&6 CEYLON BRANCH ROYAL ASIATIC SOCIETY. 



class did not arise from numerous adult baptisms, for against 

 one adult an hundred children were baptized at the visitation 

 of rural Churches, and the numerous instances of infant bap- 

 tism originated in the parents professing that they and their 

 forefathers were christians from the Portuguese time. The Synod 

 however decided on the absolute combination of the Sacra- 

 ments, but left it to the consciences of the Ceylon clergy to 

 deviate from the rule; 



It was common among Dutch families to adopt native and 

 also illegitimate children. About this time certain rules were 

 framed to apply to the act of adoption and particularly to the 

 baptism of such children. When a person expressed a wish to 

 adopt and to have baptism administered to a child, the con- 

 sistory were first to ascertain that the adopter was of good re- 

 port in the Church and likely to give the child a christian edu- 

 cation, upon which the individual was solemnly enjoined to the 

 faithful discharge of the obligation he took upon himself.' The 

 reason for circumspection was, that many native parents, from a 

 desire to have their children merely baptized, sometimes got 

 their wish gratified in this manner by European families, who 

 afterwards allowed the parent to keep the child, to the total 

 neglect of a religious education^ 



In 1736 the consistory complained of Government interference 

 in the election of elders and deacons. The practice hitherto h'ad 

 been for the meeting first to choose double the number actually 

 required, and when Government had expressed their approba- 

 tion of the names on the list, then to proceed to the selection 

 out of these, which become final. Government now required 

 them to make a selection at once of the number actually re- 

 quired and to submit it for final approbation. This was re- 

 garded as an infringement on their liberty, but does not appear 

 to have been redressed. The members generally chosen were 

 public servants, and therefore Government reserved to itself the 

 power to say whether such persons could be conveniently 

 spared to serve the Church * 



