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.