Rev A Brandram No. 46
New York, 31st August 1830
My Dear Friend
My last letter to you was written in Veracruz on the 18th June. I then informed you of my intention of passing through the United States on my way to England. I accordingly embarked for New Orleans accompanied by Mrs. Thomson on the 19th and in eleven days we reached that place. From that city we ascended to Louisville by the Mississippi and Ohio in other eleven days. Here we stopped one day and a half. Though our stay was short we had still a little time for conversing with the friends of the Bible cause, and were much gratified to find a warm and lively zeal manifested in this our great and common concern. One day's sail more on the Ohio brought us to Cincinnati, the largest city in all the Western Valley, New Orleans excepted. Here our stay was prolonged to six days. We had thus a fuller opportunity of seeing with our own eyes and hearing with our own ears what things God is doing in his kingdom in that new and extensive region.
Depositaries we found there for Bibles, the grand source of all, for religious tracts, for Sunday school books, etc. Population is increasing so rapidly in this quarter as to excite a lively feeling in the Christian as to the quantum of religious instruction administered to them. No little anxiety has been manifested by the Atlantic Christians of America on behalf of their countrymen in the West, and it is pleasing to see that their labours have not been in vain. Through these efforts the Bible finds its way to the new log house in every direction. The Bible is followed by religious tracts, and by the occasional visits of the missionary, and thus in due time the praises of God begin to be heard in the dense forest where nothing used to be heard but the unvaried chop, chop of the backwoodsman's axe. After all, there is much to be done here, and our friends are aware of it. Population increase increases so fast around them as to make it difficult to keep pace with its increase in doing them good. But the prayers offered up for this new ground will be heard, and the labours of the disciples of Christ will be blessed on behalf of their brethren after the flesh around them. We may therefore expect, that as the fruitless forest tree is falling down in every direction in that quarter it is giving place to ears of corn for the life of man, so this new population will be led to bring forth fruit unto God through our Lord Jesus Christ. I need hardly say that the parent of the Bible Societies is well-known and feelingly remembered in all this vast region.
From Cincinnati I went to Wheeling still sailing on the beautiful and useful Ohio. From that we crossed over by land to Ashtabula on Lake Erie, where we found the steamboat which took us to Buffalo at the eastern point of the lake. From this place it was my intention to proceed by the grand Erie Canal to Albany and thence down the Hudson River to New York. But on arriving in this quarter I learned that there was a steamboat running across Lake Ontario from Niagara to York, the capital of Upper Canada, and that I could pass to the latter place in a short time and at little expense. Recollecting therefore the interest you feel for your auxiliaries in that quarter I resolved to pass over to York to salute our brethren there in your name and to inquire how they were doing in the great cause to which they had lent their hands. I therefore crossed the lake and came to
York, Upper Canada.
Here I soon found myself among friends and brethren although I came to them personally unknown and unintroduced by a single letter. But the cause in which I had been engaged in the Southern portion of this New World was known to them and obtained for me a cordial welcome. My ease among them too was increased by recognizing a personal acquaintance which I had had some 12 years ago in Edinburgh with one of the Secretaries of your York Auxiliary. This of course made me quite at home.
The results of my inquiries regarding the state of the Bible Society have been I am happy to say very satisfactory. The old Society here had become extinct about a year and a half before the present existing and active Society was founded. The whole may therefore be considered as new. On Monday, 3rd November 1828 a public meeting was held, not for the reorganization of the old Society, but for the purpose of forming a new one. At this meeting the Society was incorporated, all its officers were nominated, and its rules formed and agreed to. His Excellency Sir John Colborne, the Lieutenant-Governor of the Province, became Patron of the Society, and the Hon. Mr. Dunn the President. Measures were immediately taken to procure subscribers and everything went on favourably. On Friday, 9th February of the present year the first annual meeting of the Society was held which was well attended and particularly interesting. Some copies of the report of this first year's operations have been put into my hands to be presented to you on my arrival in London. I had a good deal of conversation with the President and was happy to find him warmly alive to the prosperity of the Society in all its parts. I was introduced by Mr. Dunn to his Excellency the Governor whom I found very desirous of promoting the above cause and anxious for the religious instruction of the new population beginning to cover that province, and also of the indigenous population, so long and shamefully neglected. Sir John gave me two copies of the first seven chapters of the Gospel by Matthew in the Chippewa tongue, translated by a native missionary and printed at the Government expense.
