Rev A Brandram No.14
Aguas Calientes, 18th December 1827
My Dear Sir,
I again sit down to write you, and as usual in a new place. Week after week the scene shifts before me, and new objects around me at every successive time I take up my pen to communicate with you. You will find this place upon the map with more readiness than the place from which I last wrote you. It is pretty nearly NW of Guanajuato at a distance of perhaps 120 miles. The name of this place when translated is, "hot waters," and it has taken this name from several hot springs in the immediate neighbourhood. I went out today to the largest of these, about a mile out of the city, and found the water as high as 105° of Fahrenheit.
I was led out of my intended tract to attend the Fair of San Juan de los Lagos, and when about to leave that place, I had many reasonings with myself as to what course I should afterwards pursue. I thought first of going to Guadalajara, which is a large city, and next to Mexico in population. I had nearly fixed on going there, but afterwards changed my intention by hearing from a Friar, as mentioned in my last, the opposition of the Governor of that diocese to your editions of the Bible. I should not have allowed what the Friar said upon this matter to weigh much with me, had I not received the same intelligence from another and a friendly quarter, and altogether independent of the other. These notices, combined with an opportunity which offered of sending two cases of the Scriptures there by the hands of a friend, determined me to leave the visiting of that place until another occasion. The only other route which offered itself a suitable was to this place and then to Zacatecas. I left San Juan on the 12th and on the following day I arrived here. The population of the city may be about 15,000 or perhaps more.
As I did not calculate on visiting this place when I set out from Mexico, nor even from one hospital, I came unprovided with letters of introduction. On the 14th I opened sale in the usual manner by means of my advertisements. I stated the period to be for three days calculating that that time would correspond with the population of the place. On the first day the sale was very indifferent and considerably under what might have been expected. In the course of the day I found to a certain extent what was the cause of this dullness of sale. A priest who came to buy a Bible told me that a certain priest here whose name he mentioned had some time ago written something against the use of these Bibles and Testaments, and that he had published what he had written in one of the Newspapers. This notice led me to inquire further into the matter, and from less to more I found out that the priest now referred to was no other than the one who had spoken so hard against you, as mentioned in one of my letters from Mexico, and to whom the reply then noticed was made. I did not think I should have come so early hand-to-hand in contact with my opponent, but so it is. I had however one advantage over him as much as he knew not who had replied to the article.
A new contest on the subject of dispute was to be expected, and this accordingly took place. The opposition made came apparently from another hand, though I have little doubt as to its origin. The Rector of the place was the person who came forward, and he came forward not by words but by deeds, and attempted at once through the civil authorities to suspend first and then to prohibit the sale of the Bibles in this place. This was something altogether new to me and I was led to make very particular inquiries of the Lord as to how I should act in such a conjuncture. I have often requested your prayers, and the prayers of all who seek the welfare of this country by the circulation of the holy Scriptures in it. I trust my friends do not forget how I am placed, and that they persevere in their supplications. To know that they indeed do so would greatly animate me, and I need all the means of animation you can afford. On the second day of the sale so early as 7:30 o'clock in the morning, I received a note from the Alcalde stating that he had been solicited by the Rector to request me to suspend the sale of the Bibles for a little, until they should be examined. He stated also that in course of an hour or an hour and a half himself and the Rector would be with me to make the examination referred to. As the time of the suspension was short and as there were few buyers at so early an hour, I suspended accordingly, and desired the two or three who called to buy, to return again in a short time.
At the time fixed on the Alcalde and the Rector and two other priests made their appearance, and after all due and complimentary forms were over, the examination commenced. As they knew very well, before they formally began their examination, where our weak side lay, if you will allow me to say so, they at once struck the nail on the head, and began to examine the list of books in the Old Testament. The Rector took one of your Bibles to observe the list of books contained there, whilst one of the other priests opened the folio volume of the transactions of the Council of Trent. Having turned to the Canon of Scripture he thus began: Genesis? Yes, says the Rector, looking at your index of books, Genesis is here. Exodus? continued the priest, here also says the Rector. And so on they went smoothly, till they came to the Tobits and Dragons, and then there was a blank and an outcry. They went through the list, and made out that there were four books awanting besides that two of the Maccabees. The want of these books was of course in unpardonable, and the Rector pronounced his opinion to be that the sale should be prohibited.
I defended your cause as well as I could, by stating that all the books which are contained in your editions are canonical, and that they are fairly so printed from the latest edition of Madrid, without alterations or omissions. This was admitted, but then says the Rector: "The Bible," means the whole collection of the canon of Scripture, and here this volume is called "The Bible" though deficient of several books which form a part of the canon. This argument is unanswerable without entering into the Catholic and Protestant controversy, and this was not the time and place to agitate such a question. If it had been touched upon, the more that would have been said about it, the greater would have been the opposition to your editions of the Scriptures, as it would have appeared thereby that your object and printing the Bible and in sending it here was conversion to Protestantism, and that would have been a war whoop against you in every shape.
