The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-11-26
DR. CRAPSEY ASKS
To- BE OEPOSEO

Rochester. n. Y. Nov 26-Dr. Crapsey
has decided to formally renounce shis min
Etry I'm the Protestant Episcopal church.
and will today send Bishop Walker. head
of the diocese OF western New York, a
letter asking that he be officially deposed
from his priesthood.
This communication Is as follows
st. Andrews Rectory,
Rochester, Nov. 25 1906.
My Dear Bishop:
Under existing conditions deem II my
duty to make formal and final renuncla-
ton of the ministry OF the Protestant
Episcopal church. and I'm consequence
ask thai you WILL for reasons as 10 time
already given not earlier than the third,
not later than the sixth OF December.
take order under Canon 81 of the general
ranons of the church to accomplish my
deposition from the priesthood.
l am certain that you will be glad TO
acknowledge that l am not compelled to
this action by anything that reflects
upon my moral integrity or calls in ques-
tion my faithfulness pastor My
sole difficulty lies In the fact that a long,
! rareful, conscientious study OF the Holy
Scriptures has compelled me 10 come TO
PERTAIN conclusions concerning the pre-
natal history OF Jesus which are not in
physical accord with the letter OF the
Creeds and hence have compelled me
In order TO hold the Creeds TO give TO
certain articles an Interpretation that
| will harmoniZe them with the truth as
find that truth in the teaching of the
| Holy Scriptures But recent judicial de-
risions have declared that any such har-
monizing OF the Greed with my own
convictions OF the truth s not permis-
sible in the Protestant Episcopal church.
RIGHT OF CHURCH.
In my own case recognize the right of
the constituted authorities OF the church
90 Hann he It,affa Nff int TOT Tan at,d
in order TO hold fast to the truth must
Jet go OF the Greed as nov interpreted
by the courts. / am not now and never
have been conscious OF my insincerty I'm
giving such Interpretation to the vari-
Gus articles OF the Greed az are demanded
by present conditions OF thought and the
present state of knowledge. any more
than / am conscious OF insincerty when
say the sun rises and sets. though
n matter OF fact the sun does nothing
OF the kind.
II am to hold the Greed at all must
give to certain. II not ALL OF its articles
n spiritual rather than literally physical
Interpretation. When | say of Jesus that
He ascended into heaven I do not mean
and cannot mean that with His physical
body OF flesh and bone He foated into
space and has for 20oo years been
existing somewhere In the sky. In that
very physical body OF flesh. blood and
bones
Such an existence would seem to mo not
glorious but horrible and such a concep-
tion is to met not only unbelievable. IL is
unthinkable. What ] do mean by this
phrase is that Jesus having accomplished
His work In the flesh ascended into the
higher life of the spirit. Also when /
say OF Jesus that lie was conceived by
the Holy Ghost born OF the Virgin Mary.
do not mean that the great living God
in order 10 get into His world had 10 vio-
late His wonderful law OF human gener-
alton, break into the sanctities OF mar
riage and cause a Son of man TO be born
without a human father. Such a notion
is most repugnant to my ideal OF wise
and holy God.
was not therefore alarmed. / was
relieved when n careful study Of the Holy
Scriptures convinced me that this notion
OF the origin OF Jesus was without foun-
dation in history. Jesus was not lessened
in my worship. He was ennobled by this
discovery.
INFANCY STORIES GIVEN UP
When I reached the conclusion as did
some years ago. that the infancy stories
were not historical. I did not cease to
believe I'm Jesus. | believed in Him all
the more, and I gave 10 the wCsrds. Con-
ceivod by the Holy Ghost. born OF the
Virgin Mary. an Interpretation that har-
monized with my knowledge of the facts.
He was a Child OF the holy seed. sancti-
fed from his mothers womb. A Son OF
God all tho more, I'm my estimation. be-
cause lie was the son of Man. Then /
saw for the first time into the meaning
of those words OF John when he said,
1.-The Word was made flesh and dweit
among us and we beheld His glory as the
glory of the only begotten OF the Father
fun OF grace and truth" and I could un-
derstand how in the same chapter Philip
could say OF this incarnate Word. 1--WE
have found Him OF whom Moses In the
Law and the prophets did write Jesus OF
Nazareth the Son OF Joseph"
ASKS TOLERANCE.
In concluding his letter Rev Mr. Crap
eey says: Let no one think for n moment
that / do not love the Lord Jesus Christ
and would not have served Him to the
last I'm this church. which is 20 me tho
historic church of the great English
speaking race. II only its men In author
ity had let me. All I asked OF them was
tolerance. But they have refused to ey-
tend tolerance to such as | and / r)ust
with a. grief which only my own heart
knows accept my dismissal from the ser
vice OF the church. But though cast down,
] do not despair. As | have been true 10
God so 7 believe God will 0c true to
me I believe Hc has work for me TO do
and this is His way Of calling me to that
work In His Name. therefore, Right Rev
erend Sir | beseech you 20 forgive me my
10 mo GO