I E P 0 I T
OF THE
DEPUTATION TO THE INDIA MISSIONS,
MADE TO THE
AMERICAN     BOARD   OF   COMMISSIONERS
FOR
FOREIGN   MISSIONS,
AT A
SPECIAL MEETING, HELD IN ALBANY, N. Y.,
MARCH 4, 1856.
PRINTED FOR THE USE OF THE BOARD.
BOSTON:
PRESS OF T. R. MARVIN, 42 CONGRESS STREET.
1856.








REPORT OF THE DEPUTATION TO THE BOARD.
FATHERS AND BRETHREN:
On the 26th of January of the present year, we addressed
the following note to the Prudential Committee.
"Dear Brethren,-In the ordinary course of business, the
Report of the Deputation concerning their visit to India should
pass through you to the Board. In view of the circumstances
of the case, we are desirous, if agreeable to you, of reporting
directly to the Board at its Special Meeting.  Our Fathers
and Brethren in that meeting will be no less desirous than
yourselves of doing what shall most advance the cause of our
blessed Lord.
Respectfully and very truly yours,
R. ANDERSON,     Deputation.
A. C. THOMPSON, Dputation
After the reading of this communication, the Prudential
Committee resolved, - " That the course proposed by the
Deputation, in regard to their Report, is approved by the
Committee."
We have rejoiced in the prospect of this meeting since we
first heard of it, believing that there would be subjects embraced in our Report, which deserve all the prayerful consideration which the Board will be able to give them. We shall
have much pleasure in spreading the facts before the assembled
members; and may the Holy Spirit vouchsafe his gracious
presence in this meeting, as he has manifestly done in the
meetings of the missions in India and Western Asia!
We would thankfully acknowledge the good hand of our
God upon us, through all our long tour of not less than thirty
thousand miles, of which between four and five thousand were
on the land. Over how many oceans have we sailed; in what
various climes; among what different peoples and languages;




4
amid what diverse customs and manners; through what
religious shades, from the brightest effulgence of the gospel to
the deepest gloom of paganism; and through labors unprecedented in our experience, with mind, heart and every power
taxed to the utmost! Yet we have not experienced so much
as one untoward event, and we stand before you, this day,
with unimpaired health.  This remarkable preservation of
health, considering that one of us was on the verge of threescore years, we attribute under God's blessing, to the fact that
our personal intercourse with our brethren in the missions was
eminently a source of enjoyment to us; confiding, free, without controversies, with few wearing anxieties, in short a
succession of most remarkable Christian fellowships, which we
shall love ever to remember. In every case we left them with
an increase of love and confidence towards them, and on their
part, we had no reason to doubt, towards ourselves.
I.
SENDING OF THE DEPUTATION.
It is more than twelve years since the importance of visiting
the India missions was urged upon the attention of the
Secretary having charge of the correspondence beyond sea, by
brethren in those missions. Writing to the Madura mission,
early in the year 1852, he said, —" We enter into your feelings,
and heartily wish such a thing were within the range of possibility. In coming times it may be, but not now."  Those
times came at last. In the early part of the year 1854, letters
were received from the Bombay mission, earnestly requesting
permission to institute a High School on the model of certain
Scotch and English schools existing in the large cities of India.
The proposal was seconded by the brethren of the Ahmednug~gur mission. The cost of the necessary buildings and apparatus was estimated at about $25,000; and the annual expenses
of the school, including the salaries of two missionary teachers,
would not fall short of $3,500. A distinguishing feature in
that class of schools is, that the English language is not only
taught largely in them, but is made the chief medium  of
instruction. The school was urged upon the Committee as a
matter of necessity, to save the Bombay mission from extinction, owing to the attractive and absorbing influence of the
schools established by other Societies.
The reasoning seemed to the Prudential Committee to indicate the existence of a state of things in the Bombay Presidency,




5
which might ere long render it impracticable for the Board to
prosecute its missions in that part of India. They did not
know what to do; nor did it seem possible to solve the problem
except on the ground. The Secretary in charge of the India
correspondence was then entering his fifty-eighth year, and had
a strong aversion to foreign travel. He felt constrained, however, by the interests that were pending, to offer to visit the
India missions, with the expectation of being absent a year,provided the Committee, in consideration of the responsibilities,
would send one of their own number with him. The Prudential Committee accepted  the  offer, and requested Mr.
Thompson to accompany the Secretary.   Mr. Thompson's
people generously gave him leave of absence for a year. The
Instructions given were as follows:
Instructions.
" The powers of the Deputation are expressed in the following Resolution, adopted by the Prudential Committee at a
meeting held April 25, 1854, namely:
Resolved, That the Rev. Rufus Anderson, D. D., Senior
Corresponding Secretary of the Board, and the Rev. Augustus C.
Thompson, one of the members of the Prudential Committee,
be, and they hereby are, appointed Agents and Representatives
of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions,
to visit their missions in India, with full power and authority to
give such directions to the several missions, which shall be
visited by them, as they shall judge that the best interests of
the missions demand, in all cases in which it shall be their
united judgment that the exigency is such as will not justify
delay for the action of the Prudential Committee;-provided,
however, that the action of the said agents and representatives
shall in all things be subject to the revision of the Prudential
Committee; and that they shall not be at liberty to make
appropriations of money other than those made by the Prudential Committee.
1. By means of this Deputation the Prudential Committee
seeks to do that for the several India missions, which cannot be
accomplished effectually by mere correspondence. The grand
object is not the survey of the country, nor of its people and
their pagan manners and institutions, but to confer with the
missionaries residing on the ground, individually, and in their
collective capacity as missions.
In each of the missions of the Board, after such visits to
the several stations as time shall permit, the Deputation will
request the members of the mission they are visiting to assemble




6
for free conference and discussion on such subjects as the
Deputation or the mission itself shall desire to receive particular attention; and the Deputation are authorized to make such
provision as they deem proper for defraying the expenses of
the meeting. Some convenient way will of course be devised
for embodying the proceedings of these meetings, so as to
make them most available for the use of the Prudential Committee; and the Deputation, in transmitting those proceedings
to the Missionary House, will be expected also to signify how
far their views coincide with those of their brethren.
2. It is made the duty of the Deputation every where to see
now far the oral preaching of the gospel is actually the leading
object and work of the missions; and to exert themselves,
fraternally, to encourage the determination of every brother and
sister to " know nothing " among the heathen " but Jesus
Christ and him crucified."
3. It is a leading object with the Committee, in sending this
representation, to ascertain for their own guidance more clearly
than they have been able hitherto to do by correspondence and
by conference with missionaries on their visits home, to what
extent in India the missions of the Board are prepared to rely
on the oral preaching of the gospel, and to dispense with the
pioneering and preparatory influence of schools, and especially of schools in which the use of the English language is a
prominent and characteristic feature.
4. As the Mahratta missions will be the earliest visited, the
most perplexing and difficult of all the questions that will require their attention, and which was one of the special reasons
for their appointment, will be among the first that call for settlement, namely: "How far the institution by Scotch and
English Societies, of large and expensive schools in the great
cities, resembling those of the East India Government in every
thing but the exclusion of Christianity, is a reason why the
Board should institute similar schools in Bombay and Madras."
An early settlement of this question is much desired by the
brethren of the Mahratta missions and by the Committee, but
it is not made incumbent on the Deputation to give an opinion
before visiting the Madura and Ceylon missions, should they
need the additional information to be obtained in those quarters.
At present, it is the strong persuasion of the Prudential Committee, that no school can properly be sustained by the funds
of the Board, in which the vernacular language is not the grand
medium of instruction; and the Deputation will not feel at
liberty to do any thing contrary to this persuasion, without what
shall seem to them very conclusive reasons.
5. It is time to inquire more earnestly as to the place which




7
schools ought to hold in the system of missionary efforts among
the heathen. And the Deputation is instructed to procure an
answer, as far as possible, to the inquiry, whether, in general,
missionary schools should not be restricted to converts and
stated attendants on preaching and their children. The chief
doubt of the Prudential Committee is, how far there are features in the present transition state of the India population, that
should retard the strict application of this rule to the missions
under the care of the Board; nor should the feelings, habits,
and long cherished views of many of our respected, brethren in
the India missions, be by any means disregarded. On this subject the Deputation'wiI secure'-he timost unrestricted interchange of views with their brethren in each of the missions,
and, as far as may be, with the brethren of the British missions.
6. The Committee have never been able to appreciate the
reasons for so great a delay in putting native converts into the
ministry, and into the pastoral office. To this highly important point, therefore, the Deputation will give particular attention.
7. It has seemed to the Committee, that the procuring of
houses of worship in India, except for the use of the missionaries in the first instance, is not among the duties incumbent on
the churches of America, but they should be furnished by the
natives themselves; and that where aid from us is deemed expedient, there is nothing in the history of Apostolic times, nor
of the early periods of modern evangelical churches, to justify
an expenditure with a view to securing architectural effect.
The financial importance of this subject will secure for it the
attention of our brethren of the Deputation wherever they go.
8. Our Printing Establishment at Madras is valued at thirty
thousand dollars, and has large provision for job printing in
English. The Deputation is instructed to inquire whether the
cause of missions would suffer, were this establishment reduced
to a strictly Tamil basis. The large establishments at Bombay
and Jaffna will also be subjected to similar inquiries.
9. The natural tendency of organizations is to merge the individual in the community. The Deputation is to observe
what effect this principle has in the missions, and how it may
be so far counteracted as to secure a healthful and proper degree
of individual liberty and responsibility.
10. The employment, education, salaries, and supervision of
native helpers will be another object of great interest and importance.
11. It has seemed to the Committee, that of late years, and
in some of the missions, there has been an increasing disposi



8
tion to form llans so as specially to reach and affect the brahmins, and other high classes. The arguments for a higher
education are based somewhat on this. The Deputation wi'll
ascertain whether there is any undue tendency in this direction,
having in view the Apostolic precedents, and the result of Apostolical labors.
12. Although the Committee have thus called the attention
of the Deputation to some prominent topics to which their inquiries should be directed, it is not intended to restrict them in
their investigations; but, taking the Resolution by which they
are appointed as their commission, they will act in view of the
solemn responsibilities placed upon them, and possess themselves of all such information as they shall judge will be of
service to enlighten tlhe Committee and the Board in the prosecution of their great work, and adopt all such measures, within
the scope of their authority, as they shall judge that the interests of the various missions may require.
13. The Prudential Committee need not bestow upon these
beloved members of their Deputation words of commendation
to their brethren and friends of the missions. Possessing the
utmost confidence and love of the Committee, and worthy of
the highest respect and affection of all men, they are intrusted
with this important service, knowing as we do that, with the
blessing of God, rich and permanent benefits to all concerned
will result from their embassy.
May they come to the missions full of the blessings of the
gospel of peace; may the communion of the Holy Ghost be
with them and the missions in all their conferences; and may
their Report raise the affections and quicken the zeal of their
fellow Christians at home!
On behalf of the Prudential Committee of the American
Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, and by their
order.
WM. J. HUBBARD, Chairman of Prud. Corn.
S. B. TPREAT, Clerk           "     "
Missionary House, Boston, July 28, 1854."
Concession made to the Bombay Mission.
To meet the views of their Bombay brethren at once, so far
as their own information allowed them to go, the Prudential
Committee adopted the following Resolutions on the 2d of
May, 1854.
" Resolved, That the Bombay mission be authorized to commence a school, in a building to be rented for the purpose and




9
on the general plan suggested by the mission in letters read to
the Committee April 18th; with the understanding,-' 1. That the vernacular language be made the principal
medium of instruction in the school, especially in the inculcation of religious truth.
" 2. That the whole annual expense of the school, exclusive
of the salaries of missionaries and of some necessary purchases
of school books and apparatus at the outset, do not exceed
three thousand rupees. And,
" 3. That the plan of the school shall be open to reconsideration and modification on the arrival of the Deputation at
Bombay; and that assenting to the opening of a school of this
sort in Bombay, shall not be regarded as indicating any purpose,
on the part of the Prudential Committee, with regard to similar
schools elsewhere."
The High School thus authorized, was all that the Bebek
Seminary in the Armenian mission, or the one at Abeih on
Mount Lebanon, has been for years past. On reaching London, we heard that our brethren of the Bombay mission, presuming that the Committee's reply would be in the affirmative,
had commenced their proposed institution on the 1st of June,
before the reply had time to reach them.
Opinions on Missionary Schools.
It may be proper to remark, that when we went forth, and
for many years before, there was no point in controversy
between the Missionary House and any of the India missions,
as to the manner of conducting missions. Nor had either of
us extreme opinions in relation to schools. We occupied, as
we long have done, the middle ground on this subject; and so
we did through our whole tour. A discussion on'L Missionary
Schools," written some eighteen years ago by the senior member of the Deputation, to counteract an unreasonable prejudice
then existing against such schools, and published in the Biblical
Repository for 1838, and afterwards as a Missionary Tract, is
still a good expression of our opinions on that branch of the
missionary work. On the " place which education should hold
in the system of modern missions," we could not do better
than to quote the statement under that head. It is precisely
the doctrine we inculcated in India, and it indicates the result
to which our brethren everywhere arrived in their proceedings;
namely, " That the system of education in all its parts, so far
as it is supported by the funds of the mission, should have a
direct reference to the training up of native teachers and
preachers."  There is no reference in that discussion to the
use of the English language. Were its author now to rewrite




10
it in defence of missionary schools against unreasonable prejudices, he might, indeed, change a few              of its aspects, but none
of its doctrines.       And all in    the   hundred     pages of our letters
to the India missions, printed in connection with the proceedings of those missions, would be found, it is believed, in consonance with those doctrines.*
Travels regulated by the Seasons.
We sailed from      Boston on the 2d        of August, 1854, having a
regard for the seasons as they were made known to us by Dr.
Allen, who      had   spent many years in          India.     We needed       to
* The portion of the Tract on' Missionary Schools' above referred to, is here subjoined:
"It is time now to state, more precisely, what place education should hold in the system of
modern missions.
" 1. If we were to regard education simply as a convenient method of inculcating a
knowledge of the gospel on ninds of a certain class, still it may properly be used by the
missionary. So far as heathen youth are concerned, it is found in practice to be the only
method of getting early access to their minds, the only method of preaching the gospel to
them   It is often the most direct and effectual means of bringing others, and especially
parents, under the preached gospel. (Acts xix. 9.) The visitation and superintendence of
schools also gives a fine field of usefuilness to missionaries recently come upon the ground,
and not enough acquainted with the native language to preach formally to the adults. It is
almost the only thing they carrdo; and in the larger missions there will almost always be
some missionaries in this condition.
"2 In barbarous pagan countries, if we would make any use of the press and the printed
word of God, elementary schools are indispensable. If we withhold the Bible from the
pagan, no matter how, in what respect does our policy diff:r from that of the church of
Rome? 1 need not say that books and the press are useless in a community which cannot
read.
"3. Ages of experience in Protestant Christendom have shown that connecting a small
system of schools with the stated and frequent preaching of the gospel, is wise as a means
of increasing the effect of preaching and the durability of its influence. And if it be so
within the bounds of Christendom, why not beyond? The ministry throughout the world
acts under one anld the same commission, and is governed by one and the same code of laws.
The gospel they preach is the same. Human nature, with which they have to deal, is the
same. If the circumstances differ, as they do very greatly, the difference only shows the
greater need of connecting schools with preaching among those who know not the gospel.
The ordained missionary will indeed engage no more than is necessary in their elementary
instruction  He will commit this, as soon as may be, to native teachers. But when occupying a fixed station. he will no more be without such schools than the pastor at home, and
no more will he withhold from them his fostering care and watchful guardianship. The missionary who has these schools around him, and the missionary who has them not, will do
well from year to year to compare their respective congregations, and the results of their
preaching. Let their native churches also be compared, and their prospects among the
rising generation.
" 4. After all, we cannot undertake to educate the youth of the whole heathen world, nor
even any considerable proportion of them. The labor and the expense are both out of the
question. Whatever it may be proper or desirable for us to do, in a general point of view,
the scantiness of the means placed at the disposal of missionary societies renders it expedient, yea unavoidably necessary that schools at the expetnse of such societies be established
on a limited scale. We can educate only the few, and they must educate the many. Our
pupils, as far as possible, should be select, and selected with some regard to the ulterior
employment of the most promising of them as helpers in the mission. Our schools should
be model schools. They should be nurseries of teachers. They should be introductory to
the higher seminary, and preparatory to it. The preached gospel must at all events be sustained, and the number of schools should be regulated by the means placed at the disposal
of the society, and the balance remaining of what is appropriated to the mission, after providing for the support of its preaching members. Still I must doubt,-if missionaries are
not to be mere itinerants, if they are to have a fixed residence and operate within the bounds
of some one district,-whether the church has any right to insist upon their laboring wholly
without schools; or, in other words, without a system of means in operation around them
for rearing up native helpers and successors in their work. Do the Scriptures confer any




11
avoid, if possible, both the rains and the excessive heats of
that country.       In  this  a kind     Providence     favored    us   beyond
our expectations.        We    reached    Bombay just after the          rains;
visited the Deccan in the cool of winter; and finished our
work in the Madura mission before the hot season. It was
now evident, that we could not reach home in time for the
meeting     of   the   Board    at   Utica.     The     unavoidable      delays
brought us to the Ceylon mission after those fearful diseases,
the cholera and small-pox, had subsided in Jaffna, (by one of
which our brother Poor was removed from his earthly labors,)
and when the dry south-west monsoon had begun to send its
healthfil breezes across the          District.    And    thus    it happened
such right on the churches? Do they impose any such obligation on the missionary? Had
missionaries the power of conferring supernatural gifts by the laying on of their hands, as
the Apostles and some of their associates had, the case would be very different.
"5 While I assert the legitimate use of schools as one of the means of propagating the
gospel in foreign missions, and while I maintain the right of missionaries to be furnished with
them to a certain extent, I would suggest a general rule in relation to their establishment;
having respect in this rule to the average amount of funds which experience has shown may
be relied on by missionary societies, and the proportionate demand which will be made on
these for sending forth and supporting preachers of the gospel. The rule is this:- That the
system of education, in all its parts, so far as it is supported by the funds of the mission, should
have a direct reference to the training up of native teachers and preachers. To this, in the
smaller missions, and also in the less concentrated missions, there must be exceptions. A
liberal construction should always be given to it. In some missions, as among the Tamil
people of Ceylon and Southern India, the rule itself may require a considerable number of
schools; to awaken attention, to give tone to the public mind with respect to education, furnish a better selection, give importance to the subject in the view of the select pupils, open
a field for the occasional trial of their powers while pursuing their studies, and strengthen
their motives to arrive at high attainments. Still, whatever scope is allowed for the exercise
of discretion in arranging and managing the details of the system, there will be a great practical advantage in having the one definite object proposed by this rule. And it is a question,
whether missions themselves ought not to be established, organized, and prosecuted with
more reference to the same end. Are not many of our missions modeled as they should be,
if our object and expectation were to furnish a full supply of preachers from Christendom
for all the nations of the heathen world, now and for ages to come; and as they should not
be, if our object be to imitate the Apostles by throwing the great amount of permanent labor
upon converted natives, and introducing what the Holy Spirit may be expected to make a
self-sustaining, self-propagating Christianity?
" The plan suggested would involve a seminary of a higher order in each considerable
mission, which would receive pupils from the preparatory schools, and conduct them through
a course of liberal education more or less protracted. These seminaries should be commenced on a small scale, and enlarged no faster than shall be necessary. They should combine the college and the school of theology. The notion that instruction in the principles of
human science must precede the study of theology, is derived from the schools of philsophy,
and is not countenanced by the word of God. The plain, simple theology of the Scriptures
can be taught to youth, and even to heathen youth, in every stage of their education. The
institutions should be eminently missionary institutions. The whole course of education
from beginning to end, should be Christian. It should be no part of the object of these seminaries to educate natives for the law, nor for medicine, nor for civil affairs, nor for trade,
except so far as this will directly promote the legitimate objects of the missions with which
they are connected. The course of instruction should be planned with a view to raising up,
through the blessing of God, an efficient body of native helpers in the several departments
of missionary labor-to be teachers of schools, catechists, tutors and professors in the seminaries, and, above all, preachers of the gospel, pastors of the native churches, and missionaries to the neighboring heathen districts and countries. For this purpose the seminaries
should be furnished with competent teachers, and with all necessary books and apparatus;
and a press should generally be in their neighborhood.
" T'hese missionary seminaries will be as really subordinate to the preaching of the gospel,
as are the theological seminaries of our own country. If we teach in them, and in so doing
~irn aside in any degree from the formal ministry of the word, it will be that we may multiply teachers and ministers of the word  Our object will be the more effectually to plant
these instrumentalities, which, with God's blessing, will secure for the gospel a permanent
footing and constant increase in heathen countries."




