New-York tribune., 1905-11-18
WILL NOT TRY CRAPSEY.
Heresy Charges Not Sustained by
MAJORITY Report of Committee.
TBy Telegraph to. The Triuune. l

Buffalo, Nov. 1.-THE Rev. DR.. Algernon s. Crap
sey, rector of ST. Andrews Protestant Episcopal
Church. Of Rochester is not to be brought to
trial Tor heresy and violation OF account
OF his theory Of Spiritual interpretation and
vocacy of the opinions of extreme rationalistic
school Of theology. Bishop William D. Walker
OF Western New-York. living in this city has
ceived report to that effect from a majority Of
the committee OF the ecclesiastical court appointed
to investigate the charges. There is a minority
report, which declares that DR.. Crapsey should be
brought to trial account of his utterances in
book entitled Religion and Politics" 1t is like
~ that the majority report will stand and that
the will be dropped.
Two months ago q committee composed of James
W. Ashton. Edward NJ. Duff, Eugene ]. Babcock.
Philip w. Mosher and Edwin s. Hoffman began
examination of the Rev. DR.. Crapseys sermon
lectures. published in his book. Religion and
Politics." and certain articles in "The Outlook.
entitled Honor Among Clergynen," and reply
to the Rev. DR.. Edward Abbott After much cor
respondence the committee obtained two af1da-
Wits by presbyters of the diocese, setting forth con-
versations which they had had with DR.. Crapsey in
which he is said have denied the Articles OF the
Christian faith and cast doubts upon the CREDIBLE
ity Of certain portions Of the Gospel narrative
The only evidence offered in support of these con-
versations was the clergyman's published writings
The report says in part:
It painfully evident that certain passages in
these bi TTbhg1b he to- the Chris
tan faith.
d
man who easily surrenders himself to his intel
ectuai vagaries, and the thing which for the
time being agPsars to him to bs true ne o adV9ea5s
up with the theory Of spiritual Interpretation,
and opinions of the extreme rationalistic school
His writings Indicate that while he recites and
afirms his belief In the creeds Of the Church; ne
virtually sets aside the historical sense IN whlGa men
Church and for it he substitutes, spiritual in
ity for which Christianity stands. while dsmssng ing
Indifferent the historical facts asserted in the
creeds, Your committee is unanimous IN 1ts con-
demnation OF the Rev. DR.. Crapseys position In this
Instead OF keeping his ordination VOW. he is sub
stitutng his own individual convictions for ths
Church's message, to the great grief and hurt of
Church's pulpit opinions and theories upon which
the scholarship of the Christian world is not
agreed and which belong to the university and the
and polity of the Church by claiming the right 10
teach in place OF the doctrine as received by this
Church whatever may appear TO him individually
TO be true
The committee declares that after careful con-
sideration of the affidavits they decided that 1t
would be unwfse and inquistorial to found charge
Of heresy upon statements Of private conversations
held without witnesses. The committee disagreed
on the value as evidence of certain passages from
Religion and Politics" Three members thought
that the book did not contain sufficient evidence
TO secure a conviction in of trial for heresy
THE book is not professedy a doctrinal trea-
tfse' they say, effort to interpret the his
tory of Christianity from the point OF view OF GER
tain critical scho2 1t Is dfnce ere 10 6e beIIef
of the author whether he is expressing What
he esteems fact Of history or is stating the opn
and much depends upon the meaning which the
author assigns this or that word
Mr. Duff believe there sufficient grounds for
the presentment of the heresy charge and sum-
cent evidence to secure q conviction IN case OF
trial