New-York tribune., 1906-11-27
FOR 4 LIBERAL CHURCH.
Episco pa1ians Hope to See More
Freedom for Preachers.

Indications are that the resignation of the Rev
mr. AIpernon s Crapsey of Rochester, after his
conviction of heresy by an ecclesiastical court
will set in motion an effort within the Episcopal
Church to broaden and liberalize it's tenets
George Foster Peabody said yesterday that
while TO steps had beer taken in that direction
yet n meeting OF men who desired more liberal
Church faith was likely. to discuss the sentence
pronounced son DR.. Crapsey and its bearing on
themselves and the general situation within the
Church.
Conferences Of a similar nature some time ago
resulted in the putting forth of a paper signed
by many clergymen and laymen of the Episcopal
Church advocating the liberalizing of the Church
beliefs and the giving of freedom to clergymcn
to preach their beliefs freely. The spirit Of that
document was that the great truth was SO firmly
established that slight individual differences OF
expression regarding it not greatly inlpor-
tant, and that any radical departure from
preaching fundamental religious truths would
soon be discovered and lose its quality of harm.
If the sentiment described By MI ~ ody
yesterday crystallizes. it will be a carrying out
of the ideas set forth in that paper Suggestions
were heard among Episcopalians last night that
DR.. Crapsey might devote his time to forming
some kind of an organization among the church
men to effect this change and working with
liberty which his judges denied to him.
Mr.. Peabody said that there existed among
the clergy of the Episcopal Church, and particu-
larly among the laymen, great desire that there
De more liberty within the Church and that
minister be permitted TO express his own inter
pretation of the Scriptures Letters to him
constantly, he went on, in which laymen showed
theif dissatisfaction with the existing conditions.
Inc sentiment was growing fast that there
should be a change, he said. He continues;
There has been no call sent out for any meet
lhS but 1t is quite likely that few of us who
are oeeply interested in this phase of the ques
ton will get together after full copies of the
declsion in DR.. Crapseys received, to
TAX 1t over and see what's to be done about it.
Wen naturally want to discuss it, and see just
now Ii affects us. 1t won't affect the standing
OF any OF us now in the Church. L don't antici-
pate any withdrawal from the Church of any
OF the more liberal minded but we have i'll mind
young men who may want to enter our Church
personally feel quite liberty to think as /
Piease on these subjects. Many others-good
Eplscopalians-believe they, too, are at liberty
10 build their own thoughts even though they
may not think just | do on certain points.
Eventually, this will have to resolve itself into
one of two propOSitiOns-eitherw Wen come TO the
homanst view, where the Pope decides on all
points Of religious belief and since he is in
fallibe, all his loyal followers accept his doc
trlnes Just because they are members of that
faith whether they happen to agree with his
decslons or not. or else wc'll have to have our
church so that each member of 1t NAV have
freedom of expression for his religious beliefs
1T is inevitable that there will be many shades
OF peIlef, possibly as many there individ-
uaIs L don't believe these particular points
just as DR.. Crapsey does, and others will not
peieVe as do To my mind 1t appears that the
welfare of the Church demands liberty for each
man in expressing his views.
ms decision in DR.. Crapsey's case will not
afect me personally, or others like me. who
laNor liberal range of thought on theological
questions We Will remain in the Church unless
somebody wants to prefer charges against us as
they did against DR.. Crapsey. Personally I
thnk would fight them taking the case into
were preferred against US, the results might not
he the same as in Dr. Crapsey's case. The per
soma nae EQUATION must enter into the question and
a court or review In this diocese might not give
the same decision as 1t did In his diocese
Inc question OF liberal treatment of theologi-
cal SUBJECTS is especially serious I'm It's applics-
tlon 10 young men who are about to enter the
ministry. If they find that our church binds
then rlgldly to its tenets and permits no lati-
tuoe or treatment or discussion, they must
hesitate and may enter some other church which
- more hberal-the Presbyterian for Instance
"h1cn has become a broad church and has
ADOPTED form of worship practically liturgy
winch IS attractive to worshippers.
Mr.. Peabody said that he thought the vows
or preacher should not be considered more
binding on him than the vows taken by a lay
member OF the church. but that too great ad-
herence was required to the doctrnal points of
the church.
All that may be changed In time" he said
~ may even be necessary TO change these
things by legislation"
Il don't know what DIR. Crapsey's plans are
said Mr.. Peabody except that probably he will
take a long rest. 1t will be pitful leavetaking
ior MIN next Sunday, when he must break the
ties that bind him to 800 families there In his
church. L remember two years ago when I
went UP to speak at his twenty fifth anniver-
saIy the Mayor or Rochester told me that fully
one-quarter of Rochester owed its salvation to
DR.. Crapsey."