Rev A Brandram. Private.
Fairfield, in Manchester Parish, 24th April 1835
My dear Friend, and my Brother and my Fellow Labourer in Christ Jesus our Lord,
I now sit down to write you a few lines individually or privately, not that I have anything secret to say, but that I wish to talk with yourself aside as it were for a few minutes upon the objects in which we are mutually concerned, without subjecting you on the one hand to the necessity of dealing with my letter officially or of showing it to all, and on the other hand to give myself a little more freedom than I could with propriety take in a general and public letter. I have for some months past wished thus to converse with you, because I felt myself a little uneasy in regard to this West India Mission and myself. I received from the Committee of commission to visit these colonies, and also some parts of the Spanish Main in the latter end of the year 1831, in the expectation that the tour would most probably be concluded in a couple of years. Three years and a half however have now elapsed since I entered on this work, and it is not yet concluded. I have endeavoured to act in all my movements with all the integrity and uprightness I could, asking continually of the Lord these graces that I might be enabled to approve myself to our Saviour Jesus Christ, and that my ways might be acceptable to those who commissioned me. I have fully apprised you of all my movements; and this I have done, in the first place, by pointing out to you beforehand the course I intended in the name of the Lord to pursue from stage to stage, and in the second place, by explaining to you the respective causes which retarded or accelerated my course so as to cause alterations in my actual steps from what had previously been projected. I have had the great satisfaction during the whole of my tour to receive the approval on the part of the Committee of all these projects and realized movements; and I feel, I assure you, after lifting my eyes in grateful adoration to our heavenly Father for this blessing, I feel truly thankful to the Committee generally and to yourself individually for the very kind manner in which I have been treated, and your acceptance of my poor labours. May God wash my soiled steps in the Blood of his Beloved Son Jesus Christ, and may he abundantly shower down his blessing with the circulation of his Most Holy Word, that it may according to his promise not return unto him void, but to glorify his Ever Blessed Name in the salvation of men, and the building up of his Everlasting Kingdom.
What then is my uneasiness, you will say. It is this: I feel a kind of undefined uncertainty and unfixedness as to the understanding that exists between the Committee and myself at the present time as to this commission after it has extended to nearly double the time contemplated by both parties at the commencement. The various openings in the Providence of God which have occurred in prosecuting this mission, have lengthened it out as we have seen thus far. Thus far then let us say all is straight: but now what am I to do at the present time and prospectively if our heavenly Father should be pleased to continue me in life and health? This that I have now stated is the subject of my present letter, and of this my private conversation with you.
Should you be pleased to say, Tell us what you think about the subject yourself, and afterward we will show our opinion. Should you thus inquire, I would respectfully say, as follows. First, have the goodness to remove my foolish fear, as to whether I hold now a temporary commission for a specified purpose, to be brought to a close as early as it well can be done, and then that I should return to present myself before you in London to resign the commission you then gave me:― Or whether I am considered, or to be considered as a permanent agent of the Society and till a just and necessary cause arise to the result this connexion. ― Secondly, if you should wish to continue me, on the footing now noticed, what is the work to which you would have me specifically to attend, both in point of kind and extent? On these two points all the matter and subject of this communication rests.― Informed that explanation it seems proper that I should state what sphere of labour the West India Colonies and parts adjacent present for the Society's operations. If I were consulted respective of myself as to what was the duty of the Bible Society to the West Indies, I would at once say, that they ought to have one of their Agents constantly employed in these islands: first, because it is a defined portion, and sufficiently extensive, of the great field of the world that the Bible Society has taken in hand to sow with the everlasting seed of the word of God; secondly, because it is a field to which the British Nation which supports the Bible Society is deeply indebted over and above and far beyond what it owes to the world generally; and thirdly, because the constituents of the Bible Society, from the just and strong feeling at present existing among them in favour of the West Indies would fully bear out the Committee in this arrangement. This is the first step towards coming to a definite view in this matter as to what ought to be done. The consideration that follows this is, ― but would not this be rather too large a diocese to secure all due and proper attention to be paid to it in Bible Society concerns? I would say, Yes, the field is too large to be properly cultivated in its present unfenced and overgrown state. Give more labour at first until the place is brought into something like cultivated ground, and then afterwards one half of the labour will do it from year to year. I hear you say, how would you apply this observation. I answer, in this way. No one man can properly and effectually establish and keep up the Bible Societies throughout all the West India Colonies in the manner in which they might be established and kept up, by other arrangements. But you cannot afford two men for this field, you say, although you might perhaps venture upon one. To obviate this your difficulty, and to carry forward the work properly, I would propose the following plan. Let the Islands and Colonies in question be divided into two portions; one portion embracing all from Porto Rico to Demerara inclusive, and the other, Jamaica, Hayti, and Cuba; attaching the