The New Testament was next examined, and was found to be without notes. This was testimony sufficient against it, and it was judged also that the sale of it should be forbidden. It is curious to see the escape made by the volume containing the Psalms &c in this general condemnation. One of the priests took a fancy to a copy of this which was bound in Morocco and gilt; and he bought it. The Alcalde bought another, and this volume was pronounced salable. After these judgments were noticed, I repeated what I have said before, as to the correctness of your Bibles, as to the whole they contained being canonical, and as to the great advantage to be derived from reading the Scripture. I stated also what were the different decrees of the church in regard to the reading of the Scriptures in the vulgar tongue, and endeavoured to show, what I believe is correct, that there is no existent decree to prohibit the reading of the Scriptures without notes.
We were not exactly of one mind upon this point, another argument I used seem to have more weight. I said that I believed the Alcalde had no authority to suspend or prohibit the sale, and that if he did so, he would incur responsibility the weight of which he might afterwards feel. These books I said had been freely admitted into the country by the constituted authorities, duties had been paid for them in Veracruz and in Mexico, and not a word had been said to hinder their introduction, and this I alleged was a pretty strong proof that the laws of the country were in favour of the sale, and hence that no magistrate had now a right to interfere, and that if he the Alcalde did interfere he would have to abide by the consequences. These arguments had more weight than all I had said about the duty and advantage of reading the Scriptures, and the Alcalde began to hesitate. They in the end and agreed to consult together deliberately upon the subject, and to let me know the result. I stated that as the time fixed for the sale was three days, and was thus limited, I would in the meantime go on selling, and that I conceived the laws of the country fully authorized me to do so. I concluded with one word more, praying them not to deprive their townsmen of the benefit thus brought within their reach by any resolutions they might come to. We parted on good terms, and they went to consult.
At the time we parted it was very difficult to say what would be the result of this affair. The priest seemed fully settled on the prohibition, but the Alcalde was afraid to venture upon this at his own risk. Between eleven and twelve I expected to hear what was finally resolved on, but heard nothing. The sale in the meantime went on, and among others who came to buy was the Prior of one of the convents. He came in a hurry he said, lest he should lose the opportunity of buying, as he understood there was an injunction to be laid on me immediately. He bought a Bible, and the New Testament and a copy of the Psalms. The time passed on, and nothing was heard of this famous decree about to be issued. At half past three I received a note from the Alcalde, by which I learned that he would not venture on the prohibition of the sale on his own responsibility, but that as he was urged to it by the Rector he was about to consult a law officer upon the subject. As this however would require a little time, the Rector had requested him to suspend the sale until the opinion of this gentleman should be given. The Alcalde gave me a copy of the Rector's letter to him but from oversight or some other cause, he added no order of his own to suspend the sale, I therefore went on without interruption.
About an hour afterwards I called on the Alcalde, and he showed me the Rector's denunciation of the books, the opinion of the priest who had formerly written against you, and which opinion the Rector had asked in a formal manner, as he was considered to be one of the best informed upon these points. Next followed the Alcalde's application to the law officer for his advice. All these papers were to go to the officer in question and his judgment was to be final. I advised the Alcalde to let the matter alone altogether, especially as there was but one day more of the sale. He could not do that he said, because the Rector was urging him onwards, and stating his responsibility if he did not act, so that the poor Alcalde was thus, as he stated himself, placed between two fires, responsibility on the right-hand, and, responsibility on the left. To the Counsellor therefore it must go, and be determined by him. I inquired who the lawyer was, and the Alcalde gave me his name and address. I went direct to him, and found him with a friend poring over the statutes upon the very subject. I had read the same statues over before leaving Mexico, and being familiar with them, I gave my views of them to the Counsellor and said I did not think there was anything whatever in these articles to warrant a prohibition of our sale.
This was Saturday evening and two days of our sale were concluded. Next day all was quiet every way. On Monday morning early I called on the Alcalde to see what was doing. He said he was pushing the business through as fast as he could, and that he only waited opinion of the lawyer. I went again to the gentleman to see what was likely to be done, and he gave me a favourable answer but not conclusive as to what he would say in his official communication. The Alcalde had wished me to see and speak with the priest who had written upon the subject, and in effect we called at his house together, but he was out. I told this to the lawyer, and asked who and what this individual was, as it was plain he was at the bottom of the whole. The lawyer advised me not to go to him, as I might make things worse. Instead therefore of going again to the priest's house, I called on the Rector. He wished me particularly to go to see this individual, and came himself to conduct me. Upon reaching the church in one end of which he lived, we went up and up one and another narrow stair as if we were going to the belfry instead of to any habitation, but as the Rector went foremost I followed my guide. I questioned if I should have followed him, if he had been going downwards instead of upwards.
