Sixteen years ago a handsome young Episcopal rector of Christ Church, Macon, Ga., heard that his name was up for nomination to the Bishopric of Florida. He withdrew his name, protesting that he was "much too young." Thirteen years later, Oliver James Hart III, now rector of St. John's ("The Church of the Presidents") in Washington, D. C., again declined, this time to become Bishop Coadjutor of Tennessee. In the next 16 months he turned down two more bishoprics: the Dioceses of Central New York and Delaware.
Last week President Roosevelt wrote a letter regretting that Dr. Hart had accepted an offer....