BISHOP ON TRIAL.

Waikato Times, Volume 97, Issue 15999, 30 May 1924, Page 7

BISHOP ON TRIAL.

A HERESY CHARGE. CONTROVERSY ON FUNDAMENTALS. ALLEGATIONS OF UNFAIRNESS. (Australian and N.Z. Gable Assn.) NEW YORK". May 28. The controversy concerning the fundamentals of ihe Christian belief has reached a climax in Ihe opening at Cleveland. Ohio, of ihe trial of Bishop William Brown, for alleged heresy. Three bishops are accusing and eight are acting as judges'. Bishop Brown issued a statement lo the effect that while his trial is actually a battle over theological beliefs, he and his supporters are making every attempt, by creating a precedent, to render impossible the trial of churchmen for flic swmholic interpretation of supcrnaturalistic passages in the Bible. Bishop Brown challenges each of II bishops to define the doctrines of the Episcopal Church. He asserts that each would define differently.

Counsel for Bishop Brown made strenuous efforts to delay or cripple the prosecution by challenging the Court's jurisdiction, lie asked |he prosecution to Hie a hill of particulars; he demanded that the defence should he permitted lo interrogate I lie Court; and hi' filed a demurrer to the prosecution's presentment. All these efforts failed, however, and Hie prosecution's puns' have opened their preliminary fire:

The presentment, which L> a long ecclesiastical document full of church lore, depends principally upon quotations from Bishop Brown's book. Counsel for the defence asserted

that the defendant was not receiving the fairness which is accorded lo an ordinary criminal.

The trial is attracting' widespread attention.