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The writing and correspondence of Hastings Rashdall:

The early years - to 1905

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Letter written by Rashdall to 'Hone' on Christmas Day 1899

3 Ecclestone Square, S.W.
December 25, 1899

My dear Hone,
   One line to wish you a happy Christmas. I am not quite sure whether I owe you a letter or not. I have just been reading a sermon of Phillip Brooks in the volume called “The Mystery of Iniquity”, the sermon itself being called “The Eternal Humanity of Christ”, which (though it is sketchy and not fully thought out), might perhaps meet some of your difficulties about the Atonement. I feel that the Abelardian doctrine does not express the whole truth. There may be all sorts of ways in which Christ’s work - life and death - may take away sin, but the one thing I am prepared to insist on is that sin can only be taken away by something which makes people really better. There can be no cancelling of the past guilt - that is a mere fiction, the fruitful parent of all superstitions, however much the superstition may be backed by Bradley, Cook Wilson & Co. Pardon this dogmatism.
   I was really pleased by what you told me about the Bishop’s recommendation. That does console one a little when one is inclining to think one’s life is all wasted. It must be easier to believe the contrary in Bromley, however great in other respects the superior attractions of Oxford.
   Affectionately yours,

   H. RASHDALL.

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The writing and correspondence of Hastings Rashdall: The early years - to 1905		HastingsRashdall.org.uk
Letter written by Rashdall to 'Hone' on Christmas Day 1899
3 Ecclestone Square, S.W. December 25, 1899 My dear Hone, One line to wish you a happy Christmas. I am not quite sure whether I owe you a letter or not. I have just been reading a sermon of Phillip Brooks in the volume called “The Mystery of Iniquity”, the sermon itself being called “The Eternal Humanity of Christ”, which (though it is sketchy and not fully thought out), might perhaps meet some of your difficulties about the Atonement. I feel that the Abelardian doctrine does not express the whole truth. There may be all sorts of ways in which Christ’s work - life and death - may take away sin, but the one thing I am prepared to insist on is that sin can only be taken away by something which makes people really better. There can be no cancelling of the past guilt - that is a mere fiction, the fruitful parent of all superstitions, however much the superstition may be backed by Bradley, Cook Wilson & Co. Pardon this dogmatism. I was really pleased by what you told me about the Bishop’s recommendation. That does console one a little when one is inclining to think one’s life is all wasted. It must be easier to believe the contrary in Bromley, however great in other respects the superior attractions of Oxford. Affectionately yours, H. RASHDALL.
	Back to "Explore the writings of Rashdall - The Early Years to 1905"