But what chiefly gave me pleasure in my visit to York and my intercourse with this branch Bible Society was the desire manifested for forming associations in connexion with it all over the country, and the corresponding desire on the part of the people in the towns and hamlets in the interior to form themselves into such associations. Again and again have the secretaries and other officers of the Society been importuned to go out some miles into the country to assist in organizing such associations. At the time I was there arrangements had been made for going up the place about ten miles off for the installation of one of these institutions, and I was earnestly begged to delay my journey for two or three days to go out on the occasion referred to. Anxious as I was to move onward I thought it my duty to yield to these entreaties. On the day appointed we went out, the meeting was held accordingly and an association was regularly installed in all its parts. The time at which this meeting was held was as you will perceive in the very middle of harvest home occupations. It was pleasing to see the people leave their fields and hurry to the place appointed for the formation of the Society, and it was still more pleasing to see their lively and expressed interest in the object which brought them together. On concluding what I had to say about the cause of the Bible Society generally, I added that I hoped the operations of the day would be blessed to us all, and that we would be led to read the word of God individually for ourselves and to practice what it recommends that it might be well with us here and well with us hereafter. At these latter words, with a tone indicating a deep interest, one and all uttered, "Amen."
We returned in the evening through the dense forest from this meeting which had been so interesting to us all, and we rejoice at the prospect of this wilderness be coming in due time something like the garden of God. Truly the word of God is capable of forming such a transformation, and that word alone. The enlightening Spirit we may surely expect in all cases more or less sooner or later to accompany the circulation of the written word. Such is my own hope and confidence, after been engaged for twelve years in circulating the Holy Scriptures in a land of thick darkness and where in addition to other discouragements I have been disheartened by seeing little or no fruit follow. But I rest in full confidence that fruit will most certainly be produced, though I at a period later perhaps than to solace my own eyes with the sight. But the sower and the reaper shall rejoice together, and all in God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Before I leave York I cannot help noticing a letter contained in the appendix to the report purporting to be from a "penitent" and addressed to the Governor. I give you an extract from this letter. "In addressing your Excellency I cannot assume the title "dutiful subject" because within two or three years past I have detained duties upon goods to the amount as near as I can reckon of 50 or 55 dollars, and thus have transgressed. I now hand over to your Excellency 60 dollars, for in the word of God I read I have done wrong, that as in the 13th chapter of Romans. In Titus also 3rd chapter and 1st verse, and in 1st Peter 2nd chapter 13th and 14th verses, &c. Wherefore I repent and restore what I have detained, beseeching the forgiveness of Almighty God through Jesus Christ his Son, only through whom is remission of sin. I would now take it upon me very submissively to request that as the word of God is so minutely the source of all real good among men in making them good subjects and lovers of God, your Excellency would transmit the amount I send you to the Bible Society, to which I am informed your Excellency is patron."
When I crossed over Lake Ontario to York it was my intention to return from New York to Niagara, and to pursue my formerly intended course by the Erie Canal to Albany. But conceiving that a good servant in the absence of instructions from his master in any particular case in which he is called to act, tries to ascertain what he thinks his master would have him do under these circumstances, and acts according to what his judgment dictates to him in the case. So I, the servant of the Bible Society thought, after reasoning in this way, that if you knew I were in the quarter in which I then was, you would wish me to visit some others of your auxiliaries there, and attend to any other concern of the Society to which I might be called. This was the judgment I came to after maturely considering the subject. Instead therefore of returning to Niagara I sailed eastward on Lake Ontario from York and, on my way to Kingston, came to Cobourg. From this place I went northward to
the Indian village on the north of the Rice Lake.
The distance of this village from Cobourg is 12 miles by land, and 3 in crossing the lake. This is a spot of particular interest. Here are gathered into a town and civil life, and what is infinitely more important, into the fold of Christ, about 200 of the aboriginals of Upper Canada. Only three years ago these now happy and exemplary Christians were wallowing in all kinds of ungodliness but the labours of the Wesleyan missionaries were blessed unto them; and they were turned from darkness into light, and now live in such a manner as to put to shame many of more knowledge and long-standing in the knowledge of the Gospel. I conversed with the missionary resident on this spot, and with others who had been to visit the place at different times, and the result of my inquiries was very satisfactory, as to their adherence to Christ as their only Saviour, and as to their obedience to him as their only Lord and Master. I saw one of these people lie on her deathbed, or what would soon be to her such, and I could not help thinking to how much higher a place perhaps in heaven she was about to be raised than we alas! too formal, too little affected Christians, in the midst of our so-called improvements and extended knowledge. But, who could envy her such a place? And who would not be stirred up by the sight and the thought to strive to mount up to higher regions above through our Lord Jesus Christ?
