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The correspondence of Hastings Rashdall: 1915 – 24

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Letters from Hastings Rashdall about the Bamptons to which no replies have been found

The Castle Hotel, Bishop's Castle, Shropshire.
April 12, 1916.

Dearest Mother,
    It is really time I wrote you a letter though Connie has no doubt kept you informed of our movements. I was very sorry not to be able to go to Aunt Alice's funeral. It would have been just possible on Thursday, but on Friday I was engaged to preach at a Church in Leeds at 1, and to read a paper to the Yorkshire branch of the Churchmen's Union in the afternoon. I am afraid Uncle Monty will feel very lonely and desolate.

    I had an interesting time at Halifax. I stayed with one Sir George Fisher-Smith, I imagine a typical Yorkshire manufacturer Liberal, Congregationalist Deacon, ex-Mayor, proud of all that he has done for the town, living in a sumptuous villa with a garden commanding a beautiful view over the town, a great collector of pictures, puts in his h's where he remembers it.
    An American wife of a more cultivated type. Both good sort of people, very kind and hospitable. I met Pigott, the successor of Sylvester Hime at the Whitfield tabernacle, who preached the opening sermon (a fine oration but a little too artificial), and other N.C. divines. All very civil - many said they had read my books. The Principal of the Yorkshire Congregational College expressed some dissent from my papers but in the nicest and most tolerant manner, agreed with all I had said but spoke of "complementary" truths On Thursday I went to stay with a liberal Churchman named Allan who has a parish in the very midst of the munition-works at Stourton, Leeds - a man who combines the work of a parish of 5,000 with reading everything, a Scot by origin and education. A most unlovely spot, full of hideous sights and smells. On Friday I had about 120 people at the sermon and perhaps 50 at the lecture. Hone came to it and took me home with him to his new Vicarage at Brighouse, a small manufacturing place between Halifax and Huddersfield. He has a nice Vicarage and garden between the Church and a public garden on the top of a hill with a good view - quite a pleasant place compared with Stourton - 12,000 people, 3 Churches 2 Curates. On Saturday joined Connie on the way to Hereford where we stayed with the Bishop. I had to preach a prebendal sermon. He is better, though still not capable of much work and very tired in the evenings. I think the time has come when he ought to resign - sorry as I shall be to live under another Bishop.
This is a little place on the top of a hill, very good air, very pretty mountainous country around. Inn quite tolerable, but we can't stay, as on Thursday there is a great cattle-fair when the Inn will be full of dealers. The land-lady told us we should not be comfortable, and could not have the sitting-room we occupy. We think of going on to Clun, but will let you know.

        Your very affectionate son,
                H.    RASHDALL.

The Deanery,
Carlisle,

March 13, 1920.

My dear Webb,
         . . . . Your review of my theological work was the first review in the Oxford Magazine on any of my books that was not distinctly depreciatory or at least unsympathetic. You were as sympathetic as your position - I mean your theological and philosophical position allowed you to be. I am glad you were convinced about the historical origin.
    I cannot quite make out why you should have found my discussion of the "ransom" passage "inconclusive", except in the sense that I do not conclude, the evidence being doubtful. I should like to know what you object to in it. Do you mean that you both regard the saying as sufficiently established and understand it in the traditional sense. If it was a genuine saying and uttered with the dogmatic meaning usually attributed to it, it is difficult to suppose that it was not the historical origin of the doctrine: but this you repudiate.
    I can't see why you should accuse me of "fixity" etc. My opinions have been modified, since we knew each other, quite as much as yours - if, indeed, mutability of opinion is essential to the philosophic character. Are all those who refused to join in the great temporization against Idealism to be put into the same boat, and after all my Idealism has been a good deal modified. But of course you must not expect the criticised to acquiesce in the criticism. You certainly will not agree with what I am saying about you, but I hope you will not object to it, and will think me sufficiently respectful. I am in part using you as a stick wherewith to belabour Inge, though my acquaintance with him compels me to be less drastic than I could wish. I think he has simply no philosophical capacity at all, though a brilliant rhetorician.
            Ever yours,
                    H. RASHDALL.