Spanish Main respectively to the division to which the parts are contiguous. Speaking now of Jamaica alone, without taking any notice of Hayti, Cuba, and the Spanish Main connected with it in the above scheme, Jamaica alone from its extant population and peculiar circumstances would require the constant labour of one of your agents for a couple of years in order to bring it into anything like a cultivated farm or field according to the figure before used. But were it cultivated properly for that time, it might then be expected to be brought into such a state as that, pursuing the same figure, it would require only one half of the labour to keep up the state of its cultivation, and to make some improvements from year to year. When the hassle only of the labour was required, the half only of the expense would be necessary, and your agent might employ himself in some useful work for one half of his time, and give you the other half. The other diocese might be constantly cultivated in the same way, for two years say, and then afterwards by one half of the labour and one half of the expense. Thus by a little extra labour for two years, and then afterwards by the expense and labour of one agent or two half agents, you could have your work thoroughly done and permanently by one agent's cost after the time specified. Now, is it not just necessary that this field to which our Nation is so deeply indebted should meet with this attention and incur this cost? I think it is, and I think the present feeling, and the feeling likely to continue for some years to come would fully justify the Committee in making these arrangements. I have said that this is just and necessary that the cost referred to should be incurred. Certainly it is considering all the circumstances of these colonies. But such a cost will would in effect not be incurred, because I believe the labours of the agents would be the means of raising such sums for general Bible Society purposes in the wide world, in addition to our own supplies here as to repay all the cost, and much more; indeed I should think the produce of Black purses in the West Indies would soon and greatly surprise the White folks of England, and might put some of them to shame, and induce them to do better.
To speak now particularly respecting myself, I would think my duty, as a servant of the Lord Jesus Christ, to undertake in his work this Western West India portion in the way noticed, and in addition the cultivation of Jamaica, would use means for promoting the Society objects in Hayti, Cuba, Colombia, Guatemala, Mexico, Chile and Peru.
I have thus set before you all my main thoughts and plans respecting the objects of our mutual concern in the Bible Society. I have earnestly and often prayed that I might be guided as to what was the will of God in these matters; and I now pray, that you and your colleagues may be guided and directed to do whatever is altogether the best. I have written you with the openness of a friend and brother. Be pleased then to think and pray upon the subject and consult what should be done, and write me with the same openness, telling me all your thoughts and proposals regarding the fields and the person mentioned. You can choose what freedom you choose with this letter, remembering that it is written to yourself individually, and not to the Society publicly like my other letters which are numbered in order.
In my next general letter I shall touch upon the subject, on its arrival in committing a consultant on the whole con... while the private letter will enable you to supply what I could not so well right publicly. In the meantime I shall pursue my tour through the various interior parishes of this Island, which will require probably four months or more. On finishing this I would employ myself in forming Bible Associations in Kingston and Spanish Town, and in such Bible Society work as should offer our until I learn from the Committee what is their wish as to my future relationship and operations. ― I would here notice before I conclude, as our Bishop is now on his way to England, and it being doubtful whether he will return, if you could manage to send us out a Bible Society Bishop, or to convert our present one in this matter, your work would wonderfully be benefited thereby. Please not to overlook this, as you might be able to do more than you could well anticipate. Let your next Report contain among your Vice Presidents, the Bishop of Jamaica, and add too, the Bishop of Barbados if you can.
In regard to Cuba, I am somewhat at a loss to know what to do, and chiefly because of my non-success in Porto Rico in an direct way. Were I sure that the one Island is in the same state as the other, I would of course not visit Cuba at all. I have been trying from this Island to ascertain how things are there in regard to the introduction of boxes and more particularly of the Scriptures, but I cannot learn much with any certainty. Havannah however I understand to be generally open to all kinds of merchandise, and there the attempt could most profitably be made, it made at all. Books could be sent there without visiting the Island, but a visit no doubt would better observe the object, and tend to remove difficulties that might present themselves. ― Next, in regard to Mexico, what should be done? It has been much agitated during these two years past, but is now I believe tolerably quiet. If these two places should be visited, or even Mexico only, not less than a year and be required for doing so. Supposing you to enter into arrangements on behalf of the West Indies on the plan I have above sketched, that perhaps it would not be well to interrupt Jamaica work to visit these places before the lapse of a year. ― When I have said above, that to Jamaica and a portion of the West Indies might be attached Cuba, Hayti, Colombia, Guatemala, Mexico, Peru & Chile, I have said it in the view of attending to Bible Society concerns in these places by way of correspondence only, for in the event of visiting some of them occasionally in addition to Jamaica business, the whole time of an Agent would required and fully instead of half time. The Mexican packet now no longer touches at Jamaica, and thus the means of getting them direct from this our cut off. From the Havannah Belize and Veracruz might be reached, for the Mexican packet now touches there both going and coming.
