The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1906-11-29
TO FIGHT THE Church.
MINISTER CONVICTED OF HERESY
STEPS OUT AND MAKES AP-
PEAL TO PUBLIC.
SAYS OLD BELIEFS MUST CO.
Dr.. Crapsey Will Devote His Life to
Struggle for Revision OF
Church Tenets.

rector OF st. Andrew OF TINS clty, re-
nounced finally his ministry in the
church. AT the Same time lie declared
he was about to carry the case to the
free intelligence and enlightened con
science Of the world" and dedicated the
remainder of his life to the cause.
OF Wide Significance.
The significance of Or. Crapsey's de-
cson is believed important by those who
followed his trial for heresy. 1t is ap-
parent DR. Crapsey is confident he will
have large following of the cloth in his
fight. This is shown by his message adj
dressed to the "hundreds of Clergymen
and thousands of Iaymen in the Protest
ant Episcopal church who have reached
the same conclusion" These he coun-
sells not to be dismayed, and to stay
where they are. In the end, he declares,
the church must give up.
His final remuneration of the ministry
Of the church is announced in letter
to Bishop William David Walker of the
western diocese of New York. In this
letter DR. Crapscy rcaflrms his belief
thai, the motion in regard to the origin
Of Jesus. that a son of man was born
without a human father, is without foun-
datiOn in history.
Gives View of Ascension.
He also asserted that when say Of
Jesus that lie assembled into heaven | do
not mean and cannot mean that with
His physical body Of flesh, blood and
bones, He fioated into space and has for
1000 years been existing somewhere IN
the sky, in that very physical body of
flesh, blood and bones. Such an exist
cncc would seem to me not glorious, but
horrible"
lie asserts that he does not blame his
Judges, and, though he bows to their
will and feels that it is final for him. he
says: II am equally certain that it is
not final for the church. When the great
tribunal of free thought has decided this
contention the men who administer the
church on earth will conform to its de-
cision."
Having let 90 Of the Temporary and
unstable interpretations of the creed,
he declares that he holds more firmly to
the gospel.
Dr. Crapsey's Letter,
Dr. Crapsey's letter is as follows.
FINDER existing conditions ] deem 1t my
duty TO make formal and maj rnnuncia-
ton Of the ministry of the Protestant EpiS-
cOpal church, and In consequence | ask that
not earlier than tho 81, not later than the
9th of December, you viii take order under
canon II OF the general Canons of the
church to accomplish my deposition from
the priesthood
am certain that you will be glad to
acknowledge that am not compelled 10
this notion by anything that reflects upon
my moral integrity or calls in question my
faithfulness as pastor My sole difficulty
lies in the fact that long, careful, con-
scicntiOus study OF the holy scriptures has
compelled me TO come ~ certain conclusions
concerning the prenatal history Of Jesus
which arc not IN physical accord with the
letter OF the Crceds aud which have com
PEELED me, In order to hold to the crreds, to
give to certain articles m Interpretation
that will harmonic them with the truth
as find that truth in the teaching OF the
holy scriptures.
Denies He Is Insincere.
But recent judicial decisions have declared
that any such harmouzng of the creed
permissible In the Protestant Episcopal
church. In my own case recognize the
right OF the constituted authorities OF the
church 10 dctn" the limits of intpTprctA-
ton ana IN order to hold fast TO the truth
mast let 20 Of the creed as now interpreted
by the courts. ! AIN not now and never
have been conscious Of any iuSiuccrty in
giving such interpretations to the various
articles of the creed as are demanded by
present conditions OF thought and the pres.
ent state OF knowledge, any moro than |
am conscious Of luslucCrity when | say the
sun rises and sets, though as matter OF
fact the sun docs nothing Of the kind.
If am to hold the creed at all | must
give 10 certain, if not all. of It's articles
Interpretation. When | say of Jesus that
lie assembled Into heaven, | do not mean
and cunuuj mean that with Ills physical
body ~ flesh. blood uud bones h. nOutcd
into srucc, aud has for 2UD ycnrs been cN-
listing somewhere in the sky. In that very
physical body Of flesh, blood and bones
Surh IN cNisl"ncc would seem to me not
glorious, hut horrible. and such a cuncrp-
ton is 10 mo NOT only unbelievable, 1t is uil.
thiukahlr. What ! do mean by This phrase
Is that Jesus having accomplished Ills work
IIIU1 "a. f#.t
the spirit Also when I say Of Jesus TINT
lie was conceived 10y the Holy Ghost. born
Of the Virgin Mary, do not mean that the
great ana living God. In order to get into
OF human generation. brcuk into sanctItes
or marriage ana cHus" II son of man TO be
born without human father.
Holds Doctrine Wrong.
such a notion is most rcpuguant to my
Ideal of wise and holy God ! was not,
Therefore, alarmed. | was relieved when II
careful study of the Holy Scriptures con
WINGED me That THIS notion Of the origin cr
Jesus was without foundation in history
Jesus was not lcSsrucd In my Worship.
He woe cnnohird 10y this discovery when
| reached the conclusion, as | did some
years ago, that IA" infancy stories were not
historical ! dtd not cease to believe In
Jesus believed In Him all the more, ana
J gave 10 tn" words, conceived by the
Holy Ghost Born of the Virgin Nnry
m Interpretation thut hnrmOuizrG with my
hnuwlcdg" Of the facts He was "A child Of
tn" IlpI! Seed, hHurtlHcd from his mothers
womb. Son of God all the more. In my
estimation, hccause lig was The son of man
Now THE conception Of Jesus bnsrd upon
careful study of Holy Scriptures, is or
III every warp aud woof Of my intellectual
md spiritual NE, aud IL is not probable
that IL Viii ever change. | VIII carry II
with me into that spiritual world where /
hhNll ~" Jesus fHrc tp face. hut am told
by judicial decision that this conception IL
not permissible IN the mind Of u minister az
the Protestant Episcopal church bow 10
that decision. / cannot change ms mind
Therefore leave the church | do not blgIun
NY Judges, they acted according To their
LIGHTED not them hlnmc me II | follow INV
light, which is tightening me to the ever.
lasting day. But whether they blnmr or
not. ! cnun"t do other than / do must
obey God rather than men
Not Final for the Church.
Hut Willie thus feel TINT their decision ia
fual Tor M" am rquully certain that IL IS
not hu0l for The church have reason TO
know TINT there nre hundreds Of clcrgymcn
aud thousands Of iayueu In the Protestant
Episcopal church who have reached The
snmc conclusion Tint ! have. ana. sir, beg
t. Say Ia them la this letter To- YOU that
their position M the church Is lust us irn.
able NJ il ever was
THIS Judgment affects no person except
myself lcl no one Dc dismayud Let every
man stand I'm his place, sprnk his MIND
AOidly. and the truth Will soon have such u
multitude OF witnesses that all I'm the
church must hear. So confident am of the
truth as It is ia Jesus that | appeal from
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CUBAN REBELS STILLED.