Rev A Brandram No 84
Toronto, 23rd May 1839
My Dear Friend,
Agreeably to the notification given you in my letter of the 24th ultimo, I set out from Montreal on the 25th to make my Bible Tour over Upper Canada. On the 27th I was in Prescott, and called on the President, Treasurer, and Secretary of the Bible Society there, as well as on some individual members of the Committee. They all agreed in stating that they had for a good while past done little in their Bible work. They lamented the same, but would not wish this neglect to be set down as altogether arising from their indifference or indolence; but alleged, as they had good reason to do, that the war attack made on their town some time ago,[1] and the preceding and succeeding agitations arising from their border situation, and the general unsettlement of the country, had so operated on the minds of themselves and their Bible colleagues, that they had been forced as it were to neglect that which should not have been neglected. Our Prescott friends are willing to make a new effort in this good cause, and will gladly make arrangements for a public meeting, and for reinvigorating their Society. According to my plan, as stated in my letter already referred to, I did not wait to hold this meeting at Prescott, as I had to push on to Toronto. I left our friends however in the understanding that I would cooperate with them in this meeting and in their other measures when in the providence of God I should return to them after my general visitation of the father parts of this Province.
On the night of the 27th, and in the night, I came to the house of Mr Freeland, three miles from Brockville on the Prescott side. Here, as your servant, I was very kindly received, and had been invited several weeks before to make his house my tent during my short stay in that quarter. On the day following which was Sunday I attended the places of worship of Mr Campbell and Mr Smart, and was introduced to each of them. On the Monday and part of the Tuesday I had several interviews with two individuals just names, not together but apart, and also with other members of the Bible Society Committee there. I was glad to find that there was entertained by all with whom I met a good and friendly feeling in favour of the Bible cause. All seemed willing and anxious to restore their Society to its former state and to advance it, and they agreed together in that there was a good field open to them. Most or all of the misunderstandings will I think be understood when the parties are gathered together; and what cannot be so disposed of will it is hoped be sacrificed on the table of the Bible Committee when they all meet around it. I have in truth good hopes of seeing a flourishing Bible Society in Brockville, and that before long. Our friends regretted that I could not stop with them there to hold a public meeting and to rearrange their concerns. I promised to delay some time with them on my return, and they agreed to let all stand till then. I saw among others Mr Sherwood the president of the Society, and found him as anxious as any one to see the Society again in full action. Mr Sherwood is the Sheriff of the District on Johnstown in which Brockville is, and of course possesses a good deal of influence over the portion of the country for which he holds this office, and which influence he will I believe very cheerfully employ in furtherance of the Bible cause. From all these circumstances I have mentioned I shall look forward to my return to Brockville with satisfaction. But, as in all our satisfactions in this life there is a mixture of something else, so here, for I have kind and urgent invitations from Mr Campbell and Mr Smart, from Mr Sherwood and Mr Freeland to stay with them on my return, and I know not how to meet and fulfil all these kindnesses. I feel thankful for the state of things which this indicates, for I had looked to my visit to this place with some anxiety, and probably so did you.
On Tuesday afternoon I left Brockville, and next morning found myself in Kingston. On that day, Wednesday the first of May, I waited on you first, for by calculations easily made I found you were all assembled in Exeter Hall and in full career at our seven o'clock in the morning. I could not see you nor hear you, but I could understand you for all that, and could feel with you: and this I did, giving thanks to our Heavenly Father on your behalf, and making supplications. God, I trust, was manifestly present with you, and left his blessing on all assembled. I look forward anxiously to the time when your notices concerning the operations of that day shall arrive, to cheer the poor wanderer in his movements.