12
that we were at Madras and in Arcot when the hot season was
nearly over.
II.
LETTERS RECEIVED FROM DR. POOR.
Soon after reaching Bombay, we received a letter from Dr.
Poor, of the Ceylon mission, which had the double effect of
impressing us with the difficulty of the problems to be solved
in that mission, and awaking a hope that, when we were once
together, we might be guided to solutions which should harmonize the views of the older and younger missionaries. It
had been the privilege of the senior member of the Deputation
to correspond with that devoted missionary for the space of
thirty years, and this letter, dated November 15, 1854, was the
last in the series addressed by his own hand. As it exerted
considerable influence upon the feelings with which we prosecuted our official duties in India, and was not without influence
upon the brethren whom we saw, before we reached Ceylon,
the Board will permit us here to make some extracts from it.
In this letter Dr. Poor says:
" For several years past, we have been about to enter upon a
new and advanced stage of progress; but though time has run
on, the affairs of the mission have remained stationary, or in
some respects, certainly in a retrograde course. Being ourselves dissatisfied with the present state of things, we are
almost ready to look hard at each other, and at the Prudential
Committee, as presenting obstacles to further progress; not,
however, without occasional and strong suspicions that we, the
complainants, may prove to be defaulters in our high enterprise.
The object of these remarks is to stimulate the zeal and
courage of the Deputation to come on, in the confidence of
hope that the great Head of missions may have so timed your
visit, as to bring you hither at the very crisis in our affairs,
when, by the united counsels of the East and the West, the
mission may be put forward upon the right track, with increased velocity and safety. And this will we do, if God permit and assist."
The whole of this quotation is worthy of special attention.
Dr. Poor says, that the mission had " been about to enter upon
a new and advanced stage of progress," but had not, and had
rather lost ground; that they were themselves " dissatisfied
with the present state of things; " and that he had written to
stimulate the zeal and courage of the Deputation to come to
Ceylon, with the confident hope that the great Head of missions had so timed their visit, as to bring them there at the




13
very crisis in the affairs of the mission, when the combined
exertions of the mission and the Deputation would "i put them
forward on the, right track, with increased velocity and safety."
It is not supposed that our venerable brother had any specific
changes in view; indeed, we presume he had not; only he
was impressed with the necessity of some modification, that
should have the effect, through the divine blessing, to relieve
the mission from its present embarrassed position.
After describing in what condition he and his associates
found the District of Jaffna, when they arrived in the year
1816, he goes on to state how their school system arose, and
that they were then ready for any real improvement in their
system. "As this state of things opened upon us, it became
more and more evident to us, that nothing short of a widespread system of elementary Christian education in the vernacular tongue, and a thoroughgoing system of scientific and
theological instruction, both in Tamil and English, were the
appropriate means to be used. Such a course seemed indispensably necessary for securing the desired access to all classes,
male and female, for the one great object of preaching the gospel to every creature. Both these systems of education we
have been permitted to carry to an extent beyond all our
thoughts, and with a degree of success not distinctly anticipated. We are however, I trust, ready to abandon either or
both of these courses, as soon as it can be made to appear to us,
that there is'a more excellent way.' "
What specially impressed the mind of Dr. Poor, was the peculiar condition of the native churches, resulting from the long
continued predominance of their eleemosynary system.  Our
churches," he says in the same letter, " as now constituted, are
in an artificial state, and appear more comely to a casual observer, than they really are.-For, (1.) they were, as a body,
reared in our boarding establishments; which, as we have
often remarked, are like unto hot-houses in the frigid zone.(2.) They are to a great extent sustained by the mission, being
in mission employment, earning their livelihood indeed, but
envied by the heathen.-(3.) As they then are not a self-sustaining church, in the most desirable sense, they are, to a great
extent, disabled from becoming a witnessing church, which is
the grand desideratum in the land.-And (4.) the profession of
Christianity, or certainly the possession of it, has, under the circumstances of the case, been attended with such worldly benefits, as to have begotten and strengthened a mercenary spirit in
all around us. In view of these and other collateral circumstances, the native church stands before us under an uncomely
aspect, and awakens our deepest anxieties."
2




14
" The children of church members," Dr. Poor adds, "C are
being multiplied, and it is not easy to foresee how they can be
sustained without becoming in some degree amalgamated with
the heathen, which may necessarily produce a disastrous reaction upon the parents."
He then describes-somewhat too strongly we think-another ground of apprehension, saying, " We have long been
pained to notice, that when the church members leave the
service of the mission, they either at once or gradually leave
the church and all regularity of attendance on Christian ordinances, as though they were freed from a yoke of bondage.
Many of them openly apostatize from the faith, and others make
ingenious apologies for their irregularities. It is impossible,
therefore, for us to predict how many would stand fast in the
faith, should the whole body of church members be made independent of mission service."
"These," he adds, " are some of the thoughts on a prospective view of the affairs of the native church, in anticipation of
the gradual removal of the evils naturally arising from the eleemosynary system we have introduced. And the same view
renders it highly probable that our junior brethen have a more
arduous task before them, than has hitherto been accomplished
by their seniors. And for such an enterprise let them be firmly
girded, richly endowed, and newly anointed from on high. In
one point we have already begun to sympathize with them;
i. e., that they should be called in Providence to bepome the
foster-fathers of the weaklings we have begotten, and whom,
with all their weaknesses, we must presently give over to their
charge. We must admit, and you will regard the admission credible in proportion as you know the' hole of the pit' from which
they were digged, and in which, to a great extent, they are now
re-settled,-we must admit, I repeat, that these weaklings are
heathenish and worldly, not valiant for the truth, mercenary
and dwarfish."
In a note, Dr. Poor says that there is a redeeming view to
this picture. We do not precisely know to what he referred;
but we believe that his brethren of the mission all looked more
hopefully upon the native church, than he would seem to have
done. We ourselves did; having formed an acquaintance with
several educated helpers in the mission, who, if they had the
responsibilities of the pastoral office in village churches, might
become good Christian ministers. Yet was there too much
ground for his strictures.
The exercises of Dr. Poor's mind very affectingly appear in
a few lines he dictated to the same member of the Deputation,
after he was so suddenly prostrated by the cholera upon his




15
death-bed;-which was after we had reached the Madura
mission, and he had doubtless heard of the proceedings in the
Mahratta missions. This dying message was expressed in these
words: " Tell Dr. Anderson I have the impression that the Deputation is sent of the Lord, and I have anticipated meeting them
with great pleasure.     But I have written him     freely, and all of
you know     my views.     It may be better that I should not be
here  when they come.         Truth   may have a better hearing.
This is all I would say to Dr. Anderson."
We were     much affected     by this message,-first, that Dr.
Poor should think of us at such a time, when sending hurried
messages from the very borders of the grave to children and
friends; and that he should send us his distinct impression,
cherished as he was leaving the world, that we were called of
the Lord    to  make   this visit, and   his assurance that he had
enjoyed great pleasure in the anticipation of meeting us.         And,
secondly, that he should think the Lord was calling him         away,
in order to facilitate the discussion and adoption of the necessary changes in the mission.
It should be added that Dr. Poor was the first principal of
the Batticotta Seminary, but resigned the office almost twenty
years ago, and had subsequently sustained no other relation to
the educational system     of the mission, than    did the rest of his
brethren.
III.
INTERCOURSE WITH THE MISSIONS.
We were together two hundred and twenty days, or more
than   seven   months, among      the   India  missions;    and   after
Mr. Thompson's departure for home, his associate spent near a
month at Calcutta, and two months in the Syrian and Armenian missions.*
On reaching     a mission, our first business was to visit the
several stations, that we might gain an accurate acquaintance
with   them   by a free, personal intercourse     with our brethren.
The object of this visit was not to discuss questions of mission
policy, but to perfect our knowledge of facts, and to ascertain
* The l)eputation spent 72 days in the Mahratta missions; 50 in the Madura mission; 65
in the Ceylon; 21 in the Madras: and 12 in the Arcot;-in all, 220 days.  Mr. Thompson
then embarked at Madras on his homeward voyage; but, detained by illness, spent a tbrtnight in the Syrian mission, and nine days at Smyrna, in which time he visited the church
lately organized at Thyatlra;-making his sojourn i!i the missions more than eight months.
Dr. Anderson was 24 dabs in Calcutta, 14 in the Syrian mission, and 46 in the Armenian,visiting Kessab, Altioch. Aleppo, Aintab and Constantinople;-making 84 days. and a
total in the missions, for him, of 304 days. or about ten months. Their arrival at Bombay
was on the 2d of November, 1854; Mr. Thompson's departure from Smyrna was September 12, 1855, and Dr. Anderson's from Constantinople was November 8th. The former
reached his native shores October 27, 1855, and the latter January 13. 1856. The shorter
absence was one year and a quarter, and the longer nearly one year and a half.




16
the individual impressions of-our brethren as to the proper
method of dealing with the facts. In this, which was the
most laborious part of our duty, we were generally very successful; and this was an essential preparation of our own minds
for the protracted meetings of the missions which followed.
The number of stations thus visited was thirty-seven,-twentyeight in India, and nine in Western Asia. We had formal
conferences, in special meetings, with the Mahratta, Madura,
Ceylon, Madras, Arcot, and Syrian missions, and with such
members of the Armenian mission as could assemble at Aintab
and Constantinople. The aggregate number of our brethren
present at these meetings, was fifty-eight; the number of
sessions one hundred and six, occupying the business hours of
seventy-eight days; and the number of written reports discussed and adopted in these sessions, eighty-seven. Of these,
thirty-three missionaries, fifty-nine days devoted to the general
meetings, eighty-seven sessions, and sixty-two reports, stand
connected with the India missions.*
A small edition of the proceedings at these meetings, including our official letters to the missions, has been printed for the
use of the Prudential Committee and the missions. It was the
only practicable method of procuring the requisite number of
copies.
For the sake of showing the method of proceeding in the
several missions, we will give a brief description of the proceedings in the Ceylon mission. It will serve for a specimen
of the other proceedings. The proper limits of this Report will
not allow us to do more, and probably more is not needed for
the objects of this meeting; especially as there are copies
enough on hand of the entire proceedings in the missions to
serve for committees.
* The number of missionaries, length of the meetings, number of sessions, and of written
reports, are indicated in the following table:
Missionaries Length of  Number of
MISSIONS.re             meetings in  s eso  written represent.  d    as sessions.
days.          ports.
Mahratta,..                9      16      22     17
Madura,...                 10     16      19     22
Ceylon,.....     9      20,.   38.    21 
Madras,....               2       4      4       1
Arcot,.......         3       3      4       1
In India..            33      59     87      62
Syrian,...                11      5       5      12
Aintab,....              3       6       6      1
Constantinople,..          11      8       8      12
In lestern Asia,...  25   19     19      25
Total,....     58      78     106     87




17
IV.
PROCEEDINGS IN THE CEYLON MISSION.
We landed in Jaffna on Monday, April 2, 1855. The first
three weeks were devoted, acording to our custom, to visiting the brethren at their seven stations. We nowhere found
a more intelligent and devoted body of missionaries; and our
progressTrough their stations had the effect to relieve us in a
considerable degree of the apprehensions we had on our arrival.
On the 10th of April, a meeting of the graduates of the
Batticotta Seminary was held, to give us a public welcome to
the Province.  It was entirely their own movement; and
nearly half of tbe4 5 raduates, then living were ssupposed
to be present. The meeting remn  d-ecT us of college-alumni
meetings ill our own land.  It made, too, a strong impression'
upon us, that perhaps the mission had done its full share of
direct labor for general education, and that the unsanctified
intelligence of the Province had grown out of proportion to
the controlling religious influence in the mission and the native
churches. In short, we sympathized a good deal with the last
speaker at the meeting, a native gentleman of much intelligence, who had made himself a successful medical practitioner,
and who spoke as follows: "It is a source of pleasure to us to
see our country civilized, and our countrymen well educated.
I say well educated, for Mr. Merwin [a native gentleman who
had preceded him] says, that the existing system is nQt high
enough to raise up efficient men for government employment,
and applies to Dr. Anderson to raise the standard a little higher.
But whom are we expecting to do this? Is it binding upon
Dr. Anderson, or upon these missionaries, to effect this? If
you will but allow me, gentlemen, to answer these questions in
the words of a young Ceylonese gentleman, who is now in
Europe, I will say with him, No; this is not binding upon
Dr. Anderson, or the missionaries, at all.'Now that the missionaries have pointed out the way,' says the gentleman above
referred to,' it is the bounden duty of the more civilized and
wealthier part of the native community to come forward to
effect this. I know some are already awakened to the sense of
this their obligation. But it is not in the power of a few to
accomplish this. Let me, therefore, earnestly entreat of my
educated countrymen to view this as absolutely obligatory
upon them. The seed has been sown for us; let us now contribute our labors to its growth. The tree has been planted;
it now remains for us to prune and water it. The foundation,
the imperishable foundation, has been laid; come, my beloved
countrymen, let us raise the superstructure. Be thankful for




18
what we have received from the missionaries, and lay no more
claim to their labors.' "
Trhe mission assembled on the 25th of April; and when it
was duly organized,'we read a statement of facts and opinions
just as they lay in our minds, after the personal inquiries we
had made at thease'-eTatIo ns; but we took care to affirm,
that all we then said was merely sgdtgeste, an 1n weteld
ourselves ree to moduy or change every opinion we had
advanced durin — tie discussiloin that was about to ensue. The
whole tenor of the  iscussiothe reports, the measures proposed by the mission, all showed that no idea of authority
attached itself in their minds to our sugge s.
T-he following list of subjects was then read; containing
those we wished to have discussed, and also a list handed to
us by the mission. The digest and arrangement were our
own.' 1. The governing object in missions to the heathen.-Should
it be the conversion of sinners, the gathering of those converts
into churches, and the ordaining of native pastors over those
churches?'2. Preaching.-Its connection with schools-difficulty of
obtaining stated congregations from those not in the schools or
supported by mission funds-permanent congregations-preaching at the stations and in the villages-comparative disposition
of the heathen to attend at the churches and at school bungalows-preaching by the missionaries-amount and value of
native preaching.' 3. Native Churches and Pastors.-Evidence of piety to be
required for church-mernbership-organization and discipline
of the native churches-is the church covenant sufficiently
explicit-names given to children-in what circumstances
churches should be formed, and have native pastors-whether
native preachers should be ordained except as pastors-licensure as catechists and preachers-the proper relations of native
churches and pastors to the mission-relation which missionaries and the mission should bear to thenm-why no native
pastors hitherto-power of the mission, as such, to organize
native churches, ordain native pastors, and to superintend the
same —advantages arising from this being done by the mission,
as such, rather than by a separate body organized for the purpose by missionaries in their simple character of ministers of
the gospel —whether all native pastors should be educated alike,
and what education should be afforded them-where it is
desirable that churches should now be organized, and native
pastors ordained —whether native pastors are desirable at any
of the station churches.




19'4. Caste and Polygamy. —How far caste exists among
church-members —how far there are specific actions in churchmembers, bearing a relation to caste, which ought to be discountenanced in native preachers and catechists, atd how far
such actions are observable in the social life of church-members-what should be done to eradicate such causes of disuniotl
and dishonor from the native churches —whether there is any
actual regard paid to caste-distinctions any where in the distribution of the cup in the Lord's Supper —whether any one
should be ordained as a pastor, or licensed as a preacher, who,
on being directly questioned on the subject in his examination
for licensure or ordination, refuses to declare himself willing to
eat any kind of food with a Christian on the ground of its being
prepared by a low caste person-how far caste is regarded in
admissions to the Seminary, and the Female Boarding School
-how far Polygamy exists here-whether found at all in the
church-how it is regarded and treated.'5. Station Schools. (1.) English Schools.-Number of
these and their relation to the Batticotta Seminary-why called
English schools-their effect to cultivate a taste for English
studies in the villages-missionary value of these schoolstheir effect on the village female schools-effect of their discontin uance.'(2.) Girls' Schools.-Prejudice against female educationmeans employed to bring girls to the schools-whether the
donations of clothes, &c., ought to be continued-effects of these
on Christian parents and their children-condition and prosperity of village schools for females.'(3.) The Free Schools.-Their rise-comparative prevalence, in periods of five years-employment of heathen masters
-how far the mission took schools that were actually existing
into pay-what was taught-number taught in these schoolsestimated average time of continuance in the schools-preaching to them-were there conversions in these schools-what is
known of the pupils since leaving the schools-what of their
heathen masters-how far parents were drawn to hear preaching and the effect of this-estimated cost of these schools on
the whole-how far they now exist-native books used in the
schools-whether these schools have answered expectation in
promoting the grand object of the mission-on sustaining the
free schools mainly for children of Christians.'6. Oodooville Female Boarding School.-Historical factsstatistical views-results-difficulties that were to be overcome
-how far this has been effected-changes now to be madeexclusion of English studies-shortening the period of residence




20
in the school-reduction of the number of pupils-preparations
to be required in Tamil studies.'7. Batticotta Seminary.-Rise and progress of the institution-what was its design at the outset, and what it has been
since-what has been the number of pupils, and what they
have done since leaving the institution-the education giventhe number of English studies attended to compared with those
in Tamil-why the native mind is so intent on English studies
-feelings of native teachers in the Seminary towards Tamil
text-books, as compared with English-effect of the Enlglish
studies on the several Principals, retarding their acquisition of
Tamil-effect of introdulcing pay-scholars upon the character of
the Seminary, and upon its relations to the Female Boarding
School-has there been a decline of piety among the studentscontemplated changes-in the studies required for admissionin the number of pupils-in the manner of support-in the
time of residence-in the curriculum  of studies-class of
advanced students in Theology-instruction in English to a
selected body of students after the academic course.
8. Native Helpers.-Their tiumber-origin-ed ucationemployment-salaries-training and supervision-whether too
many at any of the stations-whether employed and paid after
they are superannuated-whether they should pay their rent.' 9. Modifications in the Stations.-Oodooville and Manepy,
&c.-number of missionaries required for the mission-peculiarities of the Jaffna field.' 10. Restrictions on Correspondence.-Rule of the missionreasons for its discontinuance.
11. Printing Establishment.-Extent of it-work donewhether this establishment and the one at Madras are both
needed-is the English department needed-expediency of
continuing to print a part of the " Morning Star" in Englishhow far the mission is responsible for the contents of that paper
-how far for the printing done in the office-publishing committee-statement concerning the depository-what ought to
be done with the unsaleable books and sheets and stationery on
hand-lias the existence of the press here been an advantage to
the mission.'12. Provision for Widows, Children, and Invalid Missionaries.-Is it desirable that any additional provision should
be made.' 13. Grants of the American Bible and Tract Societies.' 14. Visits to the United States.-Is any further legislation
needed-how far to be provided for from the mission treasuryrules for preventing unnecessary cost in returning home-health
stations connected with the mission-the overland passage.




21
15. Salaries of Missionaries.' 16. Medical Establishment.- Where should the headquarters of the mission physician be-what are his dutiesmedical practice out of the mission-presents-medical class
-should their instruction be in the vernacular-general
results.' 17. Mission Property.-Property in lands-in dwelling
houses, &c.-ill churches-how far the government have a right
in the property-tenure on which the property is held-what is
being done to improve the tenure-real value of the Dutch
churches and. parsonages to the mission-buildings at Varany
-land near Manepy.'18. Government Grants.-Grants received, and how applied-whole amount received-implied condition of the grants
-school commission at the seat of government-school commissioner and his visits-views of the Prudential Committee
with respect to government grants for schools.'19. Estimates, Appropriations, and Expenditures.-What
the estimates should contain-intent of the appropriationswhether the expenditures should be restricted to the specific
objects-whether balances should be used for other objectswhether money received by the treasurer from every source
should not be credited in his accounts with the treasurer of the
Board-new estimate for 1856.'20. Houses.-Plan and cost of a house for missionary residence-station and rural churches-houses for native helpersexpediency of reducing the space in the present station
churches.'21. Temporal aid from missionary funds to indigent native
Christians.-Ought this ever to be given.'
These subjects were assigned by the meeting to the following committees, in whose appointment we had no agency.
The members of the Deputation neither served on committees,
nor voted on the reports, but reserved to themselves and to the
Prudential Committee the adoptin, or otherwise, of the opinions
and recommendations emboeinithe reports.
1. The governing object in missions to the heathen, assigned
to Messrs. Howland, Spaulding and Hastings.
X 2. Preaching.-Messrs. Spaulding, Lord, and Smith.
3. Native Churches and Pastors.-Messrs. Lord, Meigs and
Howlajd.
4. Caste and Polygamy.-Messrs. Sanders, Spaulding and
Green.
X  5. Station Schools.-Messrs. Meigs, Burnell and Smith.




