington sent him Immediately after his
election as the successor to Bishop Henry
Yates Satterlee by the diocesan conven-
ton. The election occurred May 6. and
ing day.
As it requires about tWenty-eight days
for a letter to get from this city to the
Philippines. the formal notification and
other letters regarding the election, it is
thought, probably reached Bishop Brent
a day or two ago. His decision was
quickly made, as the cablegram of today
shows.
of tad to-
day they were so surprised by the dec
lination they have not decided what or
when the next step will be taken to elect
another bishop.
The diocesan convention which chose
Bishop Brent for I'll episcopate of the
local diocese must be convened again In
special session and take up. as a special
order OF business the election of bishop.
As in the case of Bishop Brent. a can
didate must receive a majority of the
votes of the clergy and the laymen Of the
convention, voting separately.
D.. McKim May Call Convention.
Rev. DIR. r. II. Mckim, president of
the diocesan convention. has the authority
30 issue call to reconvene the conven-
ion for another election of bishop.
Under the constitution governing the
ocal diocese il is stated. when there is
10 bishop the standing committee would
ordinarily decide on the call for the gath
ering. Realizing, however. that Bishop
Brent might not accept. the conventio
asst May which elected him aG iourn ID
'ubject TO the call of the presiding officer
BY this action. Rev DIR. McKim. who
was the presiding officer. is authorized to
feconvene the convention, and it will be
the same convention. This makes unnec-
.ssary the election of delegates by the
Tarious churches of the diocese
Expected to Call Convention.
AS to when the convention will be held.
the men temporarily in charge of the
Affairs of the diocese declare they have not
determined. 1t Il pointed out by some
that many prominent and influential
delegates to the diocesan convention bot
clerical ana lay. are away or will be
away before it could be called into special
session. Several have gone TO the Pan
Anglican conference in London. while
others have moved to summer homes
away from Washington
On the other hand. it is declared by
others the diocese is in need of bishop
as soon as one can be elected and there
should be no delay in holding a conven-
tion Tor the purpose Unless il is held
at once, il is declared. it cannot be held
until fall, when the delegates return from
their summer vacations. On account or
the forma'ties following the election by
the diocesan convention. that would. il
Is stated leave the diocese without !,
bishop until far into the winter
Election of Bishop Brent.
Bishop Brent was elected BY the local
diocesan convention on the second hal
oil on the afternoon of May g. On the
first ballot he received SO OF the 7s
clerical ballots. and 3o OF the "A Law
ballots. lacking only one clerical and three
lay votes to be elected. He had a coo,
margin when chosen on the second h,,
ot receiving AZ of the 16 clerical ,ot &c
and IL OF the =. lay votes
Notification of his election was c.lIad
o him at once by Rcvs. X. H. Mckim and
\. 5. Jones. president and secretary re-
specuveiy. OF the convention His renl,
BY cable, was:
Your great call under consideration
ny duty not Yet clear. As God bids |
viii do
HIS decliuation. IL is stated will cause
nnch keen and genuine regret in this cit =
and other parts OF the diocese His eler
ion was followed by much Favorable
eminent.
BISHOP POTTER TIT