Rev A Brandram No. 45
Falmouth, 14th November 1835
My Dear Friend,
You see from the place whence I now write, that I am moving onward in my intended course of circulating this island. Before however I state to you what has occurred in your work in this town and parish, I shall beg leave to go back for a little to the parish last visited, namely, St. James's. On returning from Lucea to Montego Bay, I found it desirable to make some little stay in the latter place before proceeding further.
I have already mentioned to you the friendly aid we received in the formation in the St. James's Bible Society from the Rector of the parish. The curate the Rev. Mr. Smith, who is one of our secretaries has also cordially united with us. On my mentioning to whom that I should be glad to go out to his quarter of the parish to see if a Bible Association could be formed there having for its centre his chapel and congregation, he very readily consented. The day fixed on as the most suitable for seeing and addressing his people was the Sunday as they would be gathered together for the worship of God. When I went I found a good congregation, chiefly of course consisting of Blacks, but where also I found him more than common number of Whites, a class of people not very much addicted in this island to church going, at least in times past, but these times are going by, and may they soon be gone altogether. After morning, alias forenoon service, I addressed the congregation from the altar on the great subject of the Bible, and the light and salvation which it holds forth. I urged upon all, as I generally do upon such occasions, to make this blessed book the great object of their study and attention; saying to those who already possessed it, that they ought to give more heed to this volume than they had yet done, and saying to those who had it not, that they ought to procure it without delay, from a consideration of the advantages which might be derived from possessing and using this guide to our welfare on earth, and guide to everlasting happiness. The subject was listened to with every attention, and at the close of the address we took down a considerable number of names, both of apprentices and free persons.
You are aware, that in all our Bible Associations we endeavour to lead the people, in the first place, to subscribe for a Bible for themselves, if not already fully supplied; and at the same time we tell them, that after they have so supplied themselves, it is expected they will think upon and commiserate the many millions of our fellow creatures who are destitute of the Holy Scriptures, whose pitiable case through want of this book, we always set before them. In almost all the attempts that have been made to form these associations, we have been much encouraged by the considerable number of subscribers, often beyond our expectation, which we obtain; and I may add, that from the sympathies shown on various occasions at these meetings in regard to the multitudes still destitute of the Scriptures, we are led to hope and expect that no inconsiderable number of free contributors to your general object will be obtained, after each and all have procured Bibles for themselves. – Under the circumstances now described the Marley Bible Association, in the parish of St. James's, was formed; and we were additionally encouraged concerning the same some ten days after, by Mr. Smith's bringing in at our Committee meeting following, about ten pounds of our currency, as the first fruits and produce of this Association.
I should have mentioned in a former letter that I had an opportunity of addressing the Baptist, Wesleyan and Moravian congregations on this same subjects, and that it is expected the ministers of these congregations will each be able to procure a considerable number of subscribers for Bibles from among their people, and that the same subscribers will most likely contribute afterwards to the general object. The Baptist congregation in particular is very large, and we expect large results from it, in the consumption of Bibles in the first instance, and in the production of Bibles, if I may so speak, afterwards. All the missionaries, as might well be expected, are friendly to our Bible Society operations.
Soon after the formation of the Marley Bible Association above noticed, there was a meeting held of the various ministers of different denominations in this county of Cornwall, embracing five large parishes. The object of this meeting was to promote Christian union, cooperation, and harmony, among all in this quarter who are labouring to build up the kingdom of God. The invitation was general, and for the first meeting of this kind the attendance was good, whilst several who could not attend sent letters expressing a friendly disposition to the object. Less was effected both in quantity and quality than could have been wished for, nevertheless some good I trust will arise from this commencing meeting, and I sincerely hope there will be a continuance of efforts of this kind to make all the labourers in the Lord's vineyard to work to each other's hands, and to give help to each other mutually in the holy work in which they are engaged. This was hardly perhaps Bible Society work direct enough for your agent to engage in actively, and yet on the other hand it was; for our Bible being the Bible of all, and forming a rallying point to all, and thus creating and strengthening union and cooperation in every way, it was meet that I should be engaged in it. And further, in contributing to this, I have an opportunity of seeing and conversing with various ministers on our Bible concerns. Our Bible meetings and operations may indeed be said to have suggested, and directed to, this catholic meeting I am now speaking of; and from its effects no doubt our Bible cause will meet with additional encouragement.
