Grant Out

Famed for a sexagenarian romance and for fearless unorthodox sermons, Percy Stickney Grant resigned his office. He had for 31 years been rector of the Church of the Ascension, near Greenwich Village, Manhattan, in the Bishopric of William T. Manning, Cathedral-builder.

Without public warning Dr. Grant wrote to his Vestry:

Gentlemen:

For some time before 1923 I had it in mind to retire from the Rectorship of Ascension Parish at the end of 30 years. I have allowed that period to run over another year, on account of the controversy at that time going on.

A year ago, when you did over the rectory, you remember that the reason for this extensive repairing was the discovery of leaking sewer pipes. These, as you know, had given me a serious illness which reduced my red corpuscles 60 %. In fact, I was threatened with pernicious anaemia. This condition has not been entirely corrected and needs a country life.

Besides this, I wish to gain strength and time for unfinished literary work. Some of this I should have delivered to the publishers two years ago. I can only hope to complete it when I am free from interruptions.

I therefore present herewith to you my resignation, to take effect at once.

My rectorship, since 1893, represents a period of extraordinary transition in this part of the city. . . .

Some years ago the deaconess in this parish told me she had 400 poor families to visit. Last year her successor informed me there were not 20 families in the parish that needed help. . . . In other words, the Church of the Ascension is in a more fortunate position for future strength and influence than it was 30 years ago.

Please understand my deep appreciation of the generosity and friendliness of the present and past members of your board and of the parish. The ending of such a relationship as ours cannot be to me anything but a matter of deep grief. . .

(Signed) PERCY S. GRANT

As soon as the Vestry had accepted his resignation, Dr. Grant sprang into a taxi and rushed off to the Grand Central Station, accompanied by an unidentified grey-haired woman. He was discovered that evening at Beaver Lodge in Bedford Village, N. Y. For three years the rector had been publicly engaged to Mrs. Rita de Acosta Lydig, captivating gentle woman, in her late forties. Mrs. Lydig married W. E. D. Stokes in 1895 when she was only 16. Divorcing him later, she married a gallant officer, Major Philip M. Lydig, divorced him in Paris in 1919 for incompatibility. Because she was not the innocent party in a case of adultery, Bishop Manning refused to allow the rector to marry her. The engagement was formally broken last May. Following reports that Dr. Grant would resign not only from his rectorship, but also from the ministry, the following statement was issued:

"Mrs. Lydig from her town home, 930 Park Avenue, wishes to deny that the announcement she made on May 26 breaking her engagement to Dr. Grant is in any manner affected by Dr. Grant's resignation from the Church of the Ascension. Furthermore, Mrs. Lydig has no country home and will have nothing further to say on this subject."

Dr. Grant's latest book, The Religion of Main Street, was published last week by the American Library Service. It hits the oldtimers, the Fundamentalists, hip and thigh.