St. Andrews, 9th July 1845

Rev A Brandram

St Andrews 9th July 1845

My Dear Friend,

I now address you a second time from the country of  Scotland as distinct from its capital, and I am happy to say that things continue to wear the same favourable aspect as is noticed in my former communication. After writing you in Stirling, and informing you of what occurred in my movements from Edinburgh to that place, I went onwards to Perth, and then called upon the Ministers of all names, and found not a few friendly to us, and none precisely opposed. Some were not satisfied as to all past and present things in and out of Earl Street, but they were disposed to hear reasoning concerning you, and all acknowledging that you had done, and were doing, much good. These wish to lie on their oars a little, and desired not to be pressed into a decision, intimating that on some future occasion they would be more prepared to form a clear opinion. None signified any purpose of opposition, and all, I believe, acquiesced with us as far as to read out in their Churches our notices of public meetings, a favour we had been refused elsewhere. I include here then the Free Church Ministers who have hitherto been least favourable to us. The Ministers of the Established Church were all friendly, and I could have had one of their churches for a public meeting if I had wished. The Dissenters too were all our friends. including the Baptist Minister.

In the largest Church in Perth I addressed a full assembly, of persons of all denominations, and there was a collection made for us. I of course showed, among other things, that you yourselves walk orderly and keep the law, I mean the law against the Apocrypha. I find the need of doing this in every place, both privately and publicly, for there are many olden impressions yet remaining against you, and in the minds of many sensible persons who are not unfriendly to us, as well as with others less favourable.

In addition to the large public meeting referred to, which was on a Sunday, we held another on a week day, and there formed a Society for the town of Perth and the County, on which occasion the Baptist Minister was an efficient actor. – With these occurrences and operations I left Perth, gratified and thankful, and with kindly invitations received to return again.

Dunkeld was the next place visited. They have a little Bible Society there, half connected with us and half not. We had a public meeting, at which their occurred the phenomenon of an Established Church Minister and a Free Church Minister being present together, I thing not seen there before since the Disruption. A good deal of disfavour existed in that place against you, and which I endeavoured to lessen. I think some good feeling as well as good understanding was produced, and I am invited to call there again on my way from the North, when, they say, they will make a collection for us, which they could not venture to propose at first, on account of evil impressions prevailing concerning you. I hope accordingly to visit them, after seeing John O'Groats, and shall thankfully receive what they contribute, considering the sum large or small as a testament of goodwill. In the meantime however I got five shillings from the children of a Lady's school in the place.

Blairgowrie was the next new ground. There I could not properly arrange for a public meeting, owing to several hinderances. I called however on the Established and Free Church Ministers of Blairgowrie, and the neighboring parish of Rattray. I found here, as I had found previously, in most places, and with most persons, that misunderstandings and evil thoughts prevailed respecting your past and present conduct. Better views I think succeeded, and of which we may afterwards see the fruits. The Established Church Minister of Rattray is to preach, and make a collection for you by and bye.

Dundee came next in order, and required more time to be given to it than preceding towns, on account of its size, and being a centre respecting other places. During this stay, I was very courteously entertained by Edward Baxter Esq. a warm friend of the Society, and son-in-law to our valued coadjutor Dr. Paterson. The Doctor himself was there, and ready, as usual, to assist us in every way. Here, as elsewhere, I visited all the Ministers, and among them all there was no opponent, several were warmly for us, and some required more time to think of the matter. On a Sunday evening we held a meeting, to explain and enforce the duty of sending the Bible over the world, and to make a collection for the same. Afterwards, and on a week day, we had another meeting, at which the Bible society was formed under encouraging circumstances. The Auxiliary there died in 1826, though it still stands on your list, I know not why. Since that time a branch of the Edinburgh Bible Society has existed, but latterly it has been little more than nominal. One of its Committee members joined us on the platform, and heartily aided us in the formation of our new society, and further, he is a Baptist. I hope well of this new Dundee Bible Society.

The County of Fife lies across the Firth of Tay, southward of Dundee. I went to Cupar, the capital, and made preparations for a public meeting. Next I went to St. Andrews, and did the same. This done, I returned to Dundee, to attend the meeting last mentioned. On coming back to Cupar we held a meeting for explanations and illustrations of our object. Mists were here as elsewhere to be dispelled, and a new Bible interest created or excited into life and action. The Free Church Minister demurs, on account of your connection with the Apocrypha Bible Societies of the Continent, but says he will join you when you purge yourselves of this connection. So also said the Free Church Minister of a neighbouring parish who was present. You thus see how you yourselves may increase the number of your friends here; and I may add, that there are many who think and would act like these two. Query, – Is it not worth while to reconsider this matter? What would you think of having our pure Bibles disposed of  by pure hands? Some expense in this way would be well borne, and would prove gain in another way.