22
6. Oodooville Female Boarding School.-Messrs. Hastings,
Burnell and Spaulding.
7. Batticotta Seminary. - Messrs. Smith, Sanders and
Hastings.
8. Native Assistants.-Messrs. Sanders, Howland, and Smith.
9. Modifications of Stations.-Messrs. Lord and Spaulding.
10 Restrictions on Correspondence.- Messrs. Burnell and
Meigs.
11. Printing Establishment.-Messrs. Howland, Burnell and
Smith.
12. Grants of Bible and Tract Societies.-Messrs. Hastings,
Spaulding and Burnell.
13. Provisions for Widows and Children.-Messrs. Meigs
and Sanders.
14. Visits to the United States.-Messrs. Green and Smith.
15. Salaries of Missionaries.-Messrs. Burnell and Spaulding,
16. Medical Establishment.-Messrs. Hastings and Green.
17. Mission Property.-Messrs. Smith and Lord.
18. Government Grants.-Messrs. Spaulding and Sanders.
19. Estimates, Appropriations, and Expenditures.-Messrs.
Meigs, and Smith.
20. Houses.-Messrs. Green and Smith.
21. Temporal Aid to Indigent Native Converts.-Messrs.
Sanders and Spaulding.'
The reports were to be drawn up after the discussions, that
they might be a fair embodiment of the opinions of the
meeting.
The sessions were continued duin   twenty days, and the
Boardt ma'lern precse   from the prnted recor —-ow each
successive day was occupied.
The first sunject-fne governing object in missions-went
to the committee on the second day. That on preaching was
committed on the third day. The third, on native churches
and pastors, was discussed during the third day and nearly all
the fourth, and then went to its committee. The subject of
caste occupied a part of the fourth and most of the fifth and
sixth days. The subject of station schools, that is, of common
schools, occupied the seventh and part of the eighth days.
The greater part of the eighth and ninth days were given to
the Oodooville Female Boarding School. The Batticotta Seminary did not come under consideration till the ninth day. and
was continued till noon of the following day, and then went to
its committee.
The remaining fourteen subjects occupied a part of the tenth




23
day and the next four. The last five days of the meeting
were devoted to hearing the reports of the committees. Several
reports were recommitted, and most were more or less amended,
in order to express the views of the mission. Great unanimity
and the best Christian feeling prevailed through the whole
meeting. While it is not supposed, that every report could have
been rendered exactly in accordance with the views of every
member of the mission, it is believed that all made the nearest
approximation to that result that was practicable; and it was
rare, if ever, that a hand or voice was raised in opposition to
the final adoption of any one of them. We have the most
confident belief, that every report had the cordial support of a
decided majority. None of the discussions assumed a controversial character; unless what related to a feature in the proposed management of caste was an exception; but that subject,
the most difficult one to adjust, at length took a form of settlement, in which the older and younger brethren agreed, and
where the older subsequently took a very satisfactory lead in
conference with the native helpers.
We were gratified with the unanimity of our brethren. At
the same time it was evident, that the chief preparation was
wrought in their minds before our arrival. It was the result of
God's blessing on their own experience. The meeting had a
highly religious character. Nor did it appear so to ourselves
alone. A member of the mission wrote us on the eve of our
departure as follows:-" Otr meetings have been to me one of
the greatest privileges in my life. It has been like the communion of saints, and I believe in the end we shall rejoice over the
results to which we have come. I have had two meetings
with my assistants, unfolding to them our future plans. They
listen with intense interest, and seem to appreciate the reasons
for the changes which have been made. The more I reflect
upon what we have done, the more I am constrained to believe
that we have been led by the Holy Spirit."'
We early took occasion to assure our brethren that the
powers conferred upon us were to aid, and not to control, their
operations, and this made our relations to them easy, and gave
us an opportunity for much social enjoyment. The following
resolution, adopted unaninmosly at the close of the meeting,
was the more prized by us, as we had no doubt that it cordially
expressed the universal feeling, viz:
"Resolved, That, as a mission, and as individuals, we desire
to express our gratification in the results of the visit of the Deputation of the American Board. While we have highly enjoyed
their society as Christian brethren, we have been greatly assisted by their friendly counsels, in revising our plans of opera



24
tion, and feel that we have been strengthened and encouraged
in our work by their presence and aid."
The Secretary of the mission, Mr. Meigs, after recording this
resolution, adds, that the hyalmn was sung, commencing, " Sweet
the time, exceeding sweet," " as an appropriate close to the
meetings."
As we shall have occasion to quote repeatedly from the official letter we addressed to the Ceylon mission, it will be well
to say, that the mission, on hearing it read, kindly appointed
Mr. Meigs and Mr. Smith a committee to suggest to us some corrections before it should be printed. This was done, and the
corrections were made. Those brethren then stated what was
their own individual impression, under date of June 22d.
"Aside from these points specified, the statements of the
letter are, we believe, substantially correct, and will receive the
cordial assent of all the members of the mission.
B. C. MEIGS,
J. C. SMITH."
In the opening paragraph of that letter, we made the following statement concerning the meeting of twenty days: " Considering the number and importance of our subjects, and the
amount of change involved in the discussion, it calls for the
profoundest gratitude to God, that nothing occurred to mar in
the least our unity of feeling, and that the results embodied in
your twenty-one reports are an expression, with no important
exceptions so far as we perceive, of your unanimous views of
what will advance the interests of our mission in this Province.
We came hither, as you know, with expectations of finding
missionary problems hard of solution, and practical views among
yourselves of missionary policy not easily harmonized. Int
both respects we have been most happily disappointed. Our
visit to you was evidently at the right time, and we were sent,
as we humbly believe, of the Lord-sent to aid you at a critical juncture; and we have had occasion to act only as auxiliaries. At the opening of your meeting we stated indeed, with
all possible frankness, what appeared to us to be the actual posture and relations of the mission, and what were the measures
that seemed most likely to be advantageous to your working
system. We were pleased to see, as the meeting advanced, that
most of the changes then suggested were but an expression of
your own views of expediency and duty. The tendency of
your minds, under the pressure of experience, was all in the
same direction with our own; and when the facts had been
properly arranged, so as to bring out their actual relations to




25
each other-a thing it was easy to do-no protracted or earnest
argumentation was found to be needful."
Mr. Meigs was appointed by his brethren to wait on the
English Resident or Governor of the Province, and explain to
him the proceedings of the mission, and why the brethren
thought it not expedient longer to receive the Government grant
of ~200. Writing to one of us on the 2d of June, Mr. Meigs
says, " Mr. Dyke (the Resident) was very kind, and seems much
interested in our movements. He thinks that Government
should establish a high school or college at Jaffna, set a layman
of high qualifications over it with a high salary, and that all
who receive an education there should be made to pay handsomely for it; also, that Government should establish vernacular schools in every village through the Province, and make the
natives pay for them by taxation."
V.
REPORTS AND LETTERS.
We would say of the eighty-seven reports of the missions,
which emanated from the different meetings, that the missions
are responsible for them. The object of the reports was not
to lay the foundations for debate, but simply to embody the
results of previous discussions. The committees were not to
make out a case of their own, but merely to record faithfully
the facts and opinions of their several missions. Hence the
reports are not largely argumentative, but generally mere statements. There was not time for elaboration, but they appeared
to us remarkably successful as to the object they had in view.
Minor inaccuracies were unavoidable, from  the brief time
allowed for their production, but we know of none materially
affecting their value.
Our own letters to the missions, which follow the reports,
and are a sort of commentary upon them, are a brief embodiment of our own experience and views on some of the more
important of these subjects, growing out of our personal intercourse with missions and missionaries, and a protracted and
intimate correspondence with a score or more of missionaries,
including those which originated these reports. The circumstances in which the letters were written, will bespeak the
candor of the Board for apparent carelessness in the form of
expression; but the opinions, which are freely expressed, are
cheerfully submitted to whatever scrutiny they may be thought
to deserve. It will be seen that they have one great object in
view, namely, that of PROMOTINC THE PREACHING OF TIlE
GOSPEL WITH A VIEW TO TIlE CONVELRSION OF TIlE EXISTING
3




26
GENERATION OF HEATHENS, THE GATHERING OF THE CONVERTS
INTO CHURCHES, AND) THE ORDAINING OF NATIVE PASTORS OVER
THE CHURCHES; more especially in the rural districts of
India. To this we were brought by observations and discussions in the Bombay Presidency, to which our steps were first
providentially conducted. This was also, and necessarily, the
almost engrossing topic in the Madura meeting. And it was
to this, in the Ceylon mission, that the attention of all was
mainly turned, in the twenty days of the meeting of that
mission.
VI.
GENERAL VIEW OF THE CHANGES DESCRIBED IN THE REPORTS
OF THE MISSIONS.
So voluminous are the reports of the missions, that we will
endeavor to give a concise description of the course of events
in our older India missions, for some eight or ten years past, as
it may be gathered from those reports.
Great Cities and Rural Districts.
A distinction should be made' between the great cities of
India, and the rural districts. If we would gain access for the
gospel to the inhabitants of such cities as Bombay, Madras and
Calcutta, and especially to the higher classes, it may be that
measures must be adopted there, which are neither necessary
nor expedient in the rural districts, especially for the masses of
the people. The best method of conducting missions in such
cities, is still subject to costly experiments, which have not as
yet had time enough for testing their results. There are peculiar circumstances in them, which will more or less control our
plans and movements. The question of chief difficulty in
respect to Madras, is, whether it will be expedient for the
Board to retain its present mission. In case it should do so, it
is a fact of importance, resulting from the comparative isolation
of this city, that the plans there pursued will not probably
have the effect to interfere with the working of the Arcot and
Madura missions.  But it is thought to be otherwise with
Bombay. The most difficult question is, how to prosecute the
Bombay mission so as not to draw down the more enterprising
converts from  the interior villages to the metropolis, from
whence few of them would ever return.
Nature of the Field.
The great districts of Western and Southern India, now
open to us, and the district of Jaffna in Ceylon, contain thou



27
sands of villages; and the grand topic of interest in the meetings of our brethren which we attended, was the planting of
the gospel in these villages. The whole form together a noble
field, made ready by divine Providence for all the labors we
have to bestow; and our success hitherto, in the conversion of
souls, has been chiefly among these rural people.
Aim. of the Deputation.
Our own efforts, as a Deputation, went mainly to encourage
our brethren to carry the gospel into the villages, and in such a
way that its institutions may speedily take root in them;preachitig it especially to the poor Mahars and Pariahs, who
are most ready to hear, and with the expectation of converting adults, as well as the youth; and when the converts
are sufficiently numerous, to gather them into such churches
as the missionaries themselves shall deeni most accordant
with the New Testament model for mission churches; to
ordain native pastors as soon as possible, and to throw upon the
native churches the chief responsibility for the education of
their own children;-the missionaries themselves, as long as
pecuniary aid is required, standing in the relation of counsellors and guides; taking earliest heed, meanwhile, that their
own labors among the surrounding heathen lose none of their
aggressive character, and that the native Christians be trained
to give their hearty co-operation. Indeed, we dwelt rmuch on
the importance of that noble determination, which the Apostle
Paul says he came to on his way from Athens to Corinth, "not
to know anything" in their labors, "save Jesus Christ and
him crucified; " preaching " not with enticing words of man's
wisdom, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect,"
"but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power;" that the
"faith " of their converts " should not stand in the wisdom of
men, but in the power of God "; with the deep, practical conviction, that' neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he
that watereth, but God that giveth the increase."
Such, Fathers and Brethren, was our grand aim, all the
while we were in India; and such, we believe, is the grand
aim of our respected brethren in the missions.
The Changes similar in each of the lVissions.
1. The Ahmednuggur, Madura, and Ceylon missions were
alike in their beginning.  They were so in respect to schools.
At the outset, schools for heathen children, taught by heathen
masters, were a prominent feature in them all; though there
was also much preaching. The number of pupils in the Mahratta missions rose at one time to two thousand; in the Madura,




28
to four thousand; in the Ceylon, to six thousand; and there
were select schools and boarding schools. But a period of
decline always comes to such schools. This does not necessarily indicate a decline in the missions; it may result from
progress. Other instrumentalities come into use.'lhe heathen
schoolmaster is a questionable agent for inculcating gospel
truth, ard it comes to pass that the money can be better
employed than in his support. Our brethren in the Malhratta
missions declared that they were unable to point to a single
case of conversion among the ten thousand pupils, who had
been thus instructed in their missions. Our brethren in Ceylon
could recollect only about thirty conversions among the thirty
thousand children, who had been in their common schools.
Looking at the whole working of the schools, we were led to
say in our letter to the Mahratta missions, " Schools, regarded
as converting instrumentalities, have almost wholly disappointed
us; regarded as preparatory means, they have not answered
expectation; and as auxiliaries, they have been expensive."
We added, " Where there are competent Christian teachers,
and funds to spare for the purpose, it is well to have schools in
heathen villages. In general, however, and more as missions
succeed, the funds to be appropriated to such purposes will
little more than suffice for aiding the native Christians in educating their own children, and for educating catechists and
preachers."  The gradual increase in the value of labor has
had a depreciating influence on the common schools. This is
affirmed in one of the Ceylon reports drawn tip by Mr. Meigs.
<" These schools," he says, " are not as valuable as they were
formerly; principally because the children do not remain so
long in the school, as they were accsutomed to do many years
ago. This is owing to the fact, that their parents demand
their services in their fields and gardens at an earlier age.
Hence we have a succession of little children in our schools,
who cannot, from the nature of the case, be expected to receive as much benefit as those who are older."  And he states
this as one of the reasons why it was " believed to be wise and
necessary," last year, " to revise and remodel the whole system
of station schools" in that mission.
2. We see in the missions, in the early stages, the same tendency to what may be called centralization in missions.  The
tendency to this is then almost irresistible. The missionary's
district embraces numerous villages. His place of abode, or
his' station,' is the central point. The schools, congregations,
church-members, native helpers, every thing tends towards this
centre. The printing press, boarding school,' English school,''compound,' if they exist at all, are there, and they are all




29
centralizing influences. In Ceylon, the roofless walls of the
great Dutch churches were repaired and covered, and thither
the tribes went up from all the adjacent villages. There were
schools, indeed, in the villages, and the missionary and his
helpers preached the gospel everywhere; but the congregation,
the only organized church, the only pastor, were at tie station.
So it was il the Madura mission, prior to the year 1845.
Commodious houses of worship, erected at four or five of the
stations, were filled every Sabbath, chiefly by the children of
the station boarding-school, who were drawn from the villages,
and by the schools taught by heathen masters near enough to
attend. The case, as illustrated by experience, was thus stated
in our letter to the Mahratta missions.
" At the outset of a mission, if we employ no heathen masters, we can have no common schools; and much has been
said of the importance of such schools in the first years of a
mission, as a means of obtaining congregations. Time was,
as the history of our appropriations shows abundantly, when
we admitted this plea; and we well know that there are intelligent and respected missionaries, who would now have such
schools. But the large experience of the Board disapproves of
the practice. We would by no means pronounce such schools
useless; but they are in a degree delusive, both to the missionary and to his supporters. The size of the congregation, thus
constituted, is no index of the real interest in the preaching;
and experience has painfully demonstrated, that this is not the
best way of obtaining a permanent and valuable congregation,
nor converts and churches. The school is not a good nucleus.
The common school with a heathen master, (and even with a
Christian master,) has not been a productive instrument of conversion. Such a congregation as the missionary needs, and as
will prove all effective nucleus, is the result of a gradual process, and much preaching and painstaking by the missionary.
One and another, and yet another, are added to the congregation,
and these draw others, until there is a sufficient number of
converted persons, through God's grace, to be formed into a
church. The church is in fact the only effective nucleus; nor
will its greatest attractive power be attained till it has its pastor
and deacons."
In the Ahmedn uggur mission an inroad was made on the
centralizing influences in the year 1851; but owing to peculiar
hinderances which existed to establishing village stations in that
mission, some of them remained down to the time of our visit.
We found an institution here, which had grown up insensibly,
and was comparatively new to us, as it will no doubt be to the
Board.  It was the' Mission Compound,' as the enclosed
*




30
ground around the mission-house is called.  This, or rather
the uses to which that inclosure is applied, regarded as an institution, awakened much concern in us from the great attractive
power it seemed to possess. A census of the three compounds
in the city of Ahmednuggur, gave 35 native families, and 163
persons, old and young, generally from the villages; besides 13
families and 53 persons sustained by rendering service in the
mission families,-all having their cottages rent free, with the
immunities and privileges afforded by the mission premises.
This presented itself to us as a refuge, an asylum, with a strongly attractive influence, in proportion to the general diffusion of
extreme poverty among the converts in the country villages.
To us it seemed to be entering largely into the general system
of operations, and to be incompatible with any great extension
of the mission. Its centralizing influence, drawing native converts from the villages; its deceptive influence, giving to the
centres an appearance of prosperity and strength, which they
had not in fact; its nature as an asylum, fostering the feeling
of dependence in the native mind, and weakening the mission
in all it departments and ramifications,-were most freely discussed in the protracted meeting held at Ahmednuggur, and a
way was provided for the gradual removal of the evil. The
mission church at Ahmednuggur contained 128 members, the
greater part really belonging to the villages.
3. It is interesting to see the changes that have been and
are in progress. We believe that the first mention made to
this Board of what are now called'Village Congregations' and'Village Schools,' in the Madura mission, was in the year
1846. The village congregations were commenced at least
ten years ago. The system of village operations was then
begun, which now numbers five hundred church members,
three thousand adults, and two thousand children; and it is
the one to which it was the leading object of the mission in
their meeting of sixteen days, and of ourselves as auxiliaries, to
impart a more vigorous life. This village system is the converse of the station or centralizing system. The latter was
well at the outset, the former is the result of progress. To a
visitor, the Madura mission would not be as good for an exhibition now, as it was twelve years ago. The Sabbath congregations are smaller at the station, nor can there be such an
array of schools at any one place. The leaven is rmore effective, because it is pervading the lump.
That mission has an admirable field, and is and has been
moving on in the right direction. Yet it seemed to us that the
time had come for carrying out its system of village schools somewhat more perfectly. These, regarded as a whole, appeared to be




deficient in vital energy. The average number of nominally
Christian pupils in each of the seventy-six schools, was only
about eight. It seemed desirable that still further innovations
should be made upon the old plan.
It was arranged by the mission, that the Seminary at Pasumalie, instead of one and the same course of study for all the
students, preparing them mainly for one kind of service, should
have a diversity of studies, adapted to different classes of persons; as, 1st, for young men of promise and piety, between the
ages of fifteen and twenty-five, a course purely Tamil, of from
two to four years, to prepare them for schoolmasters, catechists,
and eventually il some cases for pastors; 2dly, for the better improvement of some now employed as catechists, who have
developed a talent for preaching and pastoral duties, and who
would be greatly benefited by a longer or shorter connection
with the Seminary; and 3dly, for those whose talents, piety
and circumstances indicated the propriety of a more extended
education. In this higher class, the English language was to
be one of the studies.
Of the Boarding-Schools for small boys, one of which formerly existed, we believe, at each of the stations, four were
remaining in this mission. The existence of these was deemed
incompatible with the highest prosperity of the village system
of schools and congregations, and just in proportion as the
former should be carried on with discrimination and vigor.
The interests of the village schools and congregations demanded, that the boys remain longer at home than the boardingschool system  allowed.  The most promising lads would
naturally be drawn to the higher institutions; including the
children of parents on whom the village would most depend
for building school-houses, and for example and influence.
Catechists would send their sons and wards to the boardingschools; and we found eight from this one source in one of
the schools. The best families would send their brightest
sons. The best villages, parting with only a few boys, would
lose their strongest motives for giving vigor to home education.
We heard of one such school broken up by the withdrawal of
four of its best pupils. In the infancy of the village system,
when struggling for existence, it was unwise for a hundred
boys to be withdrawn, and their parents relieved from the care
and cost of their education.
The mission arranged that the four station boarding-schools
should be merged into two at the end of the year, the two into
one at the close of 1856, and that one to be discontinued at
the end of the year 1857.
But that which was most essential to the highest practical




32
development of the system, was the village church and the
village pastor. The mission had already made a beginning in
respect to the former of these, before our arrival; having
organized a church in the promising village of Mallankineru.
We had the unspeakable happiness, a year ago, to assist in
ordaining the native pastor for that church, and the first native
pastor in the mission.
4. The Prudential Committee resolved, in the year 1851, to
withhold appropriations from heathen schools in the Ahmednuggur missiol, taught by heathen masters; except in existing cases of rare peculiarity. They also voted to relinquish
the Seminary at Ahmednuggur, as no longer answering the purpose for which it was instituted; though with the expectation
that it would be revived one day in an improved form. We
did not find the mission prepared to recornmmend the forming of
a new seminary at present, the existing necessities being sufficiently met by schools now at Ahmednuggur, and by a class
in theology taught by Mr. Ballantine, embracing English
studies to some extent. The views of the mission on the
education to be given to the native ministry, embodied in their
report on native churches and pastors, are well deserving of the
careful attention of the Board.
" The education of native pastors, should be according to
their talents and the field of labor which they are expected
to occupy.  It will be well, in many instances, for pastors
of churches in the cities, or in important places, to have such
a knowledge of English as to be able to consult English
commentaries and other English books.  They should also
have some knowledge of English science. In our large cities
there are many intelligent natives well acquainted with English
science, and familiar with English works oni various subjects,
and it is important that our native pastors in these places should
be prepared to stand on an equality with this portion of the
community, and be able to meet those among them who are
deists, or infidels. It is desirable, also, that they should have
a knowledge of the Sanscrit language, that they may be prepared to answer the learned Brahmin who opposes Christianity,
and be able to show him, from his owln sacred books, the
absurdities of Hindooism, and the correctness of the principles
of Christian truth. The number of pastors, who need such
extended preparation for their work, will of course be comparatively small. Persons who are to be pastors of churches in
country places, composed of members comparatively ignorant,
do not need a knowledge of Elgilish science or of the English
language. eThey should have a good knowledge of their vernacular, and should be prepared to explain the trutls of the




33
word of God in a satisfactory manner. Their education should
have particular reference to this matter. Persons who are well
acquainted with the Scriptures, who understand the great doctrines of the Bible and are apt to teach, without any other
literary qualifications, may, we think, be ordained as pastors
over native churches formed in the villages, and may be
expected to prove good soldiers of Jesus Christ.  Between these
two extremes, there will be various grades of qualification, and
each pastor should be placed over the church for which he is
especially adapted by his talents and character."
The thing specially needed in the Ahmednuggur mission
was, the actual commencement of village stations, and of village churches and congregations, with village pastors. One of
the providential results of our visit was to arrange a plan on
which rural stations might be sustained. The native roads are
nearly impracticable in the rains, from their bridgeless torrents
and deep mud; and that being the season for acute diseases,
families have scrupled to settle where medical and friendly
succor, in times of sickness, would be so difficult of access.
The progress of English roads, especially railroads, will ultimately destroy the force of this objection.  It was obvious to
us, in our visit to the great valley of the Godavery, that there
was weight in the objection; and it was arranged that the
missionary occupying the rural station should have the option
of retiring to a central post during the rains. At other times,
and during three-fourths of the year, it is at least as healthy in
the country as in the city; and with houses adapted to the hot
season, the country is to be preferred. Such houses, of one
story, with thatched roofs, to cost not more than a thousand
dollars, it is proposed to build; with the understanding that,
whel the time comes for the missionary to remove to another
post, the windows and wood-work, valued at one-fourtl the
original cost of the house, will go to complete the dwelling for
the new station.
We assisted in the ordination of the two first native pastors in the Mahratta missions, and in tlhe organization of a
native church. A village church, some forty miles from Ahmednuggur, was formed not long after our departure; and
arrangements were made for a temporary village station. We
see nothing in the way of an indefinite progress and enlargement in this field, of which there are already encouraging
indications.
On reaching Bombay, we heard with concern of the recent
departure of Mr. Hume on his return to America, as the only,
and as it proved ineffectual, means of preserving his valued
life. This painful event had the effect to transfer the place




