Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-02
Satterlee's Wiew.
Speaks His Mind Crapsey Case and Do Number Of
Other Local Protestant Episcopal Cergymen.

No recent heresy trial in this country has
| excited so much general interest as the
celebrated Crapsey case just concluded in
New York. DR.. Algernon S. Crapsey has
since his conviction declared that there are
hundreds of other clergymen in the Protes
tant Episcopal Church who hold beliefs as
radical as his.
number of local clergymen, including
Bishop Satterlee. were interviewed yes
terday by a Star reporter as to their atti
tude toward DR.. Crapsey.
Bishop Henry Yates Satterlee of the do
cese of Washington has hitherto refused to
state his views on the Crapsey case pub
licly, but in an interview with a Star re-
porter last evening he declared his position
unequivocally. .
when man is ordained and takes his
ordination vows" said the bishop, .'he is
put in position of trust by the church,
and he should fulfill those duties which
have been intrusted to him. If he cannot
do SO, l certainly think that he ought to
retire from the ministry.
with regard to questions of doctrine, the
points in which DIR. Crapsey held an indie
pendent opinion were on the facts of the
apostles and Nicene creeds.
These are not doctrines in which there
are OilleItilCeS VI OE'liilolI III tiIc Niiui III
but doctrines which the church has set
forth all through her prayer books and
therefore, in my opinion, he had nothing
to do but to resign If he could not teach
prayer book doctrines.
Rev. Dr. c. Ernest Smith, rector of st.
Thomas p. E. Church, had this to say OF
the CrapSey verdict:
with regard to this case of Rev Dr.
Crapsey, it has received altogether too
much attention. The Protestant Episcopal
Church holds certain doctrines as divine
ly taught. To teach these doctrines is
her business. Year by year she is admit
ting to her highest offices men who are
charged to preach and teach these truths
to her people. But of all the thousands
she admits to this sacred charge she adj
mits. none without solemn professions Of
his full belief in those doctrines and his
own heartfelt desire to spread them
abroad. DR.. Crapsey took this oath and
professed this desire. On this understand
ing he received his office and was assigned
an income and sphere of labor.
Now, forsooth, he tells US he has changed
his opinions. Well, we can't condemn him
for that. But, 10, he suggests that though
he can no longer preach the doctrines of
the Episcopal Church he be allowed to
hold on to his position, his income, his in
fiuence as minister of that church, and
Sunday by Sunday attack her church be-
lief under her special probation. A more
pitiable exhibition of unwilingness to
sacrifice anything for ones religious be-
lief don't recall having seen. 1 should have
supposed that if all the bishops and clergy
men in the United States had begged Dr.
Crapsey to notwithstanding the POSSIBLE
ity of such a thfng-he would have said:
NO. gentlemen, 1 honest man,
though you regard me as hereto. 1
can't remain with you. can't from
within destroy the fort which protects me.
must get out, out with the others. where
can fight fairly and squarely and then
do my best to convert you all from the
orr n
This would have been honest, straight
forward and noble and it is what We had
right to expect But this other is pitt
able. Why, DR.. C.rapsey is not the stuff
of which martyre are made. Going out,
he would have covered himself with honor.
Clinging to his emoluments until they were
taken from his grasp he has lost the one
chance he had to make a place for his
creed in the hearts Of men, who, above all
things are impressed by the sincerity of a
man true to his belief at whatever cost"
Rev. w. NJ. Pettis, rector of Grace Epis-
copal Church, 32d street below NJ north
west, said:
my views upon that question are fixed.
Mr.. Crapsey, If he had been as honest as he
claims to be, when he discovered that he
was a unitarian instead Of trinitarian.
would have left the church he represented
just as any man would abandon any
thing in which he does not believe. Mr.
Crapsey. in failing to give up his office
has given me cause not to place confidence
in him."
Rev. James H. w. Blake, rector of Christ
Episcopal Church, o and 31st streets,
said to a Star reporter that he did not care
to be quoted in any way on the subject of
the Crapsey affair.
Rev. Frederick B. Howden, rector of st.
Johns Episcopal Church, Potomac avenue
and o street, said:
There is absolutely no question as to
how 1 feel about this thing. At the trial
Dr. Crapsey received just what he deserv-
ea in my opinion. The judgment rendered