Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-09
VISIT B|SHOP-ElECT
Committee Chairman Tells of
Trip to Boston.
MEMBERS URGE ACCEPTANC
Formally Present Call of Diocesan
Convention.
DIR. MANN WILL REPLY LATER
Says He Desires Time for Considera-
tion-Means to Consult Leading
Clergy and Laymen.
MEMBERS URGE ACCEPTANC
DIR. MANN WILL REPLY LATER

Without obtaining from Rev. DR..
Alexander Mann. rector of Trinity Church.
Boston. definite answer to the call to
become the Bishop OF Washington. the
representatives Of the diocese returned
| from the Hub today.
The needs and claims of the local diocese
were presented to the Boston rector for an
hour and half yesterday morning. His
reply was that he desired further time to
consider the call and to consult with
prominent clergymen and laymen of the
Episcopal Church. He made no definite
statement to the committee as to when
he will announce his answer to the call.
| Rev. DR.. r. H. Mckim. president of the
diocesan convention which elected DR..
Mann to the bishopric. and chairman of
the committee appointed to urge the Bos-
| ton rector to accept the high Office today
told Star reporter of the interview with
DR.. Mann yesterday.
Call by Appointment.
The committee representing the conven-
ton, composed of the president of the
convention, Rev. DIR. Roland Cotton Smith
and Mr.. Melville Church. accompanied by
the committee appointed by the cathedral
board consisting of Rev. DR.. Alfred Hard
Ing and Rev. DIR. Bratenahl. called on Dr.
Mann by appointment at Trinity rectory
Boston, yesterday morning at 9:3O O'Clock
On behalf Of the committee. Dr. Mckim
| made long and earnest presentation of
the claims Of the diocese of Washington.
and ne was followed in a similar vein by
DIR. Smith and Mr. Church. DR.. Harding
and DR.. Bratenahl also spoke earnestly
in advocacy of acceptance of the call of
the diocese.
Every consideration. 1t is explained. was
urged strongly and with deep feeling on
DR.. Mann, who listened to the presenta-
| ton with profound attention.
DR.. Mann Makes Statement
"Dr. Mann then addressed the commit
| tee briefly. but in feeling terms. express
ing his deep appreciation of the honor
done him by the unexpected call to the
| great diocese of Washington" DR.. Nc
Kim remarked. He said he must take
| time for careful consideration: that the
subject was new to him. as only six days
before had he any idea he would be sum-
moned to this great post. He told the
committee of the strong pleas urged on
him. not only by his own church and the
city of Boston generally. but from men
of mark all over New England. All these
things demanded at his hands careful
consideration. he said. and he felt that he
| must consult the leading men of both the
clergy and the laity outside of his own
diocese before arriving at his decision.
1.-The chairman of the committee from
| Washington then assured DR.. Mann that
| the interview with him had only deepened
and streni hened the conviction that he
was the man for the cathedral chair of
Washington. but that we wished to put
| no pressure upon him to hasten his de-
cision. We felt that he must take all the
| time he considered necessary to consider
the question in all its bearings, and that
we hoped and believed that the longer he
considered the matter the more he would
come to believe that the summons was
the call Of God. which he would feel con-
| strained to accept"
Special Dispatch to The Star.
BOSTON. Mass, October 9.-Rev DR..
Alexander Mann. rector Of Trinity
Church, Boston, who was formally noti-
fed yesterday by the Washington COM
mittee of his election to the bishopric of
the Washington diocese, declared last
night that he was swayed in two direc-
tions that were both highly attractive to
him. Whether he will decline the high
call to the Washington office or retain
his present station at the head of Boston's
strongest Episcopal church, he says, is a
question that he cannot decide at once.
THE thought COMES to me that per-
haps have not completed my mission at
| Trinity. I feel that have been here only
long enough-three years this month-to
gain the thorough acquaintance of the
members Of the parish and cooperation
in the highest degree.
Serious Matter to Break Unity.
Now the church and its rector are at
work together in complete harmony, and
it Is a serious matter to break up the
| unity of spirit.
Z 1T may be a week or even longer be-
| fore will be ready to give my answer
| to the Washington committee"
Il is known that much pressure of per-
sonal nature has been brought to bear
with a view to retaining DIR. Mann in
Boston To friends he has confided that
nothing but a call like the one from
Washington would he seriously consider.
Which way he will decide no one knows.
way he will decide no one knows, and he
| and he himself declares he does not know.