Rev A Brandram
Lindfield, Sussex 16 May 1831
My Dear Friend
I send you a translation of a letter which I have just received from Dr. Mora of Mexico. You will see by it the favourable and unfavourable state of things in that quarter. On the unfavourable side is the increased domination of the clergy owing chiefly as you will see to the temporary existence of some political concerns. These are supposed to be coming to a close, and the temporary intolerant spirit will I trust terminate with them. Public opinion has meanwhile been getting more liberal, and a desire for a knowledge of the Scriptures has increased. The result of this desire is the getting up a version of the Bible in that place, so arranged as to preclude clerical objections. In this I think we have great cause to rejoice as the knowledge of the word of God will thereby be greatly extended. You labours in that quarter have prepared the way for this, and on the other hand the result of it will be an opening and a facility for your future operations. We see by this that the people will have the Scriptures, stimulated to it by your exertions, and the clergy knowing this out about to send forth an edition of the Bible, studded it is true in their own way, but still the word of God goes forth, and the printer will show by the different forms of types what parts are from God and what are the sayings of men. The clergy of course suppose that this edition will satisfy the people, but they will soon find out their mistake, and will learn in due time that they have been looking one way and the rowing another. Your Bibles and your pressio can alone satisfy the many and the poor. Let us therefore take courage, for notwithstanding our disappointments, the work you see does not sleep.
In another point of view something is doing. The translation of one of the Gospels into the native Mexican tongue is finished, and the translation of the same portion of Scripture into two other native tongues extensively spoken is nearly accomplished. These native of versions will I think be very acceptable and useful.
Our friend Dr. Mora you will perceive stands alone and is the object of persecution from the superstitious and the profane. Let this be a hint to us to remember him individually in our prayers when we are commending unto God the great cause in which the Bible Society is engaged.
I am truly glad to hear of the great increase of your funds during the last year, and hope everything good will increase among you in equal or greater proportions.
I remain, Very Sincerely Yours
James Thomson.
P.S. I shall be glad to see what you have published or intend to publish respecting your annual meeting. That or any other paper or letter will come safely to me if left at Mr. Allen's Plough Court, Lombard Street on Thursdays or Fridays in the forenoon, as a box comes weekly from that to this place.
Extract of a letter from Dr. Mora of Mexico to Mr. James Thomson,
dated 14th February 1831.
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"Since I received your letter of 14 September last I have had no communication from you. In reply to that letter I mentioned to you that the Court where the matter was tried respecting the detention of the Bibles would not recognize me as sufficiently qualified to receive them and demanded of me a formal authorization which I requested you to send me, and which I am now looking for.
The translation of the Gospel of Luke into the Mexican language is finished, and to the person who translated it I have given by way of remuneration one of the sets of Bibles which you left in my hands for that purpose. A copy of this is being taken in a very fair letter, and I shall give it to Mr. Chabot is to send you by the next packet. The translation of the same Gospel is nearly concluded in Misteco and Tarasco languages likewise, and to the translators I intend to give the two sets of Bibles that yet remain in my hands.
The power of the Clergy and the support given to them by the Government has reached to a degree in this place that I could never have believed. Religious intolerance has in consequence very much increased, although public opinion is every day growing more averse to such a state of things. The political commotions that we have had during all the past year have been the chief causes of this, but they may be expected to be near an end now by the imprisonment of Guerrero. Notwithstanding however these drawbacks there is a considerable desire manifested for instruction in the Scriptures, and there is at present actually preparing a translation of the Bible into the Spanish from the French version of Vencé. The prospectus of this which I have drawn up I now send you, and I have subscribed for one copy for the Bible Society. I am doing all I can here to promote the reading of the Scriptures, knowing them to be the word of God and at all times profitable to the Christian. I beg you will help me all you can, as I stand here alone, and am persecuted by the Clergy on the one hand and by the scoffers at all religion on the other."