34
of the general meeting of missionaries to Ahmednuggur, one
hundred and seventy miles in the interior.
It was arranged to apply a legacy of $,3,750, given years ago
for chapel-building in Bombay, to the erection of a new and
more commnodious house of worship, on an eligible site already
owned by the Board; with a chaudi, or zayat in front, to be
frequently opened for informal preaching during the week.
Chaudis were also to be opened in ditferenrt parts of the city, to
be visited by mnembers of the mission. The old chapel was to
be left for the use of the printing establishment; and the upper
part or presetnt chapel, with some modification, will serve for a
High school, whenever it may seem best to sustain one.
Without going into the question, what sort of a High school
is expedient for the Bombay mission, in its future prosecution',
the missionl and Deputation were clear in the opinion that it
was not advisable to continue the kEnglish High School then
existing, beyond its first year. rThe reasons against continuing
it were well set forth by the general meeting at Ahmeduuggur.
We should add to them the strongly attractive influence such
an institution conducted by ourselves in that great commercial
city,-stronger than if conducted by others,-would exert on
the young converts in our missions of the Deccan, drawing
them thither, with little prospect that many of them would
ever returnl; thuls creating a denand for similar institutions in
Ahmednuggur and Satara, and perhaps even in Kolapfir. The
reasotns stated by the general meeting were as follows:
" What would be expedient and highly desirable, viewed only
in reference to a particular station, may be inexpedient on the
whole.  The following considerations seem to us to weigh
against the present High School at Bombay, and to render it
undesirable that it should be continued otl its present basis.
1.'The Eiiglish langulage is made to too great an extent
the medium of comnmunicatitlg inrstructiot. Past experience
has seemed to show that such schools are not the most efficient
instruments in forwarding the great work of missions. that of
making known the gospel to the heathen and saving souls.
The vernacular of any people is believed to be the most suitable language in which to communicate truth, and through
which to affect the heart. Schools in which the vernacular is
the grand medium of instruction, and the English if introduced
is only taught as a classic, seem to be founded on the best basis
and to promise and produce the best results.
"' 2. The expense of such a school as that at Bombay is an
objection to continuing it. It must be able to compete with
other schools of a similar character at Bombay, or it cannot be
successfully maintained. rTo do this, it must have those advan



35
tages and appurtenances which money alone can procure. It
does not appear that the present expense can be essentially
reduced consistently with making the school what it should be
in order to answer the ends for which it was established.
" The funds of the Board are limited; they are not sufficient
to carry forward all operations that would seem desirable or
highly useful. There must consequently be a choice of fields, and
in each field a choice of means. If there are two kinds of labor
which promise equally well in all other respects, the selection
must be made with a reference to economy. It is known that
such High schools are among the most expensive operations
undertaken by mission Boards. And with the present amount
of funds and a choice of the means to be employed, it does not
appear that a due regard to economy would warrant the necessary expenditure for sustaining such a school at Bombay.
" 3. The influence of such schools on other mission fields is
undesirable. If the High school at Bombay is continued, there
are other missions of the Board which will feel that they have
equal claims to be allowed such an institution. It will be
impossible to convince them that there are good reasons for
allowing such a school in one large city and not in another.
Thus the decision in respect to the institution involves practically a decision in respect to several other places where the
same want exists. It becomes in fact a question of mission
policy. Shall a large part of the funds be appropriated to maintain these expensive English schools in the different fields
occupied by the Board? The question is not one on which
there is no experience to guide us. The experiment has been
tried elsewhere under the most favorable auspices, and the
results, if not actually disastrous, have at least proved unsatisfactory. The system seems to be a forced, artificial one, and
produces artificial fruits. In view of these facts it' does not
seem desirable to make it a part of our mission policy, and we
think the institution at Bombay should not be made an exception to the general policy of the mission."
5. The changes in the Ceylon mission have been of the
same nature with those in the other missions, and greater only
because longer deferred. In point of fact, the Ceylon mission
has followed one track for the space of almost forty years.
This lhas been partly owing to the peculiar difficulty of
missionary culture in that field; and one grand cause of this
peculiarity has been thus described by our lamented brother
Poor. " After an external pressure," lie says, " weighing the
people down for ages and drying up their spirits, was removed by
their being brought under British rule, they believed not for joy
that they were once more allowed to taste the sweets of idol



36
atrous liberty. But on finding that it was even so, there was
a mighty rush from a nominal Christianity to the all-absorbing
system of Hindoo idolatry; and they entered on a course of
temple-building and adornment, wholly unparalleled in the
annals of the Province, and which is in vigorous progress at the
present time. Such was the state of things on our arrival in
the year 1816."-The high-caste population of Jaffna have
been less easily operated upon, than the people on the adjacent
continent; and the evil has been greatly enhanced by a singularity in the social state-the landed property being held and
conveyed almost solely for marriage dowries to the daughters.
But so long a persistence in one course would scarcely have
been possible, had it not pleased God to spare the venerable
founders of the mission, and to endow then with those qualities of mind and character which give influence to the possessor. Well is it for the church, that menll advanced in years are
usually averse to changes in their own long cherished habits of
labor. Such, however, has been the spirit of this mission, that
1no disturbance in its social harmony has occurred between its
founders and those to whom, as Dr. Poor remarks, they are so
soon to leave the work in charge. Our visit was evidently
seasonable; and we may here be allowed to quote a few sentences from a letter of a member of the mission, dated August
20, which we have seen recently published. "Cholera and
small-pox ceased raging so suddenly," says the writer, "( about
the time of the arrival of the Deputation in Jaffna, that we
could not but regard it as a special providence in their favor.
From the first of April to the first of June, our time and attention as a mission were wholly occupied with them. We
enjoyed their visit exceedingly. Great changes were made by
the mission, after long and prayerful consultation with the
Deputation. The need of important changes had been long felt;
but no measures had hitherto been devised, in which there was
unanimity among the members of the mission. The Holy
Spirit was very manifestly with us during our long meeting of
twenty days, which was attended by both males and females.
At the close of these discussions, there was found to be a degree
of unanimity wholly unexpected, considering the great change
proposed."-We may add, that we had ourselves no definite
plans to propose to the mission on our arrival. We soon perceived that our chief business was to promote the freest interchange of views and sentiments among the different nembers
upon desirable modifications to be made in their working
system. It became at length obvious to us, as it evidently was
to a majority of the brethren, that it was time, as Mr. Spaulding
remarked, to "C tack ship."




37
While at Madura, in February, we had been pained to hear
from Mr. Spaulding of the ravages of disease in the District.
" At present," he said, " all our operations are suspended. Our
village schools and congregations are scattered to the winds,
and few, very few attend on the Sabbaths. The cholera and
small-pox are all about us. Our mission looks like a wrecked
vessel, and when it will right, if ever, is beyond my forethought. You come in a good time to help us. Even so,
come."   These afflictive events made a reconstruction of
the common schools, about eighty in number, comparatively
easy. The extract already made from Mr. Meigs's report has
described them as composed of small children, and so of diminished value. In the reconstruction, the mission provided for
the existence of village schools of a higher order than the old
ones, and every missionary was called on to say, in the presence of his brethren, how many he wished to have for Christian
children, and how many for heathen. The number desired for
Christian children, as the fact was thus drawn out, was twenty,
and for heathen children twenty-one; and the appropriations of
the Prudential Committee, the present year, provide for the support of these forty-one schools, at a cost quite equal, we believe,
to that of the larger number of inferior schools on the former
plan.
It was found that the centralizing "English Schools " at
each of the stations, supported by the government grant of
~200, could not be continued in the mission without exerting
an influence adverse to the growth and prosperity of the parochial village schools, so urgently required by the progress made
in the work. No parent would senda son to the vernacular
school, no boy would go there, if he could reach by any means
the English school; and the best of the teachers had like
aversions and aspirations with the pupils. Both the native
larrguage and the vernacular school were in low repute. And
as the Christian village schools formed an important element in
the village congregations and village churches, the English
schools would retard the development of the Christian village
system, —the only possible system for rooting gospel institutions
effectually in the native soil. An efficient vernacular education
there could not be, for the masses, without relinquishing the
English schools. This the mission did, and with our approval.
It also respectfully declined longer receiving the government
grant of ~200. Such grants were generous, and deserve the
grateful acknowledgments of the Board; but they were no
longer necessary, (if they could properly be received on our
new basis;) and, implying the right of visitation, they would
sooner or later, in various ways, work adversely to the strictly
evangelical character of our schools. It is an evil for a mission
4




38
to become a disbursing agency for large sums of money among
the heathen, as it awakens in them hopes of earthly gain, and
strengthens their mercenary spirit.
It is impossible for us, Fathers and Brethren, to go into a full
exposition, in this Report, of all the.changes made by our
Ceylon brethren in their working system, in order to the erect
tion of a spiritual temple upon the foundation they had soughto lay in the native mind. It may be well for us, however, to
say somewhat more of these changes.
The Batticotta Seminary had been shorn of the great religious strength it possessed in former times, and, under the force
of circumstances beyond direct control, was working mainly for
the secular advantage of the native youth; and none were
more earnest for changes in it than Mr. Hastings, its excellent
Principal. Only eleven out of ninety-six pupils were nmembers
of the church; and many were looking forward mainly to government for employment, "and seemed determined," in the
language of the mission, "to have nothing to do with Christianity."  The introduction of pay-scholars was filling the institution more and more with the sons of rich men, or of men
connected with the government, who were preparing for secular posts of honor or profit, and might be expected to prefer
heathen wives, with large dowries, to a connection with our
pious Oodooville girls. The studies, moreover, though adopted
with no such intent, fell in with the ambitious schemes of the
young men for acquiring wealth and influence. These studies
were mainly English, which had gained on the Tamil, until, as
we learned from the Principal, the purely vernacular studies of
the three classes were only twelve, while the English were
thirty-five; and there were fourteen others in which there
was a mixture of English and Tamil. The evils of this
system are stated by the mission in their report on the Seriinary, which is appended to this Report. The youth were all
drawn from the villages, and their education was such as to
unfit them for a return, except upon a high salary from the
mission. The mission says in its report, that " they are so
much elevated by their education above the mass, that they
feel unable to live on the income they would receive in the ordinary occupations of the country, become discontented, and
seek employment in other places." Few of the graduates have
returned to their villages, without employment from the mission, or without heathen wives who have brought them rich
dowries,-for it is a curious fact in this District, as already
stated, that the land goes chiefly with the females in the form
of dowries. Ninety-two of the graduated church members of
this Seminary, or a fourth part of the communicants, have been




39
excommunicated by the mission, and chiefly for marrying
heathen wives. " By their education,' says Mr. Spaulding,
"they have raised their worth above their former value in the
matrimonial market, and sell themselves for rank and dowry."
The only question in respect to this institution, was as to the
extent of the changes. The Deputation suggested, that were
the English language thrown out of the regular course of study,
it might be expedient to have a select theological class of graduates who should be instructed in English; but the mission
deemed it unwise then to make any such provision. The suspension of the Seminary for a time, was resolved upon after we
left the island, and was not suggested by either of us. One of
the older brethren was the first person we heard recommend it.
He said they were so well supplied with educated helpers, that
they should not need the institution for two years to come, and
that there was no ote who could be spared to take charge of
the Seminary, sufficiently conversant with the native language
to make it such a religious institution as it was originally.
He was, therefore, for suspending the Seminary, and giving the
Principal that opportunity he so much desired, apart from English-speaking natives, to come into a free use of the Tamil language. The Principal himself has since informed us, that this
arrangement had his cordial approbation. The institution, when
revived, is to be mainly a theological school, with pious pupils,
and to have the Tamil language for its medium of instruction.
But we presume the English language will be taught to a select
class, at some stage in the course of study.
The Oodooville Female Boarding School, under the care of
Mr. and Mrs. Spaulding, assisted by Miss Agnew, has retained
its excellencies as a religious institution. The excommunicationls have been only twelve, or one in fifteen. The firmness
with which the females from this school have adhered to their
Christian profession, is remarkable.  We saw many of them as
wives and mothers at their houses. They were intelligentlooking women, thoroughly christianized, cordial in their mantiers, and evidently a blessing in their community. The difficulties to be overcome in female education at the outset, were
very great in Jaffna. It was deemed necessary, for twentyfive years, to receive pupils on the basis of remaining till
they were married; and also, when married, to give each of
them a dowry of about twenty dollars. Those received after
1849 were to remain only six years, and were to receive no
dowry from mission funds. The object of the school is to
give to a select number of promising females an education
superior to what they can obtain in the Christian village schools,
with a view to their becoming the wives of native pastors, catechists and other missionary agents. The number of pupils




40
when we were there, was seventy-three, which was nmuch
larger than any probable demand for educated Christian wives.
Indeed, many of the pupils had been too long in the school.
"Some," says the report of the mission, " have remained fifteen or sixteen years, and one over nineteen years."  Of the
two hundred and twenty-two who have been in the school,
exclusive of the present pupils, sixty had resided there ten
years and upwards. It was the opinion of the mission, that
these older pupils should be gradually removed from the school,
and that it was not wise to create a supply of females educated
in this manner beyond the probable demand. Provision was
made by the mission for gradually reducing the number of
pupils to thirty-five; and they are to be twelve years old when
received, and are generally to give evidence of piety, and to
come from the families of church members or nominal Christians.
We have no doubt that these changes resulted from the general and decided convictions of the members of the mission.
But the carrying out of the plan, as regards the older pupils,
cannot but be a source of perplexity and trial to the feelings of
the venerable Principals. Yet, seeing it is a result which must
come at some time, and that it can be brought about with less
odium among the natives through their agency, than by a missionary and his wife newly come on the ground, it is matter
for gratitude that the reduction will be made while they are
spared to effect it. Indeed, this reflection was derived by one
of us directly from Mr. Spaulding.
This Board occupies the Province of Jaffna jointly with the
Church Missionary Society and the English Wesleyan Missionary Society, both of which have gone largely into education.
Our own expenditure for education alone, from the beginning,
has been $250,000, which has been among 130,000 people, our
own part of the population of Jaffna.
After such an outlay, we may well presume that a sufficiently broad foundation in the District has been laid in general
education. If it be not, then is it beyond the power of missionary societies. We are entitled to presumne, too, that the
great body of our alumni have acquired some measure of that
appreciation of knowledge and enlargement of views and public spirit, which are supposed to belong to educated men. They
are among the leading men, the intellectual aristocracy, of their
day; and if science has taught them the falsehood and folly of
Hindoo mythology, and is at all reliable as a missionary influence, then they, in their respective spheres, will hear witness
to the truth. They, too, will favor a vernacular education for
the masses of the people, and will cooperate with us in the
effort to make it take root in the soil, and become self-supporting and independent. But the precise value of the results




41
of the above expenditure, in a religious and missionary point
of view, will more clearly appear after there shall have been
time to know the effects of the changes that are now in progress in the working of the missions.
Thus has the Ceylon mission, after a long, costly and elaborate preparation, adapted its system of education to the demand arising from that preparation. It was in no sense an
abandonment of education, but a modification, answering to
what the mission regarded as clear indications of the will of
God. We cannot doubt that the Seminary, the Female Boarding School, and the schools for heathen children, if vigorously
prosecuted on the plan recommended in the reports of the
mission, will, in their several spheres, be more efficient for
strictly missionary purposes, than they have been of late years;
and the present parish schools for Christian children are an
addition, a great addition, to the system. The entire distribution of forces, including the village congregations, churches,
and native pastors, is adapted to the present advanced preparation (so rarely found as yet in India) for preaching the gospel'from house to house,' and also to the peculiarly rural life of
the people. The more direct aim of the mission is to be henceforth the planting of gospel institutions in the villages in
such way as will, through God's grace, give promise of dispensing with all foreign culture at a day not too remote for our
hopes to dwell upon.   A member of the mission, already
quoted, says that "one of the most important changes" while
the Deputation was in Jaffna, "related to the gathering of
village churches. One such church was formed while they
were here, and a native pastor was ordained over it; and we
hope,' the writer continues, " before many years, to see the
village movement general throughout the island." It is very
justly added, that " a great and noble preparation for this has
been made by the older members."
The whole thus far, however, is a preparation. The actual
converts are not numerous; and, as Dr. Poor has remarked,
the eleemosynary nature of the training has somewhat hindered
the development of Christian graces among them. It is due to
the Board, that we transfer to this Report a few statements from
our official letter to the mission, written after its protracted
meeting. In that letter we said,-" Your report on preaching
shows that yours has been, as you say,'truly a preaching
mission.' The mission, as a body, has from the first been
composed of able and faithful preachers.  Notwithstanding
this, there has hitherto been a failure to obtain reliable adult
congregations, where the same persons attend from Sabbath to
Sabbath. We know of nothing more surprising in our experience of missions, than the result as regards congregations in




42
your five older stations. For a period of from thirty-four to
nearly forty years, those stations have enjoyed the labors of
some of the ablest and most faithful of missionaries; and during all this time, there has been every facility which popular
schools of varied form could give. Yet, in a population of one
hundred and thirty thousand souls, separating from the congretions the pupils in the mission schools and the persons deriving
their support from mission employ, only one hundred and
twenty-four adults remain, for the whole of these five older
congregations, who are not members of the church. Had so
much piety, talent and labor been employed, for so long a time,
simply in direct preaching efforts to collect congregations, without the intervention of schools, we should have been ready to
regard this mission as without doubt to be relinquished for some
more productive field. As it is, however, we come to no such
conclusion. We have supposed that it proves the insufficiency
of schools as a means of securing stated congregations, rather
than the impracticability of the field. It falls in with similar
facts elsewhere to show, that though schools may secure an
audience, for the time being, they are not the best way of
securing a stated congregation. They would seem rather to
stand in the way of it. We say this with a perfect recollection,
that we at home have had a joint and cordial agency with our
brethren here in this method of working the mission, and have
written and published much to secure to it favor and success;
and through it much valuable experience has been acquired,
experience that has been and will be useful here and elsewhere, saving vastly more money than it has cost.   We
believe, too, that in the working out of this great experiment,
there has been much real preparation made for the spread of
the gospel in this Province; and that God's providence will in
time make this fact stand out much more clearly than it does
at present. Even now, your older members are at no loss for
proofs of this abundantly satisfactory to their own minds."
We further stated, that " the whole number of churchmembers is 376; and of these, including 31 members of
the two seminaries, 249 derive their support in somre form,
from the mission. This is not mentioned as a defect in the
churches; for in one point of view, it is certainly well that so
large a number of members are worthy of employment, and
can find it as preachers, catechists, schoolmasters, etc., or of
being educated in boarding schools. Still it is a misfortune,.
that so large a proportion of the members stand in just
that relation. Now this peculiar constitution of the mission
churches in this Province should be viewed in connection with
the no less peculiar constitution of the mission congregations;
and these again should be viewed in connection with the other




43
parts of the working system.  Thus the two boarding schools
have been the chief feeders of the church. In other words,
the converting influence of the mission is and has been chiefly
through its boarding schools.
" Churches thus formed and sustained cannot become selfsupporting, active, united churches, nor give highly satisfactory
evidence of piety. We find it hard to trust the motives of tile
members, and to confide in them, and of course to love and
respect them as we should. They cannot be greatly multiplied, and more change is, therefore, needful in our method of
operating.
" The general course of your proceedings in your late meeting, as detailed in your reports, is in accordance with these
views. You regard the main strength of our future efforts as to
be in the village church, the village pastor, the village school
with its nucleus of Christian children, and the native preaching
bungalow, which may serve also for the village school.
" Such churches as this you propose to form wherever the
Lord is pleased to renew by his grace a sufficient number of
the inhabitants; and you intend to ordain pastors wherever
there is a suitable man to fill so sacred and responsible an office,
and a church that needs and desires him for its shepherd.
From the feeling of interest awakened among the people in this
movemelt, it is easy to see that you will need to exercise great
wisdom and firmntess, to prevent the existence of worthless
churches, and of pastors a great deal worse. We earnestly
advise you, however, for obvious reasotis, to suffer no unnecessary delay in organizing clhurches in the several villages which
came under the distinct consideration of our late meeting."
VII.
MADRAS AND ARCOT MISSIONS.
We have restricted ourselves in this Report chiefly to the
older and larger missions, which we first visited. There were
no extended discussions of subjects while we were at Madras;
except as regards the Printing Establishment, of the value
of $30,000, which we believed ought to be restricted to the
demands of the native language.   Mr. Hunt, the printer,
returned from the United States while one of us was yet in
India, and he inclined strongly to the same opinion. Our venerable brother Scudder was called to his rest while we were in
India, and before we reached Madras. Only Messrs. Winslow
and Hurd were there to meet the Deputation. A small num



44
her of copies of their report and of our official letter have been
printed for the use of the Prudential Committee.
The Arcot mission, at that time composed of three brothers,
sons of Dr. Scudder, we visited in June of last year. Their
three stations are all of recent origin; and it was not deemed
necessary, nor was there time, to renew the discussions of general principles there, which had already been discussed once
and again, and some of them for the third time. Their report, a
letter addressed to us, and our official letter to them, have been
printed for private use. Born in India of missionary parents,
and admitted at an early age to the spoken language of the
people, they have a strong bias towards preaching as their
especial vocation; though not to the neglect of vernacular
schools and books. We were much interested in their labors as
preachers, and were happy to encourage them in this good
work of the Lord.
VIII.
THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE.
We shall be brief in what we have to say on the place
which the English Language has had, and now has, in our
India missions. The Board will kindly bear in mind the distinction we have made between the means to be used in the
large cities and in the rural districts of India, and that our
remarks are not designed to have a special bearing upon the
former. We make a distinction, also, between teaching English as a study, and using it as a mnedium of instruction.  We
should say, moreover, that the use of this language has never
been a matter of any serious difference of opinion between
the Prudential Committee and the India missions. Never,
before the year 1854, had it come up in a form to create even
an issue between the Committee and their brethren in India;
and then it was in the proposal from Bombay which led to
oulr visit. The subject has not been often discussed in letters
to the India missions. In letters to tile Ceylon mission, we
find a silngle page as long ago as the year 1847, and that in
the mildest argumentative forn. To the Madura mission the
Secretary went into a more extended statement of the subject
in the year 1850, but took no extreme view, and disclaimed
any authority. The Prudential Committee and the Secretaries
have said so little on the use to be made of the English language, because they did not know what were the proper metes
and bounds to its use. It is a question to be settled by experience, and there has not yet been experience enough to harmonize the views even of missionaries. The Mahratta missions have recorded it as their opinion, that " there is no reason




