Rev A Brandram No 94
Halifax, Nova Scotia, 3rd July 1840
My Dear Friend,
My last letter to you was written on the first of June, the day on which I arrived in New Brunswick from Canada, and was confined to objects previous and up to that day. The present letter will therefore be occupied with occurrences since that date.
Your agent has an occasion for many a place to write you of friendly reception and treatment he has met with, for your sake and in honour to your cause, but nowhere has he received as friendly a reception than that experienced on his entering the Province of New Brunswick. I had written from Quebec to the Secretary of the Bible Society in St. John, stating my intention of being with them on the 1st June by the Steam Boat from Boston. In a few minutes after we came to the wharf I was introduced to Mr. Paterson the Secretary and to Members of the Committee, who informed me that at a late meeting they had been deputised to wait on me, to congratulate me on my arrival, and to direct me to a suitable lodging which been looked out for me. The Hon. Judge Parker the President of the Society came also on board a little after, and with the same kind intentions. One of the party forthwith conducted us to the lodging house, where as soon as we were at leisure we gave thanks to our God for our safe arrival and for these encouragements. If Paul thanked God and took courage when he met the Brethren at Appii Forum sent from Rome to receive him, you will not wonder that your poor agent should do the same, standing in need as he continually does of every help and strength. But I mention these things as indicating a high respect for your Society, and a great readiness to cooperate with you in your extensive work here and elsewhere.
Soon after we were got into our lodging were visited by the Rev. Mr. Paterson one of our West India friends whom we met with in Demerara, and afterwards my several others connected with the Society including the ministers of the different denominations in the place, all of whom seem lively in the Bible cause.
Arrangements had been made for a meeting of the Committee of the New Brunswick Bible Society on the 3rd and for a public meeting on the 4th. The committee meeting was held in Judge Parker's house, where 17 members assembled, and from 8 o'clock to 10:30 engaged in treating the various objects brought before. Several measures were arranged for in the way of increased exertion, and there seemed to be a lively desire in all towards advancement and extension in the Bible work. A resolution was passed a supply all the steam boats connected with the port, and all the wood boats on the River St. John, with the Scriptures, 3 for each of the former, (1 for each cabin and 1 for the steerage) and for the wood boats 1 Bible each. I urged the committee to use every effort with all speed to get the Scriptures into every house on the one hand, and on the other to get something out of every house for the Bible cause.
On the evening of the 4th our public meeting took place which was well attended, and we had the pleasure of seeing all the ministers of the place of the several denominations, all of whom are warm friends of the society. Judge Parker opened the meeting, and particularly expressed the gratitude and deep interest himself and the whole society felt towards you and your attentions in visiting them in the person of one of your agents. The rest of the speaking was led me, and I endeavoured to improve the occasion for the advancement of our sacred object.
After the public meeting I attended some subcommittees which met for special purposes, and had also many opportunities of conversing with several members of the society individually. I am glad to say that from these various opportunities of seeing our friends here publicly and privately, I judge very favourably of our cause in this place. The Lord enable them to carry into effect their benevolent intentions, and keep them from growing weary in well doing.
On the 5th the Books in the Neptune arrived, and I received a letter from Mr. Jackson of the 3rd April, with a duplicate of four invoices. – I send you a newspaper with some account of our public meeting.
I should not close these notices without stating that the Rev. Mr. Robinson one of the Baptist ministers here is very warm in your cause, and though not quite satisfied with your decision in the Baptist case, is resolved to adhere to you and to induce his brethren to do the same if he can. I explained matters to him, which made him see things more favourable than he had seen them before. He is about to attend the Conference of the Baptist ministers at Liverpool in Nova Scotia, and intends then to plead for you should anything be said about separation or another society. His colleague Mr. Harris in St. John is alike friendly. These views and feelings in these times are gratifying. And I may here state also on this head, and more particularly when I have before done perhaps, the Baptist ministers in the Canadas are with hardly an exception most friendly to us, and from several of them has your servant received much kindness.
On the 9th of June I went up the River St. John to Fredericton, distance about 80 miles. As soon as the steamboat arrived, Mr. Taylor the President of the Society there came on board, and kindly conducted Mrs. Thomson and myself to his own house where we were courteously entertained during the week we stopped there. On the day following a meeting of the Committee was held, which was attended and 15 members. At this meeting the field of the Society was surveyed, and arrangements were entered into for cultivating it better than it has yet been done. They say the soil, in many places at least, is good, and that a profitable return might be expected from Bible culture and seed. One part surveyed was the North East Coasts of the Province, where I learned the greater portion of the inhabitants are French and of course Roman Catholics. It was agreed to write you for some 200 De Sacy French Testaments and a few Bibles. Respecting this you will be informed by the Secretary in his order for books which is soon to be sent. – I may mention however that as I intend to visit Miramichi in September, it would be well for you to send on some French De Sacy Testaments and Bibles there, unless the Society in that place has a supply already. You will know probably by your books whether it is likely they have a supply or not.
On Thursday the 11th of June we held a public meeting in the Scotch Church, which was pretty well attended. I trust our assembling on this occasion will prove serviceable to the great cause. A resolution was passed pledging to new and greater exertions, which I hope will be duly realised. There is a good spirit in this Society, and it is probable that before long it will be considerably extended. The Governor is the Patron of the Society, and is very friendly towards it. I saw His Excellency at different times, and obtained from him some useful information respecting the Indians and the French settlers.
