RAIDING,

CMS,

One Hundred Years

in

Ceylon

OR

The Centenary Volume

OF THE

Church Missionary Society

IN

CEYLON
1818-1918
BY

THE

REV.

J.

W. BALDING, C.M.S.

MADRAS
PRINTED AT

THE DIOCESAN

PRESS,

VEPERY

BY
32.15

EMMANUEL

60403

PREFACE.
IN consequence

of

my

having had the honour of

Society,

am

com

Church Missionary
History
now asked by the Ceylon Committee that

piling the general

of

the

has arranged for the celebration of the Centenary of the

Ceylon Mission, to introduce this present work, which
tells the story of the Hundred Years of that Mission,
and this I do with pleasure and thankfulness. The
author, the Rev. J. W. Balding, is now the senior C.M.S.

missionary in Ceylon, so far as length of service in the

Island is concerned, having joined in 1881, and having

That honoured
therefore thirty-seven years experience.
E.
Rowlands, indeed, went out
veteran, the Rev. W.
in 1884 and
fifty-seven years ago (1861), but he retired
in the field
rejoined in 1907, so that his actual service
is

less

than

Mr. Balding s. The book,

an unusual degree.

therefore,

is

authoritative in

In 1868 a small Jubilee volume was prepared by the

Ceylon missionaries. It was not an encouraging recital
of the fifty years.

Missions have had, in so long a period, more

In my History,
apparently scanty results to report.
and explained
published thirty years later, I noticed this,

Few

the causes (Vol.

ii,

p.

288),

and

of those thirty additional years

added that if a record

were written, the tone

PREFACE

iv

would be very different (Vol. iii, p. 547). In the supple

mentary fourth volume, published in 1916, I was thank
fully able to present a much more hopeful account.
Although I had even then to acknowledge that progress
had been, as compared with that of several other
Missions, exceptionally slow, yet on the other hand,
the Mission had been exceptionally interesting in respect
of the individual cases of conversions reported (Vol.

This general impression

257).

p.

will be

iv,

confirmed by

the present work, and the careful reader will find much
to strengthen his faith in the Gospel and his thankful
ness to God.

Galle Face Church, the Ladies

Cotta and Baddegama, as centres of village
work; Kandy, with Trinity College; the Itinerancies;
the Tamil Coolie Mission
Jaffna, and its isolated but

with

Colombo,

College, etc.

important influence

all

these present features of real

little of the romance of

have

though they may

Uganda, or the Punjab, or parts of China, or the Arctic

interest,

Circle.

The Anglican
respect Ceylon is unique.
Church there furnishes the spectacle of a self-governing
body comprising white and coloured races working
In

one

together in harmony and fellowship, with the native

Christians in a decided majority, while the foreign
Christians are no negligible minority, differing therefore

from Colonial Churches like those of Canada or New

Zealand on one side, and from Churches almost purely
native as in China and Japan on the other.

The
and

Church
its

own

in

Ceylon

Synodical

has

its

own

constitution

administration,

although

PREFACE

ecclesiastically a single diocese in the Province

of India

and Ceyion.
presents, on a small scale, a picture of
what we hope in time to see on the larger field of India
It

itself.
I

and

heartily

commend

book to readers both at home

and to the Divine blessing.

this

in the mission field,

EUGENE STOCK.
January, 1918.

CONTENTS
PAGE

PREFACE

...

...

...

...

iii

...

...

...

INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER
I.

II.

III.

IV.
V.
VI.

VII.
VIII.

CEYLQX

it/

THE SINHALESE
BUDDHISM

...

THE TAMILS
HINDUISM

...

CHRISTIANITY

EDUCATION
C.M.S. IN

IN

...

...

11

16

...

...

...

...

...

24

...

...

...

28

CEYLON

...

...

CEYLON

32

...

...

..,

43

...

...

53

IX.

KANDY

...

...

X.

JAFFNA

...

...

...

88

...

...

IQS

XI.

XII.
XIII.

XIV.

XV.
XVI.
XVII.
XVIII.

BADDEGAMA
COTTA

...

68

128

...

THE KANDYAN ITINERANCIES

...

...

143

COLOMBO

...

...

155

...

...

173

...

...

THE TAMIL COOLY MISSION

C.E.Z.M.S. IN CEYLON

188

THE GREAT WAR AND RECENT PROGRESS.

196

RECENT EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENTS

...

201

CONCLUSION

...

A HYMN FOR CEYLON

...

...

...

205

...

...

...

206

PAGE
APPENDIX A
Ceylon C.M.S. Missionaries (Men)

...

207

Sinhalese Clergy

...

...

...

225

Tamil Clergy

...

...

...

228

...

231

Constitution for the Ceylon Mis

...
...
sionary Conference

236

Women

C.M.S. Missionaries

APPENDIX B

New

INTRODUCTION.
EUGENE STOCK,

in the

History of the Church

ERRATA
Page

34, line 6

Page

165, line 17,

Page

from bottom for

/or

it

read

in

women read

line

190,
5, for
having too great for her read
having proved too great for her
Pa g e S 2 3
P f Itinerancies Between
Teldeniy,
a
nd n
and
Dunuvila read Urugala
-

^^ ^

^^^^^^^^ ^__

have presented

in

subsequent years more manifest signs

of the working of the grace of God.

Early in 1915, in view of the near approach of the
centenary of the C.M.S. in Ceylon, the Standing Com

mittee of the Conference suggested the formation of a

Centenary Central Committee, so that the Centenary in

1918 might be widely and properly commemorated.

A representative committee was accordingly formed,
with the

Dibben)

Secretary of the Mission

as

chairman.

Two

(the

Rev.

secretaries, one

A.

E.

clerical

CONTENTS
PAGE
APPENDIX A
Ceylon C.M.S. Missionaries (Men)

...

207

Sinhalese Clergy

...

225

...

231

...

Tamil Clergy

Women

C.M.S. Missionaries

INTRODUCTION.
DR. EUGENE STOCK,

the

History of the Church

Missionary Society
published in 1899, in connection
with the Centenary of the Parent Society, refers to the
Jubilee Sketches,

C.M-S.

in

or an

Outline of the work of the

Ceylon during fifty years, 1818-1868 written

by the late Rev. J. Ireland Jones, and published in
In 1868, the Ceylon
Colombo, in the following terms
in

Mission celebrated

its

Jubilee.

The

brought out a small volume of Jubilee

the history of each station during the

missionaries

then

"

Sketches,"

giving

fifty years.

This

book is singularly modest in its estimate of the

work done and the results achieved. If the interesting
little book were now to have a new edition, the whole
Few missions had been, at the
tone would be different.
end of fifty years, more scanty in results. Few missions
have presented in subsequent years more manifest signs
of the working of the grace of God.
little

Early in 1915, in view of the near approach of the

centenary of the C.M.S. in Ceylon, the Standing Com
mittee of the Conference suggested the formation of a
Centenary Central Committee, so that the Centenary in

1918 might be widely and properly commemorated.

A representative committee was accordingly formed,
with the

Dibben)

Secretary of the Mission (the Rev. A. E.

Two secretaries, one clerical
as chairman.

INTRODUCTION

(Rev. A. M. Walmsley) and one lay (Mr. W. Wadsworth)

a
treasurer
(Rev. J. W. Ferrier) were also

and

appointed.
In addition,

members of committee were nominated

by the District Church Councils.
It was proposed that the Centenary should be made
the occasion of the raising of a sum of at least Rs.
50,000, as a thank offering, and that this should have
four objectives
:

a Capital Fund for advance Missionary Move

ments, (2) a Pension Fund for Catechists, Biblewomen
and School Teachers, (3) a Capital Fund to meet
(1)

Educational Work, and (4) to provide

funds for Itinerating Bands.
Several
Centenary Pamphlets have been published,

opposition

in

and the writer

this

of

No. 3 says,

We

do not want

to

make

merely a matter of raising fundscentenary

do so, would be to fall very short of our real needs.
effort

To
What

First of all, this must be a time of

are they ?
If we are all in
increased prayer and re-consecration.
the line of God s will, praying earnestly for the extension

and the means will be forth

coming, but money, without His Spirit to direct and
control and bless it, can never fulfil its purpose.
Let
the Centenary be borne to us on a great wave of prayer,
and we shall find it stored with a rich cargo of blessings.
Let us remember three watchwords
(1) Thanksgiving,
for the past, with all its mercies and blessings.
(2)
Humiliation, as we think of the present, with its many
unanswered calls, unused opportunities, and unentered

of

His kingdom, the

effort

doors.

(3)

Advance,

in the future, as

we remember

that

INTRODUCTION
in the future lies the coming of the Lord, so closely
connected with the evangelization of the world.
Further, it was agreed that a history of the work of
the C.M.S. in Ceylon should be written, which it was
hoped would find its way into many homes, and thus

and deepen

sustain

interest

in

our work, and prove a

source of information and renewed

effort.

was asked to undertake, and the following pages

This
are the result, which I trust will draw forth praise and
thankfulness for God s goodness and help in the past,
and call forth more prayer and work in His cause in the
I

future.
I

have chosen as the

title for

One hundred

the book,

of the C.M.S. there from

years in Ceylon, or the Story
title to take for a
natural
It is the
1818 to 1918.
volume, and other writers on Ceylon seem to

centenary
have been impelled to describe their books

in

terms of

years, for instance,

Two Happy

Years

in

Ceylon,

by

Miss Gordon-

Cumming.
Seven Years in Ceylon, by Miss M. Leitch.
Sir Samuel Baker.
Eight Years in Ceylon, by
Forbes.
in
Years
Eleven
Ceylon, by Major
Skinner.
Fifty Years in Ceylon, by Major
Root.
Helen
Miss
in
A
by

Ceylon,
Century
for more
I have been a missionary in Ceylon
Although
than a third part of the one hundred years, I cannot lay

much

claim to
history,
liberally,

the

as

that

original

in

the

pages of this

have drawn and compiled,

largely
in

and

1868

Jubilee Sketches published

published
Ceylon Mission
pamphlet, the

from the

small

is

INTRODUCTION
by the C.M.S. in 1900; the
History of the C.M.S.
in
1899
the
Historical
Sketch of Ceylon
published
published by the S.P.G.
Ceylon at the Census of 1911,
;

Book of Ceylon and

by Mr. E. B. Denham the
Golden Tips, by Mr. H. W. Cave
Ceylon, by Dr.
C.
of
Willis;
J.
History
Ceylon, by Mr. Donald
the
Handbooks
Obeyesekere
Ceylon
published by the
the local
Messrs. Ferguson
Reports of the C.M.S.
and many other writers. To each and
Ceylon Mission
;

all

of these

am much

indebted and tender grateful

many friends who have given

and
advice
valuable
assistance, and last but not least to
the kind writer of the preface.
thanks,

as well as

to the

J.

W. BALDING.

ColomlH,

CHAPTER

I.

CEYLON.
No country in the world, except possibly Egypt, has such a
long continuous history and civilization, with tradition, fable
and legend
parents,

it

encircling

Mohammedans

assert

Adam and

from the

that

remotest

times.

Ceylon was given to our

The
first

Eve, as a new Elysium to console them

for the loss of Paradise.

According to the Indian poem, the

Ramayana, (500 B.C.) a prince named Rama is said to have

come with a great army from India to Ceylon about three
thousand years ago and conquered and killed the king.
It is also supposed to have been part of the region of Ophir
and Tarshish, from which the ships of King Solomon obtained
The ancient
gold and silver, ivory, apes and peacocks.

Greeks and Romans knew the island as

the

poet

Milton

has

preserved

the

Taprobane,

name

in

his

and
great

poem,
From

Embassies from regions far remote,

India and the golden Chersonese,
And from utmost Indian isle, Taprobane.

To the people of India it has been known for centuries as

Lanka the Resplendent, and the pearl-drop on the brow
To
of Ind, whilst the Siamese called it the divine Lanka.
the Chinese

it

was

the island of jewels, to the Persians the

to the Arabs it was Seren-

land of the hyacinth and ruby,

dib
to the ancient Sinhalese
,

and

to travelled

Europeans

the

the island of the lion race,

Eden

of the

Eastern wave.

CENTENARY VOLUME

6
It

has been immortalized by Bishop Heber, in the well-known

missionary hymn,

What though
Blow

soft o er

the spicy breezes

Ceylon

s isle

Though every prospect

By

another poet

pleases

it is

Confessed to be the brightest gem

In Britain

is
is

orient

diadem

Ceylon lies to the south-east of the continent of India, and

about the size of Ireland. .Its length from north to south
271 miles, and

its

greatest width 137 miles.

about 25,000 square miles.

The south

Its area is

of the island lies with

and the average temperature

between eighty and ninety degrees in the
In the hills
shade, a climate always humid and enervating.
however a temperature as low as twenty-six degrees is some
times experienced. The annual rainfall varies from thirty-six
inches in the driest parts of the island to two hundred inches
in the wettest whereas the rainfall of Great Britain range?
from a minimum of twenty-two inches to a maximum of

in six degrees of the equator,

near the coast

seventy

is

inches.

Time

is

ahead of Greenwich, so it
England is only half awake.

five
is

hours and twenty minutes

about noon

in

Colombo when

Ceylon has a population of over four millions of people, and

among these, eighty races are represented. The Sinhalese

number 2,714,880, the Tamils 1,060,432, the Moors 266,876,
Burghers 26,857, the Malays 13,092, the Europeans
8,555 and the Veddahs 5,342.
The Veddahs are supposed to be the descendants of the

the

the yakkos or devils, as they are called in native

These were conquered by an invading race who in
543 B.C., swept down from the valley of the Ganges, com
manded by Wijayo, the son of a king of Bengal. He founded

aborigines
legend.

CEYLON
the royal dynasty which held
sway for about 2,300 years.
Sinhalese (from Sinha, a lion) are the descendants of
these conquerors.
They speak an

The

Aryan language of the

two great sections,
Kandyan and Low-Country Sinhalese. Both are descended
from the same stock and are only distinguished
outwardly by
difference of dress.
The Tamils are of Dravidian origin, and
Sanskrit

and are divided

type,

into

are the descendants of mercenaries and invaders from South

who settled in the Island ages ago. Others are
recent immigrants who corns over in large numbers from

ern India

India to work on the tea and rubber plantations.

are energetic and enterprising traders, are

who

The Moors,
probably de

scendants of Arabs, who conquered some coast towns in the

eleventh century, and intermarried with the women of the
land.

They are Mohammedans, as are also the Malays, who

were brought to Ceylon by the Dutch.
The Burghers are the descendants of the Portuguese and
Dutch settlers, and form an influential part of the community.

Tne Dutch Burghers

offices,

are

largely

employed

in

Government

law and medicine.

The Europeans

consist chiefly of

military, merchants, planters,

Government

officials,

the

and missionaries.

The principal seat of Government is at Colombo, which

under the name of Kalambu, was described by the Moors in
the finest city in Serendib.
It has one of the
1340, as
finest harbours in the world, and all steamers going to or from
the East

make

it

a port of

call.

Kandy, the capital of the interior, is situated in an amphi

theatre surrounded by wooded hills and forest-clad mountains,
seventy-two miles from Colombo, nearly two thousand feet
above the sea, whilst in Nuwara Eliya, six thousand feet
above sea level, Europe amid Asia smiles.
Ceylon is an island of indescribable beauty. Nature has
showered her charms with lavish hand, and has welded

CENTENARY VOLUME

together giant peaks, rippling streams, dense jungles and

There is beauty
pleasant plains into one sweet fairyland.
everywhere, in the wealth of vegetation and foliage, the rich
colourings of birds and insects, and a thousand other objects.

belt of rich alluvial soil

round the coast waves with dense

groves of coconut, palmyra, sago, areca, and other palms.

There is an abundance of fruit, such as mango, rose-apple,

guava, durian, prickly-pear, sour-sop, lovi-lovi, custard-apple,

cashew

nut, pomelo, tamarind, pomegranate, pineapple,

gosteen, orange and lime.

man-

Melons and cucumbers, papaws and bananas, breadfruit

and jak, cinnamon, cacao, cardamoms, pepper, nutmegs,
cinchona, tobacco, cotton, sugarcane, lemon and citronella
all have their place.
There are about three thousand species of native plants,
two hundred and thirty different kinds of ferns, and over one
hundred and sixty-eight species of orchids growing wild.
Paddy or rice cultivation has been the chief agricultural
pursuit of the people from time immemorial, and although

grass

sixty varieties of rice are grown, the quantity raised is not

sufficient for the wants of the people.
For many years

was the staple industry of the European

but
a
planters,
fungoid pest, Hemeleia vastatrix, practically
In 1873 only
this
shrub, and tea took its place.
destroyed
23 Ibs. of tea were exported, but now nearly 200,000,000 Ibs.

coffee cultivation

are exported annually.