As an agent of the Bible Society my desire was to see what prospects were among this people for the word of God being usefully employed by them were it translated into that language. From what I have said above you will see what was my impression upon the subject. It seems indeed very desirable to get the word of God prepared for this people, as there is a cheering hope that it would prove a great blessing to them. It would prove a like blessing to two or three other establishments similar to the one now mentioned, and it would also prove greatly useful in the converting of other Indians speaking the same language, by whom they are occasionally visited, and whom they occasionally visit to preach Christ unto them. For these reasons I urged upon the missionary in this spot the desirableness of getting the whole New Testament translated into that language as soon as possible and I ventured to add that the B. and F. Bible Society would gladly assist them in this good work, and that I would recommend the subject to your attention. The language spoken by these Indians is the Chippewa, that into which is translated the first seven chapters of Matthew which I mentioned to you above, two copies of which I received from Sir John Colborne.
These Indians live in houses built for them, and on land bought and cleared for them by the New England Society. These houses and lands were not the inducement which led to their conversion but were given them afterwards by hands who had no concern in their conversion. This is the only instance that has come under my own notice of the literal fulfillment of what our Lord says in the 10th chapter of Mark, 29th and 30th verses, I mean so far as houses and lands are concerned. After leaving this interesting village on the Rice Lake I returned to Cobourg, and from thence went on partly by land and partly by water to
Kingston.
I found in Kingston that the Society there was really a reanimation of the former Society, and not a new one as in York. Here at the place before noticed the Committee was called together that I might have some conversation with them, they seem to be going on well in their work, and have a considerable demand for copies of the Scriptures to supply the wants around them. The supply you had sent them had just arrived and afforded much gratification. Some associations have been formed in connexion with this auxiliary, and one or two of them are very promising. But I thought I did not perceive the same lively spirit for the formation of these useful institutions as at York, and I intend to state to our friends in Kingston what I had seen at the former place, and to recommend the same course to themselves. I recommend also that parcelling out of the whole of Upper Canada between these two auxiliaries in regard the forming of Bible associations throughout the province. At this meeting of the Committee the sum of £50 was voted for the B. and F. Bible Society.
In this place, as in the whole of Upper Canada, the population is increasing so fast by emigration from the Old Country as they call it, that much anxiety is naturally stirred up for the spiritual welfare of the newcomers. Our friends in Kingston seemed to be alive to these anxieties and desirous of benefiting their new countrymen. I urged the formation of Bible associations among them as the most effectual means of doing them immediate good, and of leading them early to see the necessity of providing spiritual instruction for themselves and to exert themselves to that effect. I am sorry to say that there is a great destitution of religious instruction among this new population, and it forms in truth a missionary field of and no little interest and extent, and having strong and direct claims for help on the benevolence of the disciples of Christ in the British Isles, which these people have left not for the kingdom of heaven's sake, but avowedly to better their worldly circumstances. I hope they will be so bettered, and think they will, but we should try to put them in possession of more substantial riches. From your stores, and through the efforts of your auxiliaries in these quarters I hope they will be supplied with the Holy Scriptures, and that they will be guided to that blessed salvation which they contain, and offered to all. From Kingston I went to Prescot on my way to Montreal. I stopped at Prescot but a few minutes, but having a letter to a person there, I seized the opportunity of recommending to him to use his endeavours to form a Bible Society in that place which contains a considerable population. On the evening of the day after leaving Prescott I came to
Montreal.
The Bible Society here published about a year ago their ninth annual report, which I believe has come into your hands. Their 10th anniversary was advertised for 1st September. I was urged to wait till that day, but did not think it right to stay so long. I conversed with several members of the Committee and gave on the Sunday evening an account of the Bible cause in the South, after which a meeting of the Committee was held. At this meeting I recommended as I had before done the formation of associations throughout the contiguous country. Several associations, I was happy to find had already been formed. And I was particularly gratified to find that one of their associations had some time previous compromised itself to supply every family within its own district with the Bible during the ensuing year, and learned that it had redeemed its pledge in the given time; and further that it was about to take charge of a second district in the same manner. This plan of acting, begun in the United States, I was glad to find had extended to Canada, and it is truly a pleasing feature of Bible Societies.
