The Washington times., 1929-08-23

christianity IS
CURSE, SAYS !
SEXCLER|C

FONTANA, Calf, Aug. %
(I.N.S.).-The Rev. DR.. James
Empringham, accused Of IL
legally practicing medicine as
head of an alleged ''sex
clinic" in New York, has re-
signed and renounced the min
istry, it was disclosed here
today. e7
A statement, incorporating i
letter of resignation to Bishop
William T. Manning, of the Epis-
copal diocese of New York, was
made public through his familys
now in Fontana. DR.. Empring-
hams letter to Bishop Manning
said:
Asks for His Release Il
by my stand against prOhibi-
tion and other ways for years r.
have been . thorn In the side Of
yourself and other good men, and
| think h would be better for me
to resign my Christian commis.
4 siOn." .s
He asked that he be publicly re-
lieved at the earliest opportunity. .
Empringham. form err national
secretary Of the Church Temperance
Society Of the Episcopal Churchs
arrived in New York yesterday Ia
face women's charges against him,
according to a telegram received by
his wife here.
In announcing his letter to the
bishop, the minister, made his first
public comment on the charges
against him.
Text Of Letter s.
The letter said:
II am more than ever convinced
that Christianity, as interpreted
by men Of your school, is not only
= preposterOus lie but 2 hindrance
and a curse to humanity prOduc. !.
tive Of untold misery and immor.t
atty. s
"As, for example, your un-C Chris. (.
tian stand against the divorce and
remaFriage Of mismated couples.
DR.. Empringham married Mrs.
Vasilieff Safren in Ensenada. Mex
leo, last June after divorcing hig
first wife in Reno.
In his letter he outlined secular
and ecclesiastical activities GOVERN 8.
the past is years, saying he had
lost faith in the church creed.
BlameS Defamers -.
He described his administration
of the alleged ''sex clinic" and
ascribed his difficulties to dis
charged employees and defamers.' 4
1 NVa u to H. InA
come to California to evade pay.
ment Of rent on premises leased bySt
the now defunct Health E6ucationaf
Society. He said: -
81 came to improve my health. Il
However, / am returning to New
York at once to face my accusers.
as my conscience iS clear"
He charged Bishop Manning with.
misinterpreting Christianity, and,
said:
''The world would be much bet. !.
ter off without such religion.
Pagans like Socrates blessed the
world; saints like Simon Stylites
have been It's greatest curse.
There seems no probability Of
my regaining faith i'm the church :.
creed which / lost Is years ago. -
Brother priests have long.
pleaded with me not to make :
this public confession because Of I
the harm 1t might do the faith.
full.
| Time to Tell Truth :.
But / have come to think.
that it would be better for every
man to tell the truth as he really Il
sees it. Under the circumstances :,
can be Of no use to the church !
or the church to me.
Il therefore beg that you take
the earliest opportunity Of for
malIy and publicly relieving me
Of holy orders which ] hereby re.
sign and renOunce. -
II regret the pain I know these :
admissions viii give you and
many Others" =,
In postscript he said, prostitutes.
and blackmailers, melted by my
enemies demanded money" Com
tinuing, he wrote: Y
81 told them to do their worst i
and they did it. 3.
"YOu, Bishop Manning. listened 1
to my discharged employees and =
defamers, but you always refused
to see me. III
For years you used every ounce
OF your great power in the city :
of New York to discredit me. =
"The great medical work Of our 4;
temperance society would not have
conc to an end if had not quar-. $
relied with YOU" "