The fauna of the island

includes

a number of species

which are not found in any other country. There are superb
monkeys, lemurs, civet-cats,
butterflies, black and grey
cheetahs and bears, wild elephants (protected by Govern
wild

buffaloes

(also protected), crocodiles, porcu

wild pig, jackals and twenty-two
sambur,
pine, pangolin,
of
bats.
the owls there is one called the
Amongst
species
most
fearful cries, which have been
devil bird
uttering

ment),

A PEEP OF

THE LAKE, KANDY

A FAMILIAR SCENE NEAR KANDY

CEYLON

woman being murdered, or a child

Forty-three of the one hundred and thirty-three
species of reptiles, have not been found elsewhere.
Of the
compared with those

of a

tortured.

snakes, eight species are poisonous, the most dangerous being

the cobra and tic polonga.
One thousand five hundred species
of beetles are found in the country,

sand

flies,

leeches and other creatures

and mosquitoes,

make

ticks,

their presence felt

and known.

The

seas

abound

in fish, trout

have been introduced

into

upcountry streams, singing fish live in the hot water wells

on the east coast, another fish only thrives when half buried,
in mud, and a kind of perch can make its way across dry
land unaided by legs.

The

island

is

also

of these being the

renowned

for its precious stones, the chief

ruby and sapphire,

to

which may be added

the catseye, the star ruby, star sapphire, amethyst, alexandrite,

moonstone, garnet, chrysolite, chrysoberyl and tourmaline.

found, and plumbago, otherwise known as

blacklead, and pearls are fished up from the
oyster banks on the north-west coast.
To
Book of Ceylon writes
Mr. H. W. Cave in his

Iron

is

also

graphite or

those

who have

the most

extensive

experience of East and

West, the claim of Ceylon to be regarded as the very gem of

seem extravagant. The economic results due
to its situation in the eastern seas, a spot on which converge
the steamships of all nations for coal, and the exchange of
freight and passengers, its wealth and diversity of agricultu

the earth will not

ral

and mineral products,

the industry

of the

inhabitants

these, together with its scenery

unrivalled remains of antiquity, entitle

both colonists and natives

and the glamour of its

Ceylon to a place of. high

distinction

among

the dependencies

of the empire.
Sir Emerson Tennent, who resided in the island for
some years as Lieutenant-Governor and Colonial Secretary,

CENTENARY VOLUME

TO
in

his

writes

interesting

and

valuable

work

on

the

colony,

There

is

no island

the world,

in

Great Britain

itself

not

excepted, that has attracted the attention of authors in so

Ceylon,
many distant ages and so many different countries
a>

there

is

no nation

modern times possessed of a

the writeis of which have not at some

in ancient

language or literature,
time made it their theme.

or

Its aspect,

its

religion,

its

anti

and productions, have been described as well by

classic Greeks as by those of the lower empire, by the
Romans, by the writers of China, Burmah, India and
Cashmere, by ths geographers of Arabia and Persia, by the
mediaeval voyagers of Portugal and France, by the annalists
of Portugal and Spain, by the merchants and adventurers of
Holland and by the travellers and topographers of Great
Britain.
Ceylon, from whatever direction it is approach
quities

ed, unfolds a scene of loveliness and grandeur unsurpassed, if

The traveller from
it be rivalled, by any land in the universe.

Bengal, leaving behind the melancholy delta of the Ganges

and the torrid coast of Coromandel, or the adventurer from

Europe recently inured

to

the

sands of

Egypt, and the

scorched headlands of Arabia, alike are entranced by the

vision of beauty which expands before him as the island
rises

from the sea, its

and its shores,

forests,

mountains covered by luxuriant

they meet the ripple of the waves,

lofty
till

bright with the foliage of perpetual spring.

CHAPTER

II.

THE SINHALESE.
THE

origin of the Sinhalese has given rise to

much

specula

The Mahawansa (chapter VI) states

mother of Wijaya was Suppadevio, a princess

of Bengal,

secretly fled with a caravan chief

the

tion.

by a

for

who
Maghadha
was carried

In the jungle in the land of Lala, she

by whom she had a son called Sinhabahu,

country.
off

bound

that the grand

lion,

who

slew his lion father and became king of Lala, and founded a
city called Sinhapura. Wijaya was his son, who with his
followers arrived in the island about 543 B.C.

By whatever means
Sinha

(lion) his

the

monarch Sinhabahu slew the

sons and descendants are called Sinhala (the

Lanka having been conquered by a Sinhala, it

name of Sinhala or Sihala.
It is probable
lion
was a bold and daring bandit, known by the

lion slayers).

obtained the
that the

name of Sinha, the lion.

The most generally accepted
genitors of the Sinhalese
India.

This

is

quent history.

theory however

were Aryan

settlers

is,

that the pro

from the north

of

borne out by language, customs, and subse

The ancient poem Ramayana (500 B.C.) and

Asoka (250

the inscriptions of

B.C.)

prove early

intercourse

between India and Ceylon. The Sinhalese language is one of

the group of Indo-Aryan languages of which Sanskrit is the
It is unknown in India, and its preservation in
literary type.
Ceylon

is

valuable evidence of the distinct development of the

Sinhalese race.

It
1

has borrowed largely from Sanskrit, Pali

An

ancient History of Ceylon.

CENTENARY VOLUME

12

and Tamil, and many Portuguese, Dutch, Malay and English

words have become naturalized in it.

The Sinhalese literature consists of works written in pure

Sinhalese, now called Elu, free from Sanskrit foreign words.
The Buddhist scriptures, or the sayings of the founder of
Buddhism, were

The language

first

reduced to writing

in

Ceylon, in 85 B.C.

most of the sacred books is Pali, which is not

understood by the common people, and many of the Sinhalese
commentaries are written in an antiquated style.
of

The
Mahawansa is a dynastic history of the island
written by Buddhist monks, to cover twenty-three centuries
from 543 B.C. to A.D. 1758.
Before the dawn of civilization in England, the Sinhalese
were a nation possessing beautiful cities and wonderful
temples, and maintaining a high type of civilization. Being
keen agriculturists they brought the whole country into a high
state of productiveness

by means of

irrigation.

The

inhabi

tants of the Sinhalese highlands, of which Kandy is the capital,

are called Kandyans or Upcountry Sinhalese.
They are of a

stronger and more independent character than the people of

the plains, or low-country, and preserved their freedom intact
throughout the Portuguese and Dutch periods. A Sinhalese
writer says
distinct

The Kandyan and Low-country Sinhalese

from each other

in their dress,

are as

manners and customs

and in their very ideas and manner of thinking as if they

formed two different races, rather than two sections of one
nation.

The

is every year lessened, by increasing inter

opening up of the country by improved means of
communication, the creation of new standards of comfort, and

distinction

marriage,

the spread of education and Christianity.

Marriages take place at an early age, though not so early
as in India, the daughters as a rule marrying before the
sons.

THE SINHALESE

13

Superstition abounds and lucky days are sought,

for begin
ning any important work, for marriages, and even for sending
children to school.
Astrologers are consulted on every event

of

life.

Devil ceremonies for the sick are of nightly occur

Charms are worn by

rence, and planet-worship is practised.
the mass of the villagers, and pots spotted with lime are hung
up in the vegetable gardens to avert the evil eye. Fishers on
the sea and reapers in the harvest field use a language they
suppose the evil spirits will not understand. Caste, in the
extremely rigid, and sometimes strong
but as affecting trade it is almost dead.
Sinhalese are a graceful race, with delicate features.

matter of marriages

is

in social intercourse,

The
The men wear
to

the

a jacket, and a cloth round the waist reaching

ankles.

They

back from the face and

circular tortoise-shell

used by the

men

usually

wear

their hair long,

tied in a knot at the back.

comb on

the top of the head

of the low-country.

Many

are

is

drawn
semi

frequently

now

adopting

short hair and English dress as well as language.

Intellectually they are capable of anything, but as a race

they are perhaps lacking in energy. Educated Sinhalese now

take high and honourable positions in the various professions,
and in Government service up to the Legislative Council
bench. Agriculture is the chief
the
people and there are good artisans who
employment of
It is
excel in wood-carving, carpentry and brass work.

and the Supreme Court

not easy to win the confidence of the people at first, as they

are of a very independent and somewhat suspicious turn of
mind, but are responsive to kindness and confidence. Euro

pean habits and customs have a great attraction for them, and
the more progressive have a great desire for English education.
The following is the judgment of Sir William Gregory, a

former governor, written after he retired from the island

are pleasant to govern, they are quick-witted

and intellectual, and the higher classes singularly well-bred

The people

CENTENARY VOLUME

14

and taking
tions of the

the

East

in their

deportment.

think too, there are indica

quality of gratitude, in the existence of

had long disbelieved.

am

sure

which

in

much may be

done with them by kindness, courtesy, and respectful treat

I have known some whom I would
ment.
trust as implicitly
as I would Englishmen, and I am as confident as one can
ever be of human conduct, that if future rulers of Ceylon will
endeavour to induce the natives to trust them and rely on them,
much more of the administration of the country may be
vested in them. Weakness and moral and physical timidity
are their main faults, and as you well know, cowardice is a
difficult

defect to cure.

The way

to deal

th such a race

them confidence and encouragement,

is

reward even
and
conduct,
ostentatiously good
fidelity
strength, but to be
down on offenders with relentless severity. I have pursued
ihis course, and without egotism I can say that I believe no
Governor ever before succeeded in inspiring such a universal
to give

to

trust in his motives.

A
The

rebellion of the
first

Kandyan Sinhalese occurred in 1817-19.

in Uva, and the Government Agent of
by the rebels. The people were not

outbreak was

Badulla was killed

altogether pleased to be governed by foreigners, and the chiefs

were discontented when they found they were less respected,
Some of the
.and the greater part of their power taken away.

were beheaded, and others banished to the Mauritius.

change was also made in the relations between the British
Government and Buddhism. When the British took Kandy
in 1815, a treaty was made in which Buddhism was declared
inviolable, and its rites and temples were promised protec
tion and maintenance.
It was found that the Buddhist priests
rebels

were the chief promoters of the rebellion, so in the new treaty

the priests as well as the ceremonies of
it was
stated that
Buddhism shall receive the respect which in former times

was shown

to

them.

THE SINHALESE

15

There were two small risings of the Sinhalese in 1820 and

1823, but in 1848 a small rebellion broke out in Matale and
Kurunegala. There had been unrest for some time and
resentment towards the new taxes on dogs, guns and
boats,
the stamp-tax, and especially the road-tax.
Riotous meetings
were held protesting against the taxes, and a rebellion broke
out, but it was at an end in less than three months.
Some of
the ringleaders were banished to Malacca.
In 1866 there

were serious food

riots in

Colombo, Kandy and Galle, owing

to the high price of rice.

For the next

fifty years everything was peaceful, till in

1915 serious riots occurred in many places, which led to
considerable loss of life, the proclamation of martial law,

May

and the imprisonment of some 6,000 men, under sentences

varying from a few weeks detention to death. Religious and
economic considerations led the Sinhalese mob to attack the

Mohammedans or Mcors. The Mohammedans had protested

against a Buddhist religious procession passing their mosque
at Gampola, and their protest had been upheld in the lawcourts.

great

They also boasted that they would interfere with the

Kandy perahera in August the most important proces

sion in Ceylon

and

tried,

though

tion of a dansala, or booth, in

of food on Buddha s birthday.

in vain, to

Kandy

prevent the erec

for the free distribution

These steps aroused religious

which
was
intensified
animosity,
by the economic hatred of
the Moors, caused chiefly by jealousy on account of their
superior success as

morning of the 29th

specially aggressive in
sions,

The riots broke out on the

May, when a mosque which had been

traders.

of

its

objections to dansalas and proces

in the evening of

was wrecked by the Sinhalese, and

that day bloodshed began.

The

riots

were quelled

after a

few

weeks, the ringleaders punished, and heavy fines imposed

upon the inhabitants

to repair the

damage done

to property.

CHAPTER

III.

BUDDHISM.
THE

of these
population of Ceylon in 1911 was 4,110,367
In the Census returns for that
2,714,880 were Sinhalese.
year 2,474,170, entered themselves as Buddhists.
;

Gautama Buddha,

the founder of Buddhism, lived and died

sixth century B.C.

At the age of
twenty-nine years he undertook what is called the Great
Renunciation by forsaking his family and departing into the

Northern India

in

in the

by his own unaided efforts how deliver

and changes, ,to which mankind was sub
At the end of six years of meditation
ject, could be realized.
he achieved his aim and while sitting near a Bo Tree (ficus
jungle, to discover
ance from the ills

became Buddha, i. e. the enlightened one. He

was free from all desire and was capable of com
prehending all things past, present and future. With regard
to the beginning of matter and life, he asserted that it was

religiosa)

declared he

In one of his first sermons he took as his text

Everything burns, and said that nothing is
permanent, and that the comprehension of this fact was
essential to the attainment of the summum bonuin of his

unknowable.
the

words,

religion

nirvana.

of thirty-five

In

the

Buddha commenced

and died

at the

to

preach at the age

age of eighty.

seventeenth year of the reign of Asoka, king of

Maghada,
century after Buddha s death,
a convocation of Buddhists was held and it was decided to
in India, in the third

send missionaries to Ceylon. Prince Mahindo, the son of the

king, was sent about the year 307 B.C. and succeeded in

BUDDHISM

17

converting Tissa, the king of Ceylon and many of his subjects.

Tissa sent to Asoka for the right collar bone of Buddha, and

over this was erected the

Thuparama dagoba,

Shortly after this Sanghamitta, the

in

Anuradhapura.

sister of

younger
Mahindo,
came to Ceylon bringing with her a branch of the sacred
Bo Tree. Buddha is said to have visited the island on three

knowing that Ceylon would be the place where

religion would be most glorified, and on the last occa
sion is said to have left the impression of his foot on Adam s
Peak. In 85 B.C. five hundred priests met in a rock-temple
at Aluwihare, near Matale, and there the
Tripitaka or
Threefold Collection of Buddha s sayings, with notes, were
written down.
Previously the doctrines were committed to
memory and handed down orally.
In A.D. 313, the relic, Buddha s tooth, was brought to
occasions,
his

Ceylon by a Brahman princess, hidden in the folds of her

hair, to prevent its falling into the hands of enemies.
In A.D. 1305 King Bahu IV built many temples, and during
birth stories
of
his reign the
Jatakas or five hundred
Buddha were translated from Pali into Sinhalese.

The canonical scriptures of Buddhism contain more than

two million lines, about two feet each in length of manuscript,
and treat of the most abstruse and metaphysical subjects, as
The raison d etre of Buddhism
well as of moral duties.
must be looked for in the pantheism and sacerdotalism which
and country. The Brahmans
prevailed in Buddha s time
was a visible portion of
of
matter
taught that every particle
to it was the
addressed
that
and
worship
the unseen God
had become
also
Him.
to
addressed
They
same as worship
to superi
unpopular on account of their extreme pretensions
in
a petition
The
caste.
to
priests
Ceylon
ority with regard

to the late

that

King Edward regarding

Buddha

that the temples

their temple-lands, said

did not inculcate the worship of any God, and

were not built for, nor dedicated to, the worship

18
of any supernatural being.
Answer 122 in the Buddhist
Catechism, published by the late Colonel Olcott says, The
Buddhist priests do not acknowledge or expect anything from a

divine

power.

God

personal

only a shadow

is

upon the void of space by the imagination

of ignorant

thrown
men.

Buddha repeatedly told his followers to look to themselves

alone for salvation, so prayer to a superhuman being is un
known and unpractised. Professor Monier Williams says,
It is

Buddha himself should

a strange irony of fate that

have been not only deified and worshipped, but also repre
sented by more images than any other being ever idolized in
any part of the world.

The

obliteration of the doctrines relating to the

Supreme

Being of the Universe and the soul of man has made Bud
dhism generally inoperative in the lives of its adherents.

