New-York tribune., 1906-04-16
THE CRAPSEY TRIAL.

The trial for heresy of the Rev. Dr. Algernon
s. Crapsey. rector of st. Andrews Episcopal
Church, Rochester, which is appointed to begin
at Batavia on Tuesday is of deep interest not
only TO members of the Episcopal Church but
to the whole religious community. Under con-
ditions peculiarly i'll adapted for arriving at
a consensus of opinion in the whole Church, an
issue Of the greatest Importance with reference
TO its future development is likely to be deter
mined. Owing TO the decentralized constitution
of the Episcopal Church and its lack Of a court
Of appeals, it rests with a handful of clergymen
In one small and perhaps unprogressive diocese
TO pass judgment on great questions of theology
Biblical scholarship and creed Interpretation. to
define the limits of freedom Of inquiry, and per-
haps TO depose without recourse from the minis
try a person of spirituality and power who
would be heartily welcomed at the affairs of
many another diocese.
DR. Crapsey is a man of unauestioned piety
devotion and eloquence. Twenty-six years ago
he took charge of his present parish, then
struggling mission. and he has built it up into
strong church, noted for its good works and for
the reality Of its religion. DIR. Crapsey in his
early days was what was then considered an
extreme r1tuaiist. His point of view has since
greatly changed. Laboring chiefly among the
wage earners and sympathizing with their strug-
ges he has adopted radical views Of Chris
tian socialism, and his philosophical specula-
tlons have led him far from literal interpreta-
ton of the Greed. The lay reader or hearer of
his sermons gains the impression that his ques-
toned theories are due TO a great extent 10 an
attempt TO interpret Christian truth to genera
tion imbued with modern scientific thought and
untouched by conventional afilrmations. He
appears 10 be trying 10 make Christs life more
real and to feel his way to the spark of vital
religion in the hearts of wage earners and
thinkers who have drifted away from other
preaching, and in so doing seems as true min
lister OF Christ as those who are content TO
preach Him in settled formula to those content
with settled formula. Nevertheless, even if
his "heresy" is TO be considered the product of
zeal rather than of doubt, he has taken positions
inconsistent with the literal Interpretation of
the Greed, notably in his presentation of Jesus
as the son of human parents, sharing 'the COM
mon destiny of man in life and DEATH
DR.. Crapsey is no more heterodox than many
clergymen Of the English Church in regular
standing, and in this country he has many SYM
pathizers, even among those who do not share
his views. Probably he could have preached
and published in this diocese without molesta-
ton, but it happens that Bishop Walker, of
Western New York. is not only strictly orthodox
but keen for discipline. committee of clergy
iren which considered the case reported against
trial. saying that Dr. Crapsey was man who
easily surrenders himself TO his intellectual
"Vagaries, and the thing which for the time
being appears 10 him TO be true he advocates
with remarkable eloquence" This report did
not end the controversy, however and Bishop
walker has now secured DR. Crapsey's presenta-
tion for trial
Ihe question at issue is not the truth or
falsity OF DR.. Crapsey's views on the Incarna-
tion and other subjects Indeed it has author
itativeiy been announced that he would NOT he
allowed TO prove the truth of his teachings The
door is TO be shut 10 any attempt TO show that
the Scriptures. rightly interpreted or textualy
perfected in the light of modern scholarship
substantiate his views Apparently, under the
rulings TO be enforced, the case is to turn on