The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-19
CHURCH WARFARE ON IN NEW YORK
(COntinucd From Page One.)

NOOhtlnucd From rage OnesJ chusetts, modernist, here to attend a meeting of the church pension fund maintained strict silence, certain clergymen aligned with the funda- mentalist faction issued statements designed to heal the breach which opened when charges of heresy were brought against the Rev. Lee M. Heaton of Fort Worth, Tex, and 500 Episcopalian clergymen rose to his defense.
 pr. Leighton Parks. aged rector of St. Bartholomews church on Park avenue, who brought the situation to a crisis locally last Sunday by ap- bearing in his pulpit in academic gown and challenging the house of bishops to try him instead of MT. Heaton, added not a word to his sermon.
 But from Rev. Dr. Ernest M. Stires, rector of St, Thomas church on Fifth avenue, came formal statement that plans had been made to avoid trial of Mir. Heaton by transferriDg him to another diocese. Both MT. Heatou and the bishop coadjutor of Dallas were agreeable to this plan, he said, ! urging. "a little quiet and patience"
 This statement, said by those close to Dr. Stires to have been made with out consultation with Bishop Man ming, was followed by denial in Lex ington, Ky, from MT. Heaton that he knew of any plan to avoid bringing him to trial, and that though he would prefer transfer to trial, he did not see how he could help facing charges unless Bishop Moore of Dal- las retracted
 The next announcement came from the Rev Dr. Stuart L. Tyson, vice president of the Modern Churchmen' s Union, now in this city arranging the | defense of MT. Heaton, in which he enumerated three lines of action pro- posed for the Fort Worth rector. O O O Will Demand Retraction.
 First" he said, If Bishop Moore of Dallas, does not carry the matter to trial, Mir. Heaton, under the canons of the General church, will demand a trial.
 Second, if Bishop Moore refuses, MT. Heaton will make a demand that the bishop publicly retraet the charges of heresy now over hanging his head and interfering seriously with his spiritual work.
 Failing in that, Mir. Heaton will consult as to other possible re- course"
 
 statements attributed to him to the effect that modernists would not withdraw from the Episcopal church. l This was interpreted in some quar- ters as an indication that the General convention of the church in New Orleans in 1925 would probably bring a fight for control of the denomina- tion's ecclesiastical affairs. He did state, however, that he believed the present issues would not result in a split.
 Meanwhile statements were not con fined to the clergy. Franklin D. Roosevelt, former assistant Secretary of the Navy and national chairman of the campaign committee for the completion of the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine on Morningside Heights, issued a statement dealing with the assertion last night by the Rev Dr. Karl Roland, rector of Saint Georges, which including J. P. Nor gan among it's parishioners, that the fund drive was dead issue as far as the modernistS were concerned. Newton D. Baker, former Secretary Of War, talking at a lunchon today on changing conditions in the world, made passing reference to the church schism by saying that you have now controversy raging in the Episcopal church that bids fair to rend that conservative organization in .two.'' | O O O
 Roosevelt Takes Part. | In his statement, Mir. Roosevelt re- ferred to the assertion of Dr. Reiland that "a large cathedral for a literal creed" did not inspire liberal church men, saying:
 K Ut is pity besides being a fal- | lacy, for anyone to say that a con ists and fundamentalists will harm | or impede the effort being made to continue to erection of the great cathedral.
 There need never be fear that the cathedral will represent narrow or blind doctrine. Today men and women of other churches-Presbyter Baptists, Methodists, Congregational ists and many others-are working g shoulder to shoulder to make the completion of the cathedral possible
 Far from impeding our work of building we must recognize that con 1 troversies of the day will help us | Such controversies are rather a sign l of renewed birth of religious feel ing. They come from interest, not apathy.2
 Mir. Roosevelt added:
 Tt is a mistaken idea that the | campaign Is to raise $15,000,000. The primary object is to resume building operations the first step of which will be to construct the nave al a cost Of $5,000, ,000."
 Among laymen today the question arose as to how the statement of Dr. Reiland would affect the support Saint Georges was lending he cathed- ral campaign.
 ! O O O
 J. P. Morgan Involved.
 A leader among the vestrymen is J. P. Morgan. whose father liberally endowed the church.
 George w. Wickershal, also yes tryman at Saint George, is director l of the Tyson Lectureship Fountain 1 Inc, headed by pr. Tyson, with George Gordon Battle: Mrs. Henry P Davison, and Frank l.. Polk, former under-secretary of state.
 Bishop Lawrence, at a meeting of the church pension fund. declined to comment on the controversy. Also at tending the meeting were J. P. Nor gan, William Fellowes Morgan, and Mcneil Sayre, of New York; Charlton Yarnell, of Philadelphia, Samuel Mather, of Cleveland and Robert c Pruyn, of Albany.