Rev A Brandram No. 43
Montego Bay, 29th August 1835
My Dear Friend,
The purport and object of this letter is, to tell you of our Bible Society operations in this town of Montego Bay, and in the Parish of which it forms a part, namely, St. James's. I am happy to say in the outset, that the Great Cause you advocate and labour in, has had a very favourable reception here; and though I would not like to speak evil of any part of our island, yet I think it is consistent with truth, and should be so recorded, that Montego Bay and St. James's have come forward in the Bible Society cause a more full, open and decided manner that it has as yet been the case, all things considered, in any other part of Jamaica. This is a true statement, but I have something more in my eye than simply telling the truth. I wish to stir up other places among us to go and do likewise, and hence I would state and hold out our case here as a good example for imitation all around us.
For some time after I reached this town, nothing open nor public was done. This is a matter of course in every new place. One must go about recruiting before a regiment can be presented for a review day. In my visits and canvassing I was received in a very friendly way, and the reception given to your cause which formed the burden of my communications, was more encouraging than I could well have anticipated. The Rector of the Parish the Rev. John McIntyre, whom I had before met with in another part of the island, gave me his ready assistance, a circumstance which has of course not a little contributed to the good success we have had. I feel grateful to Mr. McIntyre for this seasonable and effective aid: and I trust he will find by results produced by the Bible Society that he has been directly labouring to promote the objects of his ministry in thus stepping forward to establish and to encourage an institution whose single object is, the circulation of that volume, which I may say is more honoured, by Public Reading, in the Church of England, by any other church in England or out of it. I do hope the time is coming, (and you are hastening it,) when the Holy Scriptures will be more read than they now are in all the Assemblies for Public Worship: and I hope too that they will by and by be more read in all private assemblies, or friendly parties; and also by all and every individual. I am more and more convinced every day, that the high way to the cure of all our evils in church and state and in all things, is the closer and more frequent reading and study of the Book of the Lord. Well did the Jews exclaim on one occasion, after hearing our Lord instruct, "Never man spake like this man." So may we exclaim after hearing the Scriptures read, "What Book or Sermon can instruct like this?" Sermons let us have, but by all means, let us hear the voice of the Lord our God himself, and at some length too, whensoever we meet together in his name. This is not sectarian I hope, a subject respecting which we Bible Society people declare ourselves to be clear catholic and innocent. But I long to see the Two Prophets ascend up to heaven, in obedience to the voice now sounding aloud, "Come up hither."
On the 29th ultimo a private meeting was held consisting of some friends of the Bible cause who had been invited, and other friends whom they brought with them. Our intention was as on several former occasions to form our Bible Society in this private unsounding way. During our conversation however upon the subject, it turned out that the greater part of those present were in favour of holding a public meeting, and of giving in this manner form and installation to our Society. This was altogether unexpected on my part, and in fact contrary to my plans. It however proved to be better arrangement than mine, giving greater satisfaction generally, and procuring a broader foundation for our Society to rest on, in public patronage and contributions. A day was accordingly appointed for a Public Meeting, and five individuals of those present were named for drawing up Resolutions in reference to this object in order to their being presented to the contemplated meeting for consideration.
On Monday the 3rd of August our Public Meeting was held, in the most public place we could find, namely, in the Court House. The Rector presided on the occasion, as he had also done in the private meeting before noticed. Our Chief Magistrate was present, and took the lead in our speaking arrangements, recommending the formation of the Society. Others followed him more or less on the same topic, and much Christian feeling and interest was manifested on the occasion, and so as to leave all present, I believe, deeply impressed by hallowedness of the Bible which had brought us together, and with the peace and harmony which it produces. Our meeting consisted of all parties, in all their distinctions, and perhaps only a Bible Society purpose could have brought together the various persons who met on that occasion. All the Ministers of the Gospel within the Parish were there, except one, who was then in a distant part of the island. Our denominations were Five; and each of course bore his little banner firmly in his left hand, whilst all with their right and their main hand united to hold up and display the Glorious Standard of the Bible and the Cross. I trust that this congregating of the various bodies on this occasion, and on the others for which they will be congregated in the future on Bible Society business, will greatly tend to their all seeing more fully eye to eye, and in their consolidation of the great object of preaching the Gospel to all the island as effectively as possible, and in gathering in many souls unto eternal life.