I visited our friends in Kingston, but found them very much down in their hopes respecting their Bible Society. They are willing however to see a new effort made to revive them in this cause, and agreed in the plan of holding a public meeting, and using other means in favour of a revival on my return. Mr. George Hardy the Depository I found to be a very efficient person in the work of the Society. I shall hope to see things put into a more vigorous train of operation when I revisit the place. The Rev. Mr. Machar the Secretary has I understand always taken a lively interest in the Society, but he has been absent from the country for some time. He is however expected by the time I may again be in Kingston, and I shall be very glad to find him returned when I come.
Bishop Macdonald of the Roman Catholic Church resides in Kingston. I called on him as we had met and sailed in a steamboat together on Lake Ontario in 1830. He recollected me and made many inquiries as to my travel since, and particularly regarding the Roman Catholics in Hayti and other parts where I had been. I told him how the Haytians had received the Bible, and of the large order the President gave for 200 Bibles and 3000 Testaments. I asked him whether he encouraged the use of the Scriptures among his people, and he answered in the affirmative, stating that he distributed many Bibles. He added that he was not pleased with you and us folks for saying that the Catholics were against the reading of the Bible. I told him some of our too good reasons for saying so, and that we would be glad not to say so any longer. He said he was about to visit England, and that he would feel much obliged would I give him letters to some benevolent persons there who might furnish him with an ample supply of Bibles! I found it was the Douay version which he circulates and wishes for. I tried to persuade him to take ours, and thus held out the prospect of his being well supplied. He hesitated about this, but did not put a negative on it. Should he when in London step into a certain house in Earl Street, I trust you will not knock him down in any fashion because he is a Catholic, but on the contrary and treat him with kindness, and meet his wishes, should he have any, for your Bibles.
On Saturday the 4th of May I arrived in Toronto, and came to the house of Mr. Champion, whose name is known to you as one of the secretaries of the Toronto Bible Society. Mr. C for some weeks before kindly invited me to make his house my house during my stay in this city. On the day of my arrival I went out, accompanied by Mr. Champion, to visit our Bible Society friends. We saw a goodly number of them, and found them all disposed to continue and to increase their support of your auxiliary here.
Among others we paid a visit to Sir George Arthur Toronto Bible Societythe Governor whom we found to have a warm feeling to the Society. He stated that he had for many years taken an interest in this great cause, and as a proof of this in mentioned that he made a donation to the Society of £50 sterling when he was governor of Honduras. In the course of the conversation it came out that you had not acknowledged this donation, or had not inserted his name in the proper place. On afterwards referring to your Annual Reports I find that this sum constitutes a Life Governor by your 6th rule. You have inserted I see a list of Life Governor's by payment of a bequest of £100 or upwards, but not I perceive of those who acquired the standing by a donation of £50. Finding no list of them I looked into the general list of contributors where I find that in case of donations of Ten Guineas and upwards you keep in the names of the donors from year to year. Sir George Arthur's name ought of course to be there, but it is not. Perhaps you will inquire into this, for there must be some oversight in it.
On Monday evening the sixth current there was held a meeting of the Committee of the Toronto Bible Society for the purpose of receiving your agent, and consulting with him on the state and prospects of the Society. It was a very full meeting, and the reception your agent met with was honourable to you and gratifying to him. At this meeting arrangements were made for the annual meeting on the 14th and we consulted together as to my movements and operations in this quarter, and in regard to all those means that might be brought to bear in order that this Province might as generally as possible become one general Bible Society field. You will be pleased to learn that the feeling of this Society in respect to the prosecution of their object is good and lively. This was well indicated on this occasion by the number of persons present at the Committee, by the items of business treated of, and by the general manner of all present.
Having an interval of the week between the Committee meeting just noticed and the Annual Meeting, it was thought desirable that I should visit some places at no great distance from this. Accordingly on Wednesday morning, the 8th, I set out to perform this short tour. I went first to the Chippeway Mission on the River Credit. An account of my visit to this place I have given you in my letter here enclosed of the 10th instant.