All the other Ministers in Cupar Established and Dissenting are with us. At a breakfast party of these it was particularly expressed to me, as the opinion of those present, that you should not have retired from Scotland as you did, but should have constantly visited your friends, to keep up those you had and to gain more, by a manifestation of truth, and a continued exhibition of your great object, and your great operations in it. Others elsewhere have expressed themselves after a similar manner. I have been too much of a foreigner during the period in question to be able to judge accurately concerning this opinion; but on the whole I suspect, from all I have thus far seen in Scotland, that these our friends are right in their views, and hence that you were wrong in your actions, or rather by want of action as to Scotland.

Our Auxiliary in Cupar ceased as such in 1826, but there never was a junction to the Edinburgh Bible Society. They acted independently, and distributed their funds to various Bible objects, and latterly £10 or £20 were remitted to you for China, as there was a pretty fair certainty, they thought, that you had not yet sent the Apocrypha there.

In St. Andrews the Established Church Ministers were all friendly. The Rev. Dr. Haldane, Principal of St. Mary's College, when I called on him, stated that he had long regretted the separation from your Society, and had often wished to see something done for you. I showed him your purity as to the Apocrypha case, and afterwards heard him announce from the pulpit, that from conversations with me he was "completely satisfied" on this score; and in succession he urged his people to take an interest in our cause, and he appointed a day of meeting for that purpose. I attended this meeting held in one of the churches, and made statements concerning our objects. A committee was appointed at this meeting to make arrangements in order to afford you some continued aid. I saw several other individuals there connected with the Established Church, and found them all well disposed, and think some thing good will arise from these beginnings. To combine the Established Church and the Free Church and one Association, I found to be impossible, and was therefore glad to take them separately, and secure their cooperation as far as I could. Thus far then we got on with the Established Church, as above described.

The Free Church had no scruple in combining with the Dissenting bodies, but the difficulty hitherto experienced was to get hold of the Free Church body itself. The Dissenters generally we could always count on. In St. Andrews we have gained some ground in this matter, for I got into the Free Church to make my statements once and a second time, and in the same place we laid the foundation of a new Bible Society for this city. The two Dissenting Ministers were present, and fully cooperated. The Church I here had the honour of getting into, is that of the Rev. Dr. Hetherington, the deserving historian of the Church of Scotland, whose work has gained much credit.

On the whole then we have succeeded in St. Andrews fully as well as we could have anticipated, or rather somewhat better. If we could not unite the two parties together, we have united them both to ourselves, and that I trust will lead to further union in due time. – I tried the Episcopal Minister, and I tried the Baptist Minister, but I found each of them immersed in his own medium, and neither baptized with the general and genuine Bible Society spirit.

Two new societies have been formed since my last, or four, if we include the two embryos of this place. In my last I reported £10:14:6 as received in collections. I now report £17:13:8 received since, and in the same way.

The last thing I have to notice, that the Northern Warder, a newspaper published in Dundee, and connected with the Free Church party, has taken particular and favourable notice of our meetings and object. This paper is very extensively circulated in several counties in this quarter, and is the most popular paper. This is a very acceptable help, and in the quarter where we most needed it.

            I remain, My Dear Friend, Yours Very Truly,

                                                James Thomson.

Aberdeen, 4th August 1845 - 1

Rev A. Brandram

Aberdeen 4th August 1845

My Dear Friend,

I continue to you my narrative of occurring circumstances in this Scottish Bible tour. My last letter was dated St. Andrews July 9th and brought on matters as far as that place. On the same day on which the letter referred to was dated and sent off, I left St. Andrews, and returned to Dundee. There I saw the Editor of the Northern Warder, the newspaper noticed as having favourably and repeatedly spoken of our meetings. I learned from him that the Second Warning had been sent him for insertion. This was an extension of the Second Warning beyond the first, for it was not here advertised, and the putting of the Second in this paper was no doubt occasioned by our movements. This was throwing a shell with a particular aim.

