The Investigation of Ghosts and the Need For a New Christian Bible

Fenton J. A. Hort.

 

 

Here we learn that Professor Fenton John Anthony Hort in 1853 tells Rev. Ellerton, that himself and Westcott have agreed to “edit a Greek text” based in part on Tischendorf text which he started to study in 1851.
“I have not seen anybody that I know except Westcott, whom, being with his wife at his father’s at Moseley, close to Birmingham, a fortnight ago, I visited for a few hours. One result of our talk I may as well tell you. He and I are going to edit a Greek text of the N. T.  some two or three years hence, if possible. Lachmann and Tischendorf will supply rich materials, but not nearly enough ; and we hope to do a good deal with the Oriental versions. Our object is to supply clergymen generally, schools, etc., with a portable Gk. Test., which shall not be disfigured with Byzantine corruptions.”

 

The Life and Letters of Fenton John Anthony Hort (1896) cover and page 250

To the Rev. John Ellerton . Umberslade Hall, Birmingham, April 19th, 1853 Arthur Hort, The Life and Letters of Fenton John Anthony Hort (1896) page 250

 

This agreement to “edit a Greek text” is made with his friend B.F. Westcott within only two years of

 

Peter Underwood“1851 to be exact, there was founded in Cambridge by the Revd B.F. Westcott, afterwards Bishop of Durham, a highly individual organisation that he named The Ghost Society.”  The Ghost Club A History by Peter Underwood President of the Ghost Club 1960- 1993, published by The Limbury Press, 2010, page 7

 

 

 

 

 

 

Noticed that the context of this agreement to “edit a Greek text” was made during Professor Fenton J A Hort has already been studying Greek texts, and was recommended by B.F. Westcott to study Bagster’s Critical Greek text. Even after having admitted  “having read so little Greek Testament” he somehow knew that the Textus Receptus was  a “ villainous ” and “vile “ Greek text. At that time he dedicated his life to its overthrow, intending to supplant it with another text.  This would be the very same year Professor Fenton J A Hort  would write in the very same letter to Rev. John Ellerton about starting “ a society for the investigation of ghosts”.

“Greek Testament, and a German dictionary, — and work at St. Paul chronologically. I have been two nights at 2 Thess. ii. and have at last got some light, which has much pleased me and encouraged me ; I find it altogether a most interesting and all-ways profitable study. I had no idea till the last few weeks of the importance of texts, having read so little Greek Testament, and dragged on with the villainous Textus Receptus. Westcott recommended me to get Bagster’s Critical, which has Scholz’s text, and is most convenient in small quarto, with parallel Greek and English, and a wide margin on purpose for notes. This pleased me much ; so many little alterations on good MS. authority made things clear not in a vulgar, notional way, but by giving a deeper and fuller meaning. But after all Scholz is very capricious and sparing in introducing good readings; and Tischendorf I find a great acquisition, above all, because he gives the various readings at the bottom of his page, and his Prolegomena are invaluable. Think of that vile Textus Receptus leaning entirely on late MSS.“

“Westcott, Gorham, C. B. Scott, Benson, Bradshaw, Luard, etc., and I have started a society for the investigation of ghosts and all supernatural appearances and effects, being all disposed to believe that such things really exist, and ought to be discriminated from hoaxes and mere subjective delusions ; we shall be happy to obtain any good accounts well authenticated with names. Westcott is drawing up a schedule of questions. Cope calls us the ‘Cock and Bull Club ‘; our own temporary name is the ‘Ghostly Guild.'”

 

December 29th and 30th, 1851 pages 209, 210, and 211

 The Life and Letters of Fenton John Anthony Hort (1896) pages 209, 210, and 211 of a letter written to Rev. John Ellerton December 29th and 30th, 1851

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