Your very important
communici^a^tions just at hand
and I can assure you that it
is a great surprise to me.
I appreciate the confidence you
have placed in me in thinking
I am worthy of such a calling
but I have weighed an considerd
the matter and finally concluded
that I cannot in justice to my
self and family accept the
mission at present oweing to
my peculiar situation the short
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notice and the lack of money.
It appears to me that whoever
suggested my name to you
could not have stopeped to
consider how little prepared
I am for any thing of a religious
nature as my my chances
for informing my self self
have been very limited and
I am sorry to state I have not
improved the opportunityies
which have been presented.
Hoping your present good
opinion of me will not
diminish. I remain