From Dundee I went to Arbroath, and saw there the solid and extensive remnants of the once vast monastery which contained about 430 monks. I visited the different Ministers here, and went on to Montrose. Here a meeting was held, and the collection made in one of the United Secession Churches. The Minister of the other church connected with this body was, for a wonder, unfavourable to us. On the same side, and very distinctly, stood the two Ministers of the Free Church, one of whom is a half brother of the late Dr. Andrew Thomson. I called upon them both, and afterwards breakfasted with one of them. They each took a strong view on the points objected to by the Edinburgh Bible Society. Our interviews were long, and from disputed things we passed to things in which we agreed, and I shall long remember the pleasantness of our conversations in the Gospel of Christ, and in the things of the Kingdom of God. This same Mr. Thomson said we were quite right in advocating our cause in Scotland.

I called also on the two Ministers of the Established Church and found them both very friendly. They had, they said, for some time back been considering whether anything could be done by them in aid of your Society, and signified their readiness to have a sermon preached for you, and a collection made. The Wesleyans, Independents, and Baptists were also favourably disposed towards us.

In Montrose is one who left you a Legacy, which you have already received though the Testator yet liveth. I refer to Mr. Dorward, who became his own Executor, and paid you (as you would have been paid at his death) his legacy of £2000. I thought it an official duty to call upon this gentleman. He is aged and infirm, and still continues warmly attached to our cause.

I now returned to Arbroath to meet the engagements I had entered into in that place. On the former and present occasion I saw all the three Ministers of the Free Church, and found them all unfavourable, yet mild towards us though indisposed. They have more confidence they say in the Edinburgh Bible Society, and hold with that body in some at least of their objections. I thought I made some impression upon one of them, in reference to the aid we give to their missions in the East, pleading, as I said, that as a matter of justice, we should meet with some encouragement from them, and not the reverse. Another of the three said he entertained no feelings of opposition to our Society, and the third said he knew that our Society only was supplying the world.

In Arbroath I saw the Montrose newspaper, which while it noticed our Sunday meeting, took occasion to chant the Edinburgh chorus. However I learned at the same time that an article in our favour had come for insertion in the Arbroath newspaper, and to this I appended a column of information concerning our Society in its plans and operations.

The two Ministers of the Established Church in Arbroath I found well inclined toward us, and so were the Secession, Methodist, and Relief Ministers, the latter of whom, the Rev. William Allan, was particularly serviceable to me both in counsel and general help, and he is a member of the Edinburgh Bible Society here. In his church we held a meeting of Ministers, and some of their leading people, and all were represented except the Free Church. Our object was to form the nucleus of the Society in a committee consisting of Ministers of each denomination with one or two of their elders or deacons. This was a very pleasing meeting, and resulted in the formation of the intended committee, whose object is to pass into a Society as soon as circumstances will permit.

This finished my business in Arbroath. I then paid a short visit to Forfar, the capital of the County, where I met with friends to our object, and particularly in the Parish Minister, and something was done in furtherance of future operations. The short visit I also paid to Brechin. The two Ministers of the Established Church were very favourable to us, and one or perhaps two of the Free Church Ministers were rather favourably inclined also. I called on the Bishop, but he told me he subscribed to the Propagation and Christian Knowledge Societies, and that that was all he could do.

I again returned to Montrose, and visiting those friendly mentioned what had been done in Arbroath, and begged they would form themselves into a committee after a similar manner, to which they said they would give their attention.

Aberdeen came next in order, and this Capital of the North, and the third town in Scotland required some days for due operations. I had feared for things here, having learned that the Edinburgh spirit prevailed strong. I found things better however than report had led me to expect. The first favourable circumstance in regard to Aberdeen is, that we have more Free Church Ministers on our side than anywhere else as far as I have yet been. Two of the Secretaries of our Auxiliary there are Free Church Ministers, and some half dozen altogether we can count as our warm supporters. The strongest party on the Edinburgh side are also Free Church Ministers. In my rounds I visited these as well as others, and was very agreeably disappointed in finding them much less opposed than I imagined. The Established Church Ministers are with us, and so are the Dissenters, and not least the Baptist Minister. We held three meetings. The first was in one of the Free Churches, the second in one of the Established Churches, and the third in an Independent Chapel. The first was on a Sunday, the second was to form an Established Church Association in conjunction with our Society, and the third was a general meeting of the Auxiliary. At this general meeting we had three Free Church Ministers present, and what was both curious and gratifying was that one of them was a strong Edinburgh Bible Society man, but of a different spirit from his friends in Edinburgh, judging from what I saw of him at the meeting, and privately before in his own house. This gentleman is the Editor of a Free Church newspaper here, and in his paper issued on the morning of the day on which we met, he gave notice of our meeting and recommended the people to attend. He told us when he came to the meeting that he was acting inconsistently in coming, as well as in having told others to come. But we said that he was acting very consistently and helping forward the Bible cause in any way. – We have observed some of the newspapers take friendly notice of the meetings we hold, and in the one most extensively circulated there will appear a long article about our Society next week. What the Banner of the Free Church will say that next issue, I know not, but should like to see, and may perhaps see.