At length we arrived, and I was introduced to our chief opponent. I conversed a good while with this priest, and he told me he wrote that article where he stated the apocryphal books to have been left out with an evil design, and showed him that the Bibles were not printed with any malicious object, but in a rule spirit truly Catholic and benevolent. I told him that the society which had printed them was formed to translate and print the Bible in all languages, and that as most of the society were Protestants they printed what they believed to be canonical Scripture and no more. And as to what he had said in his article about the words and phrases being changed and so on, I assured him that there was nothing of this kind, but that the whole was fairly and honestly printed. I told him of the free introduction of the Bibles at Vera Cruz under the eye of the Government, and complained of injustice in the hindering the sale of books thus admitted into the country. He on his part stated the two distinct governments, civil and ecclesiastical, to which we were subject and complained of the laxness of the civil government in carrying into effect ecclesiastical statutes. I asked him what should have been done in regard to the introduction of the Bibles farther than what had been done. He said that to permit this free sale and circulation I should have applied to the Bishop of Puebla as the ordinary of the diocese in which the port of Vera Cruz is situated. And suppose you were, I said, in the place of the Bishop of Puebla, and that the Bible had been offered to you for such a license, what would you have done? Would you have granted it? Yes, he said, he would. I was very glad to hear him state this, as I thought it might lead perhaps to the obtaining of the open approbation of the Bishop before mentioned to the free circulation of your editions. If this could be obtained it would silence opposition in a great measure, and would be the means of increasing the circulation of the Scriptures here to a very great extent. I intend therefore upon returning to Mexico to supply myself with letters of introduction to the Bishop, and to make a personal application to him.
If we can gain this point, it will truly be of great service, and if we cannot gain it, we must hobble on as we now do in the face of opposition. That is one point I fear, and my fears are not small. It is this. If the ordinaries of the dioceses make a formal declaration against your editions the circulation will be small. The license of the Bishop of Puebla would prevent this. There are many liberal clergyman in Mexico, but I greatly fear those at the head of the dioceses are not of this class. The Bishop of Puebla is a native of Spain, and is very courteous I understand to foreigners. If there is any way of getting into his good graces, that way being in itself honest, I would like to find it out, and to try its effects upon the subject in question.
In talking further with this priest, I stated to him with some feeling my regret that any opposition to the circulation of the Scriptures, as I conceive the reading and study of the word of God so necessary and so useful to all. He put his hand upon my arm, Take courage, says he, you have already sold a good many here. On Wednesday, he continued, I am going to preach and I will tell those who have bought the Bibles that they may keep them and read them. The books are good, said he, and useful, but they ought to have the approbation of the ordinary, for our ecclesiastical statutes require this in order to their being generally used. In short we came to this, that the approbation or license of the ordinary was all that was wanting, that it was necessary and desirable to have it, and that he thought it might be obtained. Our conversation thus closed in a most friendly manner. I thanked him for the information he had given me as to the plan of acting to procure the proper license, and stated to him my desire him obtaining it, and my expectation that thereby the Scriptures might have a free and wide circulation in the country. I never felt more anxiety in going to speak with any man, than I did in this instance. I never asked more earnestly that the Lord would be present with me, and I never saw any conversation terminate more agreeably. Blessed be the Lord for all his mercies, and may he graciously smile on every attempt to promote his glory in this country.
About noon on the third day of our sale, I received a message from the Alcalde to go and speak to him. I went, and he showed me the opinion of the law officer. It was entirely in my favour. Thus has the Lord stood on our side, that the circulation of his holy Word should not be hindered. Upon seeing the favourable termination of this law suit, I thought an authenticated copy of the whole would be of service to me, should I be again placed in similar circumstances. I mentioned my wish for a copy of it to the Alcalde, who very cheerfully said I should have it. He would call the notary he said, and it should be got ready for me in a short time. The notary came in as we were speaking, and he told him to get a copy of the proceedings ready for me as soon as he could. The Alcalde appeared relieved from a load, and seemed to be happy that the affair was over. At four o'clock I was to call again, as the forms required that I should sign a document respecting this copy. The Rector was also to be apprised of the matter. At four o'clock I returned, and Alcalde was as willing as before to get already for me. While I was with him, a note came into him from the Rector respecting the granting of this copy I had requested, in which the Rector threatened him with his responsibility before God should he grant me this document, as it would be enabling me to circulate Bibles which have not the proper license.
The Alcalde read this note, and thought, and read again, and was greatly disconcerted by it. Here are new difficulties, says he. I replied that I could not see what difficulty he could have in granting the copy I had requested, as the statutes of the court is required to be given whenever any of the parties asked for it. To be responsible to man he said was little, but to be responsible to God was a serious matter. I could not but respect this fear of God manifested by the Alcalde, whilst I regretted that he should be so ill instructed regarding the Bible and its circulation, and regarding his duty as a magistrate. The notary took my side, but the Alcalde, after considering for a little, formally refused to grant the document I desired, and thus run his head right against one of the plainest articles of his instructions as a magistrate, to save his conscience, and to keep on terms of the Rector, who I suppose is his Confessor. I then asked him for a written statement of his refusal, which he granted me. By this document I shall be enabled at the chief court of the state to compel him to give me the copy I requested, and it is probably I shall thus make use of it, as the possession of this copy will most likely be a preventive of such hindrances as have been attempted in this place.
I have now stated to you the whole of this process, the thing being new, I thought you should know all about it. The sale effected in this place, in consequence of these matters was small. Only 21 Bibles were sold, 19 New Testaments, and 19 of Psalms, making in all 59 copies; and the sum received is 121 dollars 1 rial.
I remain, Most Truly Yours,
James Thomson.