The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1906-04-27
Immaculate conception
AND The VIRGIN birth
DIR. CRAPSEY'S POSITION ENUy-
GATED At HIS TRIAL ToR
HERESR,

Does Not Deny the Former bu+ no.s
the Latter -- Prosecution AbruptIv
Closes It's Case After Most Interest,"
Ing DiscussiOn-Its Definition Of me
Case to the Court--The Real Qriestian
Defense Will Appeal ii Finding il
Against the Accused.
Batavia, N. Y, April 26.-The trial of
Rev. Algernon S. Crapsey of Rochester
before an ecclesiastical court of five rec
tors of Protestant Episcopal churches,
is nearing its close, DR.. Crapsey stands
charged with heresy, and violation OF
his ordination vows, the evidence
against him being book of sermons
printed over his name, and the Book
of Common Prayer of the Episcopal
church. The prosecution abruptly end
ed its case to-day. The defense en-
deavored to present the testimony of a
number of prominent clergymen as to
whether or not DIR. Crapsey's sayings
constituted heresy, but the court ruled
the testimony out on the ground that
no man could qualify as an expert in
doctrine, and on the further ground
that the witnesses were called to ex-
press opinions on subjects which were
before the court for decision. The law
yers for the prosecution and defense
will sum up tomorrow.
The widespread interest which is at
tending the trial was manifested yes
terday, the court house being crowded.
A number of prominent clergymen of
the Protestant Episcopal church had
come to Batavia from points as far dis
tant as Boston, New York, Chicago
and Cincinnati. There were also a NUM-
ber of women present, including DR..
| Crapseys youngest daughter.
The most interesting incident Of the
| day was an exchange between Judge
Stiness for the prosecution and Edward
M. Shepard for the defence. This fol
lowed the placing on the stand Of the
Rev. Joseph Alexander Leighton, chap
lain and professor Of philosophy in Ho-
| bart college, the first witness called by
the defense. After DR.. Leighton had
read the full text of the presentment
against DR.. Crapsey, Mr.. Perkins said
to him:
''In your opinion is there anything
contained in the specifications which is
contrary to the doctrines of Christ, as
the Lord had commanded and as this
church had received the same?"
IT object" emphatically announced
Mr.. O'Brien, of the prosecution. i do
not understand that the witness is i'm
i personatng the doctrine of the Protest.
ant Episcopal church. He has no more
right to characterize and interpret the
doctrine of this church than a man
| never heard lof, because the church is
an organization, with Its constitution
/ and bylaws. The church speaks as q
church. This is question Of law and
not of fact. Such testimony as this is
manifest absurdity"
1T is charged, replied Mr.. Perkins,
"that DR.. Crapsey has violatd his vows
as a clergyman in that he has advanced
statements contrary to the doctrines Of
Christ. What is this church II the ar
gument of the prosecution is correct?
Who is the church but the laity and the
clergy? We are the church. Suppose
somebody, as my friend says, held to
some doctrine contrary to his interpre-
tation, and the whole church was this
man. He would have the whole church
hereto, except the standing COMMITTEES
"This is an important question:" Mr..
Perkins continued ''as At goes to the
essence of the whole matter. We want
to show what people think; not nec-
essarily what is right and wrong"