45
for the study of English in their schools for catechists and
teachers, at least in the Deccan. They should be strictly vernacular schools. Our ordinary catechists and teachers," they
say, " are to be employed in laboring for their countrymenl
in the Mahratta language. It is important that their trainlitg should be vernacular."'rhel vernacular of any people,'
they add, 1( is believed to be the most suitable language in
which to communicate truth, and through which to affect the
heart. Schools [for the higher education] in which the vernacullar is the grand medilum of instruction, and the English, if
introduced, is only taught as a classic, seem to be founded on
the best basis, and to promise and produce the best results."The Mladura mission decided, that the class of young rieln of
promise and piety between the ages of fiteen and twenty-five,
preparing for schoolmasters, catechists, and eventually, in solme
cases, pastors, should be restricted to purely ramil studies. B3ut
they say, that a part of the higler class'l should, in " their
O'opinion, study the English language, both for merntal disci-line, and that they may have access to English literature.
But as a medium   of itstruction, the English should be excluded where proper text-books in''amtil canl he obtained."The Ceylon mission declared it to be their opinion, that it was
not expedient to continue the study of English in the Female
Boarding School. Trey affirm their ability to show by many
facts, " that efforts to evangelize a people through a foreign
tongue, have not proved successful."  They also state, that
the system of instruction pursued in the Batticotta Seminary
" has tended to give a prominence to instruction in the English
language and the sciences, which has led many of the students
to neglect their ownV langulage.  Though great efforts have
been made on the part of the missionaries in charge to give
special prominence to biblical instructions in the vernacular,
and bring in science to illustrate and impress the truth, the
current in favor of English and the sciences has steadily advanced with little interruption."  " A class of men " too, they
affirm, " has been raised tip, who tthoulgh well educated, and
int some respects well qualified for service among the people,
are not in the best malnner fitted by their course of training for
that kind of humble and persevering labor, which is most
needed in making known the gospel, and giving it a footing
permanently in the villages, on a self-suslaining basis."  And
they add, that the "missionaries connected wvill the institution have been hindered in the acquisition of the colloquial
language of the country. They have not been compelled by
circumstances to speak in Tamil, and the temptation to use
their own mother tongue has too often prevailed. The same




46
may be true to some extent of other missionaries, who have
catechists under their care that can speak the English language."
The mission accordingly gave it as tleir conviction, " that
no instruction inl EiIglish should be given irl tile regular
course;" atLd that "' the course of study, being wholly in the
vernacular, should be eminently biblical, such as will by the
blessinlg of God prepare the pupils to wield the sword of the
Spirit, which is the word of God. Sacred history, geography,
alid science should be brought in to aid in this work, and all
should centre in the Bible, and be made to explain its truths."
It has been already stated, that we suggested the expediency of
teachiing the English language to a select advanced class in
theology, but that the mission did not deemn it expedient at
that time to make a formal provision for such an arrangement.
After so extensive a use of the English langtage in their
school system, none can be more competent than our brethren
of the Ceylon mission to judge and speak of its real value as a
missionary instrument.  How far the mission llas had an
agency in creatitng the passion for it, which seemed to pervade
the District at the time of our visit, we do not know. We
thus wrote to the mission:
" The declarations we have heard from the most intelligent
natives, as to the rush of feeling for English in the native mind,
almost exceeds belief; and yet, until quite lately, we have
heard no contrary testimony from any quarter. We have heard
it affirmed by the highest Tlamil authority in the District, that
no education is valued by the people except in the English
language; that the value,laced upon that laniguage is simply
as a means of acquiring wealth, office and itnfluence, and not
for the purpose of readitlg English books, and so gaining access
to the fountains of English knowledge; that western science
is not sought by the people for its own sake, atnd would not be
valued if clad in a Tamil garb; that if English were excluded
fiom the Seminary, the scholars would all flee from the institutioi; and that if the mission shoold cease givirng instruction
in English; and restrict its labors to the use of Tamil, the
natives would lose all interest in the mission, and all its schools
and congregations would cotme to art end. We could only
reply, that if such would be thle consequences resulting from
the change, it was high time for us to abandon the English,
and restrict ourselves to the'arnil altogether.  But the belief
that such would be the result, is sustained by no experience
whatsoever.  Who ever heard of such a phenomenon?     It
would prove the people of Jatffa to be the most narrow-minded,
unintellectual, mean-spirited people in the world.  What could




47
be said in favor of schools as pioneers and auxiliaries of preaching, were such consequences to follow in Jaffna front restricting
ourselves to imparting instruction in the mother tongue? It
would show that the minds of the people in all their gradations
of society,-and of Christians no less than heathens,-were
grasping at nothing but rupees. We will not believe in the
possibility of this, before the facts demonstrate it."
A member of the mission having the above statement in
mind, and writing to one of us under date of August 2, 1855,
said:-" We have seen nothing of that contempt and disrespect,
not to speak of more violent demonstrations, from the natives,
on account of the late changes, which were foretold, and already
begin to doubt the accuracy of the predictions."
It seemed to us, that the mission acted on the very best
reasons in excluding the English language from their schools,
and from the course of study in the Seminary. The English
language, as acquired by the Tamil young man, found no
market in his native village, nor within the territory occupied
by the mission, except as the mission became the purchaser by
giving him a salary that would meet his own views. The
consequence was that it was needful to give larger salaries than
the village churches would be able to pay; and too often the
graduate went into the more lucrative service of the government, or of some merchant or planter, and thus his labors and
influence were lost to tie mission, and to his native village.
Were our object merely to educate and civilize the people, this
might do; but the churches cannot afford to prosecute their
work in this manner.
The missionaries of the Church Missionary Society, who
have long cultivated a district lying between two parts of our
own territory, had given up teaching the English language ill
their high schools before our arrival, for reasons similar to those
which governed our own brethren, and declared themselves
decidedly against the system  of English studies which had
been pursued.
IX.
CASTE.
In every mission except the Ceylon, all seemed to be done
that was possible for the suppression of caste among the church
members. In Ceylon, we did not find caste tolerated in the
mission churches, but we found it existing in the social life of
the Christian community, and we thought that more should be
done to expel it thence. It is doubtless true, that the peculiar




48
state of caste in the Jaffna community makes it the more difficult to eradicate the same wholly from the church. It is an
evil, like intemperance in our own country, that requires a perpetual watch, and perpetual effort; and thus it will be for a long
time to come. It connects itself with notions of familyirank
and consequence, and of the value of dowry; and many native
Christians seemed too desirous of retaining their connections
with their heathen relatives, and too fearful of the consequences
that would follow from breaking wholly with the world.
The following pledge was signed by about ninety of the
leading members of the church, while we were on the island;
namely, —" We, the undersigned, do solemnly pledge ourselves and affirm, that we will wholly renounce in ourselves,
and discountenance in others, all caste and other distinctions
and usages in society, which tend to foster pride, impair the
affections, and hinder the kindly offices of Christian love,
and that we will not object to eating any kind of food, on account of the caste of the person or persons by whom it was
cooked or offered to us."  And the mission declared its intention of carrying out this declaration, both in the spirit and letter.
"In the formation of future village churches," they say, " in
the appointment of officers, and in the ordination of pastors
over them, every precaution will be taken to proceed upon correct principles in reference to caste."
X.
PO L Y GAMY.
The action of tile missions with regard to polygamy was
explicit and satisfactory. The Mahratta mission came to the
following result:-" When a legal divorce can be effected, it
should always be required before an individual be admitted to
the church. Tile only cases of real difficulty which present
themselves to our minds are when a legal divorce cannot
be effected. We believe, however, that it is not expedient to
admit any one to the church, even in such cases, without his
giving a written pledge to the church that he will no longer
cohabit with more than one wife, and that he will also, if
necessary, support the wife thus put away so long as she shall
lead a virtuous life. Such a man, though unable to free himself from the legal relation of husband to the person thus put
away, we believe to be free from the guilt of polygamy, and
hence a proper candidate for admission to the church."
The Madura mission laid down this principle:-" That as




49
polygamy is contrary to the original design of the Deity in the
institution of the marriage relation, and opposed to all the
teachings of Christ, and as there is no positive evidence that the
Apostles ever admitted polygamists into the churches established by them, no polygamist, however well fitted he may be
in other respects, should be admitted to any of our churches,
until he has entered into covenant with the church that he
will henceforth be the husband of only one wife."
No polygamists have ever been received into the church in
the Ceylon mission, nor, indeed, into those of any other of our
India missions; and it was the expectation of the missions
that none ever would be received. The brethren in Arcot say,
" Polygamy has not existed, and will not be allowed to exist,
in any of our churches."
XI.
FINANCIAL CONCERNS.
We reflect with pleasure on the financial results to which
the missions have come in their deliberations. We shall not
go into detail, but a topic of so much importance ought not to
be wholly omitted.
The Madura mission voted to sell the houses and land in
what was formerly called the Madura Fort, the property at the
unproductive station of Sivagunga, and the houses at West
Dindigul; the whole estimated at $7,000. The proceeds of
the sale were to go for preparing some three or four new and
more eligible stations for missionaries; the expense of each
new station being estimated at $1,750. At Bombay, the Board
owns two dwelling-houses in a part of the city called Byculla,
estimated to be worth $7,000. It was arranged that one of
these be sold; and it was recommended that the other be retained only for the present. A wet, unhealthy open ground
lies back of them, and a thousand dollars, voted by the Prudential Committee for purchasing and filling a part of this ground,
was appropriated to current expenses, as being an inadequate
and inexpedient remedy for the evil. The Huntridge chapel
legacy of $3,750 was invested, as far as needed for the, purpose, in a new and desirable chapel. The mission premises at
Bhingar, near Ahmednuggur, not now occupied, are also to be
sold. Their estimated value is $2,500.
The; property in houses, lands, printing establishments, and
the like, held by the Board for the use of the India missions,
is of value for missionary uses; and much attention was
giveki to perfecting the titles by which it is held, and to prevent
5




60
unnecessary investments in lands and buildings, agreeably to
the established policy of the Board.
A great ultimate saving was effected by the principles and
rules adopted for the building of dwelling-houses for missionaries and native helpers, and of houses for public worship. Considering the inexperience of new missionaries in all such matters, this department of expenditure requires constant attention,
and we found our brethren fully awake to the subject. Great
reduction was made prospectively in the rate of expense for
native houses for worship and catechists' houses. The Board
will be interested to see at what a sum it is believed such
buildings may be erected.
Houses for Worship.  Dwellings.
Ahmednuggur Mission, -        $25 to 150.  $25.
Madura Mission, -             $12 to 50.   $ 8 to 50.
Ceylon Mission, - -      -    $25 to 75.  $50 to 75.
The value of these in a religious and missionary point of
view, is even greater than in a financial. Where the style is
suited to the native taste, and the cost is so small, it may be
hoped the native Christians themselves wrill assume much of
the expense at the outset, and the whole at no distant day.
Whoever carefully reads the reports adopted by the missions
on estimates, appropriations and expenditures, will see that the
annual expenditure of the Board is approximating towards that
exact method, which is so eminently desirable in our extended
operations.
XII.
OFFICIAL SANCTION GIVEN TO PROCEEDINGS OF THE MISSIONS.
Our Instructions authorized us " to give such directions to
the several missions," as we should "judge that the best
interests of the missions demand," in all cases in which it
should be our united judgment, that the exigency was such at
not to justify delay for the action of the Prudential Committee;
with the understanding, that our action be subject to the
revision of the Committee, and that we be not at liberty to
make pecuniary appropriations. Of " directions " we had very
few to give. Every mission of three or more members is
regarded as an organized body, for self-government, under the' Rules and Regulations of the Board;' and the habit of the
Prudential Committee is to throw as much responsibility upon
these organized bodies, as can be done with propriety. Now
it should be observed, that the greater number of the arrangements embodied in the reports of the missions, considered




51
separately or collectively, were within the discretion of the
several missions, (subject of course to the revision of the Prudential Committee;) and had they been adopted in the regular
meetings of the missions, would not have needed the ratification of the Committee in order to become obligatory on the
members. The proceedings of the Syrian mission, at a meeting where only the Secretary was present, are an illustration in
point. The location of its members, the assignment of labors,
and the prospective arrangement for its female boarding school,
will stand, unless disapproved by the Prudential Committee.
They were arrangements within the discretion of the mission,
as an organized, self-governing body, and needed only the vote
of the majority of members.  It is expected, however, that
such proceedings of the missions will always be promptly
reported to the Prudential Committee. The Mahratta meeting was not a meeting of one mission, but of four missions;
and its proceedings, for that reason, required the sanction of
another body. It will be seen, however, that the action of the
Deputation, so far as any specific measures were concerned, had
respect mainly to the effective introduction of the village operation; which a reference to the official correspondence from the
Missionary House will show has long been the settled policy
of the Prudential Committee for the Deccan. Most of the
subordinate details of business depended on reasons which at
the time seemed to render delay inexpedient. In the Madura
proceedings, we see nothing to which we gave an official sanction, that lay beyond the discretion of the mission at its
ordinary business meetings; except an appropriation for the
Sanitarium, which had been specifically referred to us by the
Committee. It was stated to the mission, that their meeting
with us was extraordinary, and that their proceedings would not
become obligatory as they were in ordinary business meetings,
lntil they should receive the sanction of the Prudential Committee through the Deputation, or by their direct action at a subsequent period. As the entire practical system of the mission
was then to come under revision, it was thought well to have
this reservation.  Cases requiring pecuniary grants were, of
course, referred to the Committee. There were several silch
cases ill these missions. The changes in the Ceylon tnission,
at least the more important of them, were all intimately connected together, and should be regarded as forming one whole.
We see nothing in the proceedings of that mission beyond the
discretion of its ordinary business meetings. This is true even
of the reduction in the number of scholars in the Batticotta
Seminary, and the modifications in the course of study. Similar
modifications, only somewhat less in degree, had been effected




52
before. The institution has always been in the hands of
the mission.  The same is true of the Oodooville Female
Boarding School. The circumstances must, indeed, be extraordinary, which would justify so much change without a
previous correspondence with the Committee; but seeing the
change involved no increase of expenditure, it'was not beyond
the discretion allowed to so experienced a mission. Our official
sanction was required for the reason mentioned above in connection with the Madura proceedings; and it was clearly apparent to us on the ground, that it would not be wise to defer
this sanction. The arrangement made with the printing establishment, was not suggested by us, but, as we have understood,
by one of the older brethren. All appeared to believe it was
the best thing that could be done. If done at all, it must be
while the printer was on the ground, and we could not doubt it
was the duty of the Prudential Committee at once to approve
of it. The transfer of Mr. Burnell to the Madura mission was
not among the powers committed to a mission. This was
effected by the Deputation, with the approval of all the
brethren; who thought favorably of his entering the gospel
ministry, and believed he could do it more advantageously
among the people of the Madura district than in Jaffna. It was
a clear case.
The powers which it is safe and wise to accord to missions,
constituted as the missions are under the care of this Board, is
a thing which has been gradually learned by experience; but
these powers cannot yet be reduced to a constitution, or code
of laws, that shall be equally applicable to all missions, or to
any one mission in all circumstances. The whole is conveniently regulated by a free and frequent correspondence. A point
where the Deputation came near to exercising authority, during
their visit, was in procuring the abrogation of a rule in some of
the missions, against which the Prudential Committee had
declared themselves some years ago,-that no member of the
mission should write to the Committee, directly or indirectly,
on any subject concerning the character or operations of the
mission, or any of its members as such, without first showing
what he had written to the mission. There were members
who had apprehensions of evil from dispensing with the rule.
But the great body of our missions work well without it; and
the rule had been found to prevent the Prudential Committee
from learning the views of the minority, and thus, in effect, to
give the majority an undue preponderance. We deemed it safe
and wise that more freedom should be allowed to the individual
missionary in his correspondence.
We also exercised the responsibility, for reasons generally




approved by our brethren, after learning the facts in the case,
of deciding against the continuance of the English School-at
Jladura. The school had been in operation twenty years.
Not far from five hundred boys had enjoyed its advantages.
The Board had expended three thousand rupees, not to speak
of interest money, in buildings for it; and one thousand rupees
more as its share of the current expenses of its support, in addition to what was raised in India. A great amount of missionary time, thought and labor had been given to it. All had
been done for it that the nature of the case permitted. No one
could doubt it had been useful to society. But not a member
of the school had ever been known to receive a saving impression from the truths of the gospel. God had withheld
from it his seal, and we believed that the experiment had been
sufficiently tried. The school was at the station in what has
been called the Madura Fort, which has since been relinquished
for one more favorably situated.
XIII.
RELATION OF MISSIONARIES TO NATIVE PASTORS AND
CHURCHES.
On the fifth day of the meeting of the Ceylon mission, the
expediency of organizing a church on the island of Caradive
came under consideration. The usage of the mission required
this matter to be determined by a body, bearing the name of' The Consociation or Presbytery,' but composed of identically
the same persons with the mission, and only those. Another
chairman and another clerk were called into requisition, and
it so happened that the clerk, not foreseeing the exigency, had
failed to bring his records. The inconvenience of the arrangement was apparent, and the question arose, whether the mission,
as such, had not authority from God's word to perform that
service. As the result of the conference which followed, the
mission unanimously voted, " That, hereafter, the business
which was formerly transacted by the ecclesiastical body, be
transacted by the mission."  In the Madura and Mahratta
missions, we found no bodies of any kind distinct from the
mission.
A memorandum, drawn up by the senior member of the
Deputation while in Constantinople, and read to the Conference
assembled there, contains all, and more than all, the suggestions which were made at any time in India, by either member'of the Deputation, on the subject of' the relations of missionaries to the native pastors and churches.' The object of the




54
memorandum was to see how far it was sustained by the experience and judgment of that intelligent body of missionaries.
The Board will perceive that the views taken of this fundamental subject are strictly missionary, and not at all sectarian.
They accord with the early training the writer received from
the justly honored Evarts, and with the equal relations sustained by the Board and its officers to the several bodies of
Christians which it represents. It should be added that none
of these views have ever been presented to missionaries, orally
or in written form, except as mere suggestions, to be received,
or otherwise, as they satisfied the judgment.  Beyond this
simple, unsectarian, fundamental view of the relation which
missionaries sustain, and may with most advantage sustain, to
native pastors and churches, we have not gone, as a Deputation
or as individuals.' 1. A missionary is a minister of the gospel sent to heathen
or unevangelized people, under the command of Christ, to
preach the gospel. He does not derive his authority from the
Board, nor from the ordaining body, nor from any earthly
source. The ordaining body, the Board, merely recognize it.
They attend to the proofs of his divine call, and pronounce a
judgment upon them.
" 2. The missionary's work and office are, in some respects,
extraordinary. He is not a pastor of a church, but the founder
of churches, and may have the care and superintendence of
many churches. He is not an Apostle, and has no miraculous
gifts. But he has, nevertheless, gifts to bestow; providential
gifts, that are more essential to his work than miracles. He
has the disposal of fiinds,-for training native preachers, supporting native pastors, building churches, educating children of
the church, for books, and the like. He is a minister of the
gospel, and he is something more. What he is, is best indicated by the word missionary; which is an extraordinary office
for an extraordinary work.
" 3. It is not material to the question, whence the funds are
derived. It is enough that they are at his disposal; that they
have been providentially rendered essential to the working out
of the great results of modern missions; that the existence of
native churches, native pastors, native preachers and schools,
native books including the Holy Scriptures, and the whole
working of the mission, depend upon them. The missionary's
financial responsibility cannot be separated from his clerical
responsibility. He is himself to reason and act, and he is to
be reasoned about and judged by others, in his complex and
higher character as a missionary.
" 4. For him to become the pastor of a native church, is to




55
place himself in a position which may in time give rise to
serious practical errors. It must, weaken the moral power of
a mission as a presiding, guiding, regulating agency among
the native churches.  Whatever pastoral labor and care are
exercised by missionaries, should be exercised by them  ex
officio, and of their own right.
"5. The effect of this will be to prevent much of that interference with the working of the native ministry, that conflict
of opinions and interest between the two bodies, and that' lording it over God's heritage,' of which there is so much
danger on the other plan. The line between the mission and
the native ministry, being more distinct, will be less frequently
crossed. There will be less misunderstanding, less jealousy,
on the part of the natives. Missionaries and the mission will
find it easier to maintain a firm and consistent stand. Where
there is liability of having not a few wayward pastors, and not
a few wayward churches, this is of immense importance.
" 6. It seems to be a departure from the simple and beautiful
constitution of the missionary work for missionaries to perform
their main business, i. e., preaching the gospel as missionaries,
and to perform the other parts of their business, i. e., organizing churches and ordaining native pastors, as mere ministers 
in bodies separate and distinct from the mission, whether called
councils, associations, consociations, presbyteries, or classes.
Why not perform the whole missionary work as missionaries
and missions?
"7. As a mere minister, the missionary is on a parity with
the native pastor. As a missionary, he is not. The native
pastor must be admitted to an association or presbytery, and
with an equal vote; but into the mission he cannot be received.
And considering the pecuniary responsibilities involved, for a
time, in every organization of a church, and in every licensure and ordination, and that these pecuniary responsibilities
must be restricted to the missions, it is obvious, while this state
of things lasts, that missionaries ought to keep their working
system distinct from that of the native ministry, and perfectly
simple. Associated with missionaries in ecclesiastical bodies,
on a parity as to voice and right, which, after all, cannot exist
in effect, the native ministry will be in danger of becoming
ambitious, envious, jealous, and addicted to cliques and cabals
for carrying their points against missionaries and the mission.
Nor would this be the best way to train them for standing
alone.
"8. They are babes, children, youth, and not men; and
should not be put forward to the position of manhood, until
they have attained to age and experience.




