SO CEYLON BRANCH — ROYAL ASIATIC SOCIETY. 



7$, 69 1. The indifference of the Singhalese in this district arose 

 to open acts of opposition against education and religion, which 

 was complained of to the Governor, who promised to make in- 

 quiries. The Galle consistory consulted the Colombo consistory, 

 how they were to act in cases of baptism; for since idolatry 

 was becoming more prevalent, how could they recognize per- 

 sons who practiced idolatry. The opinion of the Colombo Consistory 

 was, that when it could be proved and ascertained that parents 

 were secretly attached to idolatry, they ought to be refused, that 

 otherwise it would be well to call the parents, examine and ques- 

 tion them on their motives for desiring baptism to their children, 

 and that if their answers manifested a decided attachment to the 

 christian religion, they could not be refused, otherwise the mi- 

 nister would be going beyond what he was able to ascertain. 



That this suggestion was adopted appears from their own state- 

 riient. " The Rev. J. W. Marinus, in his annual visitation of 

 the Galle and Matura Churches, demanded of those who came 

 to be married, and to have their children baptized, whether 

 they were more inclined to heathenism than to Christianity, and 

 then whether they were disposed with their own mouth to men- 

 tion the principal tenets of their idolatry or superstition, which 

 were specified to them, and to declare, as each tenet was suc- 

 cessively set before them, that they abominated it as an im- 

 pious work. These interrogations g<,ve occasion to the rejection 

 of several, which also might well have been done to those who 

 replied to the questions laughing and jesting; but the reverend 

 gentleman observed moderation being unwilling to take upon 

 himself the responsibility of the great revolution in practice 

 which would proceed from the strict introduction of this new 

 method, and judging it sufficient for the present to expel as art 

 example to the rest the hardened despisers of religion, who 

 refused to abandon their superstitions. But inasmuch as we ex- 

 perience from time to time the wretched state of native Churches*, 

 through their obstinate refusal to destroy the places of heathen 