This finished Aberdeen. That is a branch of this Society In Inverury, and I thought it a duty to pay our friends there a visit, not to get money, but to give encouragement. We had a meeting in the Independent Chapel which was fairly attended considering that there was another meeting at the time. The people were pleased at the visit paid them, and were glad to hear of the Society's movement in the various parts of the world. We can hardly say that we have either the Free or Unfree Church with us here, though they keep from us on quite different grounds. The Free Church Minister in an adjoining parish is warmly for us, and attends the meetings of this Association.

Today I returned from Inverury to this city, and tomorrow morning early I go to Peterhead. – In returning here, and just before leaving the place, I would mention two things more or less connected with it. The first is, that in visiting the Rev. Sir William Dunbar,  I found, contrary to my expectations, that he was not quite favourable to us, though far from being against us. His main objection seems to be our want of Prayer, and this coming from a Church of England clergyman was the more remarkable. In Scotland generally our difficulty is not understood, and Socinians are always supposed to be the cause of this want. Sir William however could well understand the matter, but he said he would have prayer, leave the Society who would.

The next thing is in regard to Dr. Wilson, the missionary from Bombay. You already know from what I wrote from Edinburgh that he is very favourable to us, and this you know also from himself by interviews and otherwise. I have mentioned on several occasions to Free Church Ministers Dr. Wilson's confidence in us, and his willingness to aid us. On some of these occasions it was suggested to me, that some statement from him in writing would be useful, as he has great weight in the Free Church. I wrote Dr. Wilson regarding this, and have had a note from him, expressing, that the Society is "entitled to the confidence of the friends of evangelical religion in Britain, and to the kindly and not unfriendly remonstrance of those who may have to suggest improvements in any department of its operations." This document I have found serviceable here, and doubt not but I shall find it so in various places as I move onward.

            I remain, My Dear Friend, Yours Very Truly,

                                                                        James Thomson.

P.S. Since finishing this letter, I have learned, that the Second Warning was published in the Banner, and I have seen it. This was throwing a shell before us; but it seems to have had little effect.

Glasgow, 11th October 1845

Rev A Brandram

Glasgow 11th October 1845

My Dear Friend,

Being now about to leave this city and neighborhood, I sit down to give you some account of my movements and operations since my last dated in Inverness the 26th of September.

From Inverness Westward through the Lakes, and Southward to Glasgow, I travelled in company with several of the Free Church Ministers who had been attending the General Assembly in Inverness, and were then returning homeward. Our Bible Society was of course at times the theme of our conversations. Most of the persons referred to were on the Edinburgh Bible Society side, but they were with one exception better minded towards our Institution than is indicated in the Edinburgh documents, and I include in this one of the Committee of the Edinburgh Bible Society who was with us. The said documents were disapproved of. And I may here state that this is a feeling I have generally met with all over the country among those not joining with us, but rather with the Edinburgh Bible Society. They are not adverse to us. They wish your improvement in some things, but rejoice in your operations.

In Glasgow I have paid many visits, and two Public Meetings have been held, besides several Committee meetings. Favourable notice of these public meetings was taken by most, if not all, of our newspapers here, including the Free Church organ, and not a syllable has appeared against us in any quarter.

One of the acquaintances I made on the way from Inverness to this city was that of Dr. Smyth, one of the two Secretaries of the Glasgow Bible Society, a Society considered always to side with the Bible Society of Edinburgh. This gentleman I have since seen on different occasions, and been kindly treated by him at his table. Dr. Smyth is a Minister of the Free Church. He coincided in the Edinburgh Bible Society statements, and in their separation from you, and still he sees things much in the light of former times: but with all this he has a kindly feeling toward us, and rejoices in our prosperity, though very anxiously desirous of our amendment in some things. Previous to our Public Meetings I ascertained from Dr. Smyth that no part would be taken by him and his friends in opposition to us. Had I found a different disposition we would not have held any Public Meeting, being desirous of avoiding such exhibitions us took place after our Public Meeting in Edinburgh. Dr. Willis the other Secretary is also a Minister of the Free Church, and whom I may describe in Dr. Smyth's own words: He is more liberal, said he, in regard to your Society than I am. This gentleman has also shown me his hospitalities, and has distinctly expressed goodwill towards you.

