New-York tribune., 1907-01-07
COMM ENDS DR.. CRAPSEY
DR.. Adler AdUises Those Who Cam
not accept Greed to Resign.

Discussing the trial OF the Rev. DIR. A. S.
Crapsey, the Rochester Episcopal rector who
was convicted Of heresy and at his own request,
was deposed from the ministry of the Episcopal
Church. DR.. Felix Adler told the members of the
Ethical Culture Society IN Carnegie Hall yes
terday morning that just consideration of the
case had convinced him that it was the duty of
DR.. Crapsey to relnqush the Episcopal priest
hood
DR.. Adler spoke principally upon the sgnif-
canoe of the trial and held, in closing that it
was indication that the religious times
are changing and that the old order is fast dis
appearing. The speaker treating his subject
with great franSness, particularly in reference
TO the virgin birth of Jesus Christ, and to the
resurrection of the physical body of Jesus, did
not hesitate to declare that he regarded the two
doctrines antiquated relics of the past
In beginning DR.. Adler said that he felt it
would be impropriety to discuss the do
nestle affairs of a sister religious body, but
the case had been one of broad public interest
and was important from the standpoint of the
ethics involved. and as a straw showing on the
surface of the current of religious thinking
and pointing to the trend of coming religious
thought" DR.. Adler went on to say
Is minister expected. as in the instance of
DR. Crapsey, recting the tenets of the creed
that he believes in the virgin birth OF Jesus
and in His physical resurrection, to hold a bSo-
lutey to the rigid Interpretation of those tenetS
The claim is by those in Dr CrapSey's position
that it is right and proper to assert those
statements and equally proper to dlsbeIeve
them. The friends of DR.. Crapsey hold that the
virgin birth does not mean literally what IL
says, but points the way to some thing else, ana
that is the purity OF Jesus In the same way
the physical resurrection is to them the express
sion in crude language OF the continuity OF eX-
istence.
My answer to this statement is that fact and
Interpretation impossible of any such sep
aration. You cannot ignore the form of the
statement. No. you cannot say the virgin birth
and mean purity. You must recognize that the
implication is that TO be born of a virgin Is
pure. and then. that to be born of a mother is
impure and you cast a slur upon motherhood
SO you keep alive In the creed an impure con-
ception, and you cannot explain II entirely
away, and you cannot change the fact that
whatever words you may preach in your ser
mon do not change the fact that you have iden-
titled yourself with the creed. That identifca-
tion your part speaks louder than the words
OF the sermon.
We must always remember that Interpretation
has its limits. You cannot now, and you never
can. interpret theism atheism. Some doctrines
lend themselves easily to reinterpretaton and
reinstatement. The creation of the world is one
and the doctrine OF the Trinity another. In some
respects ] could be Trinitarian. 1t is differ
ent TO undertake religious progress Either
the virgin birth happened or 1t did not happen:
either the resurrection was a physical experience
or II was not. do not see how one can fnd
an alternative, and recite concerning the virgin
birth unless he believes fully in It. without over
stepping the gates of fasehood. without telling
q lie.
shall recite my experience. had come cor
daily TO disbelieve in the Bible supernatural
y inspired. That was thirty-three years ago.
1 planned TO leave my ministry, My friends
counselled me-they thought wisely-not to
sever my connection. 1t is not easy thing to
leave. and 1 can sympathize with those who
wish not TO, but l said that l could stay
inside and teach the things I believed when
those about me. in similar position, were teach
ing the accepted beliefs. So got out. and that
the stone which ! stumbled. II II was
q stone. and II l stumbled. Those who stay
within the doors saying thing and be-
lievlng another, entirely opposed. one OF which
must be true and the other untrue. 1 should
think that they must feel though they are
swallowing sawdust or being suffocated when
they make these statements
Men must hold. If they keep 20 the ethical
standards. strictly to the line OF personal We
racity. II they do not hold to antiQuated beliefs
OF the virgin birth and the physical resurrec-
ton, let there be perjury. 1t is infinitely
more important that there should be no per-
jury than that a single case OF injustice should
be done. ! have tried TO make my argument
clear that those who would lead away from the
old forms must do It from without. Let those
who believe in the old forns-and they are
many and their piety is great-minister in the
old forms Unless the creed can be changed, II
they would preserve their veracty they must
go. Either they must go the creed must go.
That is the alternative I see other exit