Buddhism teaches

that

man

present

existence

was

preceded by unnumbered lives in past ages, and will be

succeeded by countless others, unless, like Buddha, we snap
the chain of desire which links us to
particular state of being

life.

karma

is

The

action.

arbiter of

This

is

any

taught

saying of the Buddhists, who, when wish

is the doctrine of rewards and punishments,
Kala, kala de, phala, phala de, the equivalent of As
say,
a man sows, so shall he reap.

in the oft-quoted

ing to

show what

Dr. R. S. Copleston, in his valuable work Buddhism, past

Buddhism does not hold that there is any
and present, says
a
such thing as
permanent independent soul, existing in or
and
with the body
migrating from one body to another. The
it is the result
or
self
personality has no permanent reality
:

of certain elements coming together, a combination of facul

No one of these elements is a person, or
ties and characters.
soul, or

self,

larly given.

but to their combination the term self

The death

ombination, not

man

is

popu

the breaking up of this

the separation of soul from body, but the
of a

is

BUDDHISM

19

dissolution both of body and of the aggregate of faculties and

characters on which life depended.

On

Karma is not yet

exhausted, another being comes into 1 existence, to whom the
residue of the karma is transferred. This second being is the
same as the first and yet not the same.
the death of any living being whose

Buddhism lays stress upon

Four noble Truths, viz:

four fundamental truths called

the

All existence

(1)

is

suffering, (2)

The

origin of suffer

The

cessation of suffering is brought about

ing
desire, (3)
the
removal
of
desire,
(4) The way to the attainment of
by
is

cessation of

Nirvana

is

suffering

The course

of

removal of desire
(1)

by carrying out the precepts,

is

until

reached.

conduct which,
is

called the

Right opinion,

if

adopted, will lead to the

Noble Eight-fold Path, viz

Right speech,
Right conduct, (6) Right effort,

Right resolve,

(2)

(3)

Right employment, (5)

Right thought, (8) Right self-concentration.
Every priest is bound to abstain from the following ten

(4)
(7)

things,

2.

(dahasil};\. Killing,

Falsehood,

5.

Alcoholic drink,

3. Unchastity,
4.
Theft,
Solid food after midday,

6.

Dancing, 8. Perfumes and ornaments, 9. High or broad

The lay adherent is
10. Receiving of gold or silver.
beds,
five
these (pansil).
of
first
the
from
only bound to abstain
about
issued
no
Buddha himself
religious ritual
regulacions
7.

or worship, because

which he

insisted

it

was opposed

on.

All

that

to that state of self-reliance

we

find

now

relating

to

He estab
instituted later.
temples, images and offerings was
lished an order of celibates, who were to devote the whole of
their lives to the subjugation of their passions, and to exhort
others to

join

their

order.

Buddhism has adopted many

ceremonies of the Hindus in order to obtain popular sympathy

and processions with dancing, jugglers, music, clowns and
elephants are

frequently

held to

attract

the

public.

The

CENTENARY VOLUME

20

people give alms to the priests, feed beggars, make pilgrimages,

prostrate themselves before images, relics, trees, dagobas and
footprints,

temples at the changes of the moon, and

visit

Buddham saranam gachchami, Dhatnmam

I take
saranam gachchami, Sangham saranam gachchami
refuge in Buddha, in the doctrine, in the priesthood.
For some years past there has come into prominence the
recite their creed,

belief

the

in

coming

prophecy
years, and

Man s average

will then

another

of

Buddha, the Maitri

Buddha made

loving one.

Metteyya, the

age

will

the

dwindle through sin to ten

thousand years there

will then rise again to eighty

arise a

or

following

Buddha named Metteyya, endowed with

all

wisdom.

Many

of

Buddhists

the

now

centre

all

their

hopes of

coming of this Maitri Buddha, who is to be

righteousness, knowledge and love, believing that the love he
will inspire by his personality and preaching will do what
they cannot now do. Animism or demon worship which

Nirwana

in the

existed before

the

own, and the devil

introduction of
priests

village communities,

Buddhism,

still

holds

its

are important functionaries in the

having

less

philosophy but more power

than the Buddhist priests.

Bishop R. S. Copleston says, It
is the devil priest and not the Bhikku who is the real pastor
of the people.

According to the Census of 1911, there were in Ceylon,

7,774 Buddhist priests, 3,019 ebittayas, or attendants on the
priests, 948 persons engaged in temple service, 1,305 devil
dancers and 468 astrologers. Buddhism has wealthy endow
ments, and four hundred thousand acres of land belong to the

temples.

About thirty years ago a Buddhist Temporalities Ordi

nance was passed by the Government, and a few years later
a Mr. Bowles Daly, LL.D. of Dublin University, and once
a

clergyman

of

the

Church

of

England,

was appointed

BUDDHISM
Commissioner

to enquire into the

some years he had made Ceylon

21

working

For

of the Act.

his head-quarters, identifying

himself with the Buddhists, and endeavouring to excite

among
them a revival of religious zeal. He visited 1,300 of the
Pansalas or monasteries, and, in his report to Government, is
scathing in denunciation of the general character of the
priests.

For the last thirty years the Buddhists have been very
active and aggressive, through what is called the
Buddhist
revival
which was commenced by American and English
Theosophists.

catechism was published, with the approval

and

of the high

priest,

abound that

of all the world s great creeds, that one

to

be the

in

the preface

it

The

states

is

signs

destined

much

talked of religion of the future which shall be

antagonism with nature and with law. Who
dares predict that Buddhism will not be the one chosen ?
It
further says,
Various agencies, among them, conspicuously,
the wide circulation of Sir Edwin Arnold s beautiful poem

found

in least

The Light of Asia have created a sentiment in favour of

Buddhistic philosophy, which constantly gains strength.
It
",

commend itself to Freethinkers of every shade of

The whole school of French Positivists are practi
Buddhists.
This Catechism further states
The word

seems

to

opinion.
cally

is most inappropriate to apply to Buddhism, which

not a religion but a moral philosophy.
In addition, vernacular schools as well as English and
Boarding schools have multiplied rapidly, some of them
"

religion

is

taught by European teachers, and itinerant preachers pene

remote villages copying Christian phraseology and

Christian missionary methods.
Sunday schools, Young Men s
Buddhist Associations, tract distribution, carol singers during

trate to

the

Sinhalese

Buddhist

Buddhist

New

cards

Daily

for

Year,

parodies

Buddha

Light,

an

of

Christian

birthday,

Imitation

hymns,

newspapers,
of

Buddha,

CENTENARY VOLUME

22

Funeral Discourse, pictures of events in the life of Buddha,

a Buddhist flag, have all been brought into being.
We agree with the words of the Rev. J. A. Ewing in the

We

Isle, viz.
rejoice in all this opposition
rouses the people from apathy and indifference.
It has
led also to the spread of primary school teaching among the

Resplendent

for

it

children

the duty utterly neglected by the Buddhist monks

of course, nearly always of the

in respect of the boys, and,

Christianity has everything to gain ultimately by the

It is in the days of strenuous struggle that the
Gospel wins its greatest triumphs, not in the days of ease

girls.

change.

and compromise.
Mr. K. J. Saunders,

Kandy, on the

late of Trinity College,

page of his Modern Buddhism in Ceylon, writes,

Already we have to thank God for signs that Buddhists are
awakening from the long sleep of centuries, a new enthusiasm
for national life, and a revival of the old yearning for the
last

coming one, both due, we believe, to the quickening touch of

The problem before the Church of Ceylon
Christianity.
would seem to be so to preach Christ that He should be
accepted as the realization of their ideal of a loving one, who
has superseded Law by Love, and counteracted karma by

His redemptive power, and that His kingdom shall stand for
Fulfilment of all those dim yearnings after national
greatness which are struggling to find expression.
In the Hand
Mr. Harold Begbie, in his introduction to
the

of

the

Potter,

writes

truly

Buddhism, janua mortis.

siasm for existence,

Buddhism

annihilation, Christianity

Buddhism a

Christianity

is

is

is

a hunger and

cate

desire of

any kind whatsoever

lest

yearning

thirst

chloral quest for insensibility.

bidden to turn away from sin that he

everlasting joy of eternity, the Buddhist

vitae,

an ardent enthu

a painful

is

all

janua

is

Christianity

for

after joy,

The Christian
may inherit the

is

told

to

eradi

he be born again.

BUDDHISM
Buddha sought

to discover

opened the door

of

intensified aspiration.

promised everlasting

life.

23

an escape from existence, Chrisl

Buddha forbade desire, Christ

Buddha promised
felicity.

anaesthesia,

Christ

CHAPTER

IV.
)

THE

TAMILS.

AT the last Census (1911) there were 528,024 Ceylon Tamils

and 530,983 Indian Tamils, making a total of 1,059,007, in
the Island, or slightly more than a quarter of the whole
population.

The

first

invasion by the Tamils from South India occurred

205 B.C. when an army led by Elara, a prince of the

kingdom of Chola, now called Tanjore, landed in Ceylon, and
in

marched victoriously to Anuradhapura, where he defeated

and slew Asela, the king of the Sinhalese.
The Ceylon Tamils or Jaffna Tamils as they are more
popularly called, are the descendants of the old conquerors,
who mostly came from the far north of Southern India.
Indian Tamils are chiefly the estate coolies, who are
temporary migrants from the extreme south of India. The

The

name
daily

is

cooly
hire

or

derived from the word

wages,

therefore

kuli

cooly

which means
means a day

labourer.

Jaffna is the stronghold, or Mecca, of the Ceylon Tamils,

the Indian Tamils look upon
the coast
as their

whilst

has always been supplied with educational

and
this has encouraged emigration.
advantages,
Many of
the Jaffnese find work in the Madras presidency, and others

home.

find

Jaffna

employment

clerks,

in

Colombo, and the

overseers and

seven thousand Jaffnese

far East, as accountants,

conductors on estates.
in

the

There were

Federated Malay States and

THE TAMILS
Straits Settlements at the last Census.

25
to the

Owing

emigra

the only district in Ceylon,

many men, Jaffna
with the exception of Galle, where there is a preponderance of

tion of so

is

The Tamils have

females.

mortals, but

it

is

at the bright side

knows anything

of course their failings like other

always more gracious and pleasant

of

of

No

things than at the dark.

Tamils

deny the

will

fact

to look

one

that

who
as a

The
are industrious, enterprising and clever.
all
of
the
backbone
are
coolies
and
industrious
energetic
It has often been said that Tamil cooly labour
island labour.
is the
best labour in the world, and certainly it is surprising
how much work a Tamil labourer will get through in a day
on a minimum of food.

race

they

In days of old these immigrants invaded Ceylon as ruth

conquerors, now they come as valuable helpers in

less

every enterprise, and are invaluable on the tea and rubber

estates.

They
found
the
their

in

are also an enterprising people, for they are to be

many parts of the world, as far away as Capetown,

Mauritius and Jamaica, where they

industry

search

of

and

work

is

thrift.

This

make money by

readiness

a singular characteristic

to
in

emigrate in
an Eastern

people.

That they are clever is clear from the many wise sayings
which are found in their classical works, and from the fact
It is
that many of them take high honors at our universities.
first
the
that
a fact, of which the Tamils may be justly proud,
Indian to be raised to the Episcopate, the Right Rev. V. S.

Azariah, D.D., of Dornakal,

is

one of their race.

Another

The

great epic poem,

point of interest is their literature.
the Ramayana, was rendered into Tamil some centuries ago

most popular to-day. Among the mo^t interesting of

works is the Cural, which is considered one of
Here are a few
the finest poems in the Tamil language.

.and

is

their classical

CENTENARY VOLUME

26

examples of its ethical teaching culled from E.

book on Tales and Poems of South India.

J.

Robinson s

Woman.

What is there not, when she excels

Where she is useless nothing dwells.

Children.

The

Love.

In which their tiny hands have played.

The soul of love must live within,

made,

Or bodies are but bone and skin.

Who loves to backbite makes it clear
His praise of virtue s insincere.

Slander.

their

rice is all ambrosial

question which naturally arises is, Have the Tamils

mark upon Christian literature in any degree ?

answer

the affirmative.

in

is

poets that has arisen

of

Sasthriar

Tanjore.

One

of the greatest Christian

the Tamils

Perhaps

the

is

Vethanayagam

most popular

of

his

connected with Ceylon. The story of

to be written has its humorous side, and by
not be considered very complimentary to the fair

hymns is one
how it came
some may

among

made
The

that

is

The story is that on one occasion the poet and his

choir of singers visited Jaffna, and their robes being some

island.

what

was thought expedient

it

soiled,

to

send them to the

never returned, the washerman

having set envious eyes on them. The poet and his choir

wash.

But,

alas,

they

To com
had, therefore, to appear in their ordinary clothes.
own mind the poet wrote a hymn which is often sung
by the Tamils in time of sorrow. Of course, there is no*

fort his

mention made of the dhoby and

following

is

his

thievish tricks.

a translation of the hymn, which

Trusting at

all

times.

Though sinners hate thee sore

And would entrap thy way,
Though trials and distress
Befal thee day by day,

may

The

be entitled

THE TAMILS
Though all should persecute,
And grievous cares arise,
Though devils should appear
Before thy trembling eyes,

Though all men should forsake

And battles rage around,
Though pain and suffering come
And poverty abound,

Though men despise and scorn

And ill for good requite,
Though evil hosts combine
To rob thee of thy right,

My

soul,

be aot distressed,

Remember Zion s Lord,

By anxious thoughts oppressed,
Faint not, but trust His word.

27

CHAPTER

Vj

HINDUISM.
THE

Ceylon Hindus may be described as pure Animists,

Animists and Sivites, and orthodox Sivites. The Animists
are principally composed of all castes from the barber caste

downwards, who are not allowed to enter a consecrated Hindu

The
temple, and who are not ministered to by Brahmans.
orthodox Sivite worships certain gods, of
his wife,

principal
tion.

Ganesha
;

their son,

Siva, Parvati

but these gods merely represent ideals for medita

of Skanda is considered the most

The worship

important, and Kataragama

The

whom

Skanda and Virabhadra are the

circle of

gods

is

the chief shrine in

Ceylon.
considerably enlarged by the admission
is

of various other gods of local, caste, or traditional significance.

Each caste has its own protecting deity. Hinduism was
originally nature worship, but has become polytheism of a
gross kind.

In

the

Hindu mythology

there

is

triad

of

principal gods, -Brahma, Vishnu and Siva, the first of whom

is not now worshipped.
The legends of Vishnu represent

him, in his various incarnations, as guilty of all sorts of

Siva represents the reproductive force of
and
in
his
nature,
temples an upright black stone, called a

immoralities.

Saivas or Sivites, the followers of

lingam, is worshipped.
Siva, are distinguished by the three stripes of white cow
dung ash, smeared on their foreheads and often on their

arms and

breasts.

Many

also have a

round white mark on

the centre of their foreheads to represent the third eye

In Ceylon, the most familiar names of deities,
Siva.

of

or

HINDUISM
perhaps as they should rather be called, demons, are Mari(mother of death), Suppramaniam,
Muniyandi, Katharesan, and Narayanan.
Mari-amma is the small-pox god.
dess or demon.
Muniyandi is the demon most commonly
worshipped by the coolies, and has many little temples on

amma

the tea estates.

Muniyandi was once a cooly himself, in

He was of the lowest caste (shoe
maker). One day he went to cut some branches from a tree
for his goats, when a branch fell on him and
killed him.
That very day a terrible storm broke over
the early coffee

days.

Hunasgiriya

estate,

near

fortune

teller,

Kandy, where Muniyandi worked. T.vo men

chanced to take shelter in a cow-shed and one of them was
struck by lightning.
Next day, his companion consulted a
told

that

it

revenge on

as to

the cause

the misfortune.
He was
Muniyandi that had taken
companion, and he was urged to worship

was the
his

spirit

of

of

Muniyandi with proper rites. Muniyandi has ever since

been regarded as a worker of mischief on the estates. The
following

is

the

mode

of

worship

of

the coolies.

The

worshipper, accompanied by a few companions, takes some

incense in a pot, a banana leaf, some bananas and betel nuts,

some ashes and camphor, a coconut, a

bottle of arrack and a

the
sacred
to Muniyandi, he
Arriving
spot
burns the incense, arranges the bananas with the betel nuts
live cock.

at

on the banana leaf, covers the ashes with camphor, sets fire
it and cuts the coconut shell in halves, care
being taken

to

to cut the shell with

one cut.

He

arrack beside the banana leaf and

then places the bottle of

the cock, pouring its

kills

blood over the rude stone that serves as an

over the banana leaf and

its

contents.

He

idol, as

well as

then pulls the

bird, and, having cut it down the breast,

over the camphor fire for a few minutes. This done,
he either prostrates himself before the idol or stands with his

feathers off the

holds

it

hands clasped over

his

head,

and prays

to

Muniyandi

to

CENTENARY VOLUME

30

He
prosper him and forgive anything amiss in his worship.
then takes the ashes, now sacred, and having put some in his
mouth and smeared some on his forehead, he distributes
some among

his companions,

and reserves the remainder for

He

then takes up the cock and the arrack, and

after pouring a little of the latter before the idol, he cuts the
kernel of the coconut into pieces and pours some arrack
his family.

