New-York tribune., 1901-06-12
A HEREsY CASE IN MONTREAL.
PROFESSOR sTEEN BRINGS CIVIL sun
AGAINST ARCHBISHOP BOND FOX
RFTNtSTATEMENT

Montreal. june u CspeciaD.-A civil action was
entered in the courts here to-day by the Kev. r
] steen against Archbishop Bond the e'to'ol'a"
of the Anglican Church. The sut ASKS -o' '
cancellation Of the order Of Inhibition fecel.s
levelled against Mr steen by the archnishop' lhe
veinstatenpent OF the petitioner in his rghts as
clergyman I'm the diocese Of Montreal ana 'n'
awarding Of nominal damages 10 MI Sleeh ioi
Injuries caused him by the action o. the AT
The case will he tried first in the Superior court
here hut. however the decision goes the case wa wa
he fought 10 a finish before the iinie''0' '''''
Council.
The conflict between Mr. Steen and the ecclesi-
astical authorities Of the Anglican thurch III '.'7
diocese has now been going on Tor seFeIal Hol'ns'
and has excited a deal ~ bitterness; me 80. ElF
nsiorirE 81 me laymeu of the diocese being active
sympathizers with Mr Steen; while me ,,S 80 II
almost a unit in support or me al .t1' - j.
has already disrupted one congregation l ai9 a
likely 70 do more damaee he,oIe ll' h't % - ~ 5lI-
Gated n tho United States Five years ago ne cathe
in tbe Diocesan College. he was also appointed
special preacher al The cathedral ano as su'9 -. 20
came a favorite with the public. Professor Siteh
is ttroag @ i.1i nm, and tba present day
rradrional beliefs in conformity with the chang
sng conditions His preaching gave considerable
offence 10 the conservative minded elersA men
and last January the governing ooaIa OF -rL! Ne
college. though Differed 10y the disnitaries Of the
Church. is really private insilGt!2h ~ ~ana IneIe
was no appeal from ie acton "t me S, ii
Professor Steen received no chance 10 defend MN
and he condemned on nOlfS taken 10y 4
student the accuracy Of which he challenged The
teaching which gave offence % the board the chiet
members Of which Archbishop Bond. Bishop
Mills, OF Ontario and Dean CarmichaelS, OF Non
freal, his assertion OF the rght ot the human
mind review Tho judgments or the pslnlltlNe
church fundamentals such as the inspiration ana
authority Of the Scriptures and the divinity of
Christ. Professor Stseu affirmed his belief IN the
divinity of Christ accepting on this point the md
ings OF SchlcicrmaCh while he held that the
Bible though containing the word ot GOD, was not
literally inspired In the old meaning OF the word
The circumstances of Professor StcenS GlsialsSal
excited much indignation among hs friends, ana
the vestry Of Christ Church Cathedral by prac-
rically unanimous vote asked the rector. Arch
deacon Norton. nominate him assistant MN
lister. This he did very reluctantly. hut the arctl-
zised Mr. Steen seek more tneral diocese ana
asked him his special license as preacher
This Mr. Steen refused To Do. The NestfN %; .hrlSt
Church Cathedral demanded from the archbishop
4 specific statement Of his reasons for refusing
his consent 40 air Stems appointment and In reply
Mr. Sfeeu'S teachings al the college We're gwen as
the chief cause or the REFUSAL NJ olttL liIeH
wrote a strongly Norlcd protest. - ne archbishop
demurring against being condemned WITHOUT helis
allowed to defend himself, and challenging any or
his critics prefer charge Of hcresy AGAINST hlIn
in the ecclesiastical courts The arChhsnopS reply
10 this was nhihit Nh. Steen from the exercise
OF his functions In the diocese ot Montreal
Mr.. Steen'S friends have bitterly resented the
treatment extended To him They point out that
no person has formerly preferred "a charge oi false
doctrine against Mr. Steen. Vet by the exercise OF
an authority which they regard as arbitrary he has
been dismissed from his position in the college and
rur under the ban In the diocese Their indignation
has found eNpres.ion in various ways. They have
withdrawn a body from Christ Church Cathedral.
reducing thai Con-aegatlon To a mere skeleton. ana
they have raised fund 10 enable Mr- Steen 10
challenge the arChblShOpS action IN the tNu courts
The affair will also come Up al the next meeting
of the Synod. when Mr. Stecns friends viii the
opinion Of that body as 10 the archbishops course