The Washington herald., 1906-11-26

New York. Nov. 25.-Rev. Algernon
Sidney Crapsey Of the Protestant Episco-
pal Church, who was adjudged guilty OF
heresy by a court of the Western Diocese,
sent a letter to-day to Bishop w David
Walker, resigning from the priesthood
The communication was made public at
the rectory Of St. Andrews Church in
Rochester, where Dr. Crapsey has been
FOX the last 26 years. Bishop Walker is
asked to accomplish the deposition from
the ministry not later than December s
There is a parallel between the cases
OF DR.. Crapsey and Of Algernon Sidney
the English revolutionary statesman for
whom the minister is named. For the at
tacks against the monarchical system In
the time of Charles H., Algernon Sidney
was brought 10 trial on November p, 1Gs5,
and executed on December 7 Of that year
on December Z Dr. Crapsey viii be free
from the bonds of the, church he deems
iutolerant His appeal was denied on
November y. The letter To Bishop Walker
starts OF by saying.
Under existing conditions deem il
my duty to make a formal and final de-
Of the ministry Of the Protes-
tant Episcopal Church, and in conse-
luence l ask that you viii. for reasons as
to time already given. not earlier than
the Sd, nor later than the 9Th of Decem-
Der, take order under Canon 81 of the
general canons of the church. TO accom- /
olish my deposition from the priesthood %
Prefers Truth 10 Creed.
Dr. Crapsey then declares that ap-
the time is not at hand when
q man can teach what he finds to be
he truth. If lie cannot harmonic it with
-hc creed. He says that ne must choose
Ietween his own interpretations Of the
truth and the creed, and that he will
yield the latter. He proceeded.
Il am certain that you will be glad to
acknowledge that I am not forced 20 this
act by anything that reflects upon my
moral integrity or calls In question my
.ai-hfulneSS as a pastor Ny sole dim. /
.ulty lies in the fact that long, careful! /
conscientious study OF the Holy Scrip
ures, has compelled me to come to Ger
ain conclusions concerning the prenatal /
tAs'A''- y NA rNNt-5r winch are ll0I lH DuN&i- I
,ai accord with the letter of the creeds. |
and hence have compelled me. in order
10 hold The Creeds. 20 give TO certain /
jrticles an Interpretation that will harnlo- /
lize them with the truth as I find that |
ruth in the teaching of the Holy Scrip /
lures
But recent judicial decisions have de 1
elared that any such harmonizing Of the 1
creed with my own convictions of the I
truth is not permissible in the Protes- (
-ant Episcopal church In my own case !
recognize the right OF the constituted I
authorities Of the church TO define the I
limits Of Interpretation. and In order to
hold fast 10 the truth. must let go Of I
The creed as now interpreted by the 4
courts"
In Light Of Modern Science.
The retiring minister declares ne is not /
now and never was, fnsincere in viewing /
Bible statements in the light Of modern 1
science, ANY more than I am conscious /
IF insineerity when I say the sun rises
and sets. though, as a matter Of fact. /
he sun does not. I find"
Then follows one of the points that /
,aused so much discussion when DR..
Crapsey enunciated.
when I say OF JesU= that He ascended /
nto heaven, I do not mean, and cannot /
mean, that with His physical body Of 4
lesh, blood and bones, He foated into 4
space, and has for 1900 years been exist 4
ng somewhere in the sky, in that very
physical body of flesh. blood, and bones \
Such an existence would seem to me not \
glorious, but horrible, and such a con-
'epuon IS, 10 me, not only unbelievable.
{ is unthinkable
what I 90 mean by this phase is that
Jesus, having accomplished His work in \
he flesh, ascended into the higher life
IF the spirit. Also when / say Of Jesus
hat He was not conceived by the Holy
Ghost 1 do not mean that the great and 4
living God. in order to come into this
world, had to violate His wonderful law
IF human generation or break into the
'dnCtities Of marriage Such a notion is
most repugnant to my idea of a wise /
md holy Cod"
Without Foundation in History.
DR.. Crapsey then says that he was re-
ieved to find, on closer examination of 1
he Scriptures. that this story of the
.rigin was without foundation in history. /
he adds:
when I reached the conclusion, as I
lid some years ago, that the infancy stor-
es were not historical l did not cease to
believe in Jesus. believe in Him all the
more, and I gave to the words Con
eived by the Holy Ghost, born of the
5irgin Mary an Interpretation that har-
nonized with my knowledge Of the facts.
Ie was a son of God all the more. in
ny estimation, because he was the son
# man.
Now this conception Of Jesus based
ipOn a careful study Of Holy Scriptures
s Of the very warp and woof of my in
ellectual and spiritual life, and 1t is not
'robable that it will ever change.
viii carry it with me into that spiritual
world where / shall see Jesus face to face
But ] am told by judicial decision
hat this conception is not permissible IN
he mind OF a minister of the Protestant
Episcopal Church. ! bow to that decision.
cannot change my mind-i therefore
cave the church
i do not blame my judges; they acted
cc0rding to their light-let not them
lame me, if I follow my light, which is
lighting me to the everlasting day. But
whether they blame me or not, cannot |
10 other than I did, must obey God
ather than man"
Now Appeals to the World.
DR.. Crapsey follows with an intination
hat the church need not believe that be-
ause he has been dealt with that all is
'ver in the discussion of the problem. He
CONTINUED On THIRD PAGE. J.