dEYLON BRANCH — -ROYAL ASIATIC SOCIETY. 3*1 



We know also that it has been practiced by the English in 

 New England where various Churches exist, in which natives 

 have been admitted to the ministry, as appears in a letter from 

 Boston by the Rev. Crescent Mather to Mr. J. Leusden, Pro- 

 fessor in oriental languages at Utrecht. After speaking of the 

 pious zeal of Rev. J. Elliot, who after acquiring the native lan- 

 guages translated the whole Bible, and planted a Church con- 

 sisting of converted Indians, Mr. Macher states, the pastor in 

 charge thereof is by birth a native, named Daniel ; besides 

 which, he says, there are several others whose pastors are all 

 Americans. Of these Churches he enumerates 24. Even the 

 Churches in the Fatherland are not foreign to this plan, for 

 they judge that theological seminaries ought to be established, as 

 appears from the opinion given by the theological professors of 

 Leylen in 1622; but especially from article 17 of the Synod 

 of South-Holland held at Gouda in 1620 who approved of and 

 commended it as an edifying christian work for the salvation 

 of many blind heathens. Since then it has been adopted by the 

 English in America; and the Fatherland Churches have for 

 years spoken in a tone of high approbation that in these re- 

 gions also a seminary be established for native youths, to pre- 

 pare proponents and ministers for the extension of the true 

 reformed christian religion ; we neither suppose nor expect (no 

 other difficulties presenting themselves in this respect) that the 

 Fatherland Churches will now raise any objection or opposition,' 5 



In 1696 the consistory of Galle consulted them of Colombo 

 about the reception of slaves as communicants, and whether 

 previous information should be given to Government. The re- 

 ply was that although caution was necessary yet when it had 

 been ascertained that no objection existed as to the amount of 

 religious knowledge and as to moral conduct, they should be 

 admitted ; that it had been the constant practice to recognize 

 as Church members the slaves who came over from Batavia 



