CEYLON BRANCH — ROYAL ASIATIC SOCIETY. 141 



of certain differences which arose in the other consistories 

 between the lay and clerical members ; when they stated to 

 their brethren that, however willing they were to render 

 every seasonable aid, and however anxious for the mainte- 

 nance of a fraternal feeling by means of regular epistolary 

 correspondence on the state of their respective churches and 

 congregations, and the progress of Christianity among the 

 natives, yet that they would by no means appear to exercise 

 any authority over their brethren. To this sentiment they 

 seem to have uniformly adhered, and to have undertaken the 

 task of investigation or arbitration only when directed to 

 do so by the Governor. It was the duty of the Colombo 

 consistory to write annual letters to the East India Com- 

 pany's Directors, to the Classis of Amsterdam, the Classis 

 of Walcheren, the Classis of Delft and Delftland and 

 Schielancl, and to the Classis of North-Holland, giving a 

 general report of the state of Christianity and education 

 in the Colony. The subjects of these annual letters were 

 ordinarily these: a statement of the number of ministers in 

 the colony, where located and how engaged, who had died 

 or become infirm, been pensioned, arrived or left during the 

 last year ; the proceedings of the proponents ; the condition 

 of the European congregations ; the state in which the na- 

 tive churches were found at the last annual visitation, as 

 also the schools, and the Seminary in particular ; which re- 

 port was usually accompanied with a return of the number 

 of church-members, both Dutch and native, in the three 

 districts, of native Christians throughout the island, and 

 of baptized children. Besides these ordinary topics, what- 

 ever deserving of notice had transpired during the year was 

 duly communicated. In order that accurate and authentic 

 information on churches and schools beyond their imme- 

 diate inspection might be obtained by the Colombo consis- 

 tory, for the purpose of being thus communicated to the 

 home authorities ; the Galle and Jaffna consistories were, 

 by an order of the Governor dated 1718, requested to send 

 to the Colombo consistory, once a year, a full report of 

 churches and schools within their district ; and whenever 

 these consistories failed any year to furnish their report, 

 the Colombo consistory did not scruple to remark in their 

 annual letters that they were unable to give information 

 respecting the Galle and Matura churches (as the case may 

 be) not having been favored that year with the usual com- 

 munication. By these letters the Colombo consistory kept 

 up a direct correspondence with the high authorities in 



