Evening journal., 1923-01-16
RECTOR'S VIEWS
ARE RIDICULED
Dean Likens Grants Attack
on Conservation to Mos
quito Bite
INQUIRIES IF RECTOR
is SCIENTIFIC

. NEW YORK, Jan. 16.-Clergymen
and lay officials OF the Episcopal
Church who consented TO comment
on the Sunday morning sermon OF
the Rev. DR.. Percy Stickney Grant
At the Church OF the Ascension, Fifth
avenue and Tenth street, condemned
his utterances that few scientifically
trained clergymen regard the pow
ers OF Christ equal 20 Gods and that
church conservation Is a relic OF
witchcraft days.
The Rev. DR.. Bernard Iddings
Bell. president OF St. stephens Col
lege. an Episcopal institution for
young men, at Annandale on Hudson,
made the following statement:
"On the basis of newspaper re-
ports of Percy Grants utterances I
wish TO say that six OF the faculty of
ST. Stephens College are priests. All
are graduates OF great universities;
all are well trained in science. and
all believe the deity of Jesus Christ
without mental reservation. am
curious 20 know Just what scientific
training DR.. Grant himself has ever
had.
II think his sermon Sunday a ludi-
crOus exaggeration, justified by the
facts in regard 20 scientifically train
ed priests neither in this country nor
abroad. It seems unfortunate that
undigested utterances OF this sort
should be given such wide publicity"
That DR.. Grant had forgotten the
VOWS at his ordination and had laid
himself subject TO action by church
authorities was the opinion OF the
Rev Herbert NJ. Denslow, sub-dea-
con of the General Theological Semi
nary, Ninth avenue and Twenty-sec-
ond street. He said:
Indirectly DR.. Grant has denied
the divinity OF Christ. He seems TO
have forgotten the vow ne made at
his ordination. What he Is reported
20 have said, OF course. IS not true.
As 70 his quoted statement that
church conservation is an inheri-
lance from witchcraft, magic and
the taboo, all OF US have an instinct
20 set apart certain places. times and
persons as something special. It is
not the building itself but the feeling
you have for II. The conservation Of !
the church IS that instinct.
IT is perfectly possible for the !
church 10 pass this incident over. /
You don't mobilize an army when |
mosquito bites you. DR.. Grant may /
be somewhat embittered by being
under discipline and he may have
forgotten for the moment the prom
ises OF his ordination. He does not
represent the faith nor the general
beliefs OF the denomination"
The Rev. DR.. Gustav A. Carsten-
cen, rector OF the Holy Rood Church,
1T9th street and Fort Washington
avenue. when asked TO exp ess his
reaction to the sermon. said:
Il have expressed my opinion so
strongly and so frequently OF Dr.
Grant that I think the statements Of
others would carry more weight. II
IS sufficient for me 10 say only that
[ think the position OF DR.. Grant in
the Episcopal Church is very much
ike bootlegger enforcing the Eigh-
zenith Amendment"
Bishop william T. Manning and
many OF the clergy declined to COM
nent on the sermon. Some OF the
clergy asserted their private belief
hat DR.. Grant had avoided laying
himself open TO action by the Bishop
and that his utterances would result
n no charges.
DR.. Grant could not be reached.
Inquiries at his office drew the reply
hat he was out.