Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1906-04-17
HIS TRIAL BEGINS TODAY
II He is Found Guilty Of Intentional
Denial Of The TeletS Of the Pro-
t6Stant Episcopal Church,
THERE is BUT ONE PUNISHMENT
And That is Dismissal From
the Church.
NO DISPUTE AS TO WHAT He SAID
Associated Pre's Dispatch by Special Wire,

heaotihteu Iftfh bltihtch uY special wires.
Batavia, n Y. April l7.-The first
trial for heresy in years in the Protestant
Episcopal Church is scheduled TO begin
here today, when Rev Algernon. Sidney
Cmpsey, ID. d.. for 25 years rector of st.
Andrews Church. Rochester. will be
placed on trial before an ecclesiastical
court, charged with utterances from the
pulpit of that church and in print which
are alleged to be in violation of the tenets
Of the Protestant Episcopal faith There
is no dispute as to what DIR. Crapsey said
The question that will be at issue in the
trial is whether or not his questioned
preachings do or do not violate the doc
trines Of the church.
In 1904 and 1905 DR.. Crapsey delivered
a series of sermons. These were after
ward published under his authority,
under the title Religion and Politics
The presentment against him contains
10 extracts from this book, which are the
basis for the charge that he Intentionally
expressed disbelief in these doctrines Of
the church: The divinity Of Christ, the
conceI ton of the Holy Ghost, the Virgin
birth. the bodily resurrection and the
trinity. 4 second specification under
this first charge is that he made utterances
of a like nature as recently as December
3lst last with the same intent to deny the
same doctrines as enunciated in the
Apostles and Nicene Creeds. The second
and last charge in the presentment is that
DIR. Crapsey violated his ordination VOWS
by failing TO conform to the doctrine,
discipline and worship of the Protestant
Episcopal Church. Under the second
specification of the first charge. the utter
ances attributed to him in his December
/ sermon are these:
First-Jesus was born of parents be-
/ longing to the middle class.
Second lie was born Of a simple father
and mother.
Third He was the son of carpenter
/ Fourth--lho fact that the early Chris
tians predicted a miraculous birth tC
| Christ was to be regarded as one OF the
greatest misfortunes that had ever be
fallen mankind.
The truth or falsity of the church Z
doctrines is not to be argued at the trial
! The sole question is whether the thingi
| that DIR. Crapsey said are contrary q
/ those doctrines and did he so intend then
20 be. II is understood that DIR. Crapsey
defence will hold that, under a liberia
| Interpretation Of the creed, he has no
contradicted its doctrines If he is founC
guilty Of intentional denial of the tenets
there is but one punishment dismissa
from thhe church.
The complaint by DR. Crapsey wa
filed by 10 ministers of the Western New
York diocese. Bishop Walker appointe,
a special committee of five to Investigate
IT, The committee reported, three {,
two. against taking any further actioi
against the accused. However, the stand
ing committee of the diocese believed
for the welfare Of the church to have
trial and unanimously decided to hav
one Ii was the standing committee tina
drew up the presentnent. The bisho
approved h.