Identifier: cu31924029346875 (find matches)
Title: History of American missions to the heathen, from their commencement to the present time
Year: 1840 (1840s)
Authors: Tracy, Joseph, 1798?-1850 Peck, Solomon, 1800-1874 Mudge, Enoch, 1776-1850 Cutter, William, 1801-1867 Mack, Enoch, 1806-1881
Subjects: Missions Missions
Publisher: Worcester : Spooner & Howland
Contributing Library: Cornell University Library
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN

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the island which the Portugueseand Dutch had occupied. In 1803, they marched for the first time toCandy, the seat of the native government; and, after several wars andtreaties, they annihilated the native government, and took possession of the-jvhole island in 1815, Of the first introduction of Christianity into Ceylon, we find no account.When Francis Xavier, the Jesuit Apostle of India, first visited the island,it is said that he found there 20,000 native Christians. They were probablyof the Syrian church, like those on the Malabar coast, claiming an eccle-siastical descent from the Apostle Thomas, who is said to have preachedthe gospel in India. The Portuguese assert that they were little better thanheathen, and by no means so good Christians as Xaviers converts. He issaid to have converted 40,000 in a short time; but as his conversions werelittle more than baptism and learning a few Popish forms, their effect wasneither very great nor very permanent. The Portuguese, while in power.
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BUILDINGS AT BATTICOTTA AND TILLIPALLY. 61 demolished many heathen temples, built churches, bestowed peculiar privi-leges on Christians, and by various means induced many natives to receivebaptism. The Dutch, when they became masters of the same territories,endeavored to establish Protestantism. They forbade the rebuilding ofheathen temples, allowed no public idolatrous ceremonies, and made theprofession of Christianity a necessary qualification for all important olRces.They repaired the churches built by the Portuguese, and built others.They divided the country into parishes, and introduced pastors and schools.But commerce was the main object on which their hearts were set. Theirpastors were too few, and their number decreased. The number of evennominal Christians diminished, and many of the churches went to decay.When the English took possession, in 1796, they allowed the free exerciseof all religions. The natives now rebuilt their heathen temples, and re-sumed the public celebratio

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