56
"9. In process of time, under missionary guidance, the native churches and pastors will of course become associated, in
some form, for the independent transaction of their own business. What that form shall be, may well be left to be determined in the light of the experience then existing."
Thus far the memorandum. A quotation may properly be
added from the report of the Mahratta missions on native pastors and churches. The report says, -
" It is our opinion that the native pastors should not be associated with the missionaries in ecclesiastical bodies. There are
many objections to such a course, and it has been found to be
attended with difficulties in the places where it has been tried.
The business of the missionary is peculiar. He is intrusted
with the disbursement of funds for mission purposes by the
Christian churches of his native land, and he cannot delegate
that trust to others. He stands in a peculiar relation to the
churches which have sent him out and which sustain him in
the field, and to the Society under whose superintendence he
labors. The native pastors do not come into the same relation
to that Society. They work uinder the supervision of the missionary, and are responsible to the mission by which they are
employed, the mission being responsible to the Society. Of
course the native pastors cannot act as members of the mission.
And whatever ecclesiastical body or bodies are formed by the
native pastors among themselves, the missionary should in our
opinion remain unconnected with them. He may attend the
meetings of their ecclesiastical bodies when hie shall think it
desirable, and advise them in difficult matters; but in general
we think it will be found most expedient to leave the native
pastors to manage their ecclesiastical affairs for themselves. In
this way they will become most speedily prepared for maintaining the institutions of religion independently of foreign assistance, and their churches for becoming self-governing and selfsustaining churches of Christ. The departure of the missionary,
when that shall finally take place, will then be no sudden disruption of ecclesiastical relations, nor will it weaken the ecclesiastical body which the native pastors have formed."
XIV.
ONCLUSION.
What was the governing idea in all these progressive movements? It was the organized village church,-with its plain
house of worship, its native pastor and officers, its congregation,
its weekly and Sabbath schools, and their self-supporting ten



57
dencies. Should it be thought that, till of late, this idea was
not fully developed in the minds of our missionary brethren, it
is still true that divine Providence was leading in this direction.
Great practical truths usually have a gradual development. But
when, in our conferences, the facts were brought together in
their natural relations, the will of Providence became most
clearly manifest. And the stand-point, from which the Board
will obtain the best view of God's work of grace in and through
these missions, is the village church.
A main object of this Report, Fathers and Brethren, has
been briefly to describe the more important adaptations of
means, by our respected brethren in India, to the progressive
demands of the work in the three older missions. You have
seen the Ahmednuggur, Madura and Ceylon missions successively in that more advanced stage of progress, when they
were enabled to form centres of operation distinct from the stationls, with that best of all spiritual germs-the church. Such
churches you have seen organized, for the first time, in each of
those missions; and furnished, also for the first time, with native pastors. As an important means to the same end, you have
seen the way opened for commencing village stations in the
Deccan in Western India, with resident missionaries, remote
from the cities; thus providing for successive constellations of
light and influence in that most interesting region. Next you
have seen the schools subjected to modifications, to adapt them
to this new position of the work. Men may be converted by
preaching without schools, but how, without them, can we
build up and perpetuate churches and congregations? You
have seen that one of the main inquiries in the Madura mission
was, how to strengthen the large system of vernacular schools
connected with the village congregations. It was to invigorate
them, and through them the congregations, and thus to lead on
to the gathering of village churches, that the boarding schools
at four of the stations in that mission were to be progressively
relinquished, and that more variety was to be imparted to the
studies of the Seminary at Pasumalie. So in Ceylon, where
the work of preparation had been elaborately performed, and
had been much longer in progress, where were scores of native
Christians ready to be formed into village churches, and educated natives for pastors, the Board has seen that the time
had fully come for entering at once and earnestly into the
only method of planting gospel institutions effectually in all
partstf the Jaffna District. Going then, as the mission did,
for the establishment of village churches, it perceived the need
of. having Christian schools, to be under the especial care of
those churches, and to look mainly to them for support. With



58
out such, the churches could not live and grow. The Board
will remember, that twenty Christian schools were instituted in
Jaffna; while the heathen were not overlooked, an equal number having been provided for their children, besides the privilege
of attending the Christian schools. Nor will it be forgotten,
that, among the reasons for discontinuing the English station
schools, was their evident incompatibility with the success of
the vernacular village schools. And it must have been seen,
that the Batticotta Seminary could not meet the high spiritual
demands upon it, in this new order of things, without some
such thorough reconstruction as it received from the mission,
even at the expense of a temporary suspension of its functions
in order more effectually to secure that result; and also, that
the Female Boarding School at Oodooville must needs be adapted in form and character to its correlative institution.
Simplicity, order, economy, spirituality, are essential to the
high prosperity of these and all other missions; and to the
attainment of each of these great excellencies the missions
aimed in their late discussions, and not without success. And
surely the result, to which they so unitedly came on the subject
of polygamy and caste, calls for our gratitude to the Giver of
all good.
The use to be made of a language foreign to the people, in
missions,-as for instance of the English,-is wholly dependent on circumstances, and to be determined by experience. It
must have been obvious to the Board, that the great body of
our brethren in India believe its use in the rural districts, except
as a classic for select theological students, is no longer conducive to the attainment of their object. Both the missions
and the Prudential Committee have had much to learn, and
much to unlearn, by experience.
For ourselves, we sought every where to retain and strengthen
our hold upon the affections and confidence of our brethren.
That which we desired, and which we believe we obtained,
was the actual opinions of the several missions on the subjects
proposed for their consideration.  Never were messengers of
the churches more blest with words of affection than we were,
when we met our brethren, and when we left them. We trust we
say this with gratitude to Him who sent us forth, and was ever
with us. Such a testimony is due to the several missions. The
resolutions which were adopted at the close of the conferences
were spontaneous, and their purport was unknown to us till
they were read in the meeting. We valued them the more, as
believing them  to be a correct expression of the sentiments
cherished towards us. We embody but three of them in this




59
Report; the others will be appended. That of the Mahratta
missionaries assembled at Ahmednuggur, was as follows:
" As the Deputation are now about leaving us, it is due to
ourselves as well as to them to express the gratification which
their visit has afforded us, and our sense of the benefit conferred upon the missions of the American Board in the Mahratta
country by the opportunity we have enjoyed of meeting and
conferring with them. They have carefully examined the
working of these missions in all their departments, and have
given us many valuable suggestions and wise counsels. Their
efforts to retrench the expenses of our missions have had our
hearty concurrence; and in this matter they exhibited a liberality and regard to our feelings which have gratified us much.
The results of their extended experience and observation in
reference to missionary operations in other countries have led
us to view some questions of mission policy in a different light
from that in which we should have otherwise viewed them;
and we have reason to regard their counsels in reference to
these subjects as very timely and important. They have given
us new ideas of the best mode of gathering and organizing
churches, placing native pastors over them, and preparing them
speedily to be self-governing and self-sustaining churches.
These suggestions we regard as extremely important to the
best working of our missions. We have also been very much
gratified in the opportunity we have had of social and religious
intercourse with the members of the Deputation; and our souls
have been very much animated and quickened by the exhibition of their religious views and feelings.  May the great
Head of the church prosper them on their way, and attend
their visits to other missions whither they are sent with his
blessing, making them the means of great good to all those
missions, even as they have been to us."
The Madura mission adopted the following preamble and
resolutions:
" Having been visited by a Deputation from the American
Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, composed of the
Rev. Rufus Anderson, D. D., senior Secretary of the Board,
and the Rev. Augustus C. Thompson, a member of the Prudential Committee, and having enjoyed intercourse with them
in our families, and, in a general meeting of twenty days,
joined with them in the discussion of many subjects pertaining
directly to the coming of the Redeemer's kingdom, and
united frequently with them in social worship; we desire to
present to them, and those by whom they were sent, a cordial
expression, both of the views we entertain with respect to their




60
visit, and of our feelings towards them as brethren in the Lord.
Therefore resolved unanimously," That we anticipate from this visit great and good results,
and that these brethren, as they leave us, will bear with them
our confidence, our respect, and our love.
"We have been gratified by the frankness and Christian
courtesy, which have attended all their intercourse with us.
We have been encouraged by the interest they have manifested
in the native Christians under our care and the general good of
our mission. We have been greatly assisted by the counsels
their experience has enabled them to give in regard to subjects
of difficulty.
" They have endeared themselves to lus by their instructions
as ministers of Christ, their sympathy with us in our trials, and
the warm interest they have manifested in the welfare of our
children.  We commend them, on leaving, to the care of
Israel's God; praying that He may watch over them in all their
travels by land and sea, assist them in the arduous duties they
have yet to discharge in this country, and restore them in safety
to the bosom of their families, and to their former labors."
The resolution of the Ceylon mission was quoted in that
part of the Report describing the changes which have occurred
in that mission.
FATHERS AND BRETHREN:
The first subject considered by the missions of India and
Western Asia, in their successive meetings, was this:-The
governing object in missions to the heathen-Should it be the
conversion of sinners, the gathering of such converts into
churches, and the ordaining of native pastors over such
churches?
The missions found great advantage in prayerfully endeavoring to obtain a more distinct idea, from the Holy Scriptures, of
the OBJECT of their mission to the heathen, before discussing
any one of the MEANS to be employed. And we would suggest whether we all, at this present meeting, may not find it
useful to devote time to a consideration of thegreat end we have
in view as a missionary institution. We may thus come more
fully into sympathy with our brethren in the missions, and so
be better able to judge of their proceedings. A more important
inquiry, one more vital to the missionary work, can never come
before the Board. And it surely will be well for us to be earnest in supplications at the Throne of Grace for the illuminating presence of the Holy Spirit to raise our minds to those sublime contemplations of the gospel, as God's appointed intstru



61
nlent for the conversion of the world, which, through his
blessing, will strengthen our faith, inflalne our zeal, and give
unity to our counsels and efforts. The cause is one of transcendent dignity and glory, connecting itself with the entire
movement of the church militant and trillmphalt. It is the
cause of our Redeemer and Lord-of Him " who, being in the
form of God, thought it not robbery to be elqual witl God; but
made himself of no reputation, and tool upon him the formr of
a servant, and was made in the likeness of men; and being
found in fashion as a mall, lie humbled himself, and became
obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore
God also hath highly exalted himn, and given him a name
which is above every nalme; that at the name of Jesus every
knee should bow, of things in heavenl, and things in earth, and
things under the earth, and that every tongue should confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
We are your fellow-laborers in the service of Christ,
R. ANDERSON,   )Deputatio
A. C. THOM'PSON, 3 Dt'Pait
Albany, Mlarch 4, 1 S56.








APPENDIX..
I.
VISIT OF THE DEPUTATION.
IN addition to the expressions of opinion and feeling from the Ceylon,
Mahratta and Madura missions, embodied in the Report, there were the
following:
1. Rev. Miron Winslow, of the Madras mission, wrote thus, under date
of July 10, 1855: "The response of our mission to your statement of views
respecting the mission, contains a brief expression of our united feeling of
high respect and individual esteem, as well as of Christian love, — nt the
less heart-felt because it was brief; but I cannot deny myself the privilege
personally of expressing my feeling of individual obligation.
" Your visit has not only refreshed my soul, and cheered my heart, and I
trust strengthened my faith, but also enlarged my views, in some respects,
on the leading objects to be kept in mind in prosecuting Christian missions
in India; especially in regard to the importance of establishing native pastors and churches at an earlier period than has generally been thought prudent. Though not as yet in this mission prepared to act upon the suggestion, we are not the less thankful to see it acted on by others.
" I do not profess to adopt all the views and opinions which seem to have
been arrived at in the other missions,-as possibly I might, had I heard all
the points discussed,-and I may not even agree with the Deputation as to
the form and manner of carrying forward the missionary work in all its various details,-which must differ in different places, at different times, and
under different agents; but I most heartily concur in what has been kept in
view in all the discussions, that the controlling object of missions should be
the glory of Christ in the conversion of souls; and the main instrument the
oral preaching of the gospel, as far as possible, to every creature.
"I trust that your toilsome visit to India, and your unwearied labors and
counsels, will greatly promote the conviction of missionaries, that this one
thing they must do; and if so, you will have an abundant reward."
2. Extract of a letter signed by the three brethren comprising the J.rcot
mission, dated Chittoor, June 30, 1855: "We have especially reason to be
thankful that you have visited us. You have done us good. You have
pointed out, in our operations, certain things, which would impede the full
carrying out of the fundamental principle of our mission. These we have
cheerfully abandoned. We feel under deep obligations to you for calling
our attention to them. You have also made many other valuable suggestions,
for which you will kindly receive our sincere thanks. We are now in circumstances to prosecute our labors with more light and discernment. We
rejoice that you have seen our work; that you have personally acquainted
yourselves with our difficulties and trials; that you have conversed with our
congregations, the flock over whom God has placed us as shepherds. You




64
are thus in circumstances to sympathize with us more fully, and to present
more clearly our cases in your pleadings before the Father of all mercies."
3. Resolution of the Syrian mission, October 1, 1855: "Resolved, That
it is a source of high gratification to this mission, that both of the members
of the Deputation to the India missions, the Rev. Dr. Anderson, senior
Secretary of the American Board, and the Rev. A. C. Thompson, have
been enabled, though providentially separated from each other, to visit us
on their way homeward. With devout thanksgivings to God for this timely
visit of his servants, we would express our particular obligations to Dr.
Anderson for his most valuable counsels, and for the very essential aid he
has afforded us, in settling the many important questions of missionary
policy brought before us at this meeting. It is our prayer and hope that
this visit of Dr. Anderson may prove, wth God's blessing, highly useful as
a means of giving a new impulse to the work of the gospel in this land;
and we now commend our respected friend and brother to the guidance
and protection of that same kind Providence which has watched over him
hitherto, and which we pray may long preserve him to us, and to the missionary work."
4. Messrs. Schneider, Pratt and Beebee, at.lintab, adopted the following
resolution, viz: "That our sincere gratitude is due to God for directing
hither the steps of our esteemed friend and brother, the Rev. Dr. Anderson,
senior Secretary of the American Board, and to our brother himself, for all
the valuable and important suggestions, which he has made to us in our continired conferences, and for all the kind and fraternal spirit which he has
manifested in all his intercourse with us; and that, in departing from us, he
may have the assurance that our prayer shall be for him, that he may yet be
prospered in his intended visit to our brethren of this mission at Constantinople, and in due time be restored in peace to his friends and his accustomed
labors."
5. The Conference of missionaries assembled at Constantinople, adopted
the following Minute: "Having been permitted in divine Providence to
enjoy a season of free and fraternal conference with the Rev. Dr. Anderson,
the senior Secretary of the A. B. C. F. M., in regard to the missionary work
in this land, we desire to give expression to our feelings of gratitude to God,
who has brought him to us in safety after the multiplied labors and exposures
of his journey hitherto, and of satisfaction at the character and results of our
interviews with him. We have been permitted to confer with him respecting
the great interests of the kingdom of Christ, and partially to survey with him
the wants of a field which the Lord hath blessed. It is gratifying to find
our maturest views so much in harmony with those expressed by him as the
result of his own experience and that of the Prudential Committee. We
are thankful for the valuable practical suggestions which he has given us.
We have also been refreshed by social and spiritual converse with him; and
only regretted that his associate in the Deputation to the India missions, the
Rev. Augustus C. Thompson, was prevented, by the imperative calls of duty
at home, from visiting us in company with him. And now we heartily commend him to God, and to the guidance and care of his providence, and to
the word of his grace."
II.
STATEMENT O' THE CEYLON MISSION TO THE PtEOPLE O iF JAFFNSA.
THE foliowingg statement wasi made,, by a Committee.of the Ceylon
mission appointed -for the pupbose, to th inatives of; Jaffna and other readers
-oI tlhei seilnminmlithliy paperi callei-'the- Morin S^tar," after the depar



65
ture of the Deputation. It will be interesting, as showing the view of the
case, as a whole, which was entertained by the mission, and which they were
desirous of imparting to their native helpers and to the educated portion of
the native community.
" In the last Star, it was intimated that some details in reference to the
changes and modifications contemplated by the American mission would be
mentioned in a future number. Perhaps the publicity already given by some
circumstances, to the visit of the Deputation from America, is a sufficient
reason for so doing, though any statement must necessarily be brief.
It is well known, that in the operations of the American mission considerable prominence has been given to education. While the publication of
the gospel in its simplicity and purity, relying upon the influences of the
Holy Spirit to make it effectual to the salvation of souls, has ever been the
great object, education has been brought in as an auxiliary. The results of
this course are, in many respects, very encouraging. They are such as
can only be appreciated by actual acquaintance with the highly intelligent
Christian families scattered throughout our field, and the well educated, and,
it is believed, truly devoted native assistants who are not known to the public, from the very fact that they are quietly at work in the villages. A good
work has also been accomplished in spreading a knowledge of the Bible and
its truths among the mass of the population.
" There are, however, necessary evils connected with this course, which
in some measure counteract the benefits. It is not to be expected that all
who receive a higher course of education will be renewed by the grace of
God. Those not thus renewed, while they have received sufficient knowledge of the truth to break away from many of the superstitions and restraints
of heathenism, have not been brought under the higher restraints of Christianity. As a natural consequence, many of them become infidel in religion
and reckless in moral conduct.  Knowledge is power' for evil, as well as
for good; and it is hazardous to place this power, to any great extent, in the
hands of a heathen people, before they are brought under the controlling
influence of Christian principle in the heart.
" Moreover, it is obvious that an undue proportion of the people are seeking an English education. Thus the natural order of things in the country
is disturbed, and many are removed from their places in the villages who are
the very persons needed there as witnesses for the truth, while engaged in
the ordinary occupations of the people.
"' It is unnecessary to speak of the tendency of a system of schools, supported by foreign aid, to lead even the native Christians to depend upon that
aid, instead of supporting their own educational institutions; or of the tendency of the training of boarding schools to foster this spirit of dependence,
and render those thus educated less able to'endure hardness as good soldiers of Jesus Christ.'
" The evils above alluded to have for some time engaged the attention of
the missionaries of Jaffna, and the question of the necessity of some modification of plans of operation has been discussed. In the American mission
various circumstances have of late seemed to combine to prepare the way
for such a modification, and in connection with the visit of the Deputation
it has been effected. The object of the changes determined upon is"t I. To disencumber our work, as much as possible, from all appliances
which may act as a hinderance or diversion from the direct making known of
the gospel to the heathen, in simple reliance upon divine power to make it
effectual for their salvation; and,
"2. To aim at the establishment of the institutions of Christianity in the
villages upon a natural and independent basis.
"Churches are to be organized in those villages where there are a sufficient number of Christians, and native pastors are to be appointed over them.
5'




66
These pastors will receive their support chiefly from the mission, till the
members of the churches are able gradually to assume it. The village
schools will be confined principally to those villages where there may be a
nucleus for Christian churches. They are designed mainly to furnish the
children of the members of these churches and of the congregations, with a
thorough education in the vernacular, in all the branches necessary for the
ordinary duties of life. From these schools a few of the most promising
candidates may be selected to receive a higher education in the Seminary
and Female Boarding School, to prepare them for mission service. This
higher education will be in the vernacular language, and is designed to be
eminently biblical.
Immediate attention will be given to the selection and preparation of
suitable books in Tamil for these schools. The Seminary at Batticotta will
be suspended in September next, and recommenced on the new basis as soon
as Providence directs. The Female Boarding School at Oodooville is not to
be suspended, but to be reduced in numbers.
" The printing establishment is to be transferred to native hands, and to
aim at an independent and self-supporting basis. The Morning Star, from
the commencement of 1856, will be printed only in Tamil, and efforts will
be made to increase its value as a periodical among the native population.
" In making these changes the mission do not reflect upon their previous
course, nor those who still continue the educational system. The present
state of our field seemed to demand a change. There is too, at the present
time, material for organization and centralization in the villages, forming centres of light and influence amid the surrounding heathen, and for native
pastors for these churches, such as has never been before, and such as may
not be again, if the present occasion is not improved. This work has already
been commenced, as will be seen by the notice in the last Star of the formation of a church and the ordination of a native pastor. Some other villages
are ready for a similar movement, and it is hoped that ere long there may be
many.
" It would not be strange if many do not understand or appreciate the
reason for these changes; and it is expected there will be many difficulties in
effecting them. It may be that at first there will be a reaction in the minds
of the native community, which will seem highly disastrous. However, the
changes are the result of much careful inquiry and serious deliberation, and
they are made in dependence upon Him from whom we receive our commission as missionaries of the cross, hoping for his approval and the gracious
continuance of his blessing."
III.
REPORT OF THE CEYLON MISSION ON THE GOVERNING OBJECT
IN MISSIONS TO THE HEATHEN.*
IN answering the question, " What is the governing object in missions to
the heathen," it is scarcely necessary to remark, that it is not to relieve
human distress, to minister to the necessities of the suffering, to raise the
degraded and deliver the oppressed. This is a work which has called into
* This and the three following articles are among the official documents from the missions,
mentioned in the Report of the Deputation. The Ceylon report on the gorerninrg object in?Itisionns to the heathen, was written in view of the highly suggestive experience of that mission.
That of the Syrian mission was understood to have been intentionally supplementary to the
)ther. The reports on the Batticotta Seminalry and the Oodooville Femal!e Bocarling School swill
give more ample materials for understanding the reasons, which goerniad the C(',-ylon ission in
the recent modifications to which they have been subijected.