We had at our meeting a feature which has not hitherto been seen in such gatherings in this place, namely, the presence of Ladies, and Ladies of all kinds. This struck the attention and gave general satisfaction, whilst not a few absent Ladies afterwards regretted that they did not know that it was understood that they might be present. This is no inconsiderable step in our objects, as Ladies elsewhere have taken a lively interest in the Bible Society cause, and so we hope they will also do in Montego Bay, and over the Parish of St. James's. Our congregation, if I may so speak, consisted chiefly of the Black and Coloured portions of our inhabitants, and nothing could be more gratifying than this circumstance, as to our objects. Nearly the entire population of our island, as you must be aware, consists of these, and if we are to do Bible good to our population generally it can only be done effectually by interesting these in the good intended for them. Again, if Jamaica is to do extensive good, as I trust it will, towards circulating the Bible over the world, it can only be by the excited interest and the mites of the great many. You know I have a scheme on hand upon this latter topic, which I wish to ensnare you for your good and for the good of the world: but of this afterwards.
Another feature of our Public Meeting was the presence of some Jews, and whom we understood to have been gratified by what they saw and heard. It is pleasing to see any class of our fellow creatures, more or less within reach of the word of God, but how can one not feel more strongly than common, at seeing an interest felt in the circulation of the Sacred Volumes, by individuals of that nation to whose especial care and keeping, the first and largest portion of it was entrusted, and the whole of which was written by Jewish pens. Israel must return unto God. The time draws near, and the word of Revelation will no doubt be the means by which the Spirit of the Lord will work in bringing them again into the Church of the Living God, the Lord Jesus Christ.
On the 19th instant we held our first Committee Meeting which was well attended, and we're all is conducted in a spirit of unity and good understanding. The subscriptions that had been collected during the fortnight which elapsed from the public meeting until the meeting of the Committee agreeably surprised us. It amounted to nearly £80 sterling, and what not less surprised us was that by far the greater part of it had been collected by one single member of our Committee, a medical gentleman who has taken much interest in our cause, and whose name deserves to be recorded in your Reports sent forth to all the world. Dr. Patrick Spence is the very active member of our Committee now referred to. His example in this will show what others may do by active exertions, and we trust he will not be without imitators. He has also shown other attentions to your Agent, because of his connexion with your great work, for which I feel greatly obliged to him.
It is now my duty to record the services rendered us by Mr. Holmes the Editor and Proprietor of the Cornwall Chronicle published in this place. This gentleman has not only inserted notices of all our meetings and operations, but has also put into his paper several articles of a general nature on Bible Societies will, the insertion of which has done us much good by informing the Public respecting our objects. Several hundred copies of some of these articles where afterwards thrown off by him at a very moderate sum and much under the market price. He has also printed for us several thousand cards for our Bible Associations on the same reduced terms. Lastly he has inserted all our advertisements free of charge, and in other ways this gentleman has more favoured us than anyone in the same line in the island; not to say that we have had some disfavours from a gentleman or two of the press that we could have as well done without. ― The Jamaica Standard, another paper printed in this town, has also considerably favoured us, by inserting all our advertisements gratis, and by publishing articles on Bible Society objects. I send you copies of each of these journals, by which you will see with your own eyes what good they have done us. We should now, encouraged by these favours, look for more help than we have hitherto met with among the journalists of Jamaica.
In taking a review of all that has occurred in this quarter of our island in a public and in a private way since I have come here, we have much reason to be pleased with the friendly feelings manifested towards your cause and towards your Agent personally on your account. I trust a good beginning has been made, but lest it should come to an ending, we, must keep throwing fuel to the fire, now I think fairly kindled. So the people here say themselves, and this is the best authority. But so too it is with all people everywhere, and every flame needs to be fanned. If I continue in this island, I shall endeavour to keep up and extend what has been begun; and should I remove, or be removed, you must still remember the adding of the fuel and the fanning. You know I have some hopes of making, or rather seeing made, a great flame in our island, and so as to add fuel to your Bible Society fire in England, and that thus by our united light we may rapidly enlighten the whole world with the word of God.