He

into the coconut shell.

and

distributes

self

and

his

then cuts the fowl into pieces

among him
Once more, with due reverence, he

with the coconut and arrack

it

companions.
coconut

and betel before the

places a piece of
returns home.

idol

and

There are three chief

(l)
religious festivals in Ceylon,
takes place early in the year, is a
relic of an aboriginal nature worship of the sun.
(2) The
Tee-Vali in October commemorates the defeat of a tyrannical
It is
giant who had mightily oppressed both gods and men.

The Thai Pongal, which

also called the feast of

with the worship of

Colombo

lamps.

(3)

The Vale

is

connected

a son

of

Siva.

Suppramaniam,

In

this festival is the occasion of a curious procession

between two temples at opposite extremities of the town,

and of celebrations lasting many days.

The

religion of the higher classes

is

a religion of fear, for

a terrible aspect.
No one can
visit the temples in India and Ceylon without being struck
with the representation of God. As in all false systems of

Hinduism presents God

religion, purity is

in

unknown

in

Hinduism.

This

is

clear

from

are attached to nearly every

These unhappy girls are called the slaves of God,
temple.
while in reality they are the miserable slaves of men s worst

the fact that

passions.
of these

dancing

Every candid Hindu

women

of their religion.
in

girls

at their festivals

And

yet there

Hinduism, for the doctrines

admit that the presence

a blot on the escutcheon

will
is
is

a certain amount of light

expiation, sacrifice, the

of

HINDUISM

31

incarnation and the unity of the Godhead are all found in it.
Bullocks, sheep and fowls are commonly offered as expiatory

Hinduism teaches moreover, that the God Vishnu

has become incarnate, under different forms, nine times, and a
tenth incarnation is eagerly looked for by every devout
sacrifices.

Hindu.
Again, the Trinity in Unity, is not a strange doctrine to
the Hindu, for he believes that Brahma is God, Vishnu is

God, and Siva

is

God, and yet they have a saying, Let

mouth of any one who denies that Vishnu

earth be put into the

and Siva are one.

a man s religion consists of
It has been well said that
What
what he is, what he does, and what he hopes for.
His highest ambition is to
then is the hope of the Hindu ?
To
lose his own personality and be absorbed in the deity.

must perform many acts of self-mortification, or

which bring with them the reward of merit, but
before this highest stage can be reached, he must pass
attain this he

of charity,

Hinduism presents but little

hope to women. Here is a story the truth of which can be
vouched for. A Hindu woman was seen in devout and
When she had concluded her devotions, a
earnest prayer.
For what have you been
Zenana missionary asked her,
that
praying ? and the woman replied, I have been praying
through many transmigrations.

when

I die,

my

soul

may

enter into a cow.

to the

Why

often said,

It is

Hindus

Surely,
trouble to preach the Gospel
the
the
need
children
and
Gospel,
the Hindus, men, women
are
Hindus
While
the
expecting
of love and purity.
?

Gospel

is the duty and

it
far and wide
proclaim
privilege of
with the
when
compared
which,
incarnation
the one true
with
is
as
compared
light
of
Vishnu,
incarnation

another incarnation of their

God

the Christian Church

false

darkness.

Vishnu,
to

CHAPTER

VI.

CHRISTIANITY IN CEYLON.
THERE

is

a tradition of the existence of Nestorian Christi

Ceylon, in the time of the Emperor Justinian.

Cosmas, a Nestorian Christian, writing about A.D. 550 says,
on the authority of one Sopater, a Greek merchant, that in

anity

in

Taprobane (which was the ancient Greek name for Ceylon)

community of Persian Christians, tended by
bishops, priests and deacons, and having a regular liturgy.
St. Thomas, St. Bartholomew, and the eunuch of Candace,
whose conversion by St. Philip is recorded in the Acts of the
Apostles, are all alleged to have preached Christianity in the
there existed a

island.

The

historical evidence of the planting of Christianity is

the arrival of the Portuguese in

1505,

who brought

with

them Franciscan Fathers and who did their utmost to press

Roman Catholicism upon the people. The most famous of
their workers was St. Francis Xavier, the
Apostle of the
Indies who came over from India in 1544 on a mission to
the Tamils in the North.
invitation of the people of

He, being unable to accept the

to come and teach them

Manaar

sent one of his clergy, through whom about seven

hundred persons received baptism, a baptism which was
straightway crowned by martyrdom, as these early converts
also

were forthwith put to death by the Rajah of Jaffna, who was

In 1650 the Dutch arrived, forcing
a worshipper of Siva.
the people by every means in their power to embrace the
doctrines of the

Reformed Church

of Holland.

Baptism had

CHRISTIANITY IN CEYLON

33

come to be regarded as a Government regulation, and was

known as Christiyani karnawa, or making Christian.
In 1795 the low country, and in 1815 the
upcountry, came
under the rule of the British, who proclaimed religious

Emerson Tennent says,

It had been declared
honourable by the Portuguese to undergo such a ceremony,
making Christian," it had been rendered profitable by the
Dutch, and after three hundred years familiarity with the

liberty.
"

process the natives were unable to divest themselves of the

belief that submission

the

to

ceremony was enjoined by

orders from the civil government.

When

the pressure of

compulsion was removed by the advent of the British power,

thousands openly returned to their former superstitions, while
the great majority of those who kept up their connection with
Christianity had been so educated and trained in hypocrisy

and

false profession, that while outwardly, as a body, con

forming to Christian worship, and anxious, as a matter of

respectability,

to obtain

Christian rites, they held as their

religious belief the doctrines of

secret all

its

ceremonies and

Buddhism, and practised

rites.

In the

first

in

ten years of

number of Buddhist temples in the

r-ule, the
Sinhalese districts had increased from between two and three

the British

hundred

to

twelve hundred.

In 1801, out of an estimated population of about one and a

half million, the number of those who professed the Protes
tant form of the Christian faith was estimated to exceed
342,000, while the
still

Roman
In

more numerous.

Catholics were considered to be

1804,

the

Protestant

Christians

1810 they had dropped to

240,000,
and
1814
to
in
fifty years after in 1864,,
130,000
150,000,
there were said to be 40,000 Protestants and 100,000

were estimated

in

at

Romanists.

The
Ceylon

writer of the
says,
3

Jubilee Sketches
the time that

About

of the

the

C.M.S.

first

in

C.M.S.

CENTENARY VOLUME

34

Missionaries came to the island, the people were becoming

aware of the fact that the outward profession of Christianity
was no longer necessary to secure their civil rights, and were
going back in large numbers to the open practice of Bud
dhism which, all along, they had secretly believed. The
gradual cessation of efforts to instruct the people, which
preceded and followed the advent of the British rule, left the
mass of nominal adherents, who still retained their outward
of

profession

Christianity,

utter

in

ignorance of

its

real

nature, and thus confirmed in them the idea that connection

with it, although no longer compulsory, still placed them in a
more advantageous position and that the reception of its rites,
(Baptism and Marriage) still secured to them the countenance
of the ruling powers, and gave them a respectable standing,

which, for their worldly advancement and

profit,

it

was

necessary to retain.
At the commencement of the Dutch rule, and for a long
its continuance, earnest and systematic efforts seem
have been made by that Government to bring the people of
the island to a knowledge and profession of Christianity.

period of
to

Had

those efforts been continued in full vigour, both by the

Dutch Government and our own, Buddhism would doubtless
have been uprooted from the land, and a nominal profession
Whether or not that
of Christianity established in its place.
would have been more favourable to the real progress of the
Gospel than the present state of things, is a question which
it is difficult to decide, and concerning which diverse opinions
For a long period of their rule, the
will always be held.
Dutch made vigorous efforts, and liberally expended funds, it

endeavours to convert the inhabitants to the Christian

Not only

did

they establish

schools,

churches and employed ministers

among

the

marred by

Yet these
mistaken policy,

adults.

their

in

work
have been

direct missionary

efforts

in

faith.

but they also built

seem

making

to

the

reception of

CHRISTIANITY IN CEYLON

35

baptism and the outward profession of Christianity necessary

secure to the people their civil rights and
pri
vileges, and as a passport to Government employment.
The

in order to

was to make the outward profession

of Christianity almost universal, but, at the same
time, it so
opened the floodgates of hypocrisy, that the tide of false and
insincere professors completely overwhelmed the real con
result of this false policy

verts, and overspread the land with a spurious Christianity

which although imposing in extent, was utterly false and

unsound. In the Historical Sketch of Ceylon by Dr. R. S.

Copleston, published by the S.P.G., the writer says,
When
the English took possession in 1798, more than
300,000
natives are said to have been registered as members of the

Dutch Church. Of these a few were genuine Protestants, a

number were really Romanists, but the majority were

large

merely nominally Christians, and actually Buddhists or

Hindus. Still, it was a grand opportunity which was thus
set

before

our

although

much

unsound,

still

own

nation

credited (to a depth far below

Christian education had done

least within our reach.

time was

little

own

and our

what

much

For,

is

now

the case), and

to bring the children at

But unhappily

the

England

of that

alive to such a responsibility,

the opportunity
to remove the pressure

was lost, almost all that was done was

which had kept so many people nominally
the gradual

Church.

of the Christianity we found in* Ceylon was

the heathenism was feeble, ignorant, and dis

Christian.

With

withdrawal of that pressure (which was not

done till I860, when marriage, other than

completely
Christian, obtained equal registration), the great majority of
the nominal Protestant Christians resumed the open profes
sion of their real religion.

In

many

cases this was

Roman

Thus during nearly

Catholicism, in more it
the whole century, at the beginning of which more than
300,000 persons outwardly professed the Church of England
was heathenism.

CENTENARY VOLUME

36

representing the Government religion, the number

adherents of the Church has steadily decreased.

as

of

For some time after the British annexation, Dutch Presbyterianism wa= recognized as the established Church of the
Colony, and Mr. North afterwards Lord Guilford, the first
British Governor, not only took active measures for restoring
one hundred and seventy of the Dutch village schools, but
also

offered

would

Government assistance

to

itinerate through the rural districts,

some knowledge

The

the

clergy

if

they

and so keep alive

of the Christian faith.

missionaries to visit Ceylon from

were
four
agents of the London Missionary Society
England
in 1805,

first

Protestant

but for some reason, they all soon left for India,
J. D. Palm who settled down as the Pastor

except the Rev.

Dutch Church at Wolfendahl in Colombo. The

modern missions in Ceylon was the Rev. James
He
Chater who landed in Colombo on April 16, 1812.
was sent out by the Baptist Missionary Society in 1806 to
join the Serampore Mission in North India, but his landing

of

the

pioneer of

was opposed by the Indian Government, so he went on to

Civil war in the
Burmah and commenced work there.
Burmese dominions and the ill-health of his wife forced him
The Governorto relinquish work there and try Ceylon.
General Sir Robert Brownrigg, and Lady Brownrigg, were
in full sympathy with missionary effort and gave him a hearty
welcome. The beginning of all the principal missions in
Ceylon took place during this Governor s regime.
The centenary of the Baptist Mission was celebrated in
1912, and a most interesting story of the hundred years was
written by the Rev. J. A. Ewing, under the title,
The
Resplendent
it,

Isle

the writer say?,

a hundred years witness in Ceylon.

In
The Baptist cause in Ceylon has never

been strong numerically. There have been years of abun

dant harvest, as well as periods of barrenness and drought,

CHRISTIANITY IN CEYLON

37

but every effort

is made to receive
only sincere adherents,
believing that only thus will the Church ultimately become
strong and self-supporting.
The principal stations are at

Colombo, Kandy, Matale and Ratnapura. There are twenty

and out-stations, four men missionaries, nine women

stations

missionaries,

native

thirty-nine

evangelists, thirty-one

in

dependent churches, 954 native members, 106 school teachers,

forty-six schools with 3,831 scholars, and 2,787 children in the

Sunday

schools.

The

Ceylon Auxiliary (originally called the Colombo

Auxiliary) of the British and Foreign Bible Society was
established at Queen s House, Colombo, on August 1, 1812,
mainly by the zealous efforts of Sir Alexander Johnston,
Chief Justice of Ceylon, with the Governor, Sir Robert
Brownrigg as President, and the Rev. J. Bisset, Assistant
Colonial Chaplain, the Honorary Secretary.
From the day
of its birth the Society has pursued an unwavering course

and stands

at

the centre

of

respect

to

all

The
is

organized

auxiliary celebrated

is

unique, for

the

for

holds in

it

it

is

the

all.

its

centenary

for that year, a

given as follows

efforts

position which

Protestant; missions

partner, helper and friend of

Annual Report

all

The

evangelization of the island.

The

summary

Scriptures

in

of

1912, and in the

the year s

circulated

work

totalled

in twenty-five languages, against 72,783 for

The average
the previous year, an increase of 11,543 copies.
number of Colporteurs employed was twenty and of Bible-

84,326 volumes,

women sixty-four. The receipts from sales reached no less a

sum than Rs. 7,622 27 and the subscriptions and collections
:

contributed locally came to Rs. 8,424

The Wesleyan Methodist Mission

Ceylon in 1814, being the first

denomination. The first party of

whom

92.

commenced
oriental

its

in

two of
sailed from

six missionaries,

were married, with Dr. Coke as

work

station of this

their leader,

CENTENARY VOLUME

England on December
Galle on June 29, 1814.

30,

1813,

and arrived

at

Point de

Dr. Coke and Mrs. Ault, wife of one

of the missionaries, died on the voyage.
Evangelistic, educational and industrial work have been
prosecuted vigorously in many parts of the island. The
principal educational institutions are Wesley College in

Colombo opened in 1874, Richmond College, Galle, 1876,

and the Wellawatte,
Kingswood College, Kandy, 1891
Industrial Home, 1890.
In Wellawatte, the mission owns
a valuable printing establishment, and in Colpetty a high
school for girls.
It has also established a mission to seamen

and a city mission in Colombo. Other important stations

have been established in the Jaffna peninsula and on the
East coast. In 1916 there were twenty-seven European

men

missionaries,

twenty-eight

women

missionaries

sixty catechists, 343

not

schools

wives,
elementary
with 927 teachers and 27,500 scholars, eleven boys high
schools with eighty-six teachers and 1,572 scholars, four

including

colleges with

eighty-two teachers and 1,583 students, 6,545

church members and 10,438 on probation.

The American Board of Foreign Missions (Congregationalist) commenced work in Jaffna in 1816, and have ever
since confined themselves to that part of the island.

The

had been designated for Madras, but on

their way their vessel was wrecked off the north-west
coast.
This they accepted as an indication of the Divine
will that they were to go no further.
The medical work of
the mission has been a great feature, and has been attended
with much success.
In 1824 the Uduvil Girls Boarding
School was commenced, probably the earliest effort of the
One of the missionaries, Miss Eliza
sort in a heathen land.

first

missionaries

Agnew

had

charge of this school for forty-three

years.

of a thousand girls studied under her care, and of

these more than six hundred left the school as really earnest

Upwards

CHRISTIANITY IN CEYLON

39

Although the Mission has concentrated its effort

on a comparatively small field, it has twenty-one outstations,
twenty-one churches, 2,252 members, five men missionaries,
nine women missionaries, eleven pastors, 375 teachers and

Christians.

126 schools with 11,548 scholars. The mission celebrated its

in 1916, when a history was compiled by Miss

centenary

A Century in Ceylon.
Foreign Mission Association commenced
work in Matale in 1896 and in Mirigama in 1903. In 1915
there were six missionaries, sixty-three native workers, 313
Helen Root

entitled

The Friends

adherents,

twenty-three schools,

1,373

scholars

and three

dispensaries at which 4,800 patients were treated that year.

The Salvation Army commenced work in Ceylon in 1883,
the Heneratgoda Faith Mission in 1891, and there are a few
private or

free lance

The Ceylon branch

missions at work.
of the Christian

Literature Society for

India, formerly called the Vernacular Education Society, was

founded in 1858 as a memorial of the Mutiny by a union of
all

the

their

chief

missionary societies to do a work which (in

could not be done by them separately

own words)

It is
except by the wasteful expenditure of much money.
of
committees
mainly
controlled
composed
by
accordingly

The Central Depot and Head Office of

is situated in Dam Street, Colombo.
Branch
Ceylon
there were sold 16,237 copies of
the
1915,
year
During
General Literature, 2,015 Bibles and 11,278 Testaments and
free 240,000 fourportions, whilst there were distributed
the
page tracts and 120,000 twelve-page booklets. During

their missionaries.

the

same year 123,500

copies of school books, 44,000 copies

of

and 240,000
general literature, 140,300 copies of periodicals
were
copies of tracts, having a total of 11,233,500 pages,
sales
whose
employed
Six
colporteurs were
printed.
of the Society is to
produced nearly Rs. 1,500. The object
of a
disseminate among the masses pure, healthy literature

CENTENARY VOLUME

40

Christian spirit and tone,

chiefly

in

the vernacular.

