The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-04-26

thing in the Pro- .estant Episcopal CHURCH
except the Scriptures was offered in evidence
TODAY at the oponing OF the trial Of the
Rev. A~lgernon s.. Crapsey on charges OF
iheresy. The defe. zoe probably will take
are Of that omissi on, az it u understood
that DR.. Crapsey bti Uses whatever hope he
thas of acuuittal befors the present ecclesias-
3tical court upon a showing that his alleged
horetical preachings add writings conform
to the Scriptures.
DR.. Crapsey's legal counsel, James Brock
Perkins Of Rochester and Edward M, Shop
Ard of New York, made formal objection
TO the jurisdiction Of the court, practically
eliminating bias. They also asked for an
adjournment for -four or five weeks, but
Sthe court would hear OF mo more delay and
reserved decision on DISQUALIFICATION ques-
atibn.
Mr.. Perkins announced to'the court that
the Rev. Elwood Worcester. Phi, D., and the
Rev. Samuel McComb, boNh. of Boston,
will be associated with the defence as &C.
.clesiastical counsel. Other ciergyrnen who
arrived here to-day, Interested III Dr.
sCrapsey, are the Rev. Roland Cotton Smith
rector Of st Johns, Washington, Mr.. hoose-
yelt's church; the Rev. Alexis Slime, chap
slain-elect Of Columbia University; the Rev.
John w. Suter Of Winchester, a suburb OF
Boston; the Rev. Frank S. Nelson, rector
of Christ Church, Cincinnati; the Rev. Will
ford L.. Hopes OF Rhode Island, and the
Rev DR.. j.. Howard Mellish Of Trinity,
Brooklyn.
Associated with Attorney John Lord
,OfBrien for the prosecution are Attorney
franklin d. Locke of Buffalo, the Hon,
John H. Stiness of Providence and the
Rev. Frank j. Hall, professor OF dogmatie
theology in the Western Theological SEMI
nary at Chicago.
Shortly after noon Mr.. O'Brien opened
his case by Offering in evidence DR., Cfapsey's
book, Religion and Politics"
MIR. Perkins objected to the whole book
going in, contending that only such parts
of it as are quoted in the presentrlent
{hfteen in number could be admitted.
Mr.. O'Brien smiled pleasantly and said
he never dreamed that the defence had
Thought the doctors book 50 dangerous.
Mr.. Shepard referred TO the fifteen quo
~tations as fifteen explosions. while Mr.
Perkins admitted that he hadn't read the
book through.
On Judge North's advice the court re-
served its decision, and Mr.. O'Brien then
offered in evidence, without opposition, q
lot of other documentary evidence, con-
nisting of books and records OF the
Protestant Episcopal Church, going as far
back as the proceedings OF the Church IN
1889. which adopted the Book OF Common
PRAYER and the Thirty-nine Articles OF
Faith.
At the opening Of the afternoon session
Judge North announced that he was inclined
TO believe that the book Religion and
Politics. could not be admitted in EVIL
dence as a whole. He had some doubt
that more than those parts OF it that are
GOV cred by the presentment "onld pe
competent. However, he would withhold
his final advice TO the court for the present
Mir. O'Brien argued that the whole or the
sermons from which the parts quoted In
the present ment are taken should Dc al
missible.
A pale faced slender young man in cler,;,
ical qarb responded to Mr.. O'Brien' call
for his first witness. Frederick james
Alexander ia the name he gave, after being
sworn according to the form laid down IN
the canons.
Mr.. Alexander testified that he was an
ordained minister Of the Protestant Epis'
copal Church. He was assistant rector
TO DR.. Crapsey in st. Andrews Church
Rochester, from the summer IN 6sar 81 n 1So cram ,r.
sew preach a sermon there on December 81
last, This Is the one sermon speclhed IN
tho presentment which is not in Or. crap
sey's book and which he denies
Asked by Mr.. o'Brien what DR.. Crapsey
aaid in that sermon the witness testified;
Il can't remember all Of it, but | remem-
her four point that he made. There were
these: Jesus was born OF. parents belong
simple father and mother; He was the
son of a carpenter Toward the end OF
the sermon he criticised the attitude the
Church had taken in regard to the birth OF
Christ. He said if the Church PAID less
Attention to the second birth the baPtism)
and more to the first birth the Church
would be much better of. Then, Us. what
I should regard as his climax, he made
the fourth point, that the fact that the early
church Christians shsIPH red ha rsaa q headi1 az ope
~ the greatest misfortunes that had ever
befallen mankind.
Mr.. Perkins on cross-examlnatio sci
out to show that Mr.. Alexander was BIASED
Brought out the fact that Mr.. Alexander
iotted down these quotations from the
sermon as soon as he got to his home after
fhe service at which il was delivered. Asked
as to Why he made this HenholahuuHh'
Mr.. Alexander said:
IT meant to speak to him about it. 1t
named me much to hear him speak like
that, especially at Christmastide, when |
believe the Church breaches other doc-
trines."
Don't you suppose DR.. Crapsey knew
what he said in that sermon? Was 1t neces-
sary for his assistant to jot it DOWN. asked
Mr.. Perkins.
HE might forget it,. Sometimes speakers
forget some OF the things they have sale,
don't they?' retorted the witness a bit
Nov. Mr.. Alexander, is it the fact that
YOU jotted down those things with a view
To using them against DR.. CrapseyF'",
Il don't care to go into Hhat," SAID the
witness after some hesitation, and when
sharply pressed by the cross-eXaminer
be declined to answer.
Mr.. Perkins asked the witness IL he had
not resigned from. the church by request
81 the vestry. The young clergyman did
hot like it put just that way, and would not
five a direct answer. He finally said he
would produce the letter which the vestry
We'll, you did resign, didn't your"
faYes,b he said. II forwarded my reslg-
nation to the vestry on Jan. II and they ao-
cepted 1t on Jan. 20, TO which time my salary
ran" 50,
Mr.. Perkins also drew out that MIR. Alex
ander had asked for an increase OF salary,
He was unwilling TO say that the request
was refused, but when Mr.. Perkins biuntly
said. well, you did not get the .ipcrease
did your" he admitted that he did not
Mr.. Alexander said he could not remem'