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WATHAM, ARTHUR E.; [DIOCESE OF KENTUCKY].

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:50.00 USD Estimated At:100.00 - 200.00 USD
WATHAM, ARTHUR E.; [DIOCESE OF KENTUCKY].
A lively correspondence (three documents) on theological topics, between Rev. Arthur E. Watham, Presbyter of the Diocese of Kentucky, and Edward M. Chapman, and an interesting letter to Chapman from Mrs. Watham, in response to Chapman's book, A Modernist and His Creed: 1. WATHAM: A five-sheet TLS, September 13, 1926. Watham is at first politely complimentary but takes issue with numerous points, including that Chapman has lumped both Testaments for analysis, and shown a "complete misunderstanding of the so-called evolution in Israel's religion." He follows with a vociferous discussion of the phallic and carnality in the Bible and pre-Christian world/mythology, and states that Chapman's treatment of Jesus is "out of harmony with present day critical scholarship." 11in.  8 1/2in. Condition: Each sheet with two horizontal folds, hole punches, toning. 2. MRS. A. E. WATHAM: A four-sheet ALS, December 19, 1926. She shares personal stories, including about her parents' and grandparents' religious life in England; her mother's involvement in the Methodist movement; her and her sister's exposure to Unitarianism through specific English families; and her and her husband meeting Mrs. Sidney Webb (social reformer Martha Beatrice Potter), through their work in London. 8 3/8in. x 5 3/8in. Condition: sheets with two horizontal folds, toning. 3. CHAPMAN: Three-sheet typed carbon copy of Chapman's reply to Rev. Watham, September 23, 1926. He says to respond fully would require writing another book, but goes on to make extensive comments, including that he is "quite aware of the phallic element in Hebrew as in other faiths of western Asia. But I cannot agree that the sex-element was as dominant in the main stream of Israel's history as it was in some other faiths: and I am strongly inclined to believe that of late there has been a tendency to exaggerate its place in the worship even of the Canaanites and the Phoenicians." 11in. x 8 1/2in. Condition: Hole punches, toning, light spotting, small edge folds/tears. PLEASE NOTE: 20TH CENTURY DOCUMENTS CAN HAVE VARIED TONING FROM AGE; IMAGES MAY APPEAR LIGHTER ON DIFFERENT SCREENS. EDWARD MORTIMER CHAPMAN (1862-1952) was a Connecticut pastor, academic, and author. He graduated from Yale Divinity School in 1890. Chapman was a descendant of Robert Chapman, one of the first settlers of Saybrook, Connecticut (c. 1635). He served as pastor of Old Lyme Church from 1906 to 1915. Chapman€™s works integrated his wide-ranging theological, literary, and historical interests. This lot and the other Chapman-related documents offered in this sale were part of a collection of his family papers.