The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-04-27
CASE OF CRAPSEY.
Argument Is Begun in the Heresy
Trial at Batavia, n. Y.

Batavia, N r. April 27.-The testi-
mony in support of Rev. Algernon S.
Crapsey, charged with heresy, having
been concluded by the ecclesiastical
court which is trying him, counsel
today began their arguments. Frank
lin D. Locke began the summing up
for the prosecution by saying:
I'VE maintain that the apostles
creed forms part of the faith of the
Protestant Episcopal church. and
every clergyman in this church must
accept every concrete statement con-
tanned therein. It is intolerable to
think that any clergyman of this
church can declare in his church in
the morning that he believes these
things and to utter his denial of them
in the evening. It is admitted by the
defense that DR.. Crapsey does not be-
heve some of the statements contained
in this creed. Then this is no church
for him. He can go to the synagogue,
or to some other church. We DO not
challenge his belief. but we do chaI-
lenge his right to fill his official posi-
ton in the church while he holds
these views. We say he should go.
This Is the attitude of the prosecution.
DR.. Crapsey's life IS and has been of
the highest, bus this only magnifies his
offense, for such a man must hold
himself higher than others
After reading to the court a state
ment Of Dr. Crapsey, Congressman
Perkins addressed the court for the
defense. He said in part:
TT is the church itself which is on
trial here today. We believe there is
room In this church for godly men,
that DR.. Crapsey and Bishop Walker
"a n cid hxr sir in of
Christ's kingdom.
who believes" Mr. Perkins asked,
after reviewing in detail the charges
and specifications, that the world was
created in six days, that the sun goes
around the earth, and that at the word
of q man the sun stood still?
THE fifteenth specification against
DR.. Crapsey says that true religion Is
to visit the fatherless and the widow,
and to keep himself unspotted from
the world such is the wording of the
scriptures itself. If 1t is hereby to be
Gods work to declare that true reli
gion consists in relieving the distressed
and leading a pure life, then for
heresy we will be condemned
Later in the address he said:
'If the position of counsel for the
prosecution is correct any person who
deviates in the least from any printed
words from the literal signification of
any phrase in the book of common
prayer must be expelled from the
church
HThere is not a 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 it.
"A wise Latitude to pious belief in
telligent study has been an element in
our church. we may hope with rev
erence that man like DR.. Crapsey
would be received into the kingdom
by the rule which Christ himself has
laid down. It is for you to say wheth-
er q man who we may trust, would be
deemed a fit person to sit in Chrfsts
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-
1ieved by all the world.
.'Our conception of religion becomes
truer and stronger as scientific pro-
gress shows that the Almighty has
acted with infinite wisdom"
Mr.. Perkins laid particular stress on
a certain clause of the service for the
ordination of priests wherein the
bishop asks the applicant: Are you
determined to teach nothing as neces-
sary to eternal salvation. but what you
shall be persuaded may be concluded
and proved by the scriptures -
"a man is told" he continued, "to
study the scriptures for himself and to
interpret them, not according to what
he is told by others, but according to
what he is persuaded may be concFud-
ed and proved therefrom. These words
are plain and clear; there Is no mis-
taking them, but according to the
presentment of the prosecution Dr.
Crapsey must break this vow as above
set forth.