67
action the noblest powers, and awakened universal admiration. But the
work of missions is of a higher character than this. It looks beyond the
physical sufferings aud necessities of man, and contemplates him as a sinner against a holy and just God, and exposed to endless wrath; and proclaims to him pardon and salvation. It contemplates no less an object than
raising him from the awful gloom of the shadow of eternal death, to the
regions of eternal life and joy in the presence of a reconciled God. This
is an object which meets and harmonizes with the first impulses of the newborn soul. Every one who has tasted the joys of salvation feels a desire,
that others should come and drink of the same fountain. To this desire is
added the sense of obligation expressed by Paul, "I am debtor both to the
Greeks and to the Barbarians, both to the wise and unwise." But:it is not
left to the mercy of human desires and promptings of duty. It is presented
to us with all the authority of a command, emanating fiom the highest
source which the redeemed soul acknowledges, given under the most solemn
and impressing circumstances, being the last words, the final will and testament, of our glorified Savior. By this every redeemed sinner is sent into the
world, even as Christ was sent by the Father, and is to take upon himself
the burden of a dying world.
This great work, having its centre in the cross of Christ, and for its limits
the ends of the earth, contains in it the spring and principle of every mission
to the heathen. And it is only as the salvation of lost souls is kept distinctly and prominently in view, as the single, all-absorbing object, that these
missions can retain the life and vigor necessary to their existence and
success.
Though this is the avowed object of all who are engaged in this great
work, yet there is so much tendency to turn aside from the simple terms of
the command, and bring in other ends, and trust to other means than those
divinely appointed, that it is desirable to recur anew from time to time to our
commission, and refresh our minds with a review of its scope and import. In
doing this we may be aided by noticing two or three principles which are
fundamental.
I. This work is one evidently designed to make a large demand upon faith.
The soul of every man is dark and desolate, but only those who have
actually lived among the heathen can have any conception of the darkness
and desolation which reigns in their souls. It is not merely that the divine
inhabitant of the soul is gone, and the stately temple is in ruins, but the
prince of darkness has established his throne upon those ruins, foul fiends
lurk in every nook and corner, and the very vapors of the bottomless pit
ascend from every altar. Surely there is no power which can eject these
usurpers, renew and enlighten this desolation and darkness, but that which
in the beginning " spake, and it was done"; which said, "Let there be light,
and there was light."  And it is only as sustained by implicit faith in the
all-sufficiency of that power, and in the certainty of those rich promises
which make it available to us, that we can dare to act as instruments.
II. It is a work designed to manifest the greatness and power of God, and
the weakness of man.
A distinguished astronomer, while contemplating God's wonderful works
unfolded by the discoveries of science, exclaimed, 0 Lord, what are we,
that we should be permitted to walk in thy footsteps and think thy thoughts
after thee " But we, as Christians, are not only permitted to walk in the footsteps of the Almighty and think his thoughts after him, but more-we are
called to be co-workers,'" laborers together with God," in his greatest, most
glorious work. Time /reatness of the work is such an infinite distance above
our fitness, our capacity, and our comprehension even, that the very thought
of' our hbing emIployd nas instrnllients overwhelmns us with a cru-mshin sense




68
of our weakness and insufficiency, and we are compelled to exclaim with the
prophet, " Ah, Lord God, I cannot speak, for I am a child." And will a
sinple message, mere words, a breath, uttered and gone, have any power in
a work so great? Powerless indeed are the words of man; but when "the
Lord putteth forth his hand, and touches the mouth" of his messengers,
saying, "Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth," then those fleeting
words become the " breath of the Almighty;" they are " spirit and life,"
"the sword of the Spirit," " the power of God unto salvation;" and we
become strong in our weakness, subdued by the thought that the power of the
Almighty rests upon us. And the whole work and instrumentality seems as
if arranged for this very purpose of magnifying the power of God, and
humbling the pride of man, as expressed by Paul: "We have this treasure
in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God and not
of us." In this respect it is in harmony with all God's dealings with man.
III. This work acknowledges no necessity of any auxiliary means, or
preparatory process.
Not only the men of the world, but often the devoted, self-denying
missionary, whose sole object is the conversion of souls, is so repulsed by
the degradation and debasement of those for whom he labors, and so defeated
in all his efibrts to get a hearing for the truth, in a mind pre-occupied by all
that is false, vile and blasphemous, that he feels the necessity of some
preparatory work to fit the mind for the reception of the truth. This has
given rise to the various plans of education and civilization, which have
sometimes been brought forward with considerable prominence. And there
is an appearance of reasonableness in the plea, that the young mind should
be pre-occupied by the seeds of truth, and the public mind elevated by diffusion of the light of science, and the elevating and refining influences of
civilization. But whether we look at the terms of our commission, or to the
example of Him who gave it or of those who first received and acted upon
it, or at the work as one of faith and a work of God, we find no authority
for these auxiliary means, or for any preparatory process. The example of
our Savior is especially instructive on this point.  laving, as he did, all the
stores of wisdom and knowledge at command, he might by a single sentence
have flashed light upon the hidden mysteries of science, or by a single suggestion have given a clue to some of those wonderful discoveries which have
such a tendency to arouse mental action, and which at the same time would
have given him such a power and influence in controlling the mind thus awakened. But he stooped not a moment from the higher work of laboring for
lost sinners. This was the one, all-absorbing object, which allowed not a
moment's diversion.
The example of the Apostles teaches us the same lesson. "They determined to know nothing but Jesus Christ and him crucified." They every
where preached "Christ crucified; unto the Jews a stumbling-block and
unto the Greeks foolishness, but unto them which are called, both Jews and
Greeks, the power of God and the wisdom of God." They evidently, in all
their preaching, relied alone upon the influences of the same Spirit which is
promised as freely to us as to them.
Again the nature of the work, as a work of faith, and a work of God,
leads to the same result. We cannot for a moment defend the position, that
God is at all dependent upon human instrumentality, for the salvation of the
world. He does indeed permit us, for our own good, to labor as instruments
in this great work, but he could as well do without us. In this view is it
not the highest wisdom to confine ourselves as near as possible to the simple
terms of our commission, the example of Him who gave it, and the example
and teachings of those inspired agents who first received and acted upon it,
attempting " no other foundation than that is laid, which is Christ Jesus,"
taking heed also how we build thereupon. In this view of the subject we




69
must admit that it is as easy for the divine Spirit to clear away the rubbish
of false opinions and heathen superstitions, as to renew the mind not thus
pre-occupied. Even though these notions and superstitions may have become
incorporated in all the habits of daily life, and are a part and parcel of the very
language of a people, we cannot limit the power of the divine Spirit. And
we believe all will admit that such views of God and heaven, of sin and salvation, as the Spirit alone can give, are better than any which can be given
by any preparatory process of teaching, or of acquiring a language untainted
with those associations, and that the effect of such views, carried out in the
lives of those who have received' these heaven-born impressions, form a
better commentary for others. The Holy Spirit is not dependent upon such
means. " The things of God no man knoweth but the Spirit of God." " God
hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit, for the Spirit searcheth all things,
yea, the deep things of God."
We may avail ourselves, in this work, of all those incidental advantages
afforded by the tide of civilization following in the wake of the progress of
Christianity, such as the facilities for communication, discoveries in science,
and the higher standard of education, which are so characteristic of the
present age. But we need to be careful lest we be turned aside from our
peculiar work, in becoming personally the agents in introducing them.
IV. This work not only acknowledges no necessity of any auxiliary
means, or preparatory process, but is actually retarded by a resort to such
appliances.
The evils, which are the almost necessary consequence of this, need but
to be briefly stated to be understood.
1. There is-danger that the means thus used become in themselves an
end, and turn aside the thoughts and labors of those engaged from the great
work of the salvation of souls.
2. Even when these appliances keep their place as simply a means, there
is danger of our trusting in them to such an extent as to prevent the exercise of that faith in divine power so necessary to the successful prosecution
of the work.
3. The introduction of these means tends to turn the attention of the
missionary to the elevation of the masses, by bringing them in contact with
those elevating influences, instead of laboring directly for the conversion of
individual souls. And intimately connected with this, is the tendency to
limit, in effect, the power of God, by putting off to a distant period the salvation of these masses, instead of laboring in hope and expectation of
immediate results.
4. This course perverts the divine order of things, by introducing prematurely those things which are the results of Christianity, and are designed
to follow and be controlled by Christian principle. It has been remarked
that " probably the reason why the recent discoveries in science and art
were kept hidden so long, was because the world was not good enough to
render it safe to give such power to man."  And it is worthy of notice, that
this mighty power has come as a result of the progress of Christianity, and
is directed and controlled by Christian principle acting upon the public sentiment of Christian nations, to an extent which cannot but lead us to
acknowledge a design of Providence. If then this power is given to a
heathen people in advance of the Christian principle necessary to control
and regulate it, we pervert the order of nature, and set in motion powerful
influences which are likely to work agaistt us. Many are thereby so far
elevated; and enlightened. as: to. hrak loose fron the superstitions and
restraints of heathenism, while they are not brought under the influence of
the higher restraints of Christian love and: Christian;principle, and form a
class infidel; in religion, and reckless in condu-t.
5.: ihe introduction of- these things involve anl mnount.of machinery,




70
which in itself is an evil to a heathen, or infant Christian community. It is
an evil to the heathen, because it turns aside their thoughts from the simplicity of the gospel of Christ; and while they are liable to misunderstand
the true motives of the missionary, desires of gain and worldly profit are
awakened in their minds. The newly converted Christians are exposed to
a similar danger. They become naturally associated with the missionary as
agents in the working of this machinery. Thus their natural relations to
the community are disturbed; they become paid agents, in whose minds a
spirit of covetousness is awakened, and their influence as a witnessing
church is impaired.
6. The use of these auxiliaries leads to the development, both among missionaries and native Christians, of a worldly policy, which results in a
tendency to be guided by motives of expediency instead of the Word of
God.
7. There is danger of those who become Christians, becoming so from
conviction of the understanding, instead of genuine conversion of the heart
by the influences of the Spirit; and as their "faith stands in the wisdom of
men instead of the power of God," in time of trouble or persecution, they
fall away.
In view of these evils, and others of a similar nature, which are incurred
by turning aside from the great object before us, we are prepared to re-assert, with additional emphasis, the proposition with which we started;-that
it is only as the salvation of lost souls is kept distinctly and prominently in
view as the single, all-absorbing object of missions to the heathen, that they
can retain the life and vigor necessary to their existence and success.
But the work of the missionary does not stop here; as it pre-supposes success in the conversion of sinners, the missionary is brought into a new relation in connection with the persons thus converted. Now he is to carry out
the second part of the command, "Teaching them to observe all things
whatsoever I have commanded you." He is not to disturb unnecessarily
their relations in society, and to avoid, as far as possible, rendering them
pecuniary aid. Preserving his high character as a spiritual teacher, he is to
endeavor to render them, by his counsel, instructions and example, witnesses
for the truth, and in their turn, agents in this great work among their own
people. As the number increases, in order that he may not be turned aside
from his peculiar work as a missionary, he is to look out some one from among
the number who is fitted by nature and grace to take charge of the flock
thus gathered, and himself to go on in the strength of the Lord, gathering
other flocks, and committing them to faithful shepherds, to whom he will
retain, under the great Shepherd, the office of counsellor, teacher, and
guide.
These we believe to be the true principles of missions to the heathen, as
taught by reason and Scripture. That they are the principles ppon which
the American Board was founded, we have evidence in the Instructions of
the Prudential Committee given to the first company sent out under its auspices in 1812. They say, "It will be your business to bring the heathen as
directly as possible to the knowledge of the truth," adding, "It is the truth,
the truth as it is in Jesus, which is mighty through God to the pulling down
of strong holds." The Ceylon mission, which was formed soon after, was
undoubtedly founded upon the same basis. If in its progress it has in any
degree turned aside fiom this singleness of purpose, it has been, we believe,
inadvertently, and so far as it has been an error, it has been an error of the
times, and of the general sentiment of the Christian community, rather than
any fault of the individuals more immediately concerned. Although we
have seen in our field, to a greater or less extent, the evils which have been
enumerated, it is a cheering fact that our course has not been fatal to success. God has indeed blessed this mission, as precious remembrances of the
past, and present results in themselves most cheering, testify. I-He alwvays




71
blesses faithful, prayerful efforts for the promotion of his cause, such as have
been made here from the beginning. We believe, too, that those who have
labored here, have ever endeavored to follow the leadings of Providence in
all their plans and operations, and have enjoyed a sense of divine presence
and guidance. Now, the " pillar of fire and cloud" seems to turn in a somewhat different direction. We are led by circumstances to a review of the
fundainental principles of our work, and a consequent revision of plans. And
while we prepare to follow in the way in which the Lord seems to be leading
us, we may hope for a continuance of his presence and favor. The fact that
he has a people here, is in itself a pledge that he will not forsake us. And
we believe, too, that there is hope for the multitude who have become acquainted with Scripture truth in connection with our educational institutions; that he will grant the influences of his Spirit to bless the good seed
thus sown, and that we may yet see an abundant harvest to the glory of his
great name. And have we not encouragement to pray that God may, by the
baptism of his Spirit, fit many of those who have been the subjects of so much
labor, and of so many prayers, to be humble, faithful leaders in the host of
his elect, when he shall grant us " the great rain of his strength?"
THE SYRIAN MISSION ON THE SAME SUBJECT.
(AN EXTRACT.-SUPPLEMETNTARY TO THE PRECEDING.)
YOUR committee have not time to enlarge on this subject, which has been
so fully discussed in the reports of the India Missions, on the occasion of
the recent visit of the Deputation from the Prudential Committee; but, in
addition to the full view of the case presented in those reports, we remark
briefly1. This object is the only one which will secure the requisite number of
efficient laborers.
In order to bring even Christian men to the point of giving up the endearments of home and country, to make them willing to sever the numerous ties
which bind them to all they hold most dear on earth, and voluntarily exile
themselves from the society of those they love, from civilization, refinement,
Chistian privileges, and a host of other precious things, that they may dwell
namnongo anMd labor for people of a strange tongue, a perverse generation, a degradedl nation, there must be brought to bear upon the heart and conscience
motives of tlhe highllst and strongest kind. Tell them of the ignorance and
degradation of men-they will pity them; of their oppressions and hardships
-they will feel a sympathy for them; but tell them of immortal souls, going
down to eternal death, with none to show them the way of salvation, and
they will run to their relief. Having entered the field, they will feel that
every moment is precious; that eternal interests are at stake; that heaven or
hell may depend upon the issue of a single interview. And they will be in
earnest; and earnest laborers are the only truly efficient ones.
2. This object is the only one which will keep the missionary in the field,
and sustain him under his labors and difficulties.
A spirit of mere benevolence may lead men, for a time, to labor for the
good of others, and among other things for their conversion. But while human nature remains the same, these efforts will not be met in the spirit of
meekness and docility, but with pride, perverseness, opposition, and often ingratitude, if not actual injury. Here the laborer will need to fall back upon
sometlithing that has power sufficient to make him persevere in spite of these




72
difficulties, as he will be almost sure to faint, be discouraged, and perhaps
withdraw from the field. Mere benevolence, philanthropy, a desire to do
good in general, to elevate and enlighten, will not do this, as ample experience has shown. There must be the deep feeling that eternal interests are
involved, that the glory of God is concerned, that the interests of the Redeemer's kingdom are connected with the work. Keeping this object prominently before the mind, it will be seen to be paramount; there will be the
feeling that it must be accomplished; that nothing must be allowed to interfere with the work of plucking brands from the burning, and adding, jewels
to the Redeemer's crown. It will be seen, too, that this object has the
promise of success; that God is pledged to accomplish it; and therefore no
discouragements will be sufficient to cause its abandonment.
3. This object is the only one which will call forth from the churches the
funds necessary for the support of missions.
Let the churches know that their missionaries are teaching the sciences,
dispelling superstition, creating a Christian literature, and they will be glad;
they will even do much to help forward the good work; but it will only be
for a time. They will soon grow weary of the repeated calls made upon their
benevolence; and should a season of pecuniary embarrassment occur, their
contributions will be in danger of being withheld altogether. But keep
before them steadily and constantly and simply the conversion of souls, their
eternal salvation, and then you may safely trust the churches of Christ for
any amount of means that can be wisely and judiciously distributed. There
will be felt that most powerful of all motives-that which must always deeply affect the pious heart-the salvation of the never-dying soul. And if the
churches supply the means with this object in view, then, in faithfilness to
their trust, the Prudential Committee must make the appropriations of funds
with reference to this object, and to this alone.
IV.
REPORT ON TIlE OOIOOVILLE FEMALE BOARDING SCIt(10I.
THE Female Boarding School at Oodooville was establishll   in 182-1.
Previous to that time a few girls, about sixteen in numbler, had been placed
under the immediate care and instruction of the missionary ladies at the
different stations. Subsequently the plan of a Central BoardingE School was
adopted. The design in establishing such an institution was to "impart a
careful Christian education to a select number of females, under circumstances that would exclude them from heathenish influences, and be most hopeful for their moral and intellectual improvement. And it was thought that,
by this means, there would be provided more suitable and acceptable companions for the young men educated in the Mission Seminary." The school
opened under the superintendence of Mr. and Mrs. Winslow at Oodooville,
with twenty-nine pupils, some of whom had previously been under instruction
at the several stations. In 1825, on account of the necessary absence of
Mrs. Winslow from ill health, the school was removed to Manepy, where it
remained about three years in charge of Mr. and Mrs. Spaulding. It was
then removed back to Oodooville, and its superintendence resumed by Mr.
and Mrs. Winslow, under whose care it remained until the death of the
latter in 1833. Mr. and Mrs. Spaulding were then called to Oodooville to take
the charge of the institution. It has continued under their superintendence,




73
with the exception of about three years while they were absent in America,
up to the present time. Miss Agnew became connected with the school in
1840. Others for short periods have assisted in the care of the institution.
From the beginning, the pupils were admitted with the understanding that
they should remain, except in cases of misconduct, until they were married.
They were also to receive their clothing and board, and when married, if
with the approbation of the mission, ~4 10s. as a dowry. The prejucice of
the people against female education, made it impossible to procure pupils on
any other terms less objectionable. In 1848 it was determined to receive a
class on the condition of not bestowing the dowry when they should be married.
Notice was given to this effect, and much to the surprise of all, 75 or 80
applied for admission. Others would have made application had they received
timely notice. A class of twenty-two was selected from these applicants.
In 1850, in admitting another class, it was thought advisable to limit the
period of their residence in the school. Accordingly twelve were received
to remain for a term not exceeding six years. The rule in regard to withholding the dowry also applied to them. Since that time other classes have
been admitted on the same terms, and no difficulty has been experienced in
obtaining as many pupils from respectable families as were desired.
In 1852, a class was received, of which a portion were required to pay a
certain amount for board. The number taken was thirteen. Four were
received on charity. A part of the remainder were required to pay 15s.,*
and a part 30s. annually. Those admitted to the school since that time, have
also been required to pay at the same rates. The whole amount received
for board in 1852, was ~4 18s. 9d.; in 1853, ~7 Os. 9d.; and in 1854,
~14 5s. 2d. This fact is a striking evidence of the progress of public sentiment in reference to female education.
The age at which pupils have been admitted has varied form six to ten
years. They have been taken from various castes. There have been none,
however, from the lowest caste, and none from among the Brahmins. Very
few have been obtained from the more wealthy families of the province.
The instruction has been given principally by the missionary ladies at the
station, and three native teachers.  The whole number who have been
connected with the school is 222, exclusive of the present pupils; nineteen
of them died while members of the school.
Of the whole number 175 became members of the Christian church, 10 of
whom ultimately relapsed into heathenism and two became Romanists. The
following table exhibits the time of residence in the school, of the former
pupils.
11 remained  1 year.  23 remained  7 years.  7 remained  13 years.
13   "      2 years.  20    "     8   "      3   "      14'
15   "      3  "      24    "     9   "      2   "      15  "
13    "     4  "      20    "     10  "      2   "      16  "
12   "      5  "      19    "     11  "      2   "      19  "
20    "     6   "     15    "     12         1    "     unknown.
Forty-six pupils were compelled, when young, by their heathen friends, to
leave the school and marry heathen. A few left of their own accord, four
or five have been sent away as unpromising. Those who have left the institution are now mothers of more than 250 children. Of these children 29
have been educated or are now pupils in the school, and 15 have been or
are now connected with the Seminary at Batticotta.
The influence of this boarding school, we need hardly say, has been most
excellent and far-reaching. The many Christian families scattered over the
province, the island and the continent, exerting a silent, but important influence, testify to its usefulness. Many tokens of God's special blessing have
been granted, in the frequent revivals which have been enjoyed, and in the
7




74
uniform prosperity which has attended the institution. There is no part of
our missionary work, which we have regarded with more pleasure and hope
than this school, and there are no results of our labors here, which seem to us
to be telling, with more power, at the present moment, upon the evangelization of the land, than those connected with this department of our mission.
The school is now, as it has been for several years past, under the
immediate superintendence and instruction of the two missionary ladies at
the station, Mrs. Spaulding and Miss Agnew, assisted by three native male
teachers.  The missionary at the station, Rev. Mr. Spaulding, renders
important service in general over-sight, and in the religious instruction and
pastoral care of the school.
There are seventy-three pupils. The time of their residence in the school
severally, is as follows:-one, has been connected with the school eighteen
years; five, fifteen years; one, fourteen years; one, eleven years; two, ten
years; 11, nine years; 19, seven years; 11, five years; 11, three years;
four, two years; six, one year; and one, a few months. The one longest in
the school has been employed as an assistant in the cooking department.
Of this number forty-three are children of Christian parents; twenty-one
are members of the church, of whom nine were baptized in infancy. The
number of classes is six. The course of study pursued is as follows:
In English.                        In Tamil.
6TH CLASS.                         6TH CLASS.
English Alphabet.                  Tamil Instructors, 1, 2 and 3,
English Instructor, 1 and 2.       Tamil Bible,
Pictorial Primer.                  Writing on Ola.
5TH CLASS.                         5TH CLASS.
Pictorial Reader,                  Genesis and Psalms,
Reading Books, 2 and 3,            Tamil Instructor, 4 and 5,
First Lessons in English, Parts 1st  Tamil Geography,
and 2d.                          Scripture History,
Elements of Science,
Writing.
4TH CLASS.                        4TH CLASS.
Phrase Book,                       Indian Pilgrim,
Diglott Psalms,                    Pilgrim's Progress,
Spelling.                          Geography, with Maps,
Arithmetic,
Bible,
Writing on paper.
3D CLASS.                          3D CLASS.
English Instructor, 2 and 3,       Doddridge's Rise and Progress,
Pailey's History,                  Geography of India,
Writing.                           Arithmetic,
Elements of Grammar,
Bible.
2D CLASS.                          2D CLASS.
Childs' Book on the Soul,          Arnold's Poem,
Gallaudet's Natural Theology,      Barth's Church History,
Elements of Natural Philosophy,    Negundu,
Rhenius' Grammar,                  Arithmetic.
English Grammar,
Writing.
1ST CLASS.                        1ST CLASS.
English Grammar,                   Body of Divinity,
Bible History,                     Negundu,
Pailey's History,                  Arithmetic,
Writing Compositions.              Physiology.




