Rev A Brandram
London 10th September 1846
My Dear Friend,
Having returned yesterday from a tour of full four weeks in the counties of Durham and Northumberland, including a visit to Birmingham, I now proceed to give you some little account of the various meetings that have been held, with the general state of our Bible cause in the places visited.
Our first meeting was in the city of Durham, and was encouraging, from our having in the chair the long tried, steady, and warm friend of our Society, the Bishop of Chester, who was residing in the college of that time. We also had with us four clergymen and would have had besides two more, namely Dr. Wellesley, brother of the Duke of Wellington, and Dr. Townsend, but for their absence from the city, and whose regrets in being absent from our meeting were expressed to us on their part by the Bishop. We had one Independent Minister with us, and one Wesleyan. So far I may say all is encouraging, but the attendance was poor, and unworthy of Durham. The Bishop counted the number present, there were in all 110. The Report was exceedingly well drawn up, and when you see it in print, you will probably find something worth extracting from it. The tribute in it to the late Rev. Thomas Gisborne, is worthy of notice. The issues of the year are more than treble those of the preceding year.
At Chester-le-Street was our next meeting. This is in infant Association, connected with the New Castle Auxiliary, and our meeting corresponded with its infant state. Nevertheless, about 1000 copies of God's Blessed Book have in all been put into circulation by it. How much a little fire can bless, and how desirable it is to have, at least, a little Bible nucleus in every locality small as well as great.
Next in order came Bishop Wearmouth, Sunderland, and Monk Wearmouth, and which rather to the surprise of your Deputation were found to be all one town, and which certainly ought to have only one name, Sunderland to wit, just as our Westminster and Southwark are London, as well as the city. Our first meeting was the Bishop Wearmouth one, though it was actually held within the boundaries of their subdivision called Sunderland. It was a 12 o'clock meeting, and a very poor one; but we charitably put the blame on the weather, which certainly was quite as bad as our meeting was. We had however the worthy Mayor in the chair, who is not one of those who sit in the scorner's chair, but is of those who meditate in the law of God. It is always pleasant to see the head of a large town at the head of the Bible Meeting, when his character corresponds with the occasion. – In the evening we had our Sunderland meeting, as they called it. It was also a poor concern, and we could not in this case put the blame on the weather which was clear and good. – We should have had a meeting on the following evening in Monk Wearmouth, on the North side of the river, my friend Mr. Caughey, a great revivalist from "the States" had special meeting that evening in the place, and so our friends gave place to him, though I humbly think the revival work would have been benefited had he given place to us instead, and brought all his people to our Bible Meeting that they might be more attached to the solid foundation of all true revivalism – the Holy Scriptures. – Our cause is low in Sunderland, but it should be high, as it contains (including the three parts) some 60,000 inhabitants. Can you do anything from Earl Street to revive things there? Think of it, and try.
Your Deputation now flew across the country, for one can fly now in these days with locomotive wings made to one's hand. He went westward to Newcastle, where he had an interview with the centre and circumference of all our Bible Societies in that quarter, Friend, George Richardson, a man of God, who several years ago, having by industry made what would just keep him gave up all business to devote himself to the word of God, and a very prominent portion of his work is the care of all of our Bible Societies whose concerns he feels in as Paul felt in those of the churches he planted. – Westward again your Deputation moved, to Haydon Bridge on the Rail Road way to Carlisle. There on Saturday evening a Bible Meeting was held. On the Sunday forenoon he preached a Bible sermon in the same place, and in the evening at Hexham, eight miles eastward, and the following evening was held, in Hexham, the Anniversary of the Tindale Ward Auxiliary. The assembly was small, but our George Richardson was with us, and made a nice address.
Westward again was the movement, and to the Moors, whither all were flocking, to Alston, reckoned the market town highest in elevation over all England. Soon after leaving Haydon Bridge on the way to it, we passed Langley Castle, the ancient family seat of the Tyndales, out of which came our Bible translator. Alston contains 6000 inhabitants, and should have a better Bible Society than it has. The Rev. Joseph Hudson, the curate, is our warm friend, and most willing to serve us. It would be well specially to encourage him. I returned the same night to Haydon Bridge, and had another view of the ruins of Langley Castle at the dead hour of 11.
North Shields succeeded in our course, where we had a good meeting and had in the chair William Chapman Esq. the President and a warm friend of the Bible Society. But we had to regret the entire absence of Ministers of every denomination. O how strange! The circulation of the Scriptures here has increased much during the year last closed.
Gateshead came next in order, where we had a great meeting, that is comparing it with the meeting of the preceding year, to which I was told there came out as many as 15 persons, whereas on this occasion, we had 60, or four times as many. We tried in public, and also in private, to rally and excite our friends here to more worthy exertions, and they seemed to awaken to their duty. Gateshead contains about 30,000 inhabitants, and should contain an efficient Auxiliary. Here also we were without a single Minister of any denomination. The Lord lay not this sin to their charge!