I have written you, as you will recollect, once and again about cards for our Bible associations. The want of these has given us much perplexity and distress as they are so much needed, and so much desired. I gave you in my last an extract of a letter received from a gentleman in St. Elizabeth Parish upon this subject, and I now give you an extract from a note lately received from Hanover parish, from the Rev. Mr. Betts formerly noticed to you. He says, – "I am a good deal disappointed in not receiving the subscription cards you promised the people of this neighbourhood when you were here, it having been mentioned them that they were to have such, and one being actually left with one individual, they look for them, and I do not think I can go on successfully without them. Be pleased there for to let me have some by the Bearer if possible. I think I could make good use of 100." – I have now happily got out of all my difficulties on this score, partly by the aid of Mr. Holmes as before noticed, and partly through an unwitting help afforded by our Ladies here. You know the Ladies must have bonnets, as we must have hats, and perhaps you know that one of the ingredients that go into the construction of a bonnet, or of some bonnets, is pasteboard. Well, what would you think, in rummaging about for cards, I had the good fortune to light on a lot of broad sheets of this article. On this I pounced most gladly, and carried it off without delay. Then with the help of compass and rule, and a shoemaker's hand and knife, I got these sheets cut up into cards, and forth with printed. The whole amount of the cards so obtained is about 8,000, which with those printed elsewhere and before for the object amount to about 10,000. My only regret, amidst this joy, is, the loss the Ladies will be at for want of bonnets at least of this kind, for I have not left them a single good sheet to make a single bonnet with in all this place as far as I can learn. But that is their concern, not ours. We have got our cards, Mr. Betts has got his 100, Mr. Marcy his 500, and thus are we marching onwards, and shall march, until our 10,000 are all gone. But before that time we expect to receive a rich supply from Earl Street; and should we not, we must again have recourse to the Ladies' Bounty, and make our next depredations in Kingston.
But I have not yet done with Mr. Betts' letter. He writes further in these words: – "I had almost forgotten to mention one chief thing: some of the people have paid up much more than what they put their names down to pay monthly for the Bibles, so that some of them are desirous of having them at once. Others wish to see the sizes in order to judge what size to choose. Be pleased therefore if practicable to send one of each sized Bible by way of specimen, and the prices; and a further supply as soon as convenient. If you send me the specimens, I will get the people to fix on the size of book they wish to have, and then I shall inform you what we shall be likely to want, if you inform me where to apply for them."
Is not this another fine proof of Ethiopia stretching forth her hands to God? Thus you see the people are exceeding our expectations, in contributing for Bibles, and in their desire to obtain this Sacred Book. I do hope, as I said in a former letter, that the demands upon you for Bibles during the twelve months ensuing will be great. May God grant this for his glory, and for the good of this people now brought in one sense at least, out of darkness into light.
What shall I add to this in the way of requesting more cases than those already mentioned? We may need more and many more, but, as formerly stated, I am afraid to overshoot the mark. Do then, as before said, as your discretion shall direct, only send cases and sorts as already pointed out. One order however I must specifically give: it is for some of your inferior quality Bibles. I have a memorandum of a couple of years standing to request you to get some in this way, but I was afraid to mention the subject, as I had formerly noticed it from Mexico about Spanish Bibles but without effect. It was only the other day I observed that you have now got these as noted in your Thirtieth Report. Please then to send us Four cases of them to make a trial with, one to Montego Bay to John Roby Esq., one to Black River to Mr. George Daly, and two to our depository in Kingston, directed to Messrs. Jordan and Osborn there. Let each case be of the size before mentioned, and containing equal quantities of each of your eleven kinds as printed at the top of page xiv of your Report for 1834. – I may here mention that it will be necessary for us to have minor depots of our books in this place, and in Black River, and from these depots the various parts of this end of the island can easily be supplied. More minor depots in other parts of the island it will be necessary to form should we get on successfully, and of this you will be apprised in due time. You will of course always send invoices with the books forwarded to these places, but at the same time it would be well to send a duplicate of each to the secretaries of the Jamaica (or General) Bible Society at Kingston.