The

Edinburgh Conference of 1910 reported that Christianity

has been most intelligent, influential and progressive when
mental activity has been most carefully nourished and
stimulated by Christian literature, and an Indian missionary
After an experience of fifty years among the millions of
says,
these

vast regions,

regard

this

among

all

have no hesitation

in

saying that

agency as se cond only to preaching and teaching

the forms of labour employed in the missionary
%

world.

The Society
in

Ceylon

in

for the Propagation of the

1840, and in

November

Gospel began work

of that year the Rev.

C. Mooyart became its first missionary, being stationed in

Colombo. In 1842 the Rev. H. Von Dadelszen was appointed
to Nuwara Eliya and the Rev. S. D. J. Ondaatjie to Kalutara.
In the following year a District Committee was formed at
Colombo.
The S.P.G. began by aiding existing churches,

not by going into entirely new fields.

In some cases,
a Sinhalese or a Tamil clergyman, who was already employed
as a chaplain under Government to minister to Christians of

own race, would be assisted by a grant from the S.P.G.

and placed upon its lists of missionaries, that he might in
this capacity be encouraged and enabled to extend his work
to the heathen, and such missionary chaplains employed
In other instances, where
catechists, and opened schools.
Government could be persuaded to make an allowance for a
his

Catechist, the S.P.G. grant, in addition to the

salary,

made

it

Government

possible to maintain a priest.

The S.P.G- has been a promoter and

helper of missionary

work rather than a proprietor of distinct missions. In one or

two districts it has independent and valuable work, but more
often the S.P.G. has worked in clo^e conjunction with
Government chaplains or diocesan clergy, rather than by a
staff

and missions

of its

own.

In 1851 with the assistance of

CHRISTIANITY IN CEYLON

41

the S.P.G., St.

continuous
its

grant

Thomas College was opened and has received

The Society has been gradually reducing
Ceylon which now only amounts to ^500.

aid.

to

was through the help of the Society that the

Bishopric
Endowment Fund was originated and completed in 1898.
The statistics for the year ended June 1916 were
It

Christians

baptized

commmunicants

2,906,

during

the

year

94,

816, catechumens 44,

schools 28, teachers 148,

pupils 2,792.

The preponderance

of Roman Catholicism in the island

very marked. In seven out of the nine provinces more
than seventy per cent of the Christians are Roman Catholics.
There has been great activity not only in multiplying digni
is

but in promoting higher education. There are three

Roman Catholic Missions, the Oblates of Mary
Immaculate, the Oblates of St. Benedict and the Society of
taries,

principal

Jesus.
of

The Archbishopric

Colombo,

Jaffna,

is
of Colombo, with Bishops
Kandy, Galle and Trincomalee, whilst

there are 173 foreign priests, 67 native, priests, 26 foreign

lay brothers, 64 native lay brothers, 186 foreign sisters and

324 native

sisters.

work are the

Among

Sisters of the

the congregations of women at

Good Shepherd, the Franciscan

Missionaries of Mary, and the Sisters of the Holy Family.

are
several native
including the
congregations
St. Joseph s Society of lay brothers and the Societies of

There

St.

Peter and of St. Francis Xavier for women.

cational institutions include St. Joseph

The edu

College in Colombo,
St. Patrick s College in Jaffna, St. Aloysius College in Galle
and the Papal General Seminary at Ampitiya near Kandy.
s

last named institution was founded by Pope Leo XIII

1893 to provide a specially thorough theological education,
of which all Indian dioceses might avail themselves.

The

in

The Church of England in Ceylon, according to

Government Census of 1911, numbered 41,095 members.

the

CENTENARY VOLUME

42

Ceylon, which had been added to the See of Calcutta in

1817, and to that of Madras in 1835 was erected into a
separate Bishopric in 1845. The first Bishop of Calcutta,
Dr. F. T. Middleton, was consecrated privately in Lambeth
fear of offending the natives
Palace on May 8, 1814, for

and the Dean of Winchester s sermon on the occasion was

His first episcopal visitation to
not allowed to be printed.
in
was
October
when he arrived by the H.M.
Ceylon
^1816,
Aurora.
His
next
visit was in 1821, when he
Cruiser,
consecrated St. Peter s Church in Colombo on May 22.
Bishop Heber visited the island in 1825, followed by Bishop
Turner in 1831, and Bishop Wilson in January 1843. The
first Bishop of Colombo, Dr. James Chapman, was consecra
ted in Lambeth Palace Chapel on May 4, 1845, and landed
in Colombo on All Saints Day of that year, and after sixteen
The C.M.S.
years of devoted service resigned in 1861.
Annual Report of 1845 said, The Committee anticipate
much benefit to the Ceylon Mission from his spiritual direc
tion and paternal superintendence over the Church in this
interesting island.

The second Bishop of Colombo, was Dr. Piers C. Claughwho was translated from St. Helena in 1862, and after

ton,

eight years

The

work resigned

third Bishop, Dr.

in

1870.

Hugh W. Jermyn, was

consecrated

was forced by ill-health to resign in 1874, and

afterwards was appointed Bishop of Brechin and Primus of
in

1871, but

Scotland.

In 1875, his successor, Dr. Reginald Stephen Copleston,

was consecrated and worked assiduously

for twenty-seven
1902 to Calcutta. In 1892,
was published his standard work on Buddhism, primitive
Dr. Copleston,
and present, in Magadha and in Ceylon.
of
Calcutta in
owing to ill-health, resigned the See

years, until

1912.

his

translation in

CHRISTIANITY IN CEYLON

43

In 1903, his brother, Dr. Ernest A. Copleston who had

been working in Ceylon for some years, was consecrated fifth
Bishop of Colombo, in the Cathedral Church of Calcutta.
In 1881, the connection of the British Government with
the

endowment

of religion

by

ecclesiastical votes

from the

general revenue to the Bishop and a number of Episcopal

and Presbyterian Chaplains, was discontinued by ordinance,
provision being made for existing incumbents. The Bishop

thereupon

summoned

a Church assembly, comprising

all

the

priests orders, and lay delegates chosen by the

various congregations, who elected a Committee to consider
the future constitution of the Church.
This Committee sat
for nearly five years and ultimately drafted a complete con
stitution for
On
the Church of England in Ceylon.

clergy in

6, 1886, the draft constitution was submitted to the

Church assembly and approved, and recommended to the
acceptance of the permanent Synod of the disestablished
Church, which had already been elected by anticipation.
The Synod met on the following day for the first time and

July

solemnly accepted the constitution

Church

in

Ceylon.

in

the

The proceedings

name

of the

whole

closed with a joyful

Te Deum.
The duty

of self-organization and self-support which was

thus forced upon the Church by the withdrawal of State aid,
and to create corporate feeling, as well
has served to

quicken

as the sense of unity, and has brought into

it

new

life

and

liberality.

Under

rule 8 of Chapter

mation of Parishes and

VII on the

Districts

of

Revision and For

The

Constitution and

the Fundamental Provisions, and Regulations Non-Funda

it
in Ceylon
mental, of the Synod of the Church of England
rules be so interpreted
says nor shall any of the foregoing
for
or
hinder
to
prevent either the Society
or understood as

Church
the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign parts or the

CENTENARY VOLUME

44

Missionary Society, or any other directly Mission Organiza

Church of England from carrying on as heretofore
with the sanction and license of the Bishop, direct
Evange

tion of the

Missionary work amongst such heathen and Moham

populations, and in Chapter VIII, on Patronage,
Rule V, Nothing contained in this chapter shall interfere
with the rights of the Society for the Propagation of the

listic

medan

Gospel or of the Church Missionary Society or of any other

Patrons, so long as they desire to exercise their Patronage
independently of Synod.
At the close of the year 1916 the number of clergy of the
Church of England in Ceylon holding the Bishop s License

was

108, viz. thirty-eight Europeans, five Burghers, twenty-

nine Tamils and thirty-six Sinhalese.

The Church Missionary Society commenced work in 1818,

and the Church of England Zenana Missionary Society in
1889, particulars of which will be found in Chapter VIII and
the following pages of this volume.
in the Census of 1911 the population enumerated was
4,110,367. Of these 409,168 entered themselves as Christians,

as follows

Roman

Catholics

...

.-..

330,300

Church

of

...

...

41,095

Presbyterians

...

...

3,546

Wesleyans

...

...

17,323

Baptists

England

...

...

...

3,306

Congregationalism

...

...

2,978

Salvationists

...

...

1,042

Friends

...

...

...

120

...

...

...

142

...

...

...

316

Lutherans
Others

According to the Census of 1881

267,977,

in

1891

the Christians

they numbered 302,127, and

in

numbered
1901 they

CHRISTIANITY IN CEYLON

45

The strength of the four principal

349,239.
religions in 1911 was, Buddhists, 60 per cent
Hindus, 23 per
cent Christians, 10 per cent and Mohammedans, 7 per cent,
numbered

of the population.

One

result

World Missionary Conference

of the

held in

June 1910, was the appointment of a Continua

Edinburgh
tion Committee of some forty leaders of the missionary forces.
This Committee requested its Chairman, Dr. John R. Mott,
in

to visit the mission fields, acquainting missionaries

leaders with the

ing the

Dr.

and native

work and plans of the Committee and assist

such other ways as might be determined.

work in
Mott accordingly spent from October 1912

to

the

a tour through the principal mission fields

following May
Never
of Asia, and held a series of twenty-one conferences.
before have the great questions involved in the establishment
in

of Christ

kingdom upon

earth been discussed

by so many

the nonrecognized leaders of the Christian forces throughout

Christian world, nor has there ever been such an expression
of united

judgment and desire on the part

of

workers of the

various Christian bodies.

Ceylon was the

first

centre visited and a Conference

was

11-13, 1912, at which sixtybodies (except

six delegates chosen by the various religious
under the chairmanship
were
present
Catholics)
Roman
ing
The following were chosen to represent the
of Dr. Mott.
W. Balding, J. V.
C.M.S., the Revs. G. S. Amarasekara, J.

held in Colombo, on

November

W. E.
Daniel, A. E. Dibben, A. G. Eraser,
Messrs. N.
Shorten, S. S. Somasundaram,
and Miss L.
Selvadurai, Mrs. A. G- Eraser
The following is a summary of the
Conference,

_P.

W.

G.
N.
Campbell,

Rowlands,
E. Nixon.
findings

in regard to Ceylon.

me
located in the most populous and
Tamil
and
Sinhalese
the
accessible areas and is reaching
Missionary work

speakin* people.

is

Very

little,

except through our schools,

is

CENTENARY VOLUME

46
being done for the
forest

Mohammedan men.

Veddahs are neglected.

among

More

The

non-Christians needs to be done.

should be

made

Parsis and the

direct evangelistic

work

serious attempt
towards a better understanding of the religious

Preachers and teachers should lay

and
example upon the truth that the
by precept

standpoint of the people.

special stress

task of the evangelization of this country is the task of every

The Sinhalese and Tamil Churches
of the Church.

member

own Ministry
The community

connected with several missions support their

entirely in

many

places, partially in others.

is
strong enough in religious experience and intellectual
attainment to supply an ordained ministry for its Church life,
and is doing so. The progress made in self-government has

resulted in greater generosity and in a deeper appreciation of

The support of
through indigenous Missionary Societies

independence, responsibility and power.

evangelistic efforts

has been steadily increasing. Evangelistic effort in the

immediate neighbourhood of independent churches and con
Leaders should be sought
gregations is wholly inadequate.
out and trained and every effort should be made to provide
them a ladder of responsibility, and to give freedom of
initiative to such persons when discovered or trained.
Mission
for

schools should be concerned primarily in educating the

Christian and social conscience of their pupils.
Ceylonese

workers should be accorded a powerful place in Church con

ferences aud a full share in its consultations. Greater efforts
should be made through the children attending schools to
reach and influence their homes. As singular opportunities
exist for the calling out and development of the missionary
spirit in the various Christian schools and colleges, it would
give encouragement to the missionary cause if the training of
Ceylonese missionaries were placed in the forefront of the
objects for which such colleges exist and if special scholar
ships were founded to help those who wish to qualify for

CHRISTIANITY IN CEYLON

47

missionary service. Greater attention should be given to the

production and dissemination of Christian literature adapted
to the needs of Ceylon Christians and non-Christians.
is

There

among the Ceylonese women and a

women workers. Suitable Ceylonese

a lack of leaders from

paucity of European
women missionaries should receive exactly the same official
and social status as the foreign workers. Simple inexpensive

Boarding Schools should be multi

many women and girls of the
plied.
congregations of their duty to undertake voluntary church
work is a defect. Simple medical work among women and
Anglo-vernacular Girls

The

non-realization of

children in backward districts

is

to be desired.

CHAPTER

VII.

EDUCATION.
ABILITY

to read and writa at least one s own language,

not
though
indispensable to the planting and development of

must be acknowledged

to be a very importan
Christian Missionary.
Christianity
does not invite ignorance as an ally, but welcomes enlighten
ment as its co-adjutor. The total numbers able to read and

Christianity,

aid

to

the work of

the

write one language in

all

in the

Ceylon

last

four decades

were,

Census

of

The proportions
are included) are

878,766

total

...

404,441

...

...

603,047

1901

...

...

773,196

1911

...

...

1,082,828

of the

above

which males and females

(in

1881

1891

1901

1911

Males

...24-6

30-0

34-70

40 4

Females

...

2-5

4-3

6-92

10-6

number

males

...

Percentage of

The

1881

1891

of

literates

at

the last

The
204,062
Of
in English was 70,679.

and

females.

Census was
total

native

these 57,881
population
were males and 12,798 females, and of these 1,785 Sinhalese
and 241 Ceylon Tamils, a total of 2 026 could not read and
literate

write

trfeir

own language.

During the Dutch occupation of the Colony, schools were

The
established and attendance was made compulsory.
and
the
had
show
that
to
was
girls
largely religious
teaching

EDUCATION

49

they understood the catechism and creed before they could be

married.
In the Instructions from the Governor-General of
India to the Governor of Ceylon in 1656, it is laid down
that the boys and girls should be made to attend schools,

and be there received

point will

this

into Christianity.

cause some

difficulty,

The observance of
because the natives

think a great deal of their daughters, and the parents will not
consent to their going to school after their eighth year. They
may, perhaps, receive a little more instruction on the visits of
the clergyman.

That the education imparted was not

of a very advanced
from
be
from
a
Eschelskroon in
gathered
quotation
type may
The schoolmasters are
his Description of Ceylon, 1782.

come with the ships from Europe, or

broken
mechanics, such as bakers, shoe
usually still,
have
no more book learning than
who
etc.,
makers, glaziers,
the
Psalms
of David, and at the
a
to
shift
to
make
sing
just

either chaplain?, that

more

the Heidelberg catechism by

few passages out of the Bible, and are
able to read a sermon from some author, or else they are some
wretched natives, that can scarce make a shift to read Dutch
a good hand, and in
intelligibly, much less can they write
When the British took
arithmetic are still more deficient.
possession in 1796, the question of education was neglected

same time perhaps can say

heart, together-jwith a

years, but with the advent of the missionary bodies,

schools were established in various parts of the Island.
School Commission was instituted by the Government

for

some

on

May

19,

Government Educational
Colombo Academy, now known as the

1834, and the

Institution, called the

Royal College, was started

first

on October 26, 1836. In January

s Education Scheme passed the

1868, Sir Hercules Robinson

a
Legislature, abolishing the School Commission, appointing
to
all
Grants-in-aid
and
regulating
Director of Education,
denominations and private schools in return for secular
4

CENTENARY VOLUME

50

This gave a great impetus to education, and

of scholars under the cognizance of the
Public
Instruction has risen from 44,192 in
of
Department
769 schools in 1873, to 384,533 in 4,303 schools in 1915.
Of these 118,381 were girls, about 39 per cent of the girls of

results only.

the total

number

school-going age.

The

total

expenditure on

Education

Revenue in 1879 was Rs. 445,228 and

amounted to Rs. 2,154,209.

from the

General
1915

it

The Cambridge Local Examinations were introduced

in

for the year

1880, and for the first examination that year, were presented
twenty-one boys and no girls; in 1915 there were 2,151
boys and 236 girls.
There are thirty-nine industrial schools, and carpentry

among

boys,

and

lace-

making among

girls,

are the most

popular industries.