On Friday the 11th I went to Springfield a few miles from the Credit Mission. Things were not in order for holding a meeting there on the evening of that day, and therefore I passed on a few miles farther and came to Streetsville. Here I met with the Rev. William Rintoul one of the Kirk of Scotland Ministers. This gentleman showed me every kind attention, and helped me in every way in my work. He took me from house to house to see all these who were known or hoped to be friendly to the Bible cause. On the following day we held a meeting in the schoolhouse of the place. Mr. Rintoul had offered his Kirk for our meeting of his own accord, but we altered that arrangement at the suggestion of some of those we visited thinking on the whole the schoolhouse would suit better. This meeting was but thinly attended owing to the shortness of the notice and to the busy field occupations of the people at this season. The few present however were friendly, and forthwith a Preparatory Committee was formed, and arrangements made for holding another meeting on the Thursday following, and of which due and full notice should be given. On the Sunday I preached in Mr. Rintoul's Kirk, and in addition to other matters noticed the value of the Bible, and the advantages arising from its general circulation and use. Mr. Rintoul gave notice of the meeting for Thursday, and spoke of the object in view recommending it to the attention of the congregation. – On the evening of the same day I addressed an audience at Springfield on the Gospel, the great Bible subject and on the circulation of the Scriptures in their neighbourhood and over all the world, and urged them to take part in this work.
This is the manner in which I occasionally act on the Sabbath. To those who inquire about this or question it, I would say, "Have you not read in the law, how that on the Sabbath day the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath?" And have you not read how that the Lord of the Sabbath pronounced them blameless?
On the Monday I talked with those who was favourable to the formation of a Bible Society in Springfield, and arrangements were made for holding a meeting a few days later when it was hoped a Society would be formed. On the same day at Cooksville a meeting was appointed, but the weather proved so unfavourable that very few came. A Provisional Committee was however formed, and another day appointed for a meeting, when our friends compromised themselves to form a Society if they could, and which they believed practicable. Next morning I returned to Toronto. Four societies might be considered as formed during this little tour. I was particularly pleased with the general good feeling in favour of our Society which I met with in the several places visited.
On Tuesday evening the 14th of May the Anniversary Meeting of the Toronto Bible Society was held in one of the largest places of worship in the city. The house was well filled, and the platform was well ornamented with colours I may say of different hues in some respects, but all bearing on them conspicuously the Bible and the Gospel. In addition to a fair representation of the different denominations in the presence of their respective Ministers, we had also to Ministers representing two classes of people rather than two denominations. We had a Black Minister, and a Red Minister, a representative of Africa, and of the aboriginal North Americans. Our meeting was kept up with interest for the full proportion of time allotted to such meetings, and all seemed gratified, and disposed to say that this was the best Bible Society anniversary they had yet had in this place. Next year it will be better still I trust, and so on from year to year as their work increases in their hands.
On Wednesday the 15th your agent went out with Mr. Champion to Thornhill a village 12 miles to the North of this, and held the meeting there which was well attended, and resulted in the formation of a Bible Society which promises to be efficient. We had with us the Rev. Mr. Townley the Wesleyan Minister stationed in that place, and the Rev. Mr. Mayerhoffer the Episcopal Minister of a neighbouring Township. I notice this latter name particularly, because I understand Mr. Mayerhoffer is about to address you soon on a subject of some interest. It was not till yesterday that I knew of his intention I may probably notice him and his object in my next letter.
