New-York tribune., 1920-01-14
Failure to Act on Allesa-
tions Already Made VIII
Bring Action to Force
Trial by Church Court
Exoneration by
Vestry Expected
Bishop Burch Surprised;
Marriage of Divorces
Part of the Accusations

The possibility that the Rev. DR.
Percy Stickney Grant, pastor of the
Church of the Ascension, may be
brought to trial before an ecclesiastica
body of the Episcopal Church on
charges not connected with his recent
utterances concerning deported "Rcds"
and the Mayfower's passengers de-
veloped last night.
The Rev. G.. A. Christensen, pastor
of Holy Rood Church, Fort Wash
ington Avenue and 10th Street, de-
clared that if DR.. Grant is not pre-
sented for trial by Bishop Charles S
Burch as the result Of Forthcoming
report on DR.. Grants recent utter
ances which Bishop Burch has asked
Of the vestry of DR.. Grants church
two Episcopal clergymen are ready to
unite with a third ip preferrine
charges as basis for such a pre-
sentiment.
DR.. Carstensen's Reply
DR.. Carstensen's statement came in
reply to a question if he knew any
thing about a recent report that Eps-
copal clergymen were thinking of pre-
ferring charges against DR.. Grant be-
cause Of his utterances on free speech.
DR.. Christensen, in his sermon last Sun
day, promised Bishop Burch the sup
port of the entire Episcopal clergy of
the United States for vigorous meas
ures to keep the church free of any
"red" taint, saying, "If there is any
gangrene at Washington Square. we
cannot stave off putrefaction on Wash
ington Heights. If there is rottenness
in Tenth Street, 10th Street will not
continue sound"
Dr. Christensen refused TO give the
names of the two clergymen, adding
that number of others, also anony-
nous, were under consideration for
choice as the third. He declared the
ministers in question would prefer not
to make charges against DR.. Grant,
but that charges by them were certain
if presentment for trial did not result
from the report to be made to Bishop
Burch. The Rev. William T. Manning,
pastor of Trinity Episcopal Church,
denied last night report that he was
to be one of the complaining clergy
men, or that he knew anything of
the possible charges.
Two Charges Ready
IF necessary" said DR.. Christensen,
CDR. Grant will be presented on two
charges backed by incontrovertible
facts. The first is that he has broken
church canons in his manner of cele-
brating the Holy Communion. my
self have witnesses on that count.
"Thc second is that DR.. Grant has
allowed laymcn TO speak in the forum
of his church without the consent Of
the bishop. A third possible change
Grant has performed the marriage
ceremony for divorced persons con-
trary to church law. This provides
that no divorced person other than the
innocent party may be married again,
and then only after the lapse of at
least year."
Informed of DR.. Carstensen's state
ments, Bishop Burch said last night:
II am a little surprised. 1t is true
that DR.. Grant has been reported to
have solemnized marriage contrary to
church canons, but that has nothing
to do with the present investigation
likely that the question of such mar
riages was considered by my prede-
cessor, Bishop Greer.
Procedure in Case
"lf the possible charges mentioned
by DE-. Christensen are made, the pro-
ccdurc would he as follows: could dis
REGARD them md cuash The matter f I
did not consider the charges warranted.
IL / did, it would then be my duty 70
appoint q commission Of five to investi-
gate the charges. This commission
would determine if there should be 4
trial"
The report on DR.. Grants utterances
asked Of the vestry of the Church of
the Ascension by Bishop Burch was not
made yesterday. Bishop Burch said
last night that he had been informed
by George Gordon Battle, chairman of
a committee of Ave of the vestry, that
a report might be expected to-day or
tomorrow.
The report, Bishop Burch said, might
be signed by the vestry alone, by DR..
Grant alone, or by the vestrX and DR..
Grant together.
Naming of Committee
Just how the committee Of five.
headed by Mr.. Battle, came to be ap-
pointed was question of dispute yes
terday. Mr.. Battle said it was Il "self-
constituted committed" composed Of
himself. x. G. Snow, president OF the
Home Life Insurance Company; Harold
A. Content, former Assistant United
States District Attorney; Louis 6.
Myers, of 25 Broadway, and James w.
Cunningham, Of 80 Water Street, re-
tired stockbroker.
According to Mr.. Content, DR.. Grant
had appointed this committee, asking
members Of his vestry to confer on
the situation created by his remarks
concerning the "Soviet Ark" Bishop
Burch would not comment last night
on tho selection of tho committee be-
yond saying he would not be surprised
Continued ON Da0c fire