Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-05-01
Perkins Begins His Address.

After reading to tho court state
ment OF DR.. Crapsey Congressman Per
kins addressed the court for the de-
Tense. He said in part: "This is the
church itself which Is on trial here to-
day. We believe there is room in this
church for godly men; that Or. Crapsey
and Bishop Walker can live side by
side in the spread of Christ's kingdom
"Who believes that the world was
created in six days, that the sun goes
around the earth and that at the word
of a man the sun stood still?
III 1t is heresy to obey Gods word,
to declare that true religion consists
in relieving the distressed and leading
a pure life, then for heresy we will be
condemned"
Later in the address he said: eff the
position Of counsel for the prosecution
is correct any person who deviates In
the least from any printed words from
the literal signif1cation Of any phrase
In the book Of common prayer must
be expelled from the church
There is not person in our church,
there Is not one person in the court
who believes the apostles creed as it
was believed by the men who framed
1t.
Claims Latitude for Pious Beliefs.
IA wise latitude to pious belief in
intelligent study has been an element
in our church. We may hope, with
reverence, that man like DR.. Crapsey
would be received into the kingdom by
the rule which Christ himself has laid
down. 1t is for you to say whether a
man who we may trust would be
deemed fit person to sit In Christ's
kingdom in heaven should be cast out
of Christ's church on earth.
What fifty years ago was believed
by many to be heretical Is now be-
lleved by all the world. Our concep-
ton of religion becomes trler and
stronger as scientific progress shows
that the Almighty has acted with In
finite wisdom"
Mr. Perkins laid particular stress up
on certain clause Of the service for
the ordination Of priests wherein the
bishop asks the applicant: "ASe you
determined to teach nothing as neces-
sary to eternal salvation but that
which you shall be persuaded may be
concluded and proved by the scrip
lures"
crapseys Answer to Charge.
Mr. Perkins read statement writ
ten by DR.. Crapsey in reply to the
presentment brought against him. It
was a clear definition of his convic-
tions, and was listened to with the
greatest interest.
"The charges that are preferred
against me-" DR.. Crapsey wrote, ire
late not at all to the gospel of Christ,
but am accused of denying certain
articles of the creed.
"a formal creed was necessary to
the church only when the church be-
came great political institution, re-
ceiving unto itself multitudes Of peo-
pie whom it has to discipline, and the
creed was formed for the purpose of
presenting simple outline for the
catechetical instructions Of candidates
for baptism. The creed. of and by it.
self, is not presentment of the word
of God to the people, 1t is simply an
assertion of certain facts about God.
II we had the creed only, and no
further knowledge we could know
nothing at4all Of the gospel of Christ.
1t tells US nothing whatsoever of the
nature of God-whether he is good or
bad.
His View on Incarnation.
ut has been asserted that / have
denied the incarnation Of Jesus Christ,
our Lord; nay, have not denied; /
have asserted the incarnation. If the
word was made flesh and dwelt among
us in Jesus Christ our Lord, then that
nesh was human flesh and human
blood. and the flesh In which the word