The
at the

Ceylon
following extracts from Mr. E. B. Denham s
are interesting.
Under Instruction
of 1911

Census

67 per cent of
profession are males and

he

s-ays,

the

33

persons employed
cent females.

in

In

per

this
all

The number of persons desupports 15,500 persons.

has
increased by 5,000 during the
Instruction
on
perding
decade. There were 4,690 school masters and teachers,

it

"

"

as compared with 3,126 in 1901, and 2,269 school mistresses

and teachers, as compared with 1,507 in 1901. Of the
Kandyan Sinhalese, only 912 depend upon educational
employment, as compared with 7,176 Low-country Sinha
lese and 5,001 Ceylon Tamils.
Education
The
Again Mr. Denham writes under
,

improved standard of comfort throughout the country, the

in
growth of wealth, accompanied by considerable changes
enormous
an
manners and customs, have ail produced
demand which may almost be described as a passion for
education. The older generation regard education as an

EDUCATION

51

investment for their children, which will enable them to take

to which their newly acquired wealth entitles
them. The small landowner and cultivator who has pros

up positions

pered believes that education will make a clerk of his son or

him for a learned profession, that the latter will then hold
a better position in the world than his father, and that
fit

consequently the fortunes, and, what appeals to him equally

strongly, the status of the family will be assured.
The
younger generations seek escape from rural life, from manual

from work which they begin to think degrading, in an

which will enable them to pass examinations,
which will lead to posts in offices in the towns, and so to
toil,

education

appointments which entitle the holders to the respect of the

from which they believe they have emancipated them

class

selves.

The Church Missionary

Society, together with the other

Missions, has from the beginning been in the
in the matter of education, and has established

Christian
forefront

some

of the

Christians
all

best schools in the

show the

Island.

Consequently the

highest proportions of literates amongst

religions.

In 1911, the percentage of literates of each

sex was as follows

religion

Males.

Females.

Christians

...

...

60-3

38-8

Buddhists

...

...

41-8

9-1

Hindus

...

...

29-6

4-0

...

36 2

3-2

Mohammedans
During the

last

keener interest

in

and

Buddhists have taken a

and hundreds of vernacular

thirty years the

education,

schools have been opened in the villages for boys as well as

and English schools in the towns. The Hindus are

for girls,

also

now

taking their share in the education of the young.

CENTENARY VOLUME

52
It is

a cause for thankfulness that the education of girls

has not been neglected, for the value of female education is

so great that its importance cannot be exaggerated.
Sinhalese women have never been deliberately excluded

from the acquisition of knowledge, and the old proverb of

the Tamils,
Though a woman may wear cloth upon cloth
and is able to dance like a celestial, she is not to be desired if
she can press a style on a palm leaf does not hold to-day.
Mr. John Ferguson in his review of Christian Missions
Education has made great strides
.
in Ceylon
says
most
unfailing and successful branch of mission
Perhaps the
work has been found in the boarding schools for girls as
.

If a Christian
well as for boys, but especially for the girls.
his
had to be
were
to
wealth
that
stipulate
philanthropist

devoted solely to that branch of mission operations which had

been found to give the most uniformly satisfactory results,
we fancy the vote of the missionaries, as of Christian laymen
Ceylon, would go by a large majority in favour of Girls
Boarding Schools.

in

CHAPTER
C.M.S. IN

VIII.

CEYLON.

ON

February 16, 1796, Colombo was surrendered by the

Dutch, with scarcely a blow being struck in its defence, and
so the low country became a possession of the British crown.

Three years after, on Friday, April 12, 1799, in a first

room in the Castle and Falcon Hotel in Aldersgate

floor

Street, London, when sixteen clergymen and nine laymen

were present, was founded The Church Missionary Society
In each year s annual report of the
for Africa and the East.
Society issued since, we are reminded that
Ceylon was one
of the first fields to which the fathers of the C.M.S. turned

their eyes.

The

peculiar circumstances of Ceylon,

and the

its

claims on British

afforded for the prosecution of

missionary work, led the Committee of the Society to deter
mine on making an effort in its behalf as soon as they should
Christians,

facilities

it

themselves in a position to do so. It was, however, not

of Ceylon, but its Christianity which led them
heathenism
the

find

to contemplate this step.

proceedings, published

Ceylon,
schools

and

it

In the

in 1801,

report of the Society s

In the island of
read,

first

we

appears that there are not less than 145 Christian

of these fifty-four are within the district of Colombo,

in that one district alone there are not less than 90,000
;

native Christians.

The

Christian religion having been thus

successfully planted by the Portuguese and then further

cultivated by the Dutch, it is hoped that it will not be suffered
to decline now that the Island is subject to the Crown of

England.

This

important

attention of the Committee.

subject

has

not

escaped

the

CENTENARY VOLUME

54

With no

actual experience of the real state of matters to

guide them, the Island appeared to them as a field of labour
white already to the harvest.
A clergyman stationed in

Ceylon in a letter dated December, 1801, to one of the

Governors of the Society, writes, From the time the English
took possession, until the arrival of Mr. North, the Governor,
the Christian schools and education of the inhabitants were
entirely neglected, many Churches had fallen into ruins, and
thousands of those who called themselves Christians had
returned to their ancient paganism and idolatry.
By the last
returns in the Ecclesiastical department, there were nearly
170 schools and upwards of 342,000 Christians.

was unable, first from the want of

and
then
from
the
want of men, to take any direct
funds,
towards
the
of
a mission. They, however, cor
step
opening
with
men
of
influence
in the island who took an
responded
Until 1813, the C.M.S.

interest in Christian work, in order to

future

use, and further made an

obtain,

offer

to

information for
Sir

Alexander

Johnston, the Chief Justice, to educate for the ministry any

two native young men that he might select and send

England. Sir A. Johnson also caused the first number
the

Missionary

Register

into

Sinhalese,

Tamil and

island.

He

Porteus

also

work

to

of

(January, 1813) to be translated

Portuguese, for circulation in the

engaged two men to translate Bishop

on the Evidences of Christianity into

Sinhalese.

Two men, Thomas Norton and William Greenwood, had

been accepted for training by the C.M.S. in 1809. Norton
was a married shoemaker who had studied Greek, and Green
wood was a blanket manufacturer. After training, the
Bishops declined to ordain men for work outside their own
Eventually they were ordained to curacies in

dioceses.

England, and

clergymen

in

of the

1814 appointed to Ceylon, being the first

of England to go to Asia definitely

Church

C.M.S. IN

as missionaries, the

C.M.S. and the

first

CEYLON

55

first two English men trained by

two English clergymen sent out by

the
the

Society.
In the instructions delivered to

dismissal on January

them at the valedictory

1814, the following passage occurs,
and Mr. Greenwood, are destined to

7,

You, Mr. Norton,

labour in the populous island of Ceylon.
feel great
interest in the increase of true religion there, and in this

We

desire

our personal intercourse with Sir A. Johnston, has

greatly confirmed the Committee.

ambitious violence of these days

Britain and Holland

is

now

The war

into

which the

unwillingly forced Great

happily closed.

This protracted

Dutch from maintaining in Ceylon that suc

clergymen which was necessary for the support of

war disabled the

cession of

We

send you to lend your aid to the religious

religion.
concerns of this important portion of the British colonial
possessions, and in the persons in authority there, you will
The two missionaries embarked in
find willing protectors.

the

same

vessel for Ceylon, but she was obliged to put back

and before finally sailing, which was three weeks

for repair^,

before the Battle of Waterloo in 1815, the Committee altered

their destination to India.

In the

autumn

of 1817, the Comrtrittee appointed the

Revs.

Lambrick, Benjamin Ward, Robert Mayor and

Joseph Knight, all of whom had been ordained by Bishop
in their
Ryder of Gloucester, as missionaries to Ceylon, and
instructions we read, In few places are there more favour

Samuel

able opportunities of reviving and extending Christian truth.

instruction, numbers are fast degene
For want of
religious

rating into heathenism..

Justice has prepared the

diffusing information respecting the

The Chief

way for our exertions, by

which you
designs of our Society. There are two objects
of your
will ever keep in mind as forming the great design
the hearts of the
labours, the revival of true Christianity in

CENTENARY VOLUME

56
natives

who

at

present only nominally profess

it,

and the

conversion of the heathen.

On October 28, 1817, a valedictory dismissal under the

presidency of Lord Gambier was held at the Freemason s
Hall in the City of London, and a sermon was previously
preached by the Rev. J. W. Cunningham, Vicar of Harrow,
Bride s Church, from Psalm Ivi. 3,
Though I am
sometime afraid, yet put I my trust in Thee.

at St.

The Rev. Charles Simon

also gave an address to the de

On December 20, 1817, the four men,

parting missionaries.
with Mrs. Mayor and Mrs. Ward, embarked at Gravesend
on

board

January
till

5,

the

Vittoria.

They

arrived

at

Teneriffe

leaving again on the 23rd, not reaching the

on

Cape

in consequence of calms and contrary winds,

Madras on June 17, and at Point de Galle on
1818, having taken two hundred days to accomplish

April 14,

arriving in

June

29,

voyage. On disembarking at Galle, the missionaries

were received with great kindness by the Rev. J. M. S.

the

Glenie, the Chaplain at the station.

In the original plan of the Parent Committee

it

&ad been

Colombo,
arranged that Mr. Lambrick should be
Mr. and Mrs. Mayor at Galle, Mr. Knight at Jaffna and Mr.
and Mrs. Ward at Trincomalie, but on arrival representations
were made to them which led to a change in the location of
stationed at

two

of their

number.

Ward were

Kandy and
and
Knight pro
Calpentyn respectively, and Messrs. Mayor
ceeded to the stations to which they were originally designated.
Messrs. Lambrick and

After a few months Mr.

the town of Galle, so in

stationed at

Mayor thought it advisable to leave

1819 moved twelve miles inland to

Baddegama, and Mr. Ward finding Calpentyn unsuitable

Mission station, removed to Jaffna and afterwards

for
to

Baddegama.
In 1822 the Cotta Mission was begun, Colombo was occu-

REV. STEPHEN COLES

REV.

REV.

E. T.

\Y.

REV.

R. T.

DOWBIGGIN

HIGGENS

OAKLEY

REV.

J.

D.

SIMMONS

C.M

S.

IN

CEYLON

57

pied in 1850 and the Kandyan

Itinerancy and Tamil Cooly
Mission were founded in 1853 and 1855
In
respectively.
1827 the Cotta Institution to train workers was
founded,
but now for some years it has been carried on as an
English

school.

Early

in 1850, Sir J.

Emerson Tennent, Secretary

to the

Ceylon Government, and afterwards well known for his ela

borate book on Ceylon, wrote a letter to Lord
Chichester, the
President of the C.M.S., in which he said, The mission of
Christianity
asserted.

is

not

Its

doomed

ministers

to repulse, as

are

has been improperly

carrying forward

successfully

the work of enlightenment and civilization with an effect so

remarkable, and a result so convincing, in Ceylon, as to afford

every assurance of a wide and permanent triumph for the

Gospel.

An important

high class boys school was begun at Chun-

which is now kaown as St. John s College,

and the Copay Training Institution was opened in 1853. In
1857 the Kandy Collegiate School for boys was opened by
the Rev. J. Ireland Jones and was closed after six years, but
in 1872 was reopened under the name of Trinity College by
the Rev. R. Collins.
dicully in 1851,

Several
first

Mrs.
Mrs.

Mrs.

boarding

W.

schools

for

girls

were opened,

the

1842, another for Tamils at Borella by

E. Rowlands in 1869, the Cotta school in 1870 by

at Nellore

in

R. T. Dowbiggin, another at Baddegama in 1888 by

W. Balding, and one at Kegalle by Mrs. G. Liesching

J.

in 1895.

Miss H. P. Phillips opened an industrial school

at

Dodanduwa in 1893 and a Girls English High School was

commenced at Chundicully in 18S6 by Mrs. J. Carter.
The C.M.S. Ladies College was opened in Colombo in
1900 by Miss L. E. Nixon and Miss E. Whitney, in 1903 a
Girls English School at Cotta by Mrs. J. W. Balding, and
in 1904 a vernacular training school for Sinhalese women

CENTENARY VOLUME

58

teachers was opened in Colombo which after a few months

was transferred to Cotta and in 1916 to the newly instituted

Training Colony at Peradeniya.

The Jubilee of the mission in Ceylon was celebrated in
1868 and an appeal was issued by the Rev. W. Oakley, the
Secretary of the Mission in May 1868, for contributions to
a Jubilee Fund, as a token that the utility of past efforts is
recognized, and as a pledge of the desire that the work shall go
The writer of the appeal also says, The amount of
still on.

success has not perhaps been all that was at first anticipated,
the number of satisfactory converts may have not been as
great

as

in

made have

some more favoured missions,

not been without

fruit,

still

the efforts

the prayers offered have

not been without answer, and there is good reason to hope

that in the midst of the great and countless multitude of the

redeemed which

many

shall

shall

hereafter

appear whose

first

surround

God

throne,

knowledge of the truth as it

them by the workers of the

was conveyed to
Meetings were held in various centres to celebrate
the Jubilee, the chief one being held at the girls school near
is

in

Jesus

C.M.S.

the Kachcheri, in Colombo, on Friday evening, July 17, 1868.

This was presided over by the Bishop, and the collection at

amounted

the close

to

18.

The Rev. W. Oakley moved

the

first

resolution,

That

this

render hearty thanks to God for His

goodness in having enabled the C.M.S. to continue uninter
ruptedly, its labours in Ceylon for a period of fifty years, and

meeting

feels

bound

to

measure of success by which those labours have been

This was seconded by Dr. Willisford. Mr. R. V.
Dunlop moved the second resolution which was seconded
by the Hon ble Colonel Layard, That this meeting desires

for the

crowned.

to express its confidence in the

soundness of those principles

by which the C.M.S. has, from its commencement been

guided, and to which it still firmly adheres.

C.M.S. IN

59

CEYLON

R. F. Morgan moved the third resolution

which was seconded by the Rev. J. Ireland Jones, That this
the impor
meeting, while acknowledging with thankfulness

The Hon

tant results

ble

which have by God

s blessing,

followed from the

Church Missionary Society labours in Ceylon, feels deeply

extended
the urgent need which still exists for continued and
s

and recognizes the duty of promoting by every

ends which the Society has in
possible means, the great

efforts,

view.

Also to commemorate the Jubilee, the Rev J. Ireland Jones

Jubilee
wrote the small book already mentioned, entitled
the writer
work,
the
of
review
years
fifty
this
In
Sketches.
says,

would be

more arduous
difficult to

task, a

imagine.

more trying
It is

field of

labour,

it

a matter well understood

forest land, if cleared

by planters, that while the primeval
the chenas
and planted, will soon yield them a rich return,
native cultivatic
the lower ranges, previously exhausted by
and requiring far less outlay
though far more easy of access,
and can o
will too often mock their hopes,
at the

beginning,

and expeni
be made^ to yield a return at last, by a long
in spir
mode of cultivation. This fact has its counterpart
husbandry.
In 1875

Dr Reginald Stephen

Copleston was
t

in the island early

fourth Bishop of Colombo, and arrived
Soon after the Bishop s arrival,
following year.
a more direcl
difficulties arose, owing to his seeking
C.M.S. work.
the
over
than his predecessors had had,
as an independent
liberties
its just
Society conceived that
as
clergymen o
missionaries
its
of
organization, and those
render,
and the controversy was
diocese, were at stake,
In 1880, the que tio
more painful by theological differences.
the Archbishop of Canterbury
issue were submitted to

at

(Dr. Tait), the

Archbishop

of

York

(Dr.

Thomso

Durham (Dr. Lightfoot),

Bishops of London (Dr. Jackson),

CENTENARY VOLUME

60

and Winchester (Dr. Harold Browne), and the result was

from these prelates which was accepted on
an
Opinion
both sides as satisfactory and under which the mission has
been carried on ever since with

little difficulty.

1881 the Bishop confirmed 520 candidates, including

174 Tamil coolies, in C.M.S. districts. In another tour in
In

1885, he confirmed eighty-three candidates, and wrote to a

I have lately seen much
was encouraging among the immigrant Tamil coolies and

missionary magazine, The Net,

that

The former set a

the native Sinhalese respectively.
very good example by the zeal and liberality with which they
support their own Churches. In one planting district, while
among

the English masters were waiting, and wishing, and consider

ing how they should get a Church, their Tamil labourers
built one.

