The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-11-29
DR.. CRAPSEY TO Ills PEOPLE.
ANNOUNCES HIS RESIGNATION TO
HIS CONGREGATION. y

Many I'm Tears 90 He Reads Ems Statement
He Says They Are Separated Not by
the ACT of God but by Judgment Of
Urges Them 20 Remain In Chur CHI
ROCHESTER, Nov. 2s.-At q meeting OF
the congregation Of 81. Andrews Church
tonight the Rev. DR.. Algernon 9. Crspsey
announced that he had presented his
resignation - rector NC read . statement
In which he referred at length 10 the reasons
which have caused him to renounoe the
priesthood. Most Of his parishioners were
present, and there were tears In many eycs
as DR.. Crapsey read his statement. DR..
Crapsey spoke without q tremor. but with
an infection OF sadness In his voice which
deeply moved his hearers. He said:
MI DEAR. DEAR FRIENDS: I have this day
rendered 70 the wardens and vestrymen Of
our parish my resignation as rector Of st.
Andrews Church. This action. ringing
to an end as IL does the relationship Of pastor
and people which has existed between US
for nearly twenty-eight years, was not volun-
tary on my part. nor was IL brought about by
any desire In the heart Of our vestry or your
selves. l have been compelled to take this
step by the fact that our ecclesiastical SUI
perlors have In effect dismissed me from my
ONCE. They do not consider that I any
Longer have the abulty to rightly deliver
the word OF truth, nor tho wisdom to instruct
you in the way Of salvation.
And I am sorry TO say that our ecclesias-
teal superiors have as little confd encs in your
int diligence as In mine: they do not think
that you have the capacity to separate the
wheat from the chan in my preaching. nor
are you in the estimation OF these gentlemen,
able 10 search the Scriptures and determine
for yourselves whether what I say ls true or
not. Whether this reflection Of our superiors
upon my intelligence and upon yours is well
founded Is not for me to say. I only know
that it 10 ~efectual in bringing me the greatest
sorrow OF my life. Having lived SO long
in your service l had hoped to die In that
service.
II God so pleased. it was my wish to grow
old In your midst, and from being your brother
to become your father. and when the time had
come for me to go to that rest that remaineth
/ trusted my last act would be to breathe
upon you the blessing Of peace and your last
act for me would be to carry me to that rest.
But this Is not to be. Instead Of being sep
arated by the gracious natural action OF God
we are forced to part by what We believe to
be the mistaken judgment Of man. But We
nave no time now to think Of that. Our
thoughts are occupied with thinking Of what
has been and OF what will be.
/ have never spoken against my inward
couvlctlon, nor have I held hack for pruden-
tlnl reasons things which ] considered It my
duty TO say. And II Is for speaking thus
umwisely. 50 fnr as my comfort ana yours Is
concerned. but as 7 still think for speaking
wha Is true and timely. l am deprived OF the
right OF speaking In this pulpit at all. and
after next Sunday shah never speak from
this place again. Bnt I do not consider that a
misfortune.
I have spoken 20 you 80 long that I have
told you over and over again all that is In
my heart. You are familiar with every tone
Of my voice and with every shade OF my
thought. so that before begin to speak you
anticipate what l have to say. l am no
longer your teacher, since you nave already
learned from me all that i have to give,
IL Is. therefore,. in respect TO my preaching
expedient for you that ! should go away that
you mag cease to be my disciples and may
become disciples OF the truth
But | am not only barred from the pulpit,
I am also forbidden TO stand before the aNar
and celebrate the sacred omces OF the Church'
This. though a sorrow TO US ooth. Is certainly
not a misfortune to me. No one out a minister
can know how DANGEROUS 10 mis- soul 10 the
constant repetition OF the acts OF the ritual
and the continual rehearsal OF tne~ Woros
of the liturgy. Through continual use the
words become duled ana the actions me-
ohsnical. and l am sure tnat' however sad
1t may be. it Is better Tor my soul TO leave
my place before te high altar ana go down
and kneel In the midst OF the churcn ana re-
ceive sacrament from Wortnler nands tnan
mine.
Even II you hold. as many OF you do. the
same conception OF truth Tor which am
condemned and dismissed. your right TO re-
main in the Church Is unassailaois You
have not simply my word Tor this yqAShave
had the word OF the Bishop OF the Iese.
He has said that !. even /. who Seely
expressed my thoughts and VINO from this
time out will have greater liberty OF e1-
preston. who from the platform and the
printed page can give forth my conviction OF
truth with tenfold the power ana enect mat
s ,bs eisSon, .svs that I. even I. under ali
thsss circumstapces am still a member in