We have procured a sale place for our books here, and I have ordered a supply from Kingston to meet our immediate demands. The store where our books will be sold is the same place where the Christian Knowledge Society books have been sold, and Mr. McIntyre who is the organ of that Society here, having fully joined in our Bible Society, as you will see, states that henceforth he will procure no more Bibles from the Christian Knowledge Society, but leave our Society to meet all demands for the Sacred Volume. This is precisely the course I have recommended on various occasions to our friends of that institution. Join our Bible Society, I have said, heart and hand, and let us unite our forces in this object in which we are both agreed, leaving it with all who please to cooperate with you in the other parts of your work, and for which you will have more disposable funds. Thus I argued with the Bishop of Barbados, but did not succeed. When our Jamaica Bishop returns I intend to apply to him in this view of the subject, and hope I may be successful. I trust you have seen him and have duly attended to the hints I formerly threw out. I shall be delighted to see his name among the Vice-Presidents in your now expected report. Mr. McIntyre is one of the four commissioners who act for the Bishop in his absence, each one having a certain number of parishes under his charge. His cooperation in our Bible Society is more valuable on this account, as it is both directly and indirectly advantageous to our cause. The transition to or step from him to the Bishop is not so very great; and thus in fact we consider ourselves as having partly obtained our object. Besides, as I said to you before old things are passing away among us, and all things are becoming new.
Having learned that there was a good deal of intercourse between this port and some ports of the coast of Cuba, I ordered a case of Spanish Scriptures to be sent round from Kingston. It has arrived and I have placed the books at our sale shop and duly advertised them in their own tongue as you will see in the newspapers sent you.
You will also see another of my advertisements in these papers. It is on the subject of the Gift Book. You will see that I have mentioned that I have expressed to you a wish something like it, that the period for giving these books might be extended and if it meet with the approbation of the Committee to extend it to the 1st August 1836, I should be glad to know it as early as convenient, that I might give notice accordingly. You have books here on hand, and as many wish to try for the prize who hitherto have not had means and opportunity, I should think it would be well so to extend.
I enclose you a copy of "Bible Association Address" as printed here with enmendations, and a copy of the "Appeal" also brought up to the present time, with a correction and an improvement I think at the place marked on the margin. Should you not have printed these as yet, be so good as let us have an exact reprint of those enclosed. Of the former, I have got 500 printed here, and of the latter 1000. You will also see in the newspaper sent, and address of mine on our Bible Associations, continuing through three numbers or parts. I thought it necessary to give all the information I could upon these matters. I may perhaps trouble you to reprint this for me with a little addition, but not at present. Please however to keep the papers carefully.
Being now on the subject of printed communications for this Public upon our Bible Society concerns, I may notice what has been long on my mind. I think it would be very useful to have a Brief History of the Society extending from 5 to 10 sheets. It would be very convenient to have such a small volume to put into the hands of persons desirous of knowing more about the Society than can be seen in the small papers at present at our command. Another little volume also we stand much in need of, for the use, not of strangers to the Society, but for its friends. I mean a work on the plan of Mr. Dudley's Analysis, but comprised in 100 or 150 pages. These two publications would I conceive greatly forward your cause and at present they are desiderata.
And now to conclude with the notice of one subject more. It is the subject of your Agencies. I have touched upon this in a former letter. But feel a desire to return to it, and to draw your attention to it, and at greater length, for I consider it of great consequence in regard to the extension of your operations, and let me say, to the completion of your grand design and grand it is indeed. The world is your field. It is not utopian to attempt its conquest, or in other words, to overrun it – with the word of God. Though I said something in this way in my last, you would see that was only rallying to defend myself. But if you are in good earnest in your scheme, you must gird and arm yourselves to it better than you have yet done. The wise man says (Eccl. 10:10) "If the iron is blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct". You have a noble iron in your hand, but it would cut better if whetted, and if you not only whet your instrument, but also put more strength, then will more exertion be done; and yet still more, if wisdom direct. I beg your pardon for thus speaking to men much wiser than myself, and who feel so much more for the prosperity of the kingdom of God. But on the other hand, just because you are so, do I venture thus to write, being assured that your wisdom and your zeal will gladly listen to every suggestion, including to advance your great objects, however humble and inferior may be the quarter from which it comes. Now what I began with, and now continue, is the increase of your agencies. Your missionaries, (for what else are your agents?) ought to fill to a certain extent all nations. You have found the necessity of increasing your agencies in England. Just these same reasons will lead you to what I am now recommending, and as I conceive with double force. Should you, by multiplying your agents in the world and over it, increase the desire for the word of God and hence extend its circulation, as would undoubtedly be the case, then would the Public in England meet your utmost wishes in the shape of supplies. Would they allow your work to lag and flag for want of means? – Never. Force then, I would say, your circulation of the Scriptures by sending your messengers to the four winds of heaven, and into all countries. Call upon the nations formally all over the world, and arouse them to receive the light of heaven. But such are the present times that the nations are waiting for you, and one might almost say, they are more alive to receiving the word of God, than we are to give it. See the advantage of your Agents in Germany, in France and at Smyrna. Thus then plant them over the world.
