The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-01-24
DR.GRANT READY
FOR HERESY
TRIAL
Rector Defends His Right %
Views Opposed 10 Church
Creed.

NEW IOE<4Ae Jaus 6As-%1uG NV
DR.. Percy SticEney Grant, rector
Of the Protestant Episcopal Church
OF the Ascension. speaking before
the Dutch Treat Club at the Hotel
Martinique yesterday, indicated he
fully expects to be tried for heresy
for his recent liberal utterances. He
urged the club members to align
themselves on the side Of liberalism
in the struggle between the two
schools Of religious thought.
There Is q widespread belief In
church circles that anyone who
does not agree with every part Of
the church's creed and doctrines
should get OUT Or. Grant said.
II don't feel thar way about 1t at
all. look upon the church In that
respect az / look upon the state.
Compared with State.
IF one does NOT agree with every
law. on the statute books, one does
not get out OF the country. II
one disagrees with q Republican or
Democratic administration or with
q decision Of the Supreme Court,
one does not renOunce his citizen
ship on that account. But one does
work Tor reform and strive to.
change the laws and policies III
which one does not believe
DR.. Grant said that III the Epis.
copal Church there had always
been two parties The founding OF
the church by Henry VIII WAs en-
tfrely an economic move, uncon-
tcerned with religion. Professionalism
did not begin In England until
fifty or sixty years afterward, with
the coming OF the Puritans, but
when It did start u changed the.
complexion Of the Episcopal Church.
greatly.
Two PARTIES In Church..
This resulted; DR.. Grant said. In
leaving great many persons In 4
Protestant church who were just
as much Roman Catholic az they
had ever been, although no longer
attached to Rome.
The present high church, party
among Episcopalians was simply
the remains OF that faction and
was really Roman Catholic in it,
point Of view. The Protestant party
In the church, he said was com
posed Of the reform element.
What we are fighting against, e
i said DR.. Grant, s.is the old idea 81
lauthOrity and OF having 20 Ia
ruled ~ authority. What We want
lis absolute freedom to express
what we believe and to fight for
the truth 90 we see Il.
Il Clings 20 Professionalism.
I'VE should hate to see the word
i Protestant .elimifahted from the 81.
iflctal name OF oup denomination,
land we would also hate to see the
Protestant principle eliminated from
It's doctrine.
I'VE ask for freedom TO study
everything and to criticize anything,
teven the Bible. The Bible il AZ.
D cepted as the only authority Of our
faith. but we should be free to criti.
cize II Il we feel that such criticism
is deserved.
AZ matters stand now. the more
q lawyer or doctor studies I'm his
profession. the better lawyer or doc.
tor he becomes. but the more q
lclergyman studies. the worse clergy.
man he Is for 1t.
Fight for Liberty.
This fight for liberty of con.
science II every thinking mans
function. appeal to you to helm
push along q good thing and 30 en-.
large the opportunities IN life for
intelligence, honesty and loyalty.
I Although DR.. Grant was not spe.
lcific az to what the coming fight
was In his particular case, he men.
toned trials for heresy and said
there seemed to be many who were
determined to mail his hide on the
barn door. He did not refer al.
rectly to Bishop Manning's demand
that he recant or resign, nor 20 his
sermons at the Church OF the Az.
lcension, which brought on the pres.
emf Equally weather." as he put It.
i Church Upheaval TOreseen.
/ Trial Of DIR. Grant was not the
only possibility that doomed in the
Protestant Episcopal Church today.
Not q few Of the clergy In the dio.
cese saw the beginning Of an up.
he: val In the church, a general
showdown as the liberals put it, and
a housekeeping as the conserva,
tiveS chose to say.
Most OF the clergy who saw fit to
comment expressed their opinion
that DR.. Grants statements were
theoretical.
4 His defenders claimed those who
have been outspoken In their de-
nunciation OF his expressed views
were playing into the hands of
Bishop Manning. They said At was
the first opportunity many clergy
had had to go on record as to how
they stood since the bishop was
elected after much open opposition.
No liberal movement within the
church in support Of DR.. Grant has
taken definite form, but there were
indications that several members of
the diocese who had tread on thin
ice in the eyes Of the majority were
j prepared to give battle IL neceaaa nv