Evening star., 1923-01-21
GRANT MAY Join
=. UNITARIAN RANKS
New Yorker Must Retract Ut.
terances on Divinity of
Christ or Quit EpiscopaIs.
Special Dispat tch to The Star.

Speclat dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK, January 20-Should
the Rev. Percy Stickney Grant, rector
of the Church Of the Ascension. choose
to resign in answer to Bishop Man
ning's ultimatum. that he recant ut
terances questioning the divinity of
Christ or leave the Protestant Epis-
copal Church. he may find a Unitar-
ian pulpit. it was indicated yesterday
by leaders of that denomination.
DR.. Grant is expected to reply in his
sermon at IL o'clock this morning,
to Bishop Manning's letter, delivered
Friday. 1t is thought standing room
will be in demand in the church, at
Fifth avenue and 10th street.
Efforts to reach the rector today to
learn the nature Of his answer and
whether he will resign were unavail-
ing. A maid. who answered the rec
tory door. said he begged to be ex-
cused for seeing any one" In answer
to a question as to whether he was
working on his sermon. she replied
that he was not at home.
A sign on the church bulletin board
announced the topic for this morn
ing's sermon as "A Constructive Pro-
gram" DR.. Grant said, before the
him, that he intended to try to pull
the threads of religious belief to-
gether" in this sermon. and 1t was
believed that he would state his per-
sonal creed then. Bishop Manning
was also silent on the issue, which IL
the most important heresy develop
ment,a Bishop of New York has been
called upon to deal with In years. At
the office Of the Cathedral Of St John
the Divine 1t was said that the
bishop is awaiting DR.. Grants re-
sponse to his letter and would have
no further statement to make until
that had materialized. Clergymen.
who have been considering bringing
charges against DR.. Grant. also are
awaiting the rector's next move.
Predicted He VIII Quit Church.
Speculation on DR.. Grants probable
course was uppermost in church cir,
cles today. 1t was freely predicted
that he would leave the church rath-
er than undergo a trial of his opin-
ions. Ministers of liberal leanings
Joined with the others in asserting
that Bishop Manning's letter had lett
"Dr. Grant should get out Of the
Episcopal Church." said DR.. Potter or
the West Side Unitarian Church. VINO
said he believed the rector would De
made welcome in his denomination.
'The bishops position is right. When
a minister is no longer in sympathy
with the creed of his church he Is IN
honor bound to get out. That Is what
did when l found myself at odds
with Baptist doctrines.
'If DR.. Grant were to apply TOT
admission to the Unitarian Church,
with whose theology his opinions
most nearly coincide, 1 believe he
would be received"
May Have Independent Flock.
1t was the opinion Of DR.. Potter, as
1t was also that of DR.. Eliot, presf-
dent of the American Unitarian Asso-
citation, that DR.. Grant would nkeiy
prefer to establish an independent
with their body, If he leaves the
Episcopal Church. 1t was pointed out
by DR.. Eliot that relatively few of
the clergymen who come to the
Unitarian Church from outside are
from the Episcopal fold, the principal
the Unitarian pulpits being the Con-
gregational and Baptist.
DR.. Potter is preaching a sermon
today on the case OF the Rev. a.
Wakefield Slater, deposed professor
in Williams Jewell College, Liberty.
Mo. a Baptist institution. who has
accepted the pastorate of the Third
Unitarian Church of Chicago. DR..
Potter will discuss DR.. Slaters book,
What Jesus Taught" the theology
of which inspired the movement for
the professors dismissal.
'I don't think there is the remotest
possibility that Dr. Grant will apply
for admission to our body" said DR..
Eliot, who is in New York to preach
in All Souls Unitarian Church,
4th avenue and Goth street. this
morning. "If he did his application
would go before the fellowship COM
mittee Of the church's general con-
ference and, as I am not a member
of that committee. L cannot presume
to speak for 1t in advarice. However,
1t is our policy to accept clergymen
from other denominations who dissent
from the orthodox beliefs Of their |
orga nfzations, and DR.. Grant .might
well be accepted and all one Of our
pulpits."