Sentence:  “[…] This is Mr. Churchill, who, as you are aware, is good enough to come to us for his diaconate, and, as we hope, for much longer; and being a gentleman of independent means, he <WSD>declines</WSD> to take any payment.” Saying this Walden rubbed his hands together and smiled contentedly. 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  To refuse, forbear.