In acting upon this plan, I would in the first place strongly recommend the sending an Agent to British India, where undoubtedly there is ample work for one; and where soon after there would be sufficient work for three, one in each of the Presidencies. I am confident that great good would flow from this arrangement, and that all your constituents, as well as British India itself, would have great reason to be satisfied with the results. Send another, I would say, as before said, to China, and let him look into Japan, the most interesting country in the world to the Bible Society, and to all who look for the kingdom of God. That is literally the extremity of the Earth, and Satan's last stronghold. But if some should think me fanciful in this, the millions on millions in China form a most ample field in that quarter, and I cannot think the Bible Society justified in neglecting it much longer in the immediate way I am now speaking of. May the Lord teach you what is his holy will herein; and if you think of sending, may he direct you whom to send. – Again, Europe, I think, demands more of your direct help than it has yet got from you. Your two Agencies in it fully justify themselves. Others probably would also do the same. Now, turn to British North America. There, there is most abundant employment for an Agent, and there would soon be enough for two; and well, I am sure, the fruits would repay all the labour that might be expended on it. The West Indies I have at large spoken about elsewhere. Lastly Mexico with Guatemala and the great continent of South America, should have two or at least one Agent devoted to that interest permanently, in order that they might seek out, and if I may say so, make openings for the Scriptures, and then supply them. Some of these Agencies would more than pay themselves, and very soon I think this would be the case in all the British colonies, in the East, the North, and the West. But in the other places they would in one sense be a burden. But what Missionary Society looks for anything else in general? The preaching of the Gospel and the evangelization of the world is the remuneration they seek and get in return for the burden of their Missionaries. Now in the same way, the great remuneration you should look for on account of your Agents, is the circulation of the Scriptures, and advance of the kingdom of God. You are a Missionary Society like the rest, though of a peculiar kind. Though the whole world is your field, you are after all in practice rather a home Missionary Society than a foreign one. Compare the circulation of the Scriptures effected by you in England with what has been done abroad in all nations, particularly beyond Europe, and you will see the truth of what I say. I see notwithstanding your mighty foreign efforts in the way of translations.
Look at the list of your agents, the immediate subject in hand, and where they are distributed. Four in England alone, and Five in all the rest of the world! Other Missionary Societies send the most of their men abroad, and when the destitute among the nations cry to the missionaries for help and more help, and the missionaries through their pens resound the cry at home, funds start up and more missionaries like magic, so that we can scarce tell where all has come from, so unexpectedly. I would have your adopt something more than you have done of this general plan, and particularly in the present day, when the world, I may say, has got itself ready for you. – I have thus dwelt at some length upon this subject: first, because of the great importance of your work, and the desirableness of turning every means to the best account in these deeply interesting times, and that your work may increase in the most rapidly, and acquired a greater and a much greater momentum; and in the second place, I have said thus much about agents, because I think that is some kind of understanding with you, that such are rather a burden than anything else, or that the fewer you can employ the better, or that you should never employ one till the force of some particular circumstances command you. I do not know whether this feeling is to be found among yourselves only in Earl Street, or whether it is to be found among your constituents also. Now if this is the case either with yourselves or your constituents, it must I think arise from some misconception of the nature of your Society, its field of operations, and the means to be employed. In what I have said, I have endeavoured to place things, as I conceive, on the proper footing. If I am wrong, forgive my intrusion; if I am right, or if you think of there is some truth in my view of the matter, then take the subject into formal considerations and by prayer and full consultation, labour to ascertain what is the will of God in the matter laid before you, and how you may acquit yourselves best in the great work which our blessed Saviour has committed to your trust in his Kingdom. It is required of stewards that they may be both wise and faithful. I am sure you all daily pray that you may be so: and perhaps, the Lord is now answering your prayers in the suggestions thus laid before you, by your poor unworthy fellow labourer, –
James Thomson.