In conversations first, and afterwards formally by letter, half private half official, I have set before these gentlemen and their Society the claims we have on all Bible Institutions for help, inasmuch as we are the only Bible Society that is in any measure providing the Scriptures for the heathen and Mohammedan world, in all their millions, besides destitute Christendom also. Your objections to us, I said, applies only to a few versions in our European operations. May you not, inconsistency with holding these objections, still help us in our vast work in Asia, etc., where these objections have no place? And were you then kindly to aid us, your suggestions for our improvement would most likely tell better upon us. In this manner I have represented things, and Dr. Smyth says that as soon as a pretty full meeting can be convened, after parties absent returned to the city, he will read my letter in Committee; and I shall have a friendly, he says, if not unfavourable answer.

As regards the Established Church, in addition to various private visits, we have had two conference meetings, at which a number of Ministers were present. The latter one was at the close of the Presbytery meeting with all the members present. From what occurred in our communications it was agreed that a Committee should be formed consisting of all those then assembled, in order to take the Bible Society subject into consideration. No pledge was given as to the course they would pursue, but the expressions uttered by various individuals were decidedly in favour of having a Society formed in connection with you. Of this Committee, Dr. Hill, Professor of Divinity in this University, and the present Moderator of the General Assembly, is convener.

In respect to the Dissenters here, as in other parts of over Scotland, they are our friends, and have all along been so. But I may say of them, that they are rather sleeping than active partners in our concern, owing to the long inactivity in Scotland in our favour. One of my objects here has been to a wake these sleeping partners, and make them open their eyes wide to see the nature of our great work, and our need of their active cooperation. Perhaps something has been done in this way, and it will now lying with you to keep shaking these are friends less they falll again into slumber.

The other day the Relief Presbytery in this city passed the following resolution: – "The attention of the Presbytery having been called to the operations of the British and Foreign Bible Society, the court agreed to record their high approbation of the Institution, and to recommend that, on the second Sabbath of November next, (or, in cases where that day is found unsuitable, on some Sabbath as near there to as convenient,) the Minister in the bounds should call the attention of their several congregations to the operations and claims of the British and Foreign Bible Society, and that they should in other ways according to their influence and opportunity, endeavour to promote the interests of said Society, and the great cause to which it is engaged."

The Presbytery of the United Secession Church usually assembling in this city will, I believe, pass a similar resolution at their next meeting. The Independents are equally friendly towards us, and most probably will correspondingly serve us, by the several Ministers addressing their congregations on the subject. The Baptists though friendly to us seem to think that their own translation Society has the greatest claim on them for help.

From this place as a centre, I have visited, and on different occasions, Paisley, Greenock, Irvine, Ayr, and Kilmarnock. Public Meetings have been held at all of them, except Ayr, which I have yet to visit in my way Southward, and collections have been made to aid in our work. Our meeting that Greenock was held in the church of one of the Vice Presidents of the Greenock Branch of the Edinburgh Bible Society, and the same gentleman was present with us, as was likewise a member of the Edinburgh Bible Society Committee there on a visit. Steps have been taken in some of the places above named for forming Bible Societies in connection with us.

I have spoken with some Merchants here as to our China work, and have procured a letter to a gentleman in Singapore, to be sent to that place along with copies of the Scriptures in the Chinese language, in the full expectation that he will take an interest in their proper distribution. Towards your China Fund, Mr. John Henderson of the city has given me one hundred pounds, and also another hundred for your general objects. Some other donations have got besides this handsome one, partly for China, and partly for our whole work.

I know purpose going Southward through Ayr to Stranraer, and then along the South of Scotland to Dumfries and Annan, where I will take my departure for England, and expect to be in London on the first of November.

I am, My Dear Friend,

Very Truly Yours,

James Thomson.

P.S. I should have mentioned what I now do that the Rev. I S Taylor, one of the Secretaries of our Auxiliary here, has very kindly entertained your Agent during all his stay in Glasgow, and has also in every other ways contributed to forward our objects.