San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-01-22
Rector's Second Sermon Will
Compel His Trial for Heresy
Grant Reiterates Denial Of
Divinity of Christ Sunday
and Bishop Manning Will
Be Forced to Act.
BY JUNE UADDANAy

-No" tV'h, Odu. go ne Cnurcn OF
the Ascension on lower Fifth avenue to-
day is the center of interest of the en-
tire Protestant Episcopal Church of the
world.
Its pastor, Rev. Percy Stickney
Grant, leader of the modernists of all
Protestant faiths has percipitated sit
uation unequalled in church annals.
His denial Of the accepted dogmas of
the divinity of Jesus, of the miracles
and the other principles upon which
the Christian religion has been built,
coupled with his reiteration of these
views and refusal to resign his pastor
ate, will compel a trial for heresy.
Bishop Manning, DIR. Grants imme-
diate superior, once more defied by the
rector, now must summon an ecclesiasti-
cal court and demand that it unfrock
the liberal preacher.
Today church circles are sharply di-
vided over the situation. The complete
reaffirmatiOn Of his views in his sermon
yesterday by DIR. Grant was no sur
prise. He said nothing new, but the
fact that it came on the heels of the
letter of Bishop Manning insisting that
he accept the doctrines Of the church or
resign and get out, and that one of the
interested listeners was Mrs. Philip Ly-
dig. divorce, whose marriage to the
militant rector. was forbidden by BishOu
Manning added fuel TO the fire of dis
cussion which has split dozens of
churches wide open.
Stirs Entire City.
The sermon has sent New York City
into a paroxysm of the most earnest
and general discussion of Christianity
that the town has known since the days
of Henry Ward Beecher. Not for years
can anyone recall people stopping on
the street and discussing all of the prob
lens about which the entire structure
* religion Is erected.
"Who would have thought" a specta-
tor said after trying in vain TO get in
side of DIR. Grants church yesterday,
that a guy of the name of Percy ever
could have stirred this up?"
Public oninion. curiously enough sides
with both the bishop and DIR. Grant. 1t
appears to agree with DIR. Grant that n
Suuuiu lANt w BANoNh "hHh
he thinks. but it further seems to agree
with Bishop Manning tE,t If what
man thinks is contrary to the teachings
Of the Episcopal Church then the man
should do his preaching from a noR-
Episcopal pulpit.
There is another matter upon which
everyone seemed to be agreed today. 1t
is on DR.. Grants apparent intention to
compel his trial, for hercsy. Why he
desires this is go iething on which peo-
pie differ. DIR. Grants friends, and
they number thousands, declare it IS be-
cause he desires to strike decisive
blow for freedom of speech and LIBERAL
ity of thought within his denomination,
His enemies and they too are numerous,
say he wants only publicity.
Not Reply to Bishop. :,
The fact that the police reserves had
to be called out yesterday to protect the
people who tried TO get into the church
was significant. Many were plainly Or
dinarily curious, but there were hum
dreds whom no ordinary sermon would
have lured to their own church to stand
in the aisles or the vestibule for two
hours to hear, with Mortified thrills.
their own beliefs being branded as sup
erstitions to which no thinking man
could subscribe.
DIR. Grant made it plain that his SER
mon is not to be accepted as q reply TO
the letter sent him Friday night by
Bishop Manning. He will write the lat
ter Immediately. The bishop who
preached yesterday in New Haven de-
handing 'loyalty to the church and to
Jesus Christ" but in no way referring
TO DIR, Grant. will take no action until
that reply is in his hands.
1t is certain. however, that DIR. Grant
in his reply will compel action by the
bisbop. He will not "recant" and he
will not resign and, failing either Of
these. there is nothing left for Bishop
Manning to do but order trlal LOT
heresy. c.
Applause Curtails Sermon.
In This very connection the fact that
sharp applause, heretofore strange 20
religious meetings, marked the sermon
Yesterday, has displeased many OF Dr.
Grants own parishioners. DIR. Grant
was not through with his sermon. he
had nleaded for a religious belief when
the Young fellow would not refer TO as
chunk" and had two or three pages leIt
when a ripple of applause started. II
swelled 10 an ocean Of waves and GleG
only TO start again. DIR. Grant nad
apparently intended continuing. put
with a nice sense Of the dramatic ne
stopped right there. Bunk was MS
final word. NJ. !.
Mrs. Philip Lylig or Mrs. Rita de
Acosta Lydig. as she is more properly
called since her second divorce, sat
few news from the end of the church.
A handsome dark beauty IN blscui.
roIored velvet that set off the clear ana
color Of her skin. she wore
an extremely smart black hat when
rose high on one side and PERSIAN
iamb coat with sable collar and cniis'
Her only ornament was thin platinum
,hain with a diamond pendant.
When the sermc ended Mrs. Lying
slipped hastily out of the church and
in the direction OF the par
sh house. Speculation among the few
who recognized her was conferred on her
failure to join in the applause ana upon
he fact that something obviously had
liSpleased her. She spoke frowningly
10 a woman companion several times as
The sermon drew toward an md.