Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-07-10
BRENT GIVES HIS REASONS
EXPLAINS WHY HE DECLINED
FIRST ELECTION HERE
Long Letter From Bishop of the
Philippines to Rev. DR.. McKim
Made Public.

| In long letter which has just been
received here. Rt. Rev. Charles Henry
| Brent, Bishop of the Philippines and
| twice elected Bishop of Washington. sets
| forth his reasons for declining his first
election TO the local episcopate. The let
Ter was written to Rev. Dr. Randolph n.
| McKim. president OF the diocesan con-
vention here. and was sent from Manila
| the day after Bishop Brent cabled his
declination.
DIR. McKim received the letter this
morning upon his return from trip TO
Colorado.
The letter shows that Bishop Brent had
made up his mind to decline the local
bishoprc some time before he sent his
decision, but that he was delayed in an
nouncing it by n cablegram from the sec
rotary of the diocesan convention here m
structing him to await letters The let
ter. it is also pointed out. indicates that
the rumors that the bishop was hurried
| i'll his decision by a cablegram sent him
by Rev. DR.. Mckim as president of the
diocesan convention have no foundation.
The communication is as follows:
Dear Mr.. McKim: My delay in COM
ing to decision has been chiefly due TO
the cablegram from the secretary OF your
convention. dated Sd of May. saying.
Await letters which / interpreted as ad-
vising me- if in doubt about accepting. to
hold my judgment in suspension until l
could hear from you by nail. l now
find however. that l can hardly hope to
get your letters before the 22d of June.
Moreover my conviction that it is God S
will for me to decline has become so set
tied that it would be an injustice to you
to withhold my answer any longer Hence
my cablegram of yesterday.
Recognizes Missionary Opportunity.
1t is not that I fail to recognize the
spcndor of the missionary opportunity in
Washington and the dignity Of the heri-
taSe which YOU bid me enter-they in
spire me: nor that l shrink from the
tasks and problems of leadership which
YOU invite me to face in company with
you--they challenge me; nor that l do
not oftentimes yearn to serve the church
in the homeland again. am human But
God charges me tOday-the morrow can
take care Of itself-to continue my wit
ness to the high Importance of the far
off missions of the church and the gravity
of the nations responsibility in the orient
by abiding on the spot where l am.
Some day the soft ideal that wooed
Confronts derceIy foe-beset. pursued.
And cries reproachful. Was 1t then my praise
Claim OF thee the promise Of thy youth:
Give me thy life. or cover in empty phrase;
The victim Of thy genius. not its mate.
I'm being loyal to Christ's inner lead
ing here on the church's and the nations
frontier i am serving you at the center
in the most effective way possible, and
rejoice to feel that this is So for / would
dOuble-knot the cord with which your
own hands have bound me to you.
Tribute to Satterlee.
1T was due to the craftsmanship and
insight of your late nobie-hearted bishop
that this missionary district came into
being, and he was, in large measure, re.
sponscible for my coming here. His at
lection for and trust in me, In which /
glory. were deeper than words. 1t is my
desire to justify his confidence in me by
gladly making any sacrifice that God
asks in behalf of the work, even to suf-
fering, or. IL need be, death. The orient
today is rapidly becoming the center OF
the worlds gravest problems. No CAPT.
tai city or seat of government in the
western world can fail to have 1t con-
stantly in its thoughts and deliberations,
no portion of the Christian church can
afford to neglect or discount its ceaseless
appeal to the strong, for help-help that
America with her unparalleled wealth Of
manhood and means Is abundantly able
to give. Hence the cause which / rep
resent, and myself, must always be near
you.
Before this reply reaches you, you will
have been guided by God, trust. to Sc
leader who was destined for you in the
eternal counsels, which I was not. May
God ever bless you and him to the build
ing of His Kingdom among men and
the preservation in righteousness of our
nation together with those weaker peo-
pies for whose well-being, before Him,
II is responsible"