The Bishop was transferred to Calcutta in 1902, a gain to

India but a corresponding loss to Ceylon.
Whilst it is im
possible to forget that the early years of his episcopate were
a period of estrangement and conflict between the Bishop and
the missionaries and the Committee, the alienation had long
since disappeared and for many years the record had been

one of unbroken and cordial co-operation. Differences in

deed doubtless remained, theological, ecclesiastical and prac
tical, but these have not prevented the discovery of a common

ground on which all could work together for the glory of

their common Lord.
Clergy and laity alike, European and
Ceylonese,
in

learnt

to

revere

the

Bishop as a true Father

God.

In 1884 some questions arose upon which the missionaries

and lay friends differed from the Home Committee, and the
Revs. J. Barton and C. C. Fenn were sent out to adjust
matters, which they accomplished to general satisfaction,
and no further difficulty has occurred. In 1887 and again in
1889,

Special Missions

were conducted by the Rev. G. C.

REV.

REV.

G.

C.

CHAMPION

JAYASINGHE

REV.

J.

HENSMAN

C.M.S. IN

CEYLON

61

Grubb, assisted on the first occasion by Colonel Oldham^

Much blessing was vouchsafed, many English planters were
brought to Christ, and the Christian men among them stirred
up to greater zeal, and the effect of this, both upon the
Ceylonese Christians and upon the evangelistic work was
afterwards marred by the antago
It was
very marked.

The Revs.
influence of the Exclusive Brethren.
E. N. Thwaites and Martin J. Hall also conducted special
missions in 1894 and the Rev. E. Bacheler Russell in 1896
Mrs. J. W. Balding, writing
at Christ Church, Galle Face.
nistic

to

the localized Gleaner

missioners in the

in

Baddegama

1887 with
District,

reference

says,

to

the

Blessed have

been the messages, straight from the loving Saviour, through

His instruments, messages of earnest, tender appeal for a
full surrender of the heart to God, and perfect consecration
The mission came, bringing to
to Him and to His service.
many a weary heart, rest, joy, and peace, and has gone,
leaving

greater hungering and thirsting after

Some of our Christians have been stirred up

behind a

righteousness.
to more active work.

Every day there were good attend

were
Backsliders
present whose faces had not been
ances.
It was beauti
also came.
Buddhists
seen for many years.
and
the
rapt attention
faces,
ful to note the earnest upturned
of
God full of
word
the
listened
was
to,
word
with which the
of the hearers,
some
tears
to
melting
and
love
peace,
pardon,

to

imparting

others
of

Dibben

unspeakable joy.
1894 mission

the

The Rev.
said,

A. E.

Europeans,

writing
so stirred up that several
Sinhalese and Tamils have been
to engage directly in
as
names
wishing
their
in
have given
the

Lord

work

as

He may

lead.

the Honorary Clerical

In 1886 the Rev. F. E. Wigram,
his tour of the missions in
Secretary of the C.M.S. during
visited Ceylon.
the East, accompanied by his son,
Church
organization was
In 1869 a system of Native

CENTENARY VOLUME

62

brought into operation, with District Councils to manage all

financial business, and a Central Council as a deliberative

Large grants-in-aid which were received yearly from

Society were reduced by one-twentieth annually.
These grants have now run out, and in 1911 the old system

body.
the

Home

was superseded by the launching

of a

Scheme

for the organi

zation of Churches in

Ceylon in connection with the C.M.S.

More responsibility is now thrown upon the Ceylonese clergy
as they take independent charge of their pastorates.
Several
clergy have been accorded this position, and some have taken
over the management of the schools and assumed responsibi
lity for

the evangelistic work in their respective areas. This

the effect of developing the spirit of

new scheme has had

devotion and self-sacrifice, as well as of calling forth more

prominently the co-operation of the laymen of the Church.

Some

of these independent pastorates also receive annual

In 1892 two teagrants from the Synod of the diocese.
planters, Messrs. Ernest J. Carus Wilson and Sydney

M. Simmons
Associated

left

and commenced a Band

their estates

Lay Evangelists

branch of the mission.

in

of

connection with the Sinhalese

Work was

with the assistance of catechists.

carried on in the villages

The work was helped by

large coloured Scripture pictures, hymn

singing, lantern talks under the palm trees and work amongst

the exhibition of

The band was never

really given a fair trial of

as
when
continued
labour,
any urgent vacancy
steady and
occurred in the stations, one of the lay evangelists was at
once sent to fill the gap. The evangelists went to England

children.

Mr. Simmons who

1896 and returned the following year.
had been ordained was appointed to take charge of Baddegama, and in 1899, Mr. Carus Wilson who had been engaged
in evangelistic work at Bentota, was obliged to return to
in

England.
In 1899 the Ceylon Mission commemorated the Centenary

CEYLON

C,M.S. IN

63

On April 12 a public meeting was

room at Galle Face Church, Colombo.
The Bishop presided and the three speakers, all of whom
of the Parent Society.

held

the school

in

have since passed to their rest, were the Revs. E. T. Higgens,

W. Mitchell. Special services
J. D. Simmons and Sir W.
and meetings were held at all the stations. At Cotta,
Rs. 315 was contributed as a birthday offering, at Baddegama
Rs. 500 as a centenary thankoffering and at Holy Trinity

Church, Kandy, RP. 500 was given to meet the monthly

At Nellore a breakfast was given
liabilities of the pastorate.

hundred persons. At Chundicully there was a social

gathering and at 5.20 p.m. corresponding to noon in London,
Jesus shall
the Union Jack was unfurled, and the hymn

to five

reign

was sung.

W. Twynam

Sir

At

Pallai, after the

thanksgiving service,
fifty Christians

entertained one hundred and

at breakfast.

The C.M.S. Conference, which until quite recently met

twice a year, now meets once a year in the month of
the European
August, with the Bishop as Chairman. All
two Ceylonese
missionaries, four Ceylonese clergy and
The women missionaries have also a
are members.
laymen

Conference which meets annually. The Conferences elect

and other sub
Standing Committees, Examination, Visiting
committees.

is composed of
of the
the
and
Secretary
nine laymen, two missionaries
influential
been
laymen willing
There have always
mission.

The Finance Committee

to give their services,

of the mission

and one

of

these, Sir VV.

Colombo on December

K.C.M.G., who died in

been a valuable member

A new

Mitchell,

had

for thirty-one years.

Committee
constitution granted by the Parent
See
1921.
Appendix.
at the August Conference,
i

W.

15, 1915,

came

into force

CENTENARY VOLUME

64

In the year 1843 an

Association, under the patronage of

His Excellency, Sir Colin Campbell (then Governor), the

Bishop of Madras and some of the principal members of the
Civil Service, was established, in order to assist the evange
listic and educational work of the C.M.S. in Colombo and the
Western Province. From the commencement the Ceylon
Association of the C.M.S. as it is now called, has contributed
largely to the local funds of the mission, and for several
years has made grants to the stations and has supported

The receipts of the Association for the twenty-five

18911915, amounted to no less than Rs. 126,804.

workers.
years,

A few years ago a Home Branch of the Ceylon C.M.S.

Association was formed by Mr. Ernest J. Carus Wilson,
Woodlea, Barnet, (formerly of the Ceylon Mission) in order
sympathy and practical help of those
interested in Ceylon and also of those who, when resident in
Gifts are forwarded to
the island, subscribed to the work.
to retain the prayerful

Ceylon and donors receive the monthly Gleaner and the annual
report of the Association.
For some years the Church Missionary Gleaner, a monthly
illustrated publication containing information of the

work

in

throughout the world, has been localized.

The Ceylon portion furnishes details of local mission work
and is edited by one of the missionaries.

various missions

During the hundred years, 108 European missionaries,

and lay, and sixty European women missionaries
(not including wives) have worked in the mission with,
during the same period, thirty-three Tamil clergy and twentyclerical

nine Sinhalese.

As regards

area,

fully

three-fourths

of

the

island has

been committed to the C.M.S. by diocesan authority, either

for Sinhalese or Tamil work or for both, but it has to be

acknowledged with regret that a great part of this area has

The following are the
never been effectively occupied.

C.M.S. IN

CEYLON

65

STATISTICS OF THE MISSION FOR 1918

No.
1.

Mission Agents

European Clergy

....

...

...

16

Ceylonese Clergy

...

...

....

27

Women

...

...

...

14

..

...

122

Missionaries

Catechists and Readers

2.

Biblevvomen

...

...

...

School Masters

...

...

...

479

School Mistresses

...

...

...

319

...

...

...

6,041

Christians (adults and children) including

...
the Communicants ...
.,.

14,796

Congregations

Communicants

Adult candidates for baptism

3.

Baptisms
Children

...

...

Sunday Schools
Scholars

5.

...

...

302

...

...

...

...

...

...

224
487

in 1918

Adults

4.

37

...

...

...

...

253

...

...

...

9,749

Educational
Training Schools
Students ...

4
...

Middle Schools

...

Students

...

52

..

High Schools
Students ...

1357
15

...
...

...

1,342

Elementary Schools
Students

...

...

...

23,814

Industrial Schools

Students
5

...

...

141

CENTENARY VOLUME

66

STATISTICS OF THE MISSION FOR 1918

continued.

Contributions in 1918

6.

Rs.

Grants by Parent Committee and contri

...
butions received through them
Contributions by Europeans and Burghers.
Contributions by Sinhalese and Tamils for
their

own Churches

Contributions for

...

Tamil Cooly Mission

Ceylon Association

...

...

Total

31,057:52

...

42,346:10

...

11,734:84

...

7,538:69

...

92,677:15

mind that in dealing with the statistics

only to what are known as the C.M.S.
instance, the number of Christians given above
the number living in the districts belonging to

must be borne

It

the

184,714:24

in

figures refer

districts, for

as 14,796, is
the congregations for that year.
Many of our young people
who by our means have been brought to the knowledge of the
truth, move out into the world to obtain a livelihood, and

There is not a
attach themselves to other congregations.
in
island
which
will
in
the
not be found
district
or
parish
those

who have

at

one time or another, been connected with

our districts or schools.

In 1918 the C.M.S. thus had in Ceylon 314 schools with

26,654 students.

Three hundred and ten of these schools received grants-infrom Government that year, amounting to Rs. 118,866

aid

The twenty-one English schools received

^"7,924.
amount, Rs. 36,300:50, the four Anglo- Vernacular
and the 285 Vernacular schools,
schools, Rs. 4,375:21
or nearly

of

this

Rs. 78,190:61.

C.M.S. IN

CEYLON

67

Again, the results of missionary

the number of converts living at

work cannot be gauged

by
any particular date. The
real fruits of the work are the souls that have
passed to the
Dr. Stock truly says in the
everlasting rest.
History of the
C.M.S. (vol. iii, p. 769)
Let it be repeated, that statistics
:

fail to

show

the best fruits, the fruits

already gathered into
the heavenly garner, and no mission has
given brighter
examples of Christian deaths crowning Christian lives than
the mission in Ceylon.

STATISTICS OF THE MISSION AT VARIOUS DATES

CHAPTER

IX.

KANDY.
KANDY,

beautifully situated

in

a valley amid the

Kandyan

seventy-two miles from Colombo and 1,654 feet above

sea-level, was founded about A.D. 1200 and from the year

hills,

1592 to 1815 was the Capital of the Sinhalese Kings. Kandy

Kande means the hill or hill country, but it is known to

or

the people as Maha Nuwara, the great city.

Cruelty on
the part of the last Sinhalese king had made his subjects
regard him with hatred, and the execution of the wife and

children of his prime minister,

compass his overthrow.

and the arrest and death

The

Ehelapola, led the people to

British

were invited

in exile of the tyrant, Sri

Raja Singha, terminated the

line

to help,

Wickrama

of Sinhalese kings.

On

March 2, 1815, the British flag was hoisted and the interior
came under the dominion of the British Crown. At a Con
vention on the same day, between the Governor and the
chiefs, it was agreed that the late sovereign had forfeited all
,

claims to that

title

and that

his

ever excluded from the throne.

religion of

Buddha should be

descendants should be for

It

was

also agreed that

inviolable and

its rites,

the

ministers

and places of worship maintained and protected.

The spirit
of independence, however, still remained, the chiefs would
not brook the restraints of the new government, and within
three years a rebellion broke out the suppression of which
cost the lives of a thousand British and many natives.
About this time the population of Kandy was about threethousand, whilst to-day it is over thirty thousand, and the low
country people in the town out-number the Kandyans by

KANDY

69

A wonderful change has taken place

the last hundred years.
In the early day?,
consisted of mud huts thatched with straw, the streets

nearly three thousand.

in

Kandy during

the town

being almost impassable, with open drains on each side, six

or seven feet wide, which acted as receptacles for the filth of
the town and over which were placed planks as approaches to
the huts.

Villagers brought in produce from the country,

fowls could be bought at two pence each and one hundred and
twenty eggs for a shilling. There were no proper roads and
first mail coach did not run till 1832.
When the first
C.M.S. missionaries arrived in Ceylon, the Governor strongly
urged that one of their number should commence work in
Kandy. There were many reasons which favoured this.

the

Here was the temple,

the Dalada Malagawa, containing the

Buddha, which was regarded with supersti
tious reverence by the Buddhists, also the viharas or colleges
of the priests.
The independence of the people was in itself
a safeguard against hypocrisy and a pledge of their sincerity
when they should be led to profess faith in Christ. So in
1818 the Rev. S. Lambrick entered on his work in Kandy.
so-called tooth of

On

October

27,

1818, he wrote

present to preach to the natives, but

cannot be permitted at
have obtained author

open schools, and have obtained two priests to be the

masters of them. The children will be especially taught to
read and write their own language as a step towards their

ity to

receiving the words of eternal

Mr. Lambrick was for

life.

two years the only Church of England clergyman in Kandy

and consequently gave much time to the spiritual care of the

On the eve of the depar

troops and other Europeans there.
a
ture of the Governor, Sir R. Brownrigg, from the island,
were
levee was held at which the four C.M.S. missionaries
to
present and presented an address,

replied,

The whole

most favourable

island

is

now

for the cultivation

in

which the Governor

a state of tranquillity,

and improvement of the

CENTENARY VOLUME

70

human mind.

cannot doubt but that under the guidance of

providence, the progress of Christianity will be general, if the

zeal for propagating the knowledge of Christianity be tem
pered with such a sound discretion as has been exhibited
already by one of your mission (Mr. Lambrick) in the centre
It is my sincere wish that you
of the heathen population.
all
follow
that
may
example, and that your success may
justify my partial feelings of regard for the missionaries of
the

established

Church.

On

October 28, 1821, the Rev.

and Mrs. Thomas

Lambrick. Owing

Browning arrived to work with Mr.

to want of success among the Kandyans,
there was some thought of abandoning the town and starting
The Government however
work in an interior village.
would not sanction the removal on account of the unsettled
At the end of May, 1822, Mr. Lambrick
state of the country.
removed to the low country. In June, 1822, Mr. Browning
obtained from Government a grant of land, which still forms
part of the Trinity College compound, on which he erected a
bungalow and school room. Service was held in the school
on Sundays, several Kaffir soldiers belonging to the Ceylon
regiment were under instruction, and the Sinhalese prisoners
in the jail were visited.
At the end of 1823 there were 127
children attending the five schools which had been opened.
Bishop Heber, on his visit to Kandy in 1825, says We
went up with the Governor, Sir E. Barnes, to Kandy, where I
preached, administered the sacrament, and confirmed twenty-

young persons in the audience hall of the late King of

Kandy, which now serves as a Church. Here, twelve years
ago, this man, who was a dreadful tyrant, used to sit in state,
to see those whom he had condemned, trodden to death by
Here he actually com
elephants trained for the purpose.
six

pelled the wife of one of his chief ministers, to bruise to death

in a mortar,

with a pestle, with her

own

hands, one of her

and here at the

children, before he put the other to death,

KANDY

71

time, no Englishman or Christian could have appeared, unless

as a slave, or at the risk of being murdered.

Now,

in this

very place, an English Governor and an English congregation,

besides many converted natives of the island, were sitting

peaceably to hear an English bishop preach.

In 1826 a further piece of land was granted by Government
In 1827,
for a burial ground.
there were eight communi
cants from the Portuguese and Sinhalese, whose moral
conduct was consistent and in 1830 the state of things had

not much altered for the better.