And now, my Dear Friend, allow me to thank you very gratefully for your kind and kindly given present of ........... Mrs. Thomson and myself have read it through together with great delight, and I hope with solid profit. It is a delightful volume indeed as you characterise it. How pleasing it is to observe the same Spirit operating in the hearts of all Christians under various diversities and names, pursuits, talents, times, and places: and how can it be otherwise, as it is the selfsame Spirit apportioned to every man severally according to the infinite wisdom of God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and on earth is named. O may that Spirit possess and fill all who profess and call themselves Christians everywhere, and soon may the time come when all shall with one mind and one mouth glorify our Father in heaven: unto whom be glory for ever and for ever, Amen.
This day the 24th of April is a memorial day with me, and a day of meditation, thanksgiving and prayer, for on this day 17 years ago I first set out on my missionary pilgrimage. I have much, very much to be grateful for when I consider the merciful voyages and journeyings I have had in manifold dangers; and I have much to be humbled for; and much need to stir myself up to a wise and vigorous service of the Lord Jesus Christ in his kingdom. So I pray: may the Lord hear me. So pray you for me, My Dear Brother, and let us thus help each other in our many infirmities. The time shall come to us both I trust, when this vile body and vile mind shall be transformed in themselves, like to our Lord Jesus Christ, and transplanted into a new habitation, wherein dwelleth righteousness, happiness and glory. Amen, O Lord God, amen, so let it be unto us.
Believe me, Most Truly Yours,
James Thomson.
Postscript: Savannah La Mar: 10th June 1835.
I have kept this letter till now to reconsider its contents; and on reading it over see nothing material that I could wish to alter. I submit the whole to your mature and prayerful consideration, trusting that the Lord will direct you to be wise and faithful stewards on every hand in the charge entrusted to you, and that through you I shall receive counsel and direction as to the way in which I should go. ― My success in your work since I wrote you, and on the whole of this tour I am happy to say is very encouraging, and of which in a week or two I hope to give a particular account in the usual way. Old things are passing away here, and all things are becoming new.
Your Report for 1835 will I suppose be about ready when this comes into your hands: please send us as early as possible 50 copies, together with 24 for 1834, and 24 for 1833. A few days ago I found the case of Reports for 1833 that was missing: it was lying at Black River. Send the also 1000 copies of the Abstract of the Report for 1835; 1000 Brief View; 1000 An Appeal; and be so good as to print and send 2000 of the Address here enclosed, as Printer's work is very dear with us: and lastly, print and send us 2000 cards like the specimen, for each of our 21 Parishes, taking care to head each 2000 respectively according to the names of our Parishes, which are as follows:― Kingston, St. Andrews, Port Royal, St. David's, St. Thomas in the East, Portland, St. George's, St. Mary's, St. Ann's, Trelawney, St. James's, Hanover, Westmoreland, St. Elizabeth's, Manchester, Clarendon, Vere, St. Dorothy's, St. Catherine's, St. John's, and St. Thomas in the Vale. ― Let all these be sent to Kingston, and to the same place, always address your letters to me in this Island, without paying attention to the other places from which I may occasionally date my letters.
I think "An Appeal" might be improved by the following alterations. First leave out the word "other" page 1, line 10th from the bottom. See page 2, line 4th from the top, instead of "When did the abominations &c" say, "When did the absurd ideas and practices of the Church of Rome acquire their height and hurtful influence, but during that period of darkness from the sixth to the end of the fourteenth century when the Western Christian world was virtually without a Bible? And are not these errors still kept in existence chiefly by edicts and prohibitions against the reading of the holy word of God, which unfortunately still exist in that church, or at least among many of its adherents? Did not the translations &c."
At length I conclude, and am as before,
Most Truly Yours,
James Thomson.
P.S. Could to get us also an edition of say 500 or 1000 of Dr. Chalmers's "Influence of the Bible Societies on the Temporal Necessities of the Poor," you would be doing a great service to your own cause. Should you print this pamphlet, as I trust you will, it will be necessary to leave out the expression in paragraph or section 21, "and the poor negro under the lash of his master." You might substitute the following words for this passage, "and that our poor fellow creatures in every country whose lot is to suffer from oppression" "may be told &c."