75
The hours of study for all are from 9 to 12, A. M., and one hour in the
evening. Two classes study, in addition, one hour in the afternoon. Most
of the afternoon is devoted to sewing. The time thus occupied varies from
one and a half to two and a half hours. In addition to this, it is understood,
many occupy much of their leisure time in needle and crotchet work. There
are forty monitors, who have various services to perform in connection with
the school and the missionary family at the station. All the girls who are
able, have some work assigned them each day, in connection with keeping
their rooms and premises clean, in preparing for use the rice and other articles of food, and in cooking. Effort is thus made to keep them occupied,
to give them suitable exercise, to teach them order and neatness, and form
in them habits of industry and trustworthiness.
As must be expected, there are evils connected with such an institution
in this land; some of them have in a good measure been overcome, while
others still remain. It was necessary, at first, to offer such inducements as
would be effective to lead parents to send their children to a boarding school.
Hence the plan was adopted of giving them their food and clothing while in
the school, and a small dowry when married. The evil of giving dowry has
been removed by the change of feeling in the community, which has enabled
the mission to discontinue giving dowries to those received since 1848.
Keeping the pupils in all ordinary cases until they are married, has
resulted in prolonging the residence of many in the school to an undesirable
length. Some have remained fifteen or sixteen years, and one even nineteen
years. This evil has in part been remedied by limiting the course of study
to six years.
The custom of the country in reference to young females appearing
abroad, and the confined premises of the school, have made it difficult to
secure for the pupils proper exercise, and this, no doubt, has been in some
cases a detriment to health. This evil has also, to some extent, been remedied by increasing the amount of labor, as well as by enlarging their
premises.
Other evils, more difficult to remedy, have arisen in connection with the
quality of their food, which has been, of necessity, better than most of them
would receive at their houses.
In the providence of God, we are called upon, at the present time, to look
at this institution with a view to modifyin-g it, and placing it, in some
respects, on a different basis. Hitherto it has been a part of a system of
education, adopted with the design of raising a suitable native missionary
agency, and with the expectation that it would prove one of the best means
of evangelizing the land. This system has been productive of much good,
and has, in many respects, more than answered the expectations entertained;
but the time for a change seems to have arrived. And while with gratitude
we acknowledge the goodness of God in bestowing the special blessing hitherto upon this institution, thus making it a source of blessing to others, we
desire, with humble dependence upon him for the future, to follow the leadings of his providence in respect to this, as well as to other departments of
our work.
The great object of this institution is to give to a select number of promising females, in circumstances favorable to moral and intellectual development, an education superior to that which they can obtain in the family or
Christian village schools, with the view of their becoming the companions
of native pastors, catechists, and other missionary agents.
With this end in view, the present number of pupils seems much larger
than is demanded, and we think it may with profit be considerably reduced.
The present number, as has been stated, is 73. Of these, 21 were received
previous to 1848, and have been connected with the school nine years and
upwards. Your committee recommend, that the connection with the school,
as pupils, of all these, cease at the close of the term in May, 1856. This




76
reduction, if no vacancies occur in the lower classes, will leave fifty-two
pupils in the school. The class received in 1848, consisting, at present, of
19 members, should be dismissed at the close of the term in May, 1857.
The term of residence of the class admitted in 1850, 11 in number, according to the arrangement made when they were received, expires in October,
1856. The number of pupils in future should not, in the judgment of your
committee, exceed 35, and these generally should give evidence of being
Christians themselves, or should come from the families of church-members
and nominal Christians. We are not prepared to say, however, that none
should be taken, hereafter, from heathen families. Cases may occur when,
in the judgment of the mission, it may be best to receive such, though it is
believed that the necessity will not often arise.
As to the terms upon which the pupils should be received, we are of the
opinion, that, so far as possible, they should be taken from the Christian
village schools, and that a certain amount of preparation in those schools,
to be determined upon by the mission, should be required; that they should
not be received under twelve years of age; that their term of residence in the
school should not exceed five years;and that, as t he school is to be entirely
select and for a specific purpose, no pay should be required for board from
those hereafter admitted. In receiving new classes to the school, it is important to avoid encouraging them to come together in considerable numbers
for examination, as the greater part must necessarily be subjected to a
mortifying and painful disappointment. And yet, on the other hand, it is
important to secure the effect on the village female schools, of cherishing a
desire for the advantages of the boarding school among parents and their
daughters.'"' To secure both these objects, if possible, the appointment of a
committee is recommended, which shall be especially instructed to look for
suitable pupils, and shall have the whole charge of selecting them for the
several classes. In making the selection, reference should not be had to
locality, rank, or pecuniary circumstances, so much as to the character and
promise of the applicants.
Your committee are further of the opinion, that it is not expedient to
continue the study of English; but the instruction, hereafter, should be
entirely in Tamil. The course of study will be affected somewhat by the
amount of preparation required for admission.  It should be eminently
Christian and practical, such as will best fit them to be useful in the position
they are to occupy.
There should be one married missionary at the station, to take the general
oversight of the institution; and an unmarried lady, who should acquire the
native language sufficiently well to communicate instruction herself, and
take the direction of the female native teacher who may be employed. The
wife of the missionary at the station, it is expected, will, so far as she is
able, assist in the management of the domestic affairs of the school, and in
giving instruction. It is desirable, on some accounts, that when the reduction of pupils is completed, all the native teachers should be females; but,
for the present at least, it seems important that one or more of the male
teachers should be retained; with the understanding that hereafter, should
it be deemed advisable by the mission, the instruction may be given altogether into the hands of females.
In regard to the internal arrangements of the school, it is important that
strict rules be enforced in reference to visitors; guarding against its becoming a refuge for the poor and orphans, or a retreat for invalids. Long visits
from former pupils, or from friends of the pupils should in all cases be discouraged.
Particular attention should be given to providing suitable exercise, at
regular times, for the pupils. They are taken at an age when they require
much exercise; but, confined as they are within their premises, they are in
danger of neglecting it. They will be able to continue to do most of the




77
work necessary to keeping their rooms and premises in order; and perhaps
all the work connected with the preparation of their food, under the direction
of a single cook. It may be expedient to put some restrictions upon needle
and crotchet work, out of the hours devoted to this purpose, as a taste for
that kind of work, or a desire for gain, may sometimes lead to too close confinement, at the expense of health.
Your committee would suggest, in reference to the future, whether the
system of monitorships, now existing, should not be modified, so that more
responsibility shall be thrown upon individuals, and a smaller proportion of
the whole number be paid for their services from the allowance for the
school. The design of these offices is simply to secure order and efficiency,
and they should not be unnecessarily multiplied.
In conclusion, your committee would express the hope, that this school,
on its new basis, with the blessing of God, may still prove to be an important auxiliary in the great work of planting the institutions of the gospel in
this land. We commend it to the prayers of all who are interested in the
cause of missions to the heathen.
V.
REPORT ON THE BATTICOTTA SEMINARY.
THE Batticotta Seminary was established in the year 1823. Previous to
that time, boarding schools for boys had been sustained at most of the mission stations, and the Seminary was composed of the most advanced and
promising boys in those schools.
The main design of the mission, in establishing this institution, was to
raise up efficient laborers to aid in the work of evangelizing this people.
Subsequently it was enlarged, with the hope that it might furnish suitable
men to aid in extending missionary operations on the neighboring continent.
By a reference to some of the early reports, it appears that the mission had
in view also the general elevation of the people and the raising of the standard of education in the country. There are also some expressions which
indicate that the fitting of men to act as efficient officers of government was
among the minor considerations which influenced the mission to carry on
and enlarge their operations in this department.
For the carrying out of this design, it has been a prominent object from
the first to give the pupils a thorough knowledge of the English language,
and thus furnish them a key to western sciences and literature, and relieve
them from the bondage of Hindoo superstitions founded on false science.
I. The History of the Seminary divides itself into four periods.
First Period.-The Rev. D. Poor was Principal of the Seminary from its
commencement until 1836, a period of thirteen years. During that time the
native practice of studying aloud in school was continued. The proportion
of studies in the Tamil language, compared with the English was greater
than in late years, and the desire for mathematical and astronomical studies
was much more developed. Great efforts were made by the Principal to
bring this knowledge to bear upon the false systems of the country. Being
able to use the native language, his instructions, especially those of a religious nature, were given mostly in that language.
In the latter part of this. period, special efforts were made to bring to light
the hidden mysteries of Hindoo sciences, and expose their fallacy. High
*




78
hopes were entertained that the triumphs of European science, in showing
the inaccuracies of the Hindoo system, had done much for the overthrow of
error, and the establishment of the truth of Christianity. This led to a
more vigorous prosecution of the plan which had been adopted, and the
desire for education in the English language and western sciences gradually
increased.
It should be remarked that during Mr. Poor's connection with the institution, great prominence was given to religious instruction in the vernacular,
and the numbers hopefully converted and gathered into the church was
greater than during any other period, of equal length, in the history of the
mission. In this period the number of pupils increased from 48 to about
150. From 1833 Dr. Ward aided the Principal in the department of instruction. Mr. Eckard also rendered assistance for a short time.
Second Period.-In 1836, Rev. H. R. Hoisington became Principal, and
continued at his post until 1841, when he was obliged to return to America,
on account of failure of health. During this period of five years, the institution received a new impulse, and the native practice of studying audibly
gave place to a less objectionable method. Dr. Ward continued to aid in the
department of instruction. The Principal devoted much time to the study
of the high works on Hindoo science, and labored zealously to fit the teachers under his care to be efficient in their several departments, without neglecting the religious and moral training of the pupils. While great efforts
were made, on the part of the Principal, to give a prominence to the Bible
and instructions drawn therefrom, and to bring all their acquisitions in
science to bear upon the same points, the desire for scientific knowledge,
which was increasingly manifest in the previous period, was more and more
clearly developed.
In 1840, the Rev. E. Cope was associated with Mr. Hoisington in the care
and instruction of the Seminary. Up to that time, all the expenses of the
students had been borne by the mission, even to furnishing them with cloths
and paying for their washing.
Th'rd Period.-Mr. Hoisington left the institution in charge of Dr. Ward
and Mr. Cope. In 1842, Rev. R. Wyman became associated with them, and
remained two years. Mr. Hoisington returned at the close of 1844, and
resumed his position as Principal of the Seminary. He continued in this
position until 1849, when he was obliged to leave the country on account of
failure of health. Mr. Cope was absent from ill health one and a half years,
and resigned in 1847.
Rev. S. G. Whittelsey was connected with the institution about one year,
but was at his post only six months.
While Mr. Hoisington was absent, the scientific department did not receive so marked attention from the instructors, yet the same general course
was pursued. Those in charge were not able to communicate with the students to any great extent, except in the English language.
In 1843, there were disclosures of immoral practices among the students,
in which one, at least, of the teachers was somewhat implicated. This
resulted in the dismission of a large number of the students from the different classes, and all of a select class which had been formed with the
design of giving its members a course of instruction in theology and such
studies as would fit them for catechists and preachers.
This, for a time, seriously affected the prospect of the institution, and
greatly impaired the confidence of the mission in the moral and Christian
character of those students who professed to be Christians, and cast some
shades of doubt even upon those who were not implicated in the evil practices. The first effect of this gradually disappeared, and confidence was, in
a measure, restored.
On Mr. Hoisington's return in 1844, he brought with him some valuable




79
apparatus for the scientific department, and commenced anew his efforts to
raise the scientific character of the institution, while he was equally zealous
to have the biblical department well manned, and that prominence given to
thorough training in the Bible which its importance demanded. The result
of this was the modification of the previous plan, and the formation of three
departments of instruction, viz: Scientific, Biblical, and English, and the
appointment of Mr. Whittelsey in the biblical department, who, it was hoped,
from his knowledge of the vernacular, would be able to give greater prominence to biblical instruction, and create an enthusiasm in that direction
which would check the tendencies in favor of English and science. These
fond hopes were disappointed in the early removal of Mr. Whittelsey by
death. Others who were connected with the institution, during that period,
did what they could to bring the truth to bear upon the minds and hearts of
the students; and by the blessing of God their labors were not in vain.
There were several seasons of religious interest in the institution during
the three periods above mentioned, and a goodly number were gathered into
the church.
At the close of the first period, the number of pupils had increased to
about 150. From that time onward to 1845, the number varied from 150 to
160. At the close of the third period, it was reduced to about 100. At the
commencement of the fourth period, Rev. E. P. Hastings, who had been previously associated with Mr. Hoisington two years in the care and instruction
of the Seminary, was appointed Principal, and Rev. C. T. Mills was associated with him. In February, 1850, Mr. Hastings resigned, and Mr. Mills
was appointed Principal, who continued in office until he left the mission in
1853.
Mr. Hastings, the present Principal, was re-appointed on his return from
America. During the past five years, there has been only one nissionary
connected with the Seminary, with the exception of eight months; and his
labors, so far as he has been able to give instruction, have been devoted to
the biblical department, mainly in the English language; and special efforts
have been made to raise the standard of scholarship.
In the early part of the third period, the practice of furnishing cloths to
the pupils was discontinued. Soon after, the parents of the boys were required to give bonds for the payment of board.
A few years later, those who were able were required to pay for board,
one term in advance, at the rate of four shillings and six pence per month.
Some were received at half that price, and about one-fourth of the whole
number received were admitted on charity. Even on these conditions, the
applicants have been double the number which could be admitted. This
practice has continued to the present time; and within a few years, an initiation fee of ten shillings has been required to meet the expense of books.
The amount received for board and initiation fees in 1854 was ~150.
The result of this practice has been to introduce a class of students from
wealthy families, whose main object is to get an education to fit themselves
for government service; many of whom are not only of no benefit to us in a
missionary point of view, but are often a hinderance to the work. From this
and other causes, the number of pious students in the Seminary is comparatively much smaller than in former times. There is, however, a redeeming
feature to this pay system, viz: there is more room for the development of an
independent character, and fewer temptations to a servile spirit. If one of
that class is really brought to bow to the convictions of truth, he is usually
a more decided and consistent Christian.
The institution has been in operation thirty-one years, and has cost the
Board about ~20,000, including the salaries of the missionaries who have
been connected with it. Besides this, about ~1,100 were collected in Ceylon and India, for buildings and apparatus. We might add also some donations of apparatus from America, not reckoned in the above account.




80
II. Present State.-The present state of the institution, if we look at it in
view of some of the objects for which it was founded, is very encouraging.
There is a corps of able and well qualified native teachers, fitted to give
instruction in all important branches; and the attainments of those under
their charge are such as in many cases to do honor both to the teachers and
pupils. It has attained a commanding influence in the community, as a literary and scientific institution, and is a stepping-stone by which many have
been able, at a cheap rate, to rise to posts of influence and emolument. The
mission, through the influence of the Seminary, has had the control of education in the province for many years. Some have regarded this as a reason
why the institution should be sustained, lest the power of educating this
people should fall into the hands of the heathen, or others opposed to the
pure principles of the gospel.
Were our object to educate the community, we should regard our position
in this respect as very encouraging. Viewed as a missionary Seminary, its
present state is not so encouraging.  The whole number of students is 96;
of these, 11 only are mrembers of the Christian church. Many of the older
pupils are of that class who are looking mainly to government for employment, and seem determined to have nothing to do with Christianity. There
is, however, a redeeming feature in the fact that many in the lower classes
are children of church members, who will, we trust, be found on the right
side, if not exposed to too great temptations by being thrown in contact with
evil influences. In the last class of 30, admitted in 1854, 15 were from
Christian families. In the class which graduated in September, 1854, there
were six church members; and of the 96, above named, 30 were admitted in
October, 1854.
III. The Results.-The whole number who have sustained membership
is..                       670
The whole number of students now living, who have been educated, is. 454
Of these, there are in mission service.. 112
Of whom there are employed by the American Ceylon mission. 81
The number in service of government in Ceylon and India... 158
The number in different kinds of business in Ceylon and on the Continent...........                                           111
Those whose employment is unknown, or who are not known to be employed in any useful business.....                 73
The whole number of church members......      352
Number excommunicated...92
Whole number who have died, [8 of whom after excommunication,]. 72
Present number connected with Protestant churches.. 196
The number now connected with the American mission churches..185
The institution has raised up a class of native assistants who have greatly
aided the mission in carrying on their work, and who will, we trust, be of
still greater service as preachers and pastors in different parts of the field.
Many of them are the fruits of the revivals to which allusion has been made,
and are, indeed, the most promising fruit of the institution.
There are also some among those who are not connected with us, but are
engaged in government and other service, who, we hope, are Christians, and
honor their profession by a humble and consistent life.
Aside from the above results, the Seminary has exerted an influence in
the land which cannot be mistaken, in waking up the native mind, in diffusing useful knowledge, and creating a power, which, if directed into the right
channel, will do much for the elevation of this people. There is a class in
the community who have, in a measure, been freed from the bondage of
superstition, whose views have been liberalized by science, and who may do
much for the improvement of their countrymen. Though the Seminary has




81
failed, in some respects, to accomplish all its friends hoped for, it has done a
great work in its day, which will yet, by the blessing of God, turn to good
account in the establishment of the kingdom of Christ in Ceylon.
IV. Tendencies of the System.-The preceding history has, to some extent,
presented the tendencies of the system which has been pursued.
(1.) It has tended to give a prominence to instruction in the English language and the sciences, which has led many of the students to neglect their
own language. Though great efforts have been made, on the part of the
missionaries in charge, to give special prominence to biblical instructions in
the vernacular, and bring in science to illustrate and impress the truth, the
current in favor of English and the sciences has steadily advanced with
little interruption.
(2.) It has also tended to draw the most promising pupils from the village
English schools, and unfit them in some respects to return and obtain a livelihood among their own people. By their education they are so much elevated above the mass, that they feel unable to live on the income they would
receive in the ordinary occupations of the country, become discontented,
and seek employment in other places. Many facts might be adduced to
show that efforts to evangelize a people through a foreign tongue have not
proved successful.
(3.) A class of men has been raised up, who, though well educated, and,
in some respects, well qualified for service among the people, are not in the
best manner fitted by their course of training for that kind of humble and
persevering labor, which is most needed in making known the gospel, and
giving it a footing permanently, in the villages, on a self-sustaining basis.
(4.) There is also a tendency to give prominence to other objects than the
one which the missionary should always keep in view, viz: the preaching of
Christ, and him crucified, to the people in their own language.
(5.) Those missionaries connected with the institution have been hindered
in the acquisition of the colloquial language of the country. They have not
been compelled by circumstances to speak in Tamil, and the temptation to
use their own mother tongue has too often prevailed. The same may be
true, to some extent, of other missionaries, who have catechists under their
care that can speak the English language.
V. Change proposed.-Such having been the tendencies of the system, as
appears from the preceding history, we are prepared for a change. It should
not be a partial one. That would not cure the evil.
Our object in sustaining a Seminary is not to educate the community at
large. That we do not regard as the appropriate work of missionaries. Nor
is it our object to give superior education to all the children of native Christians. The village schools are to be established for the children of Christians, where they are to be instructed in their own language; and most of
them must there complete their education.
But our object is to prepare a class of young men to be Christian teachers,
catechists, and pastors, in every village in the land, to which they can gain
access-such men as can live on humble means, and will be earnest in their
efforts to save souls. This being our object, we think the study of English
may be a hinderance, rather than a benefit, and are prepared to recommend,
(1l) That no instruction in the English language be given in the regular
course.
(2.) That the number of students be reduced, as we aim to educate only
for mission service in our own field. At the close of the present Seminary
year, we propose that a number not exceeding twenty-five be selected from
the present students, taking only those who, from their connections, attainments, and character, give most promise of usefulness in the missionary




82
work. The pecuniary demands of those who have paid in advance for books,
should be adjusted to their satisfaction when requested to leave.
As the institution is to be solely for mission purposes, and the students
eminently select, it is thought to be unadvisable to require pay for board, or
books, in order that we may keep it completely under our control, and avoid
the temptation to admit those who can pay when they are not such as we
wish to educate.
(3.) That the course of instruction be only four years. A class to be
received annually. It is further recommended, that a course of preparation
in the village schools be required, and that none be admitted under the age
of fourteen; and that they be Christians, or from Christian families. Only
those who bid fair to be useful in mission service should enjoy the privileges
of the institution. A committee should make the selections, avoiding as
much as possible applications from the people, and should report the same to
the mission for approval.
(4.) That one missionary be devoted to the Seminary, aided by two native
teachers.
(5.) The course of study, being wholly in the vernacular, should be eminently biblical, such as will, by the blessing of God, prepare the pupils to
wield the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Sacred history,
geography and science should be brought in to aid in this work, and all
should centre in the Bible, and be made to explain its truths.




CONTENTS.
Why the Report is made directly to the Board,....  3
Acknowledgment of the divine goodness,...
I. Sending of the Deputation,.....  4
Instructions from the Prudential Committee,...  5
Concession made to the Bombay mission,...  8
Opinions on mission schools,....  9
Travels regulated by the seasons,.     10
II. Letters received from Dr. Poor,.....  12
III. Intercourse with the missions,.....  15
IV. Proceedings in the Ceylon mission,....  17
Visits to the stations,..   17
Meeting of Batticotta graduates,..... 17
Subjects discussed at the general meeting,..  18
Committees to report on these subjects,.... 22
Course of the discussion,..... 22
Relations between the Deputation and the Mission,.. 23
V. Reports and Letters,.....,   25
VI. General view of the changes described in the reports of the missions,  26
Great cities and rural districts,..... 26
Nature of the field,.....26
Aim of the Deputation,.....27
The changes similar in each of the missions,... 27
In respect to schools,...... 27
In respect to centralization in missions,.... 28
In the Madura mission,..            30
In the Ahmednuggur mission,....32
In the Bombay mission,.....33
In the Ceylon mission,.....   35
Batticotta Seminary,.....38
Oodooville Female Boarding School,.... 39
Expenditure for education in Jaffna,.... 40
All a preparation for gathering village churches,..  41
Mainly a preparation,...... 41
The station congregations and churches,.  42
VII. Madras and Arcot missions,..... 43
VIII. The English language,......   44
IX. Caste,......           47
X. Polygamy,.                            48




84
X I. Financial concerns,....                 49
XI I. Official sanction given to proceedings of the missions,.. 50
X I II. Relation of missionaries to native pastors and churches,.  53
XI V. Conclusion,.......     56
APPENDIX.
On the visit of the Deputation,.                              63
Statement of the Ceylon mission to the people of Jaffna,..  64
Report of the Ceylon mission on the governing object in missions to
the heathen,.......         66
Report of the Syrian mission on the same subject,...     71
Report on the Oodooville Female Boarding School,...     72
Report on the Batticotta Seminary,....     77