On Friday the 17th may the new Committee of the Toronto Bible Society met for the first time. The attendance was very good and with punctuality at the hour. Several subjects were discussed bearing on a more extended scale of operations, and all seemed to enter readily into the projected scheme of increased labour. A subcommittee was appointed at this meeting to inquire into various objects connected with the present arrangements of the Society. This subcommittee on the following days held several meetings: and on this day, the 23rd, and General Committee was held to receive the report of the subcommittee. This General Committee, like the former ones was well attended, and in it the same interest was shown in the affairs of the Society as was exhibited in the other Committee meetings mentioned. A very important measure was adopted at this meeting respecting the sale of Bibles in the city, and the supplying of demands from the country. It was agreed that there should be a shop taken for the exclusive purpose, instead of having the books on sale has heretofore in the corner of a general store and sale of all sorts of goods: and as necessarily connected with this a person is to be appointed to attend to this place, and to all business of the Society in this department, and in others as his time will permit. [The Tract Society books will be sold in the same place: but of this you should know nothing; and accordingly this sentence which tells you about it is in brackets, and says nothing, and it is not to be read.] Much is indicated in the adoption of this measure, as to the actual quantity of business of the Society, and as to the prospect of extending it. It augurs well for your affairs here, and may God fulfill the anticipations held forth.
I have sent you via Halifax a newspaper giving some account of the Annual Meeting, and also of the Bible Association formed at the Credit Mission. Both are drawn up, I believe, by the Rev. Mr. Scott who was present at the two meetings. The report of the Society will soon be printed, some copies of which shall be forwarded to you early.
The enclosed letter No 83 is you see entirely about the Chippeway Bible Society. If you could print any part of it in the Monthly Extracts with the names of the Chippeways, if not of other subscribers given, it would please our Red Brethren, and would encourage those at other places to follow their example. I have written the names so legibly that there will be no difficulty in ascertaining the lettering whatever there may be in the pronouncing. Please see that they are printed with perfect exactness, or the Indians will turn on you with their war clubs with which all of them are furnished in this time of war. And if you print this in the Extracts, you will of course send us some copies, otherwise we shall not be benefited. You will have observed what I have said in a former letter about sending out the Extracts generally. The measure there noticed seems to rise in importance as I see more of our Bible field in this country.
At long and length a letter has arrived from you, after a lapse of six months. It is dated the 26th of March, and came into my hands this day week. I perceive by it as I expected that other letters have been written by you within that chasm: but they have not reached me. Perhaps you will inquire how they were sent, and probably you will think proper to make up the loss by sending me a duplicate if you have copies by you. It would be advantageous to number your letters, as that plan would at once show whether any other missing at any time and how many.
That is nothing said in your letter about the projected general depot at Montreal noticed to you in my letter of the 20th December. That notice is most probably contained in a former letter which seems to be lost. I feel the loss considerably, as it affects in a material degree our general operations. I projected, as set before you, a depot for the general supply of the Canadas. But being at a loss to know that the plan has met with your approbation, I know not whether to trust to supplies in that way or not, or whether I should recommend to our Societies here to look to that depot, or to supply themselves otherwise. And this is the more felt on account of our seasons, which freeze up our communications for six months in the year. Further, now is the time to order a fresh supply for the fall of the year, and a few weeks longer delay may make it too late. But I cannot well give an you order, not knowing how the former one met your views. Neither have I learned anything regarding what was mentioned about cheaper Bibles, and the knowledge of this also enters into the matter of a new order. In the midst of all this uncertainty I would say, – Repeat the invoice of the 20th December. This may be over the mark, but it will be injurious to our interests to be under it. The order for cheap Bibles, if you furnish them, stands as in letter number 80, notwithstanding of what I have here said. These cheap Bibles and the number there mentioned are in addition to the repeating the invoice as above.
[This letter, I perceive, like some of several of its predecessors is too long, but I cannot well help it, and you may shorten it by red ink brackets to your own dimensions. I am thinking of sending you in future for each communication a half sheet full of dry bones, which you can put flesh on, and spirit it into yourself, and so fashion them to your own fashion.]
Tomorrow I leave this for Hamilton, and before I go from this city, it is but just I should say to you, that during my stay here I have been kindly entertained by Mr. Champion; and further I would say that this gentleman has rendered me very essential service in your concerns, and at the sacrifice of much time, which to a man in a large business is of no little moment.
Believe me always, My Dear Friend,
Affectionately Yours,
James Thomson.
[1] Note (BM): Battle of the Windmill, November 1838.