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CEYLON BRANCH 



instances of infant baptism originated in the parents profess- 

 ing that they and their forefathers were Christians from the 

 Portuguese time. The Synod however decided on the absolute 

 combination of the Sacraments, 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 

 report in the Church and likely to give the child a christian 

 education, 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, some- 

 times 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 inter- 

 ference in the election of elders and deacons. The practice 

 hitherto had been for the meeting first to choose double the 

 number actually required, and when Government had ex- 

 pressed their approbation 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 required and to submit it for final 

 approbation, This was regarded 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* 



