CHAP. XII.

Attendance of native females on Christian worship-Opening of the Malabar church—Missionary estate at Colombo-Printing of the Singhalese Scriptures-Arrival of Wesleyan and Church Missionaries Village labours-Milagria and Galkeece-Favourable circumstances-The late Bishop of Calcutta-Pagan enquirers-¤ aged Naiaka-Kandyan headman-Adikar-Kandyan priest baptized-Affecting case of a converted priest-Preaching in the garrison-Arrival of Baptist and American Missionaries-Mr. Warren-Missionary union-Conference-Singular visitor-Shrewd remark of an idiot—Assistant Missionary-Madras Mission-Missionary estate at Galle-Preaching to Budhuist priests-Baptism of one-Matura station-Missionary estate at Colpetty-Native school -Opening of Colombo Mission-House-Services-Mr. Clough's translation of the Liturgy-Contributions-Death of Mr. TolfreyType Foundry-Unsuccessful attempt to commence a Kandyan Mission Providential interposition.

THE beneficial influence of the Gospel on the domestic concerns of human life, is generally admitted. We longed to witness its salutary operations among the native females who professed Christianity in Ceylon; to whose knowledge of its doctrines and experience of its blessings a barrier existed, in the prejudice which prevailed against their attendance at places of Christian worship, except at the administration of baptism, and the celebration of marriage. Mr. Armour had succeeded among a small colony of washermen, which he had taken under his instruction, in shaking this prejudice; and Mr. Clough and myself were induced to employ every prudent effort to effect an entire abolition

of this injurious prejudice. For this purpose we conversed with our male hearers; urged them to bring their wives and daughters to the house of God; strengthening our appeals by scriptural precepts and examples; to which, as bearing the Christian name, they were supposed to submit in every thing pertaining to Christian worship. Mrs. Harvard generally accompanied me to the country places, that her presence at public worship might also operate as an encourgement to the native females to adopt a similar conduct. The presence of an European female on these occasions produced a considerable sensation, especially among the native women; who, stimulated by curiosity, were at first seen, during the service, cautiously approaching, and secreting themselves among the trees, that they might, unperceived, gain a look at the novel visitor. Whether convinced by our arguments, or overcome by the importunities of their wives, it is of no moment to ascertain; but at subsequent visits we had the pleasure to find several present at the preaching; who appeared much gratified by the notice taken of them by the female missionary. The numbers gradually increased; and the attendance of the women at public worship ceased to be considered a strange thing.

The change thus effected in the views and conduct of the natives in this important particular, was fully appreciated in its probable effects on the general interests of religion throughout the island; and the Rev.. Doctor Twisleton in his sermon, preached at the opening of the Malabar church in July, 1815, adverted to the circumstance, with a warmth of pleasurable feeling, which evinced the interest he took in the improvement of the native character; while the liberality of his heart led him to refer, in terms of strong commendation, to those by whose instrumentality the change had been effected.

The workmen employed in the erection of our new place of worship, and other buildings, being paid by the day, were sufficiently alive to their own interest; and evidenced, by their tardy operations, a disposition to prolong the work as much as possible. We therefore removed into the dwelling-house, though unfurnished, that our presence might excite them to greater diligence. The house is situated on the east side of the chapel; on the west are rooms for the day-school, the bookbinders' office, &c.; and on the north are two ranges of commodious buildings, fitted up for the Mission printing-office. We now availed ourselves of an offer made us some time previously by His Excellency the Governor, to employ any of the materials of the Government printing-office not required for the public use; and obtained a press which was lying in an unserviceable state; which, when repaired, we found of considerable use.

The Colombo Bible Society, having received Singhalese types, and two presses, was engaged in the laudable work of supplying the Ceylonese with a new version of the Scriptures in their own language. The mental derangement of the head-printer had subjected the work to considerable delay; while the Society's funds were burdened with a regular expenditure for wages and other charges. An application was made to us by the Committee to complete the work; and the terms on which we expressed our willingness to undertake it meeting with their unanimous approval, the materials were removed to the Wesleyan Mission Printing-office, which we felt to be greatly honoured by so early becoming an instrument to promote the glorious objects of the British and Foreign Bible Society. The Annual Reports of the Colombo Society contain the most gratifying allusions to the improved style of execution, and to the reduction in the expense.

Our engagements thus daily increasing, we looked with considerable anxiety towards England, for an addition to our numbers. From some accident, we had not received any official letters from our Society at home, since our departure at the close of 1813; and the consequent absence of all information concerning what measures the Conference had adopted respecting Ceylon, and what (if any) aid we might expect, frequently produced a depression of spirits. But information of the arrival of the Rev. John M'Kenny at Batticaloe, which reached us about June, 1815, afforded us heartfelt satisfaction. He had been directed by the previous Conference to leave his station at the Cape of Good Hope for Ceylon; and was the bearer of letters, containing the cheering intelligence, that four more Missionaries, appointed by the same Conference to Ceylon, might be shortly expected. The Rev. Messrs. Shroeter, Greenwood and Norton, three Missionaries of the Church Missionary Society, arrived at Ceylon, the appointed scene of their future labours, about the same time. The two last were the first English clergymen who had embarked as Missionaries to the Eastern world. They were all truly pious men, and well qualified for their work. Their destination was subsequently changed for Continental India; and Messrs. Shroeter and Greenwood soon left the island; but Mr. Norton and his family remained with us nearly three months; during this time our pulpit was at his service; and he frequently preached for us, I hope not without benefit to his hearers.*

Notwithstanding the acccumulation of labour by which almost every succeeding week was distinguished,

• Mr. Norton's station was fixed among the Syrian Christians in the South of India, where some encouraging openings presented themselves; his excellent wife died at Allepie. Mr. Shroeter died in the North of India. Mr. Greenwood is, I hope, still living in the neighhood of Calcutta.

Mr. Clough and myself continued our attentions to the native Singhalese, both in town and country; and were much encouraged by the cleanly appearance and orderly deportment of the people in several of the villages which we regularly visited, as well as by the attentive crowds of males and females which assembled to listen to our instructions. The village of Milagria furnished a pleasing instance of the change effected on the external appearance and manners by the introduction of the gospel, and an attendance on its ordiThough situated near to Colombo, in the vicinity of the cinnamon gardens, it had been for many years without any place of worship. The ruins of the old church were hidden by jungle; and as the cinnamon shrub had taken root in the church-yard, it fell under the jurisdiction of the cinnamon department.

nances.

It was with the immediate sanction of the Chief Justice that we first visited this village, and were attended by the principal interpreter of his court. With the consent of a native land-owner, a school-house, built with timber, and roofed with the leaves of the cocoa-nut tree, was erected. The expense of this building we defrayed ourselves; intending, if the effects of our visits were satisfactory, to apply to the Government to erect a church of more durable materials. For many

months divine service was performed in this schoolhouse by ourselves and the government preachers, in rotation; and the consequence was, a reverence for the holy Sabbath, and an evident reformation of manners in of the most vicious inhabitants. Of some it was many hoped, that they were not merely reformed in morals, but renewed in heart. A weekly meeting for improvement in sacred vocal harmony was instituted by the Mohandiram, among a few of the more serious; and a subscription towards the expense of erecting a new church was entered into by the inhabitants. We laid before the