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The writing and correspondence of Hastings Rashdall: 1915 to 1924

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Correspondence with C L Feltoe about the Bampton Lectures after publication in Dec 1919

C L Feltoe, who had known Rashdall previously, started a correspondence rather inauspiciously by writing on the basis of a Spectator review of the Bamptons, rather than having read them for himself!

Letter to Rashdall, 15th March 1920

Ripple rectory, Ringwould, Kent:. March 15. 1920

My dear Dean,
    Greatly daring, I venture to ask you one question in regard to your statement in the Bampton lectures.
    “according to Jesus. . . . there is not the slightest suggestion that anything else but repentance is necessary (i.e. to forgiveness of sins).” I frankly acknowledge that I am quoting only from the Spectator’s review (6/3/20) & have not yet read your book itself. But what I ask myself is this:- what need there of the Son of God becoming Man? In what respect did St John the Baptist’s message (St Mark i.4) differ from our Lord’s (i.15)? I mean, if they were both but men of different degrees of goodness, holiness, force of character?
    If Jesus Christ was in any true sense Son of God, it seems to me He & He only could say [your sins are forgiven] without specifying His own “Atonement" (not yet accomplished in time).Of course the Apostles & the rest of us have to speak as e.g. St Peter did in Acts v:31 & St Paul Eph iv:32, v:2 etc etc.
    Personally I cannot see how, if the Holy Spirit is with the Church from age to age, “such great men as Paul, Augustine & Luther” can “have missed their way” so entirely “in this central controversy” (Spectator p.312). If so, there has apparently never been a time when the Church has understood & proclaimed aright the Founder’s Gospel.
    Believe me,
    Yours always most truly,
    C. L. Feltoe.

Letter from Rashdall, 16th March 1920

To download the
whole of this
letter in .pdf format
click here

To further correspondence with C L Feltoe

The Deanery, Carlisle.
March 16, 1920.

My dear Feltoe,
    I am afraid your problems are altogether too large and deep be discussed in a letter. Perhaps if you ever do me the honour to read my book you may find some of your difficulties partially met. What you ask for is really a discussion of the whole subject of the Incarnation and its relation to the Atonement, and this is really so big a subject that I can hardly attempt even to touch upon it a short letter. But perhaps you will let me say a word as to some of the assumptions which seem to underlie your letter. . . . .
. . . . The review in the 'Spectator' was a very friendly one, but it has made it appear perhaps more negative and destructive than it is, because its author (whom I know) is a man who perhaps sympathizes more with the destructive than the constructive side of it.
I wish we could meet and discuss these things viva voce as we did of old.
            Ever yours,
                H. RASHDALL.

The writing and correspondence of Hastings Rashdall: 1915 to 1924			HastingsRashdall.org.uk
Correspondence with C L Feltoe about the Bampton Lectures after publication in Dec 1919
C L Feltoe, who had known Rashdall previously, started a correspondence rather inauspiciously by writing on the basis of a Spectator review of the Bamptons, rather than having read them for himself!
Letter to Rashdall, 15th March 1920	Ripple rectory, Ringwould, Kent:. March 15. 1920 My dear Dean, Greatly daring, I venture to ask you one question in regard to your statement in the Bampton lectures. “according to Jesus. . . . there is not the slightest suggestion that anything else but repentance is necessary (i.e. to forgiveness of sins).” I frankly acknowledge that I am quoting only from the Spectator’s review (6/3/20) & have not yet read your book itself. But what I ask myself is this:- what need there of the Son of God becoming Man? In what respect did St John the Baptist’s message (St Mark i.4) differ from our Lord’s (i.15)? I mean, if they were both but men of different degrees of goodness, holiness, force of character? If Jesus Christ was in any true sense Son of God, it seems to me He & He only could say [your sins are forgiven] without specifying His own “Atonement" (not yet accomplished in time).Of course the Apostles & the rest of us have to speak as e.g. St Peter did in Acts v:31 & St Paul Eph iv:32, v:2 etc etc. Personally I cannot see how, if the Holy Spirit is with the Church from age to age, “such great men as Paul, Augustine & Luther” can “have missed their way” so entirely “in this central controversy” (Spectator p.312). If so, there has apparently never been a time when the Church has understood & proclaimed aright the Founder’s Gospel. Believe me, Yours always most truly, C. L. Feltoe.
Letter from Rashdall, 16th March 1920 To download the whole of this letter in .pdf format click here To further correspondence with C L Feltoe		The Deanery, Carlisle. March 16, 1920. My dear Feltoe, I am afraid your problems are altogether too large and deep be discussed in a letter. Perhaps if you ever do me the honour to read my book you may find some of your difficulties partially met. What you ask for is really a discussion of the whole subject of the Incarnation and its relation to the Atonement, and this is really so big a subject that I can hardly attempt even to touch upon it a short letter. But perhaps you will let me say a word as to some of the assumptions which seem to underlie your letter. . . . . . . . . The review in the 'Spectator' was a very friendly one, but it has made it appear perhaps more negative and destructive than it is, because its author (whom I know) is a man who perhaps sympathizes more with the destructive than the constructive side of it. I wish we could meet and discuss these things viva voce as we did of old. Ever yours, H. RASHDALL.