The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-04-15

DIR. ALGERNoN S. cRAPsEY,
s Episcopal Clergyman to Be Tried for s
Heresy Next Tuesday. i
Ssxxxs;ex:xx w 70 a>,sax:s;*saS:
Special to The Journal.
5. Buffalo, N. Y, April IA heresy
trial begins next Tuesday at Batavia,
s n Y. which promises to be of more
than usual Importance. Indeed it has
been said that in the entire history OF
1 the Episcopalian church in this country
there has been no trial of such far
reaching Importance. Many regard it
as fight to the death between the con-
servative and liberal elements of the
church.
= The trial is that of Rev. DR.. Alger-
non S. Crapsey. Most serious of the
charges made against Dr.. Crapsey is
his denial of the miraculous birth Of
Christ made in sermon delivered in
his church in Rochester year ago and
afterward published in book form under
the title "Religion and Politics.
Soon after the delivery of this sermon
charges were preferred against him, but
three of q committee of five clergymen
appointed to determine whether. he
should be placed on trial voted against
taking such action.
Ministers who were Mortified at the
enunciation Of such doctrine would
49, not let the matter rest there, however,
and laid the matter before Bishop
Walker of Buffalo, with the result that
an ecclesiastical court was named to
try him on the heresy charges. If con-
j. bishop, suspended, or even removed
from the church.
~. What DR.. .Crapsey Said.
"Belief in the inerrancy of the Bible
is no longer possible Dr. Crapsey has
said, "to an educated man or for any
one, in fact, who reads the Bible with
1t does not need profound scholarship,
it only requires common sense, to see
that the Bible is not the miraculous
book which orthodox theology asserts it
to be. 1t is not the higher critic, it is
the ordinary modern reader who has
reverently placed his Bible among the
great literatures Of the world and finds
immensely by the operation. He can
read his Bible now with pleasure and
profit, since in reading he does not have
to outrage his intelligence.
: 'EIn the light of scientific research,
the founder Of Christianity no longer
stands apart from the common destiny
of man in life and death, but he is in
all things physical like we are, born as
we are born, dying as we die, and both
in life and death in the keeping Of that
same divine power, that heavenly
fatherhood, which delivers us from the
womb and carries us down to the grave.
When we come to know Jesus in his
historical relations we see that miracle
is not help, it is hindrance, to an
Intelligent comprehension of his person,
his character and his mission. We are
not alarmed, we are relieved when
scientific history proves to US the fact
of his miraculous birth was unknown to
himself. unknown to his mother and
81 unknown to the whole Christian com
munity of the first generation.
. 80 Believing this, we are no longer
compelled to look upon the scientific
81 movement as irreligious, but are able to
see in it greater confirmation of re-
ligion; a scientific religion, based not
only upon sporadic miracle but upon an
eternal law. We are no longer com
PEELED PEELED to look for ~, our God il, il some
. but to lift up our eyes to see him in
the outgoings of the evenings and the
mornings Of all the days of our pilgrim
age. -
On Edge Of New Movement.
- To-day the denominations, as we'll as
the national churches,'' Mr.. Crapsey
said, in another sermon which aroused
bitter criticism, Eare failing to satisfy
the demands Of the new age, and per
sons are leaving them by the million
and are seeking new forms for the ex
preston of their spiritual and moral
life. It is in vain that the churches
and denominations plead their age in
Justification Of their authority; fol
their age, is the one thing that is
against them. It is because they are
old and have lost their power of adapt
ability that they are losing their hold
upon the. Intelligence Of men. The
ing today upon their past achievements
Men honor them and reverence then
more for what they have done than fol
1--WE are upon A1 the threshold Of 8
movement that shall carry mankind tt
"a higher stage Of being. No one i
sat with the present conditions
angered. The time is at hand fol
preaching the gospel to the poor. W.
4 will build no more cathedrals OF
\ churches, if we can help It, until W,
L have delivered the poor man from the
slu stun and the sweatshop. We will SEM
no missionaries to the heather to preach
Christ whose name we glorify bu
chose teachings we despise. We vii
not ask the people to come to ou
churches until our churches are purified
from corrupt commerciaIsm. Whe1
our Christian merchants close thief
stores at a decent hour on Saturda,
nights then we can expect to hav,
hearty worship on Sunday morning
Il When these same merchants pay prope
wages to the girls and women whom
they employ, SO that these same girl
and women are In no danger of havin,
to sell their souls to keep their bodie
i alive; when we, have honesty in trad
and open dealings in corporations, why
then, and not till then, will the peopi
think Of coming to the churches. VIVA
we need is a moral and spiritual refor
nation, and we need it at once. !. Gu
d church.state is in danger. The abomi
nation, Of desolation is in the hol,
Il place
1t is upon these utterances aud other
{ like them that the charges against Dr.
Grapsey are based, and not only tn,
Episcopal church. but all other churche