The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-09-18
OUSTED BISHOP
STRUGGLING TO
RECOVER RANK
Brown Makes His Appeal
at General Episcopal
Convention.
DENIES HERESY CHARGE
Convicted in May, 1924,
by Special Court; Brand
ed as Communistic.
By United Press

By United Press
DENVER, Sept. 18.-The rein
statement plea of William Mont
gomery Brown, rs, deposed Episcopal
bishop convicted of heresy, was be-
fore the house of bishops at the
general Episcopal convention today.
Former Bishop Brown was tried
in May, 1924, before a special eccle-
siastical court, and charged with
denying the divinity of Christ and
voicing Communistic views" He
was convicted and the courts rul-
ing was upheld by church court
of reviews.
Browns petition said:
Il, William Montgomery Brown,
formerly bishop of the Protestant
Episcopal church in the United
States, deposed from the ministry
by action of the house of bishops in
the year 1925 for heresy, make re-
spectful application:
Il. For restoration to the house
Of bishops.
2. If such reinstatement be re-
fused me, then that an ultimate
court of appeal may be established
for final review of the proceed
ingS of my deposition on the ques-
lions of doctrine. faith and worship
therein involved
Denies All Charges
TN support of the first branch
of my application I do allege the
following:
81. subscribe to all formularieS
of the church; none have at any
time rejected, denied, or departed
from any of them.
90. I accept and believe all rep
RESERVATIONS Of the old and new
teStamentS, Catholic creeds, Protes-
tant confessions, articles and prayer
books; nor have I at any time re-
jected, denied or departed from any
of them.
TN support of the first branch
of this application have prepared
and sent to each member of the
convention, so far as possible, a
series of six booklets entitled, 1.-The
Bankruptcy of Christian Super
naturaliSm, and a pamphlet en-
titled, 1.-THE Vindication of MY
Heresies," prefaced by a letter to
the members which state nv doc
trinal position more completely and
unanimously than I could by oral
presentation.
I'm support of the second branch
of my application 1 rely on the
language of Article TX of the
church constitution.
When first introduced into the
house of bishops, the memorial was
sent to the committee on petitions
and memorials by presiding Bishop
James DeWolf Perry.
May Die in Committee
Later, it was decided to recall the
petition from the committee and to
present it for consideration at a.
secret council of the house of bish-
ops.
The house of deputies meanwhile
placed upon the house of bishops
the responsibility for initiative on
the effort of Bishop Brown to be
restored to good standing in the
church.
1t adopted a resolution receiving
merely as information" the de-
posed bishops petition, and de-
clared it would await action by the
house of bishops.
1t generally was expected that
Bishop Browns plea would die in
committee.
In 1925, when the general conven-
ton met in New Orleans, Bishop
Brown was unseated by his peers.
Bishop Brown became a clergy
man in 1884. He was made bishop
coadjutor of Arkansas in 1898, and
bishop Of Arkansas in 1900. He re-
signed his post in 1912 because of ill
health.