Rev A Brandram No.38
Spanish Town, 27th November 1834
My Dear Friend
A few days ago our regular packet arrived, but brought me no letters from Earl Street, and hence no notification of the shipment of our much expected Books destined to form our Christmas rejoicing. My fears therefore mentioned in my last, and perhaps prematurely, are now becoming more real. Still I hope for the best, and trust the Mexican packet every hour now expected, will bring satisfactory intelligence.
I noticed to you in my last that I was induced to come to this town at the present time in the expectation of our objects being promoted by the sitting of the Council and Assembly, hoping to find friends and supporters among the members of these bodies. But we walk among such quicksands here, that we are not long sure of our footing. Excitements have arisen bearing upon religious points and religious societies that render it wise to delay for the present a public meeting and installation of a Bible Society for this town and parish in pursuance of the plan we have arranged. The arrival with you of the packet bearing this letter will bring by the public papers pretty full information regarding the excitement I have referred to. I leave you to form your own opinion respecting them from these public statements, reserving my own opinion for some other opportunity.
In the mean time, and under the circumstances mentioned I am endeavouring to do something in our concerns in a more private way. To be properly in order, we ought to form a Society for the entire parish in any place, before we form Bible Associations in any part of it. But under our present hinderances we are obliged to reverse this order, or to do nothing. My lodging is pretty near one extremity of our town, and casting my eyes around I thought I would try what could be done in this spot which I at present call home. We first summoned a meeting of the people of the district, which was well attended. I then commenced a series of visits from house to house, and am happy to say that my reception was always friendly, and often very encouraging. In such a place as this, you must always be prepared to meet the question, "But we cannot read, Sir, and what therefore should we do with a Bible or a Testament?" This is evidently a fair question, and it should meet with a fair answer, or rather to be effectual, it should meet with something more than a fair answer. The answer should give encouragements on the point in question. So prepared I made my visits. When the question therefore, as above noticed, was put, I immediately replied, Do you wish to learn? Yes, was the prompt reply to this in almost every instance where old age had not interposed and shut out hope in this matter. My next question generally was, and can you spare a small sum weekly to pay a person to teach you, and are you willing thus to give a little for so useful an acquirement? Yes and yes, were the answers generally obtained in this case also. Well then, said I, there will be an evening school opened for men in such a place, on such a day; and on the day following, there will be a school opened at such another place for women.
On the day appointed for the opening of the men's school, namely the 25th current, I went at the proper hour, and was gratified to see so many present. We had 26 who put down their names as scholars, and each and all seemed in good earnest on the subject. Our first school evening was spent religiously: we gave thanks unto God for bringing about such times as to make learning to read acceptable unto all in this place, and for having stirred up so many to come together as in that meeting for learning to read, and prayed that the blessing of God might rest on this school. I then read, and shortly expounded the 3rd chapter of Proverbs, and particularly and solemnly set before them that the object for which I had called on them to learn to read, and had got up this school for them, was, that they might be able to read God's Holy Word, and I charged them all in the name of the Lord to make the reading of the Scriptures an every day concern when they should be able to read. I next read and explained a Bible Association Address which I had got printed, and told them that as the school had risen entirely out of the Bible Association, I hoped they would encourage and promote it as far as they could, by subscribing for Bibles and Testaments for themselves, and for helping you send forth Scriptures in so many languages among so many millions of their fellow creatures, multitudes of whom I told them, knew nothing of the Bible, nor of God, nor of our Lord Jesus Christ. ― On the following evening, the same plan was pursued in opening the women's school, and we had 15 names put down.
All this I consider Bible Society work, and I may say perhaps, both directly and indirectly. The doing this does not impede my objects in any shape, and it greatly forwards the circulation of the Scriptures in every way. I attend to the schools only as subordinate and auxiliary to our Bible Associations.
It is hinted above, but I should mention it more particularly, that these two schools are pay-schools, though the sum paid is small. It is a Fippence as we call it per week, that is, a little more than 3d. sterling. The gentleman and the lady who have opened these two schools in different streets and altogether unconnected with each other, are religious persons, and would gladly enough have given their services gratis for this object. But I am fully convinced that there is no chance of making education general among people unless on the plan of them paying a little for it themselves. On this occasion, it is true, we have met with two persons who would have franked their services, but such persons we cannot expect in every place, and indeed they must be found rarely. Our plan therefore must be formed on the pay-system in order to be general. Now it is for schools of this kind chiefly and for placing such all over the island that I lately recommended the formation in England of a West India School Society. Five pounds sterling a year to one such school, £10 to another, &c. according to circumstances would, with what is paid by the scholars, enable to schools to be planted and to proceed prosperously all over this interesting colony.
Now this you perceive is Deviation second, from Bible Society notices, in my correspondence with you: and as I suppose you have already overlooked the past deviation, I now plead that you will pass over this one also. Whether I shall transgress a third time I cannot say, as it will depend on our circumstances; but if you interpose with your pen, then my deviations on this score are, as this letter now is ― ended.
James Thomson.