On to a further letter to Webb

The correspondence of Hastings Rashdall: 1915 – 24	HastingsRashdall.org.uk
Letters from Hastings Rashdall about the Bamptons to which no replies have been found
The Castle Hotel, Bishop's Castle, Shropshire. April 12, 1916. Dearest Mother, It is really time I wrote you a letter though Connie has no doubt kept you informed of our movements. I was very sorry not to be able to go to Aunt Alice's funeral. It would have been just possible on Thursday, but on Friday I was engaged to preach at a Church in Leeds at 1, and to read a paper to the Yorkshire branch of the Churchmen's Union in the afternoon. I am afraid Uncle Monty will feel very lonely and desolate. I had an interesting time at Halifax. I stayed with one Sir George Fisher-Smith, I imagine a typical Yorkshire manufacturer Liberal, Congregationalist Deacon, ex-Mayor, proud of all that he has done for the town, living in a sumptuous villa with a garden commanding a beautiful view over the town, a great collector of pictures, puts in his h's where he remembers it. An American wife of a more cultivated type. Both good sort of people, very kind and hospitable. I met Pigott, the successor of Sylvester Hime at the Whitfield tabernacle, who preached the opening sermon (a fine oration but a little too artificial), and other N.C. divines. All very civil - many said they had read my books. The Principal of the Yorkshire Congregational College expressed some dissent from my papers but in the nicest and most tolerant manner, agreed with all I had said but spoke of "complementary" truths On Thursday I went to stay with a liberal Churchman named Allan who has a parish in the very midst of the munition-works at Stourton, Leeds - a man who combines the work of a parish of 5,000 with reading everything, a Scot by origin and education. A most unlovely spot, full of hideous sights and smells. On Friday I had about 120 people at the sermon and perhaps 50 at the lecture. Hone came to it and took me home with him to his new Vicarage at Brighouse, a small manufacturing place between Halifax and Huddersfield. He has a nice Vicarage and garden between the Church and a public garden on the top of a hill with a good view - quite a pleasant place compared with Stourton - 12,000 people, 3 Churches 2 Curates. On Saturday joined Connie on the way to Hereford where we stayed with the Bishop. I had to preach a prebendal sermon. He is better, though still not capable of much work and very tired in the evenings. I think the time has come when he ought to resign - sorry as I shall be to live under another Bishop. This is a little place on the top of a hill, very good air, very pretty mountainous country around. Inn quite tolerable, but we can't stay, as on Thursday there is a great cattle-fair when the Inn will be full of dealers. The land-lady told us we should not be comfortable, and could not have the sitting-room we occupy. We think of going on to Clun, but will let you know. Your very affectionate son, H. RASHDALL.	The Deanery, Carlisle, March 13, 1920. My dear Webb, . . . . Your review of my theological work was the first review in the Oxford Magazine on any of my books that was not distinctly depreciatory or at least unsympathetic. You were as sympathetic as your position - I mean your theological and philosophical position allowed you to be. I am glad you were convinced about the historical origin. I cannot quite make out why you should have found my discussion of the "ransom" passage "inconclusive", except in the sense that I do not conclude, the evidence being doubtful. I should like to know what you object to in it. Do you mean that you both regard the saying as sufficiently established and understand it in the traditional sense. If it was a genuine saying and uttered with the dogmatic meaning usually attributed to it, it is difficult to suppose that it was not the historical origin of the doctrine: but this you repudiate. I can't see why you should accuse me of "fixity" etc. My opinions have been modified, since we knew each other, quite as much as yours - if, indeed, mutability of opinion is essential to the philosophic character. Are all those who refused to join in the great temporization against Idealism to be put into the same boat, and after all my Idealism has been a good deal modified. But of course you must not expect the criticised to acquiesce in the criticism. You certainly will not agree with what I am saying about you, but I hope you will not object to it, and will think me sufficiently respectful. I am in part using you as a stick wherewith to belabour Inge, though my acquaintance with him compels me to be less drastic than I could wish. I think he has simply no philosophical capacity at all, though a brilliant rhetorician. Ever yours, H. RASHDALL. *On to a further letter to Webb*