Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-17
Diocesan Convention Will Be
Held November 10.
TRINITY CHURCH THE PLACE
Standing Committee Meets and
Makes Arrangements.
MAY BE NEW CANDIDATES
Text of the Letter of Declination
Written by Rev. DR.. Alex
ander Mann.

or the purpose OF eIecttng q Bishop OF
Washington the diocesan convention will
meet In Trinity Church. Sd and streets
northwest. Tuesday. November TO-
The date and place were decided on at
a meeting of the standing committee OF
the diocese this afternoon In the Church
of the Epiphany. Rev. Randolph H. Nc
KIM president of the committee. pre-
sided.
AT the next session the rectors and lay
representatives of the Episcopal churches
of the diocese will choose a man for the
position thrice declined-twice by Bishop
Charles Henry Brent of the Philippines
and once by Rev. DIR. Alexander Mann,
rector of Trinity Church. Boston.
May Be New Candidates.
AS the declination of DR.. Mann was in
the nature Of surprise. there has been
little discussion of candidates 10 be pre-
scented to the next session of the conven-
ton. 1t is expected. however. that sew
eral of the men who showed strength at
the last meeting will again be nominated,
and new rectOrs be suggested.
To avoid further declination of office,
it has been suggested that a statement be
obtained from the candidates before the
convention meets. as to whether they will
accept or not, II CHOSEN. 10 this, local
rectors reply:
Would you visit a young lady and
ask her If she will accept proposal Of
marriage from you in the event you do
not ask several others you have in mind
The membership of the next convention.
as that OF the three which have preceded
1t.
Letter Of Declination.
DR.. Mann said in his letter declining the
bishopric of Washington:
my Dear Dr. McKim: You will re-
member that as we parted l assured the
committee of notification that the cleo
ton to the bishopric of Washington.
with which the convention had honored
me, would be my chief and absorbing
concern until a decision was reached.
Il believed then that time and wise
council. and. above ALL prayer and quiet
thought. would gradually make the right
decision clear.
den you with q long. detailed account OF
the many considerations that have united
to bring me to this conclusion. l know
you will believe me when l say that l
have tried to face this question fairly
and to listen with an open mind to ali!
the arguments in favor of acceptance
which have been advanced by the COM
mittee of notification. and by bishops
and clergymen and laymen whom l trust
and honor.
Work to Do in Boston.
II may perhaps be permitted to say, IN
passing. that the fact that l have not
much more than begun my work here
for three years Is but a short time in
the life of minister and people, has had
weight with me: and. also, that it has
been brought home increasingly to me
that Trinity Church stands for some-
thing more in the thought and affection
OF the Christian people of New England
copal Church. 1 can speak of this fact
because 1t has been none of my doing,
but has come to me as a great inherit
ance, for whose use / am responsible
May add my dear doctor that l am not
insensible to the delay and the possible
perplexity which this action Of mine may
cause to the diocese of Washington.
While 1 sincerely regret this. 1 cannot
feel that such considerations should be
allowed to have weight in influencing so
serious a decision.
Let me say in closing that have been
deeply moved by this expression of con-
fdence on the part Of the clergy and
laity Of the diocese of Washington, and
that l have felt the present need and
the noble possibilities Of the work to
which they have invited me. But
through 1t all there has been q conscious
ness and a growing conviction that my
work for Christ and His church lies here.
and thank God that l am able to reach
this decision with a quiet mind.
Il remain, my dear DOCTOR with high
regard and esteem.
ALEXANDER MANN"
October Is. 19Os.''