The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-10-21
CRAPSEY CASE WITH COURT.
COUNSEL ARGUE FOR AND
AGAINST ACCUSED RECTOR.

Episcopal Court OF Review VIII Not Hand
Down IT'S Decision TOR Some rim
Church Advocate O'ksrlan Says mat
Reversal win Not End tho Matter.
The Rev. DR.. Crapsey's case went into
the hands Of the court OF review OF the
Episcopal Church yesterday on his appeal
from the lower court, which declared him
to bo impugning the doctrines Of the Church.
That decision was reached after his trial at
Rochester last April.
The court room at the diocesan house at
llB LAFAYETTE street was fairly we'll filed
when Church Advocate O'l3rian closed the
case for the prosecution in a speech lasting
nearly two hours.
There is no question raised by the diocese
Of western New York az to DR.. Crapsey's
sincerity, = said Mr.. O'Brian, but the ques-
ton for this court to consider IL whether
his thoughts as expressed in his book and
bis sermons conform to the beliefs Of the
Church. I speak with the greatest respect
Of the defendant, and l want to say in
closing this case that there never was any
persecution Of Or. Crapeey, nor was this
matter taken up as a punishment OF him,
but as an obligation which we owed the
Church. It il a mark Of our modern civili-
! zation that . man who IA called a heretic
becomes an object Of sympathy
Mr.. O'Brian went or to take up the creed
Of the Church. 1T bears no Interpreting
he said, because it states as facts q num-
Der Of things, and no man can accept those
facts and yet go on to call certain stated
facts as. for instance, the resurrection and
the birth Of Christ, legends"
Turning to Edward M. Shepard and DR..
Crapeey, who sat behind Mr.. Shepard,
Mr.. O'Brian said:
IF the decision of the lower court is
reversed here upon appeal this whole I'M
| pleasant matter will ave to be gone over
again. The case is not ended. as the diocese
of western New York will continue 1t and
there may be more evidence to present,
more unpleasant than has yet appeared
Let me say as my last words. said Mr..
O'Bran, that the question OF sincerity
does not enter this case. Even il sincere.
and we grant DIR. Crapsey was sincere,
his intentional and advised ~utterances
we're not in conformity with the canons
! of our church. Perhaps the Resurrection
is a delusioR, perhaps the virgin birth OF
Christ is a legend, perhaps the priests Of
| the Church are spreading untrlths. These
things are all outside the case. Certain
things are OemanueO OF JnlS uelcnudits
The question for your consideration is,
has he met those demands in such a man
ner that he can remain within the pale Of
; our Church,"
Mr.. Shepard's closing address was short.
He took up with the court several technical
questions and definitions Of words used
in the case. In closing Mr.. Shepard took
the stand that VIII lie DR.. Crapsey may have
de MED or impugned the doctrines OF the
Church he did so not knowingly but with
out the knowledge that he did so and with
out any desire TO impugn any doctrine OF
the Church or the creed. On that ground
Mr.. Shepard said he relieved that it was
only right and just hat DR.. Crapsey should
be exonerated.
Bishop Scarborough thanked the OPP
posing counsel for their consideration OF the
court and their evident desire to he fair
with one another and their avoidance OF
any bitter personalities and then declared
the case closed.
The members OF the cour will hold several
meetings before their decision IL announced.
Bishop Scarborough said yesterday that ne
could give no answer as to how long the
court would take TO reach a decision, but
that il would probably require several days
or even weeks.