On the 10th ultimo I arrived in this town, and began to make preparations for the formation of a Bible Society in this parish of Trelawney, by visiting various persons who might forward the object. I was soon however interrupted in this by having to return to Montego Bay to attend to a meeting of the Bible Society Committee there, it being the first held in regular course. – The Committee, I was glad to find, was well attended, and the same friendly cooperation with which we had on a former day commenced our work, was happily seen to prevail. Several measures were adopted for forwarding the general object, and it was pleasing to see on all hands an ample prospect of great demands for the Scriptures throughout the parish. A question occurred about the price you charge for your Bibles, and a desire seemed to be manifested to obtain these as cheap as possible. It seems you gave Mr. Burchell, some time ago, a case at subscribers prices, and this therefore was considered by the Committee as the price at which they might expect their books. They wish to keep clear accounts with you paying in the first place for the books they get, and then remitting you what free contributions they can, but directly under this name. I said you were disposed to deal with them on any terms I believe, so that the Scriptures were extensively and usefully put into circulation; whilst at the same time you would of course be glad to get as large returns as could be obtained, under whatever name, to enable you to send the Scriptures over the wide field of your labours. Perhaps then you will not object to debit the St. James's Bible Society books at the subscribers prices, and keep accounts with it accordingly. I shall notice at the close of this letter what additional books to send to Montego Bay, for the use of the Society, whose demands I think will be extensive. It just now occurs to me to say that it would be well to open a little separate account for each of the parish societies here, when books are sent to them direct, or monies received, as I suppose they will rather act separately, than in connection with Kingston.
A second and a third interruption to the getting forward of our Trelawney Bible Society took place, in my visiting the Rev. Mr. Waddell and the Rev. Mr. Blyth, for the purpose of forming Bible associations in their congregations. Both these gentlemen are connected with the Scottish Missionary Society, and are labouring effectively in the kingdom of God. In both these places associations were formed, but the success in the latter was by much the greater of the two. You will see a notice of Mr. Blyth's Association in the Falmouth paper I lately sent you. No less than 214 persons put down their names for Bibles on the day I was there, and that too in the interval between forenoon and afternoon services. A few days afterwards I received a note, stating that there were 100 more subscribers, and now the number has extended to about 400, and not a few of the subscribers have put down their names for a large family Bible, even your one guinea quarto.
You are I dare say pretty well aware that a good deal of time must be expended in a new place in endeavours to get up a new object, and this is our case in getting up a parish Bible Society. Some persons must be visited again and again, and through their means you get acquainted with others, and these others help you to more, and so on. The convenience too of persons engaged in business of various kinds, must of course be consulted, which circumstance, with others, hinders one from getting forward and through so rapidly as could be wished. It was not therefore till the 12th instant, that we could get all things ready for holding a public meeting. Our arrangements being made for that day, and notice was read of the same, on the Sunday preceding, in all the places of worship in Falmouth. This general inclination to give public notification of our Bible Society meeting by all the various ministers in the place, was a kind of intimation that we should have a general and a friendly meeting of all classes and denominations. On the given day, this hope was not disappointed, but was verified, and to the fullest extent. The Rector of the parish took the chair, and showed himself a true Bible man, disclaiming all sectarianism, and manifesting the greatest cordiality with his brother ministers of different denominations. This spirit manifested by the Rector was displayed in return by all the others towards him, and each to each other, making an impression unexpected and delightful to all present. I do not here specify all that took place on the day and occasion referred to, as I send you a newspaper in which you will find a pretty full statement of what occurred. I may say however in a few words that it was indeed a peaceful, joyful day; and it will I believe be long remembered as such, by the inhabitants of this place; and it will form, I doubt not, a starting and a rallying point for all and every good work in this spot. Such blessings new Bible Societies bring and leave.
I come now to treat of remissions of Bibles from London hence. We shall need I think large supplies for the Trelawney Bible Society. Our first item will perhaps surprise you: it is for 100 of your guinea quarto Bibles, and chiefly for Apprentices. This will probably not more than half serve us during the first few months after that arrival, as Mr. Knibb says he will require this number himself for his own congregation in less than a year. But I am afraid, as before, of overshooting the mark; but you may draw your bow as you like. In addition to these 100 quartos by themselves, send us ten cases, eight of them such as I before described, one containing the inferior quality Bibles, and another school Testaments. In regard to the osnaburg bindings, the bad effect formerly noticed may be avoided, by having the cloth coloured. Let these books be sent to Falmouth direct, addressed to A.F. Robinson Esq. who is one of the secretaries of the Trelawney Bible Society. As to the St. James's Bible Society, the same number of quarto will I believe be required for it, and to which add, one case of school Testaments, and let all these be directed to John Roby Esq. and sent direct to Montego Bay. – To the Rev. John Stainsby, direct to the port of Lucea, send six assorted cases, besides one of school Testaments, and one (same size) of quarto Bibles.