On the 15th June a meeting was held in the Scotch Church of ladies only, with one exception, for the purpose of forming a Bible Society among them, and it was accordingly formed. I give you the names of the office bearers that you may record them: Mrs. Parker, President; Mrs. Scott, Treasurer; Mrs. Smithers, Secretary. This Association is of course connected with the Fredericton Bible Society. I give you here also the names of the office bearers of the Fredericton Bible Society, as, for want of later information, they are stated incorrectly in your last report. They are His Excellency Sir John Harvey K.C.H. Patron; James Taylor Esq. M.P.P. President; C.Fisher M.P.P. Treasurer; H.Fisher and A.Smithers, Secretaries. Please also to make the following correction, in the column of patrons and presidents, for the N.B. Bible Society at St. John. Instead of John M.Wilmot Esq. put "His Excellency Sir John Harvey K.C.H." and the "Hon. Judge Parker."
In Fredericton, on the 11th June, I received your letter of the 5th of may, I bless God with all my heart that my ways have not been found contrary to your ways in the matter adjudicated. I observe your excellent observations about a thing that is here being blamed when an exactly similar thing that is old escapes censure. I would not, I assure you, have given my name to the F.C.M.S. had I for a moment thought it would be seen in Quebec as it turned out to be. And how could I imagine it would so appear there when several members of the Church of England were
its warmest supporters in Montreal, and with whom hand-in-hand I went, and who had said everything that was done in the matter. And further, as soon as ever I found there was a serious objection entertained about me and it in Quebec I offered frankly and fully to withdrawal. But they were not satisfied with this, but would record a resolution on it, and so onwards it passed until it came to you, at which I was very sorry, as you have plenty to trouble you besides. But I have gained instruction from this occurrence I hope in more ways than one.
[I might perhaps, in closing this subject, say a word about Mr. Wilkes's paragon agent, as I might perhaps lay claim to be just such a nonsuch: for in truth, I am not, I may say, and have not been for years, in connection with any particular section of the at the present divided church, but am and act as a Catholic in the ancient sense of the word. I go to, and occasionally commune with all gospel churches, and have preached in all pulpits except in that of the Church of England: but even there too at times I have held forth biblically at least from the altar and from the desk; and I may perhaps get one step higher some day, and of this you shall hear when it may take place.]
In regard to Mr. Lappelletrie's case I would state that we were unwilling to say to you anything about the matter till we should see more, for we were always in hope of things being better; and when I say we, I mean the Committee of the Montreal Bible Society and myself. His resignation took place in my absence. I did not forward to you a copy of my letter to Major Christie which I had prepared, as I was unwilling to give you additional trouble, and thought my letter was not perhaps necessary. I intended to blot out what I had said of sending it to you, but forgot at closing out the letter. I now send this copy which happens to be to hand.
Your letter to Mr. Wilkes, which you say I would see, I have of course not seen, as I had left Montreal before it reached that place. If it contains anything particular regarding me, please let me have a copy of. – I suppose I must have written you loosely about the Eastern Clerical Bible Society, but have not the copy at hand for examination. There is no other object combined with this Bible Society. The same persons are associated in our objects, yet the objects themselves are not conmingled but entirely distinct.
On the 17th June there was held in St. John a committee meeting of the Ladies Bible Association of that place. New arrangements were entered into which we thought improvements, and calculated to make this Bible Auxiliary more productive. We met in the house of the Treasurer who is a very worthy lady. Mrs. Ferguson is 81 years of age, but her activity and Bible animation would be indicated by transposing the digits into 18. Her husband is 86, and is full of the hope of what in all probability he will soon enjoy, namely, the blessings promised in the Bible to those who die in the Lord.
At the close of the 18th June, at midnight, I left St. John, and on the morning of the 20th arrived in Halifax. A few hours after arrival I attended a meeting of the Committee of the Society here, when we arranged for a public meeting on the 29th. On the evening of that day we had a very full meeting, and many could not get admittance from want of room. His Excellency, Sir Colin Campbell the Governor was in the chair. It was the Annual Meeting of the Society which had been deferred in expectation of my coming. Our meeting was kept up till a latish hour, but nobody seemed tired. We had the great pleasure of having with us at this meeting no less than six clergyman of the Church of England, four of them residents, and two of them attached to other places. This was as it ought to be. The Church of England which honours the Scriptures so much in the public reading of them should always be the most prominent in the Bible cause. All the other ministers of the place were also with us. Everybody agreed that this was the best Bible meeting that had ever been held in Halifax. From what I have seen at this public meeting, and in different com. meetings, together with what has come before me in private intercourse, I feel disposed to augur well of our future operations here. I send you a newspaper in which you will see some account of our anniversary, and a schedule operations pointed out for me for one month.
I must not forget to say, that the first reception and the general treatment your agent has met with in Halifax had equalled and perhaps exceeded any former attentions paid you in him. Your letter No.2 arrived here from Montreal on the 23rd instant. On the 16th I received the Record newspaper of the 7th May.
Glory be to God for your prosperity.
James Thomson.