IX. CHAP. the natives became more free to converse with him, and two or three priests manifested a desire to understand the nature of Christianity. But he dealt faithfully with their consciences, restraining, rather than urging them forward, and charging them well to count the cost before they began to build. He saw too much of the evil resulting from an ignorant or hypocritical profession, and had no wish to add to the number of those in the island who had evidently taken up the Christian name from worldly motives. Govern ment grant of land mission buildings erected. In October 1820,1 he was joined by the Rev. Thomas Browning, who immediately assisted in the English services; and, in January 1821, Mr Lambrick commenced preaching to the natives, in Cingalese, "the glad tidings of salvation by Jesus Christ. This was perhaps," he remarked, "the first time that ever this joyful sound was heard in this city, in the native language," 3. In 1822, Mr Lambrick left Kandy, and took up his abode at Cotta, a few miles from Columbo, chiefly for the sake of the greater facilities at that station for the study of Cingalese. Mr Browning was left in charge of the Kandy station, and in June of the same year a grant of land was obtained from Government, for the erection of buildings requisite for a Christian institution. These, it was intended, should for the present comprehend a dwelling-house, school-rooms, and a printing office. A school-room was erected, in which divine service was performed on Sundays. Mr Browning preached in Cingalese in the afternoon, his congregation being formed of the scholars and servants, and a number of beggars, some of whom, he remarked, listened attentively. But for some time 'C. M. S. Report, 21st, pp. 182, 183. he was discouraged by the reluctance of the natives generally to attend the service. In 1820, he gave an account of the baptism of an African drummer, in one of the Ceylon regiments, by Mr Lambrick; and he was now able to employ this young man. His name was Jonathan Gambier, and his walk continued to be worthy of his Christian profession. Having induced some of his African comrades to go and hear the word of God, as they all spoke the Ceylon Portuguese, Mr Browning established a second service for them on the Lord's day, with the assistance of Jonathan, who acted as interpreter. This congregation was soon diminished by the removal of the regiment to which these Caffres belonged, when he lost Jonathan's services. He also endeavoured to instruct the Cingalese prisoners, but they gave him very little encouragement; and the partial success attending all his exertions for the conversion of the natives appears at times to have depressed his spirits. In January 1816, a spacious school-house, built on the mission premises, was opened, both for a school and a place of worship. Besides the Sunday services, Mr Browning had a Cingalese service on Wednesday evenings, and one in Portuguese on Thursday evenings. The attendance at public worship had previously been small, many of the scholars were kept away by their parents, few adult heathen could be prevailed on to attend, and, of the prisoners, though some listened to the word, others were indifferent and callous; but he continued to avail himself of this and other opportunities to make known the gospel. burial 4. He had another opportunity afforded him for Protestant preaching the word of God to many who would not ground otherwise hear it, by the grant of a piece of land, opened. by Government, for a burial-ground for the Protestant Christians, who were before compelled to bury their dead at the Romish chapel. The occa IX. CHAP. sion of a funeral frequently brought a great company together, and, under circumstances so solemn and interesting, Mr Browning addressed them on the concerns of their own souls. Missionary encouragements. 5. At the end of July 1826, the SCHOOLS had considerably increased. Besides the Kandy English and Cingalese school and the Kandy Malabar school, there were six in the country; the scholars were two hundred and forty-three. In all, the Scriptures were read; and, where the masters were professed Christians, prayers were daily offered at the opening and closing of the schools. Monthly examinations took place, when the number of lessons learnt during the month was put on record, and a mulct in case of failure enforced with very good effect both on the masters and the scholars. The Governor promised employment to such boys at Kandy as made competent acquisitions in English; this patronage of His Excellency was of great service to the school. Much as Mr Browning's faith and patience had been tried, yet at the commencement of 1827, the prospect of affairs was improved. Instances were brought to his knowledge of good being received by some of his hearers among the higher classes of natives; some of the sons of the Kandian chiefs, who attended the school to learn English, came of their own accord to purchase the Cingalese and English Testament, to read and compare them at home; while his English services, which, in consequence of the sickness and absence of the chaplain, often devolved wholly upon him, were attended with a divine blessing to some of the troops. On the whole, he began to feel more encouraged, and was urgent with the Society to send him a colleague, remarking-" Here is an extensive field; and, though it is not inviting, by any wish on the part of the people to be instructed in Christianity, yet I conceive that the Gospel might be preached to nearly all the interior, without much opposition, if a sufficient number of missionaries could be sent out for the purpose."1 schools 6. COTTA. We have mentioned Mr Lambrick's Grant of removal to this station, which was very favourably groundsituated for maintaining communication with Co- built. lumbo, both by water and land; and at the same time, was sufficiently distant from it, to avoid the evils connected with a large town. It was very cool; and as healthy as any part of the island. The character of the inhabitants Mr Lambrick thus described :—“I have found the people here nominal Christians; but they are grossly ignorant of the first truths of Christianity, and awfully indifferent about it. The village is extensive and populous; but a small proportion come to hear me; among these, however, I am pleased to see some women. I go out among them on weekdays, and talk to as many as I can find willing to listen. The cold assent which they give, equally to the most appalling denunciations and the most winning promises, is, I think, more discouraging than violent opposition would be. As an instance of their ignorance, I would mention, that, one day, on asking a man of what religion he was, he said, 'Budhu's'-'So then you are not a Christian?' 'O yes, to be sure, I am a Christian; and of the Reformed Protestants too.' Now what this man, with unusual simplicity, declared, is, I believe, a true description of the great mass of the people around us. They are Budhists in belief, but politically Christians." A little experience, however, having proved the 1 1 C. M. S. Reports 1824-1827; also, Selkirk's "Recollections of Ceylon," pp. 200-202. IX. CHAP. place to be most desirable for a permanent missionary establishment, a piece of ground of about five acres was purchased in perpetuity from Government, and assigned to the Church Missionary Society; some convenient buildings were soon erected thereon; and the place began to assume the appearance of an active missionary station. The people were willing to send their children, and there was little difficulty in establishing schools to the extent of the means at the missionary's disposal. In the year 1825, there were eight schools in and around Cotta, containing one hundred and eighty-seven scholars. In the following year one was closed, when the scholars were reduced to one hundred and sixty-one, with an average attendance of one hundred and eight. In addition to these there was an English school, containing sixteen boys. The report of these schools was satisfactory. At the close of 1826, nearly one-half of the native scholars were able to read in their own tongue the Gospel of Christ. Most of them could repeat the Ten Commandments, and some could repeat the whole, and a few the greater part of a small catechism on the chief truths of the Christian religion." 1 In reference to the exercise of the ministry, Mr Lambrick wrote in May 1824 :-"I have now three services on the Lord's day-one, at Mirihani, early in the morning; a second, at Cotta, in the forenoon; and a third, at Nawela, in the afternoon. go out among the people twice in the week, and find a little congregation assembled to hear the word of Life. Many more women have attended, within these few weeks, than ever did formerly." I 1 C. M. S. Report 1826, p. 111. C. M. S. Report, 27th, p. 144; Selkirk's Recollections. p. 314. |