I believe from a notice specially given some time ago about the size of what I call a case, you fully understand me; but lest you should not I repeat that the size I referred to, is the size you used to send out to Mexico, weighing about 200 pounds. By the word assorted I mean assorted as described in my letter No. 41[1]: and as respects the inferior quality Bibles, you will see a notice of them in No. 43; and it is in respect to these, and to school Testaments that I have referred to osnaburg bindings, requesting that the natural colour of this material may be changed into some other, and for the reasons before assigned. One amendment I would make to my description of assorted cases, and that is, that you would put into them Pearl Bibles also in equal quantities, as these are not mentioned in my former description, but which I wish to be included in future unless otherwise stated. If possible send the Pearl Bibles like the London edition of 1824. – Please let all these books be sent off as early as possible, for they are immediately needed.
I had a letter lately from La Guayra (though the date is old) enclosing another from the Province of Truxillo in that quarter. The letter is from a gentleman I met with in Bogotá in 1825, who took much interest in the formation of our Bible Society there. His private letter is accompanied by an official one from the Agricultural Society of that place, which had taken under its care the circulation of some of the small books sent them when I was in St. Thomas's. Twenty dollars have been sent to the La Guayra for these, but which have not yet come to hand. The writer of the letter is a Mr. Mannhardt, the German, who has been many years in those quarters. I give you some extracts from his letter, which will throw some light on the state of things in that country, still in darkness through destitution of the word of God, and ignorance of its contents. The letter is in English. He says, – "A good chance threw us together in Bogotá in 1825; another, I trust, as done so in 1834. At my departure from Bogotá in the year alluded to, I left you still there pursuing your pious labours, which however I apprehend have been lost through the intervention of political events and revolutions. This is much to be regretted, inasmuch as the establishment of a Bible Society in the capital of New Grenada, could not, had it continue to exist, but introduce the most beneficial effects on the whole country, considering that it numbered among its members some of the most conspicuous characters both of church and state". – "Of your subsequent journeyings and labours in the cause of Christianity I had never any information until the Governor of this Province mentioned your name in a session of our Agricultural Society held some time ago in Truxillo, and then only I presumed it to be yourself from the benevolent offer you made to him respecting the little books in question". – "One of the members of our Agricultural Society, Dr. Ricardo Labastida, is now in Valencia, and would be very happy to have an opportunity of seeing you. He would be able to give you some explanatory details of the state of things in this province, political, moral, and ecclesiastical. An inquisitorial fanaticism which here and there raises its ghastly head, is highly unfavourable to the circulation of the revealed word of God, and consequently to the dissemination of the pure and regenerating doctrines of the Gospel; for instance, the Vicar of this district offered to buy the whole of the little books ordered by the Society to be distributed within the range of his vicarial authority, with a view of burning the whole; and according to his command the Curate of this village (Betijoque) publicly declared in his church, that those who possess these little books should burn them. From this you may judge of the difficulty of introducing the word of life as contained in holy writ, at least at this time; but yet I do not despair of its taking root eventually under the protection of the Government, and gradual abolition of ecclesiastical authority and intolerance, where they have hitherto operated in keeping captive the consciences of men by excluding the light of the everlasting gospel." – "With presentiment of this kind, – and may the grace of our Lord soon bring it into reality, – Dr. Labastida with myself have agreed to take a number of these little books on our own account in order to distribute them at the original price, and as opportunities may offer, with the object of spreading their sacred contents before the people that they may learn to know in whom to believe to be saved."
Your letters of the 10th and 14th September came into my hands three days ago, and will be duly noticed in my next.
In the meantime, I remain,
Very Sincerely Yours,
James Thomson.
P.S. – I have this day drawn a bill in favour of the Rev. William Knibb for £50, to be charged to my Travelling Account. Please notice this to Mr. Tarn.
Kingston 28th of November 1835
I have kept this letter open till I should reach this place. Today I arrived, and have found your letter of the 13th October, and have just time to acknowledge the receipt of it by the packet which sails tomorrow morning. The Planet with Mr. Wheeler has not yet arrived.
1] Note inserted above 'should be 42'.