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CEYLON BRANCH 



with little knowledge and love of our religion, which is no 

 wonder, when we consider their natural and innate love of their 

 own religion or rather idolatry. Although the means employ- 

 ed for their benefit are few, we must still declare that our 

 efforts have not been in vain; we have with pleasure observed 

 with how much purity in many places divine truths and the 

 articles of our faith are confessed by converts from heathenism ; 

 and although there is much ignorance among the generality, 

 yet it is delightful to notice their deep silence and serious at- 

 tention during the explanation of gospel truths, which manifests 

 their willingness to learn, and their reverence for God's word, 

 and which to us is an earnest of better days. We hope that 

 our admirable catechism, of Heidelberg, in the translation of 

 which Mr. Conyn is busily engaged, will, under divine blessing, 

 be most successfully introduced." As a proof of their attach- 

 ment to heathenism, the report mentions, the great number of 

 devil's trees, which I suppose are the sacred trees of Buddhu, 

 and recommends that they be eradicated by order of Govern- 

 ment. The clergy say they do not fail earnestly to exhort and 

 warn the people against such idolatrous practices. The clergy 

 of Galle, writing to them of Colombo, state their discourage- 

 ments, the people being hostile to Christianity and wedded to 

 heathenism. 



The Colombo consistory express their surprise at this 

 gloomy representation, as it did not agree with the satisfaction 

 expressed in the communication of the previous year on the 

 state of native congregations, the progress of schools, and the 

 good discipline and religious instruction of the masters. " Could 

 they have retrogaded so suddenly? (they inquire). We can- 

 not understand it; since you are so zealous in kindling every 

 where the true light and in advancing the good cause; for 

 which reason we would regret the more if the people were gone 



