The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-11-27
CRAPSEY NOT LIKE POTTER.
TIE "HERETIC" NOT A SYBA-
RITE, SAYS EDWARD NJ. SHEPARD.
Declares the Bishop FALSELY n fndeeent-
~ Imputed Things 10 an HOnored Man
\ Advised Against Ntthdrawal when a
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Edward VI. Shepard. who was associated
with j. Brock Perkins OF Rochester as
counsel for the Rev Or. Algerpon Sidney
Crapsey, in the latter's trial ON charges OF
heresy, yesterday issued a statement de-
signed as a c~orollary TO Dr.. Crapsey's letter
OF resignation published in Monday s papers.
The statement attacks the itness OF the
lower court which originally declared
Or. Crapsey guilty and deals with Bishop
Potter's connection with the trial and his
attitude toward the accused man Tbs
statement in full is as follows;
Or. Crapsey's counsel FIRST learned Of his
letter TO Bishop Walker after its preparation
and when he tod them that his conclusion
TO send IL was unalterable. | nevertheless
pointed out 10 him that he had. with many
others. misapprehended the scope Of the
decision OF the court Of review. Although
the high standing of its members might
have given weight 10 their conclusion. il
they had reached one. on the really great
questions in the case. the fact was that they
had absolutely refused TO deal with any
Of those questions. Their judgment included
no condemnation whatever Of what Or.
Crapsey had done.
The prevailing majority Of the court ut
Batavia were relatively inexperienced and
young men. unknown to the Church at large.
while the court OF review represented the
seven dloceses Of New York and New Jersey
and included really representative men.
Nevertheless the higher court decides that
the lower court could alone. for this case,
pronounce the Churoh's mind upon spiritual
or literal Interpretation and announce the
imits OF its federation and its policy as TO
intellectual liberty.
For Judge Andrews and DIR. Huntington
and their associates IL was permitfsd-so
they decided-to deal only with lesser and
lover questions OF formal procedure-dues-
tons such a. arise. a thousand OF them.
every day in civil courts in suits for rent
or the price OF goods. This anomalous slua-
tion. they say. may DO regretted" and they
aug gest that the possession by the lower
court Of so great and absolutely unrestrained
n power as they exercised In the Crapsey
case should serve as an admouitlon for
considerable and cautious procedure" ! wish,
indeed. that the admonition had bAen bafsrs
the Batavia court.
Upon the rulings OF the court Of review.
such a. they were. DR.. Crapsey's counsel.
who are lawyers. could form an opinion bet
ter than he. told him my belief that the
decision was wrong and II tested would not
stand: that according TO the canOns he was
entitled TO a stay until the actual establish
msnt OF the final court OF appeals provided
for by the constitution OF the Church; that
upon two points at least which MIR, Perkins
and ! had argued the judgment would be
held void by a civil court. precisely as Bishop
Scsrborough's deposition OF the Rev. Mr..
Jennings several years ago had been held
void by the Supreme Court OF New Jersey
But DR.. CTapsey peremptorily rejected
the idea of appeal TO a civil court. Even
though the highest existing court of the
Church had found itself powerless TO deal
with the only questions of real moment.
nevertheless the action Of his clerical brethren
In the lower court had. for The world al large.
been sustained, and his personal fortunes
should, he said. abide by the decision. right
or wrong. The cause of intellectual honesty
and free study had been opened 10 the Church
and he would not hinder II by further personal
controversy
In retiring from q case to which /. Ike my
associate. Mr.. Perkins. came solely to serve
what we believed TO be the true principles
and traditions and the noble future OF our
Church l profoundly regret that a broader
and further seeing Wisdom has moi prevailed
and that our ecclesiastical authorities have
for the time decided that IL Is 10 be n sect
and one of the lesser sects in the United
states. In the year 1880. according to Whita-
ker's Almanack. the communicates Of the
Protestant Episcopal Church number one
and four-tenths per cent. OF the population
OF the country and to-day number one and
one-tenth per cent.
However great it's wealth in New York
and a few of the larger cities. the Church
must, of course. remain of this relatively
small and dwindling importance while there
prevails a policy like that OF Bishop Walker.
The court held that technically Bishop
Walker was not a prosecutor: but every one
knows that he was the real prosecutor. Never
theless, ] concede his sincerity. Whether
he now thinks that what he has done was for
- DI-.-L n 49, ~ ,aw. 49,.
entirely sure that he so felt at the beginning
However narrow and short sighted the view
of duty held by him and those'with him. they
at least believe strongly and act upon their
belief. And, as Thomas Carlyle preached.
strong. honest belief. of itself. signifies much
for mankind.
I have far more respect for their conduct
In this matter than l have for that Of the senior
Bishop of New York in the attack which he
has seen Al 10 make upon DR.. Crapsey. While
the cause was still under judicial considera-
ton and while every consideration OF fair
ness made IL proper for one in his RESPONSE
BILE place 10 be silent upon il, he told his
clergy in unmisiakable fashion. though
resorting to the device OF not mentioning a
name, that DR.. Crapsey's motive had been
q sordid desire 10 hold on TO the money
revenues OF his place.
This false and indecent imputation comes
from u Bishop who has, for many years, been
coDspicuously Indifferent TO preaching in his
own diocese more heretical than DR.. Crap
sey's was deemed TO be. The imputati0n
deserves, and ! believe it will receive, moral
contempt from every right thinking man
who knows OF IT,. DR., Crapsey has not. ever
since he entered the ministry. lived with the
rich: he is not served to-day by a butler and
a second man" and n fOotman and a coach
man: he IL not one OF the chief figures az the
dinner tables OF the private palaces OF his
city; he il neither used to nor fond OF sybariltc
elegance.
But although DR.. Crapsey ia deficient IN
these, he has given his entire life TO the work
of carrying Christianity to the Industrious
poor Of the city in which he lives. file does
not hold to the rule that the minister's con
tract is one for a money price-"So many
dollars, such and such an output OF doctrine. ="
He has indignantly rejected the ignoble rule,
keep silence or withdraw. of which Bishop
Potter IL the author. and upon which. facing
now the awakened conscience Of the Church
tand Of the american people alsOl. he sees
ft 10 put the gloss that he meant that the
hsfeticHily thinking clergyman should with
draw TO study.
- IL H. r.