The issues from the depository of the Society have been considerable. During the past year there have been circulated 1230 Bibles in English, and 2542 New Testaments in the same language, besides a few copies in French and Gaelic, the whole number of Bibles and Testaments issued being 3923. This is an encouraging distribution, and I understand that many calls for supplies principally of school Bibles and Testaments are expected during the present years. I believe too the friends of the cause suggested to me their fears of not being able to meet these demands as they could wish. I of course urged them to increased exertion that they might be able to meet all demands that might be made upon them, and intimated that the parent Society would not stand by coolly and see them worsted in this case, but still that exertion on their part was naturally to be expected. My communications with our friends at Montreal as related above were not continuous as I have given them but were interrupted by a visit I made to
Quebec.
The Society in this place has had various vicissitudes, but the state into which it is now come will I hope prove the best. I had a very pleasing meeting with the Committee, and entered into the general and particular concerns of our common object as I had done on the other occasions already referred to. I urged as usual the forming of associations in the various districts of the country, and recommended the division of Lower Canada between the Quebec and Montreal Societies, in regard to associations, as I had formerly recommended the repartition of Upper Canada between the Societies of York and Kingston. I mentioned to the Committee the noble example of Stanstead, one of the Montreal Society auxiliaries in undertaking the supplying all their district in a given time, and of their redeeming their engagement. Before our meeting closed the agreeable notice was communicated that one of their associations had just entered this noble career, which proved a piece of most agreeable news to us all.
Schools are rapidly forming in Lower Canada through the judicious encouragement of the government. 500 I believe were more have sprung up in about a year, and 100 more at expected to follow in succession. Bibles and Testaments will be greatly wanted for the schools, and hence heavy demands will be made on your auxiliaries in Quebec and Montreal, and I would suggest the propriety of your meeting these demands by placing more than common supplies of this class of Bibles and Testaments within their reach. These two Societies may not perhaps be able to anticipate payment for what they need, nor may they be able to pay you on the delivery of the books, but it were a pity notwithstanding that members should return from the depository unsupplied and with heavy hearts, having no other place to look to. Such discouragements are feared, and I am sure you will readily interpose to prevent them. What I have said of Quebec and Montreal, applies also to Upper Canada of which your two auxiliaries are York and Kingston.
Having fulfilled my object in visiting these Societies I returned to Montreal, from which place I could travel more easily to the South than from Quebec. I hope my conduct in visiting the Societies in Upper and Lower Canada will be approved by the Society. I have already mentioned my reasons for acting as I did, and shall be glad to learn that the Committee sees the subject in the light in which their agent viewed it. I trust the time spent in this work has not been lost, and that the visits made will be conducive to the general prosperity of these Societies and to that country. Little stirrings up from time to time prove often very beneficial to us, both as individual disciples of Christ, and as bodies combined together to advance the kingdom of our Lord. May the blessing of God follow these visits, and may his Holy Spirit be poured out on our fellow labourers in that quarter, that they may prove a great blessing throughout all that new and extensive country in which they are placed, and may their light so shine as to lead many to glorify our Father in heaven to whom in all things be the glory.
I left Montreal on the morning of the 25th current and arrived safely in this city on the night of the 28th. I have now accomplished a journey through the United States and Canada of about 3000 miles. Mrs. Thomson and myself have enjoyed uninterrupted good health, and have been preserved from every accident, during our long journey. We are now taking a rest in this city, and are contemplating the great and tender mercies of our God to us in this journey, and also in all our ups and downs, of prosperities and difficulties in Mexico. I trust we feel grateful to the Father of mercies and God of our salvation in reviewing all these things; and singly and unitedly we lift up our voices and our hearts in sweet acknowledgment of his gracious protection, guidance, and blessings. And O that the rest of our lives, influenced by these things, may be what it ought, pure and holy.
I have a wish as expressed to you before from Veracruz to visit a few of the large cities in this quarter of the United States. I expect to accomplish this little tour during the ensuing months, and to be ready to embark for London on the 1st October.
Ever counting on your prayers, and ever praying for you, I remain Very Sincerely Yours,
James Thomson.