&OYAL ASIATIC SOCIETY. 



65 



years ago to their forefathers, they did not wish their children 

 to learn in the Government schools tenets which were contrary 

 to their belief, and which it grieved them to hear rehearsed by 

 their children on their return from school. That to escape the 

 Government penalty or fine they got their children baptized 

 in the Reformed Church and let them attend school, but that 

 they were nevertheless in the practice of secretly baptizing 

 the same children into the Romish Church. That although 

 they had been taught in the schools to deny, yet that they still 

 believed and practiced what Romanists teach on the following 

 tenets, viz. The seven sacraments, transubstantiation, good 

 works, the Virgin Mary, the Crucifix and Images. That this 

 contradiction in their secret belief and outward confession 

 made them doubt the salvation of their souls, and therefore 

 prayed that they # might be allowed the free exercise of their 

 religion, declaring that, notwithstanding the Protestant in- 

 struction, they would not forsake their religion. The recom- 

 mendations of the clergy on this memorial were as follows. 

 1st. — That the Government regulations should be strictly 

 enforced, and the fines on non-attendance at school renewed. 

 2nd. — That Romish baptisms and marriages should not be 

 acknowledged nor sanctioned. 3rd. — That none but Protestant 

 headmen should be employed by Government in the districts. 

 The Politic Council on the receipt of these recommendations 

 came to the following decision. 1st. — That it was not the 

 province of the consistory to trouble themselves about penalties 

 or matters which belong to the Civil administration. 2nd — - 

 That the subject of Roman Catholic baptisms and marriages 

 was under the serious consideration of the Batavian Govern- 

 ment. 3rd.— That Government would regret being obliged 

 to admit no headmen into their employ but such as profess 

 Protestantism; as the scarcity of this class would subject them 



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