CHAP. VII. His baptism. Prejudice against women's derations deduced from the doctrines of Divine Providence. Encouraged by this fresh proof of his sincerity, Mr. Harvard again proposed to visit his temple, and, with the priest's hearty concurrence, he preached there, by an interpreter, in front of the great image, to a large congregation of priests and people, from 1 Cor. viii. 4. "We know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one." 35. He next visited the Government Schools, in company with Mr. Clough, in the Galle and Matura districts; and while on these journeys they preached to large and attentive audiences, and baptized and married considerable numbers. On their return to Columbo, the Ava Priest publicly renounced his former notions, and was baptized, in the Fort Church, into the faith of Christ, by the name of GEORGE NADORIS DE SILVA, Messrs. Bisset and Harvard being his sponsors. 36. In their visits to the Native Christians in the villages, the Missionaries were occasionally met or attendance accompanied by Sir A. Johnstone, Mr. Twistleton, at Church and even the Governor, with his lady and suite, overcome. who attended Divine Service, with the Cingalese Christians, in Churches of the humblest structure. This countenance of the highest official authorities in the island tended to obviate difficulties which they would otherwise have found it hard to remove. There was one prejudice, however, which they could not immediately overcome. The Christians had a strong objection to their women appearing in a Place of Worship, except at the administration of baptism and the celebration of marriage. This privation was so prejudicial to the domestic character, not only of the women themselves, but also of the entire Christian community, that the Missionaries resolved to persevere, until they should see the mothers and daughters of the Christians taking their proper place in Church. Encouraged by the success of Mr. Armour among a small colony of washermen, which he had taken under his instruction, in shaking this injurious prejudice, they employed every prudent effort which the sense of duty could suggest, and had at last the satisfaction of prevailing over the men's objections. Whether convinced by their arguments, or overcome by the women's importunity, it is of little moment to inquire; the Missionaries were gratified to see the women at length begin to appear at Church. When once begun, the numbers gradually increased, until their attendance at public worship ceased to be considered a strange sight. In of a Native 37. Their labours among the nominal Christians Baptism frequently led to intercourse with the Heathen, Youth. many of whom attended their public services; while others visited them at their dwellings, for the purpose of more private conversation. Among these were several of the Budhist priesthood. An aged Naiaka came, with great pomp, and attended by a train of followers, bringing with him a nephew, whom he desired should be made a Christian. answer to the question, why he did not himself embrace the religion in which he wished his nephew to be instructed, he replied, that he felt he was too old to encounter the difficulties of so important a change and upon the Missionaries leading him into argument, he attempted to defend his paganism, and departed as confirmed an Atheist as he came. The lad, however, remained with them, and was subsequently baptized. They employed him in the Mission printing-office, where he was taught to earn his maintenance; and his conduct was such as to give hope of his becoming a pious and useful man. 38. A short time before this visit a young Kandian Priest had attached himself to the Missionaries, Conver sion of a Kandian Priest. VII. CHAP. and, at his earnest request, was received as a servant into their family. He proved an engaging and affectionate youth; and when he was sufficiently instructed, and they were satisfied of his sincerity, he was baptized by the name of Joseph. He afterwards accompanied a Missionary to Matura, where, after a few months, he died, affording a pleasing hope that his end was peace. Conversion of another Priest. 39. The converted Ava Priest, George Nadoris, manifested a strong desire for the conversion of his idolatrous countrymen. It appeared that half the priests and temples in the island had been under his controul. He accompanied the Missionaries in their preaching excursions round the country, when he addressed large companies of people, from eight hundred to a thousand at a time, in the most lively and eloquent manner; and his character as a priest was so well known before his conversion, that wherever he went the people recognised him, and the effects produced by his public discourses were remarkable. The priests came from almost every part of the country, even from the interior, to contend with him. Great numbers of the superior order of priests avowed themselves convinced of the truth of Christianity; but they were not willing, like George Nadoris, to deny themselves, and to take up the Cross. To these there was one exception. Nadoris had a friend among them, who possessed considerable property, good natural abilities, and an extensive acquaintance with foreign languages. His disposition was meek, and his manners prepossessing. When introduced to the Missionaries by his friend and instructor, he professed to be dissatisfied with the pagan superstition; offered himself for baptism into the Christian faith; and begged to be instructed in the principles of Christianity. The knowledge which the Brethren had by this time acquired of the deceptive character of the Natives made them cautious in the admission of candidates. In the present instance their examination of the man's motives was more than usually severe; but they could detect no sinister design. His replies to their questions were given with the greatest apparent sincerity; and, after putting him off for a considerable time, they felt so satisfied with him, that they could no longer resist his importunity to be received into the Christian Church. He was baptized in the Government Church by the name of Benjamin Parks. "It was most gratifying," observed Sir Alexander Johnstone on the occasion, "to see the very men who have been devoted to a Heathen Priesthood surmounting every prejudice of education and profession, and convinced of the delusion of that idolatry which they had been taught to preach." What added to the value of this fact was, the assurance given, on the same authority, "that it was one of the many proofs which occurred of the effects produced among the Natives by the circulation of the Scriptures." 1 five Mis 40. In the month of June 1815, a Missionary, the Arrival of Rev. John M'Kenny, arrived from the Cape of Good sionaries. Hope, and was followed, early in 1816, by four more, Messrs. Callaway, Carver, Broadbent, and Jackson, who were stationed where they were most required. Preachers 41. They also admitted a young man, named Two local Lalmon, as an Assistant Missionary-the first received. preacher obtained for their assistance from among the inhabitants of the island. His acquaintance with several languages rendered him a valuable acquisition (') History of the British and Foreign Bible Society. Vol. iii. pp. 225, 226. СНАР. Conver- Station formed at as an interpreter, and he was received on trial, and appointed to the Matura Station with Mr. Callaway, to whom he proved a useful colleague. Not long after, a second young man, also born in the country, was raised up for them at Galle. His name was John Anthoniez; and the Missionaries were encouraged, by his apparent sincerity and his good abilities, to employ him as a local preacher. 42. The Galle Station was now of such importance, that it became desirable to procure premises for a Missionary residence; and a large house in the fort being vacant, and more eligible than any place to be procured in the suburbs, it was purchased, and a part of the building converted into a Place of Worship. The labours of the Missionaries among the Cingalese were attended with an encouraging measure of success. For a considerable time they regularly preached in the house adjoining the Budhist temple at Dadalla, the priests of which generally prepared it for Christian worship. They did not, indeed, realize all their anticipations; but there was a priest among those who seemed to be favourably impressed towards Christianity, who became a decided convert, and was baptized. 43. Mr. Harvard's health being too much imColpetty. paired to attend to his varied duties at Columbo, in the autumn of this year, at the earnest recommendation of Sir A. Johnstone, he removed to a cottage at Colpetty, in the immediate vicinage of that gentleman's country residence. When his health was sufficiently restored to attend to the Natives around him, he made himself acquainted with the religious dearth of this populous village. A military Schoolhouse was the only Place of Worship for the accommodation of the few Christians in the neighbourhood. Lady Johnstone, on her departure for England, was desirous of placing her School, mentioned |