Houghton-le-Spring followed, where we had a fair meeting, considering that place, aided as we were by the two curates, of the parish, by one Presbyterian Minister from Sunderland, and three Baptist ministers. Full one half of the assembly were men, contrary to what is general. Females, in most cases, form more than three-fourths at our meetings, a circumstance very creditable to them, and very discreditable to us. At this meeting, two shillings and sixpence were sent as by a little girl which she had obtained by the sale of rain water: and Ten shillings were put into our plate on the part of someone whom we knew not, and who was prevented from personally attending. At Seaton Delaval, a large colliery, north of Newcastle, we held a meeting on a Saturday evening, the only the evening when the colliers were above ground. Here we formed a new Association, and I think, under favourable auspices. 100 printed notices were sent some time before our meeting to prepare for it. These were carefully put to use, by being carried in the first instance, by various friends of our cause to 100 houses, where they were left to lodge for the night. The same parties called for these on the following day, and took them to lodge in another 100 houses the following night, and the night succeeding they lodged in the third 100 houses; thus giving effectual notice to 300 families at least. This, I think, is the cleverest thing of the kind that I have ever seen. Some white people might perhaps profitably take this leaf out of the colliers' book. The various collieries in this quarter, with from 1000 to 2000 inhabitants each, are especially worthy the attention of our Bible friends.
South Shields had you now its turn. The population here is small compared with North Shields, the former being about 3000, and the latter 30,000. Nevertheless our meeting here was fully as good as that held in North Shields. It was held in the Seamen's Hall, an interesting place, and we had again Mr. Chapman in the chair, and were favoured with the aid of the curate.
At Howdon we held our next meeting, a town lying between Newcastle North Shields, close to Wallsend (alias the end of the great Roman Wall) where our famous and best coals come from. The number present was not great, but very nearly all were men, so that we may yet expect to see perhaps something more manly at our Bible Meetings than what is at present so general.
Blyth, a town of some stir to the north of North Shields, was where the succeeding meeting was held, and it was for the purpose of forming an Association. It was accordingly formed, and under favourable circumstances.
Newcastle, our most important place, came next in order for its due. At 12 we had a Meeting of the Cadies. To make up the deficiency in the number of collectors, and for other purposes, the Deputation directed their attention to Bible classes, Teachers and Taught, in the various congregations, as proper waters to fish in for the supplies they wanted.
At Seven in the Evening the Meeting of the Auxiliary took place in the Music Hall, which was well filled, and contained probably 500 persons at least. The Report was very interesting, and showed a very considerable increase of the issues over the preceding year, even three times as many. A goodly number of Associations have been formed during the year, by the activity of the Committee, led by George Richardson. The aspect of all at the meeting, as in the report, was cheering.
I now started for Berwick-upon-Tweed some 66 miles off, where we had a meeting, but not a good one. The Free Contributions however have considerably increased.
I had here just a peep at my native Scotland, and then withdrew, retiring inwards within our better Bible Society atmosphere of England. Alas! that Scotland should not be what it ought certainly to be, the best Bible bestower of all nations, and to all nations.
At Wooler, according to custom, a Bible Society Sermon was preached, or rather I should say two, and the collection was made. This was in the Relief church, whose Pastor is the Rev. James Muirhead. I urged the forming of a society here, which I think will by and by be attended to.
In Morpeth we have a small meeting on a Saturday. This was considered preparatory to further measures for the formation of a society in this place. I here learned, that our worthy Vice-President Lord Morpeth had bestowed many copies of the Scriptures on the poor in this town.
From Morpeth I returned to Newcastle, and before I leave this place and neighbourhood, I must bear my testimony grateful testimony to the kind hospitalities of Mr. Jonathan Priestman, and which are usually repeated to your Deputations. Mr. Priestman, besides hospitalities, paid cabs, trains, and stages into the bargain, one of which alone to Berwick cost a guinea. We are all much his debtors, and may blessings rest on his house.
I now returned into Durham, and to its southern division, having visited the northern one before. At Hartlepool we had a meeting, and afterwards held one in Stockton, and one at Middlesboro, in which last mentioned place we formed an Auxiliary. This town of Middlesboro has sprung up from nothing to 9000 inhabitants in 14 years, thus equalling the rapid growth of some of the new towns in the United States. Our cause was warmly taken up here, and we expect a good rivalry between this town in Stockton, where a little stirring up of this kind may be useful. Both in Hartlepool and Stockton the issues of the Scriptures have considerably increased during the past year. In Yarm we had a good meeting, equal to that at Stockton, though a much smaller place. Near this town an old and valuable friend of the Society was visited with the purpose of making him a new one also. This gentleman is Mr. Bates, and whose name in your Report you see standing as a donation £2650, and it might have been more than ten times the sum, but for certain circumstances. This effort to bring him back was not successful, perhaps a future one may. With Yarm closed the present course of meetings, amounting in all 224. The issues in 10 of these places visited have increased greatly, and in two of these they are trebled. In 5 places more there is a fair increase, and in one only is there a decrease. The others are stationary. This is very favourable in regard to the greater diffusion of the Scriptures at home. – In 8 places the Free Contributions are increased, in 2 decreased, and the rest as before.
By better previous arrangements the Public Meetings would probably be more numerously attended, and by more Ministers. It is very desirable to see large congregations at all Bible Meetings. There are benefits of more kinds than one connected with this duty. I attended the Birmingham anniversary on my way home, where we had an assemblage of perhaps 1500 persons, and in all respects it was a very interesting meeting.
I remain, My Dear Friend,
Very Truly Yours,
James Thomson.