In March, 1831, Bishop
Turner of Calcutta visited the station and confirmed thirty-six
candidates, and in October of the same year the first Sunday
school was opened.
The mission was strengthened in June, 1835, by the arrival
of the Rev. William Oakley.
Soon after, a house to house
visitation

was

of

started,

the Sinhalese Protestant Christians in

and

in

fifty

families

containing about

Kandy
three

was found that family worship was only

kept up in ten, some were totally destitute of the word of
God, some never attended divine worship, some were living
in open sin, and others were found neglecting the baptism
and education of their children. Another investigation of the
number of Protestant families that were not Sinhalese was
made, and it was found that out of five hundred and eighty
hundred persons,

it

and twenty-three families, eighty children

were unbaptized, and in between thirty and forty families, the
parents were living together unmarried.
Mr. Oakley also visited the villages, the hospitals in the
town and the Malay soldiers of the Ceylon Rifle regiment.
Mr. Browning died at sea in July, 1838, when only two
souls in one hundred

days

sail

from England.

The Bishop

mission in November, 1839, and wrote

place very interesting to me, the Church
in

of

Madras

My

visited the

next visit was to a

Missionary premises

Kandy, where under the devoted care of Mr. Oakley the

CENTENARY VOLUME

72

work grows and flourishes. His school room, which is also his
Church, is becoming much too small for either purpose. He
understands his work, and loves it, and is evidently doing
In 1840 there were at Kandy besides Mr. and Mrs.
good.
Oakley, eighteen native teachers, of whom two were women.
There were twenty-two communicants and thirteen schools,
containing three hundred and thirteen boys and fifty-six girls.
Mrs. Oakley, who died on July 14, 1866, aged fifty-one years,
was a remarkable woman, speaking both Tamil and Sinhalese,
great power for good and universally respected.

exercising

tablet to her

memory was

placed in Holy Trinity Church

by the congregation.
For many years Mr. Oakley and the catechists visited the
district of Yatanuwara, about twelve miles from Kandy, and
during one of his early visits in 1837, a man who had been a
prisoner in the Kandy jail expressed a wish to be baptized.
On his release from prison, he returned to Ratmiwela, his

with him some tracts and Scripture portions.

He
attended regularly the Sunday services in Kandy.
had been a devil dancer, and brought all his books connected

village, taking

He

with devil worship to the missionary saying, With these

books I have for a long time deceived myself and the
people.
that

shall

use them

to you, lest

be deceived.

my

no

God

more.

has shown

me

these things, and I now give them

family should get hold of them, and also

must give up

His

all

relations

for forsaking his old religion,

were greatly enraged with him

and one of

his brothers procured

a gun intending to shoot him.

He was baptized on Sunday,
June 3, 1838, by the name of Abraham. The following

August his eldest son was baptized by the name of Isaac,

and his wife, who was at the first very much opposed to the
step which her husband had taken, was on January 3, 1841,

name of Sarah.
Abraham was appointed school master

baptized by the

in his

native village,

KANDY
and

six years after his baptism, the brother

73

who had

ened to shoot him was baptized by the name

threat

of Samuel.

new school in the village and in 1849 a

was appointed. There were only three
women in the whole district at that time who could read and
write, and they were Mary, Martha and Rebecca, the daugh

Samuel

resident

built a

catechist

Abraham. Two other women were also baptized by

names of Christina and Lydia, and the former became
Samuel died in 1867,
the wife of David, a son of Abraham.

ters of

the

having lived a consistent life from the day of his conversion.

In 1860 died one, who had for forty years been a great
strength and help to the Kandy mission, Cornelius Jayatilaka.
From the very first he had connected himself with the
the
mission, and aided in the erection of the buildings and
formation of schools and congregations. He was a Govern
ment officer of high rank, a Mudaliyar of the Governor s Gate,
and a humble and consistent Christian. During a rebellion
of the

Kandyans, he obtained possession

tooth of Buddha.
of

priceless

The

relic

For

value.

its

of the

so-called

eyes of the Kandyans,

surrender to the Buddhists,

is,

in the

his
Jayatilaka might have made his own terms and named
own price. But true to his trust, he hid the relic in his long
it in his
hair, made his way to the Commandant, and placed

broke the spirit of the rebels,

once quelled. It was a striking sight
to see this man of high family and rank kneeling at the
Lord s Table close beside two half-naked Kandyan converts
and with them partaking of the memorials of the death and
passion of his Saviour and theirs.
During Mr. Oakley s time Trinity Church in the Mission

hands.

The

fact of its capture

and the rising was

at

Katukelle and Getambe were

cost about ^"1,000 towards which

compound and churches

at

Trinity Church
the Sinhalese gave /~500.

built.

Shortly before Mr. Oakley s

of the
retirement, Trinity Church was transferred to the care

CENTENARY VOLUME

74

Rev. Cornelius Jayasinha, and a council composed of Sinhalese

gentlemen was formed for the management of the affairs of
the three churches.

From

the

commencement

of the

Kandy Mission

in

1818 to

the year of Mr. Oakley s retirement in 1867, the number of

adults baptized in connection with the congregations at Kandy

was

128, viz. seventy-four

men and

women.

fifty-four

Of

these thirty-six were Kandyans.

In 1872 the Rev. Henry Gunasekara (the son of the late

Rev. A. Gunasekara of Baddegama) was appointed to Trinity

Church, and for thirty-seven years till February 1909 when
he retired, was the faithful pastor and friend of the congre

numbered 395, of whom 195

Mr. Gunasekara died in 1916.
When the Missionary Conference assembled at Cotta on
July 14, 1885, an incident occurred which was unique in the

The

gations.

Christians in 1909

were communicants.

history of the mission.

Mr. Oakley had arrived

It

was

just over fifty

years since

Ceylon, and with the exception of

a short visit to India of three months, he had never been away
from the island. Past and present missionaries had subscribed
in

to a fund to provide a scholarship in connection

with Trinity
his
to
bear
and
which
amounted
College,
name,
this,
Rs. 800, was presented together with a copy of the Revised
to

Version of the Bible and an illuminated address

ing words

We,
with you

in the follow

your fellow-labourers, and others

in this

mission, desire

to

offer

who have worked

you our warmest

congratulations on the completion of your fiftieth year of

missionary service in Ceylon. It is a matter of deep thank
fulness to us all, that in God s mercy and love you have been
allowed to spend so many years of continued labour in our

Master s cause. During the long period you have been

connected with this branch of the Church Missionary Society,
it has been your earnest desire to glorify our Lord and Saviour

;*>"

HOLY TRINITY CHURCH, KANDV

ST.

ANDREW

CHURCH. r.AMPor.A

KANDY

75

Christ, and as Secretary of this Mission, you have

enjoyed the hearty, loving confidence of your brethren, over
have also
whose Conference you have so long presided.

Jesus

We

a grateful remembrance

many personal kindnesses received

You
hands.
at your
hav e been glad with us in our joys, and
in our troubles you have always sympathized, while the
matured wisdom of your counsel and advice, your prudence,
of
r

and forbearing gentleness, have been used by God in great

measure, to secure that unity of feeling and of action which,
has characterized our mission for so

many

years.

We

wish you to accept this volume the Revised Version

as a token of our esteem and affection, and to
of the Bible
allow us to associate with your name a prize or exhibition, to
be

known

as the

Oakley

Prize or Exhibition, in connection

with Trinity College, Kandy, the station where the greater

part of your active missionary life was spent.
That our Heavenly Father may graciously spare you to

years to come, and, when your work on earth is

finished, give you an abundant entrance into His eternal
kingdom and glory, is the fervent desire and earnest prayer of
your brethren of the Ceylon Mission.
Just a year after, on July 11, 1886, Mr. Oakley entered
us for

many

Nuwara Eliya, aged seventy-nine years. To the

he was the active Secretary and revered counsellor and

into rest at
last

friend of the

whole mission.

Rev. Gregory S. Amarasekara

Church, the congrega
tions connected therewith giving him a hearty welcome.
In 1918 the congregation of Trinity Church numbered 215

On February

13, 1909, the

was appointed Incumbent

adults

of Trinity

and eighty -three children, of

whom

161 were

communi

average attendance at the Sunday morning

The annual sale of work produces
service was 105 adults.
over Rs. 500 and one of the members of St. John s Church,
to that Church.
.Gatambe, bequeathed one thousand rupees
cants, whilst the

CENTENARY VOLUME

76

TRINITY COLLEGE.

FOR some

years the leading Sinhalese in Kandy had been

urging on the C.M.S. the need of a superior school for the
education of their sons, and had promised their support and
help.

On October 16, 1857, the Rev. John Ireland Jones

arrived from England and opened an establishment, under
the name of the Kandy Collegiate School.
Its primary
In
object was to attract the sons of the Kandyan chiefs.
this it was not successful, although many of the principal
residents of the town availed themselves of its advantages.

The

institution continued in operation for about six years,

being during the latter half of the time under the charge of
the Rev. R. B. Tonge.

On January

18,

1872,

it

was re-opened under the name

Trinity College and Collegiate School with the Rev. R.

Collins as Principal, and Mr. Alfred Clark as Tutor, and
quickly took an important position which it has since main

of

At the end

tained.

on the

of the

same year there were 120 students

roll.

half of the name was dropped

became Trinity College, and the
Kandy Prince of Wales Reception Fund Committee pre
sented the college with Rs. 2,000 in memory of his Royal
Highness visit to Kandy. In the following year the college
was affiliated to the Calcutta University, and in 1879 the
Acting Principal, Mr. Thomas Dunn, reported The Govern
ment examination was satisfactory, 90 per cent of passes
being obtained. The Entrance and F.A. examinations were
held in December.
Six students went up for the first, and

Early

in

1877 the

and from thenceforth

latter
it

three for the second examination.

In 1880 the Rev. J. G. Garrett was appointed Principal,
and the following year there were 238 students, thirty of

these being boarders.

In 1883 the Rev.

J.

Field was appointed

TRINITY COLLEGE. KANDY

KANDY
Vice-Principal.

77

In 1885 the Rev. E. Noel Hodges, formerly

Noble High School

assisted by the Rev. J.

Masulipatam, became Principal,

In 1889 Mr. Hodges was
appointed to the Bishopric of Travancore and Cochin, and
his post at Kandy was taken by the Rev. E. J. Perry, who
had been a master at Merchant Taylors School. He threw

of the

in

Ilsley.

himself into the work with a bright enthusiasm that augured

great things, but on April 2, 1890, he was accidentally shot

dead near Alut-nuwara, whilst on a visit to the Veddahs in.

Bintenne country. As a memorial to him, a college

the

known

as the Perry Memorial Mission was started

an outlying district. The Rev. J. W. Fall, the Vice-Prin
cipal, who had arrived in November 1889, carried on the

mission,
in

work

of the college, until the arrival

of the

new

Principal,

Rev. H. P. Napier-Clavering, in June 1890. At that

time there were 298 students, sixty-three of whom were

the

boarders.

Owing

to

the increased

number

of

students two

blocks of additional buildings were erected.

In November, 1891, the Rev. J. Carter arrived as Vice-

The following year, Mr. Napier-Clavering reported

there were many boys hoping to be baptized as soon as

Principal.

that

they became their own masters and that on Advent Sunday

seventeen of the students were confirmed.

W. Ryde became Vice-Principal till

August 1899, and the Rev. A. A. Pilson arrived to fill the
vacancy in March 1900. Mr. Pilson died of typhoid fever
In 1895 the Rev. R.

Nuwara Eliya on April 30, 1902, aged twenty-nine.

The Rev. H. P. Napier-Clavering s resignation on account of
home claims in A\igust 1900, was universally regretted, as he

at

was popular both with masters and boys, and the

college had

prospered under him. The period of his Principalship was

emphatically one of progress, new buildings were erected, the

number

of

students increased and the

college Raised.

The Rev. R.

general status of the

succeeded to the

W. Ryde

CENTENARY VOLUME

78

The average daily attendance that year was

Principalship.
323 out of a roll of 410. The primary school, nurtured by
the college, showed a daily attendance of fifty-four out of
eighty-three, for the
In 1902 the Rev.

and

early

the

same

period.

Carter became temporarily Principal

following year, the Rev. A. MacLulich
J.

MacLulich, Vice-Principal. During 190+ the college was

carried on under the guidance of no less than four heads,
Ir. Carter was in charge until his
succeeding each other.
departure for England on May 6, the Rev. H. P. NapierClavering till August 7, then the Rev. A. MacLulich, and,
from November 5, Mr. A. G. Fraser. The annual report
I

showed that in the highest things the year had been one of
It says,
The Te Deum has been
prosperity and blessing.
swelling more and more as the months have rolled on. This
year is in every sense an improvement on last, and has
been continually improving on itself. Five lads have been
Under
baptized, and thirteen were confirmed by the Bishop.

Mr. Fraser s masterly direction the school has gone forward

remarkable degree. The compound has been extended
by the acquisition of new land new buildings have been
to a

erected

been hewn

magnificent playing field of several acres has

from a hillside a strong staff including several

Europeans has been

and the school has been further

developed as a boarding school anl has acquired a distinctive
character and spirit. These things have involved a heavily
increased expenditure and Mr. Fraser has worked successfully
built up,

for the establishment of the Trinity College

Extension

Fund

which has made these schemes of development possible.

In 1905 a bungalow and compound known as Woodlands,
adjoining the college premises, were acquired by means of
money collected by Mr. Fraser, thus giving a residence for
the college bungalow for the
the Principal and leaving
Vice- Principal.

KANDY
In August, 1906, Mr.

on account of

ill-health.

79

Fraser was suddenly ordered home

The Rev. W. S. Senior, who had

assumed the office of Acting Principal, and

was joined later in the year by the Rev. A. M. Walmsley.
Towards the end of the year 1908, Mr. Fraser returned

recently arrived,

with reinforcements of men, viz. the Rev. J. P. S. R. Gibson

and Messrs. N. P. Campbell and K. J. Saunders, backed up
by a wealth of prayer and sympathy. The aim of Mr. Fraser
and the methods by which he proposed to achieve it may be
best expressed in his own words.
intend to make a serious effort
The Aim.

We

To

First.-

train Christians in

that their hearers

may

realize

the real and true fulfilment of

their aspirations

(a)

By

all

that

is

best and highest in

in their past.

To make

Second.
land,

and

Ceylon so to present Christ

not as a foreigner, but as

Him

the pupils good citizens of their

carefully relating all that

is

own

taught them to the

own people, (b) By

deliberately striving to foster and encourage their sense cf

needs, problems and language of their

responsibility

and readiness

to act and, so working, to

produce

leaders.

We

The appointment of
(a)
propose
accomplished students to devote them
selves to the study of education in India and Ceylon, and of
Hindu and Buddhist apologetics, (b) The establishment of a
good training college for Christian teachers in the Vernacular
and English and the creation of a ladder from the village
The Methods.

three

capable and

school to the college with

its

possibilities of leadership.

We

hope by basing our education on the Vernaculars whilst

teaching English thoroughly, to make the transition from
village school to college easier, and to instruct pupils more
readily

and more

intelligently

from the basis of

their

own

knowledge, (c) The efficient prosecution of higher education

on the lines of the Japanese code or of the Arya Samaj in its

CENTENARY VOLUME

gO
national

gurukulas,

i.e.

education

in

their

own

classics

combined with that of the West, and modern science, (d) In

more and more on the
all. we hope to devolve responsibility
to strictly limit the
people themselves,

that each

may

number

of our

may

To sum up

be close contact between teachers and taught.

We

pupils

have individual attention, and that there

are attempting to translate into carefully planned action

the belief that the hope of the future lies with the native
Christians, and our energies are most wisely exercised when not

employed on Hindus, Mohammedans and Buddhists,

building up a wise, eager and indigenous Church.
In 1909 Mr. N. P. Campbell designed new buildings which
were erected at the cost of ^"3000. These contain a chemi

directly

but

when

cal laboratory, a physical laboratory with gallery, a class

room, quarters for two masters, a masters common room, and
a dormitory containing sixty beds. The compound was
improved and two acres of land adjoining were leased from

Government for ninety-nine years. In

Mulgrue, who had been on the teaching
was taken into local connection.

The Rev.

L.

J.

Gaster joined the

this

year,

staff for

staff

Mr. G. K.

some

in 1910.

years,

The

following year Mr. Eraser left on a visit to England to plead

for funds to carry out a Training Colony scheme and during
his absence the Rev. H. P. Napier-Clavering was Honorary

Acting Principal.
In 1914 Mr. K.

J. Saunders who during his stay in Ceylon

had written several books and pamphlets on Buddhism, left the
College to take up Y.M.C.A. work in India. Mr. Campbell

also left for England in the same year for training in

connection with the war, and Mr. A. C. Houlder, who had
short service
man,
previously been on the staff as a

rejoined the college as missionary in full connection.

At the close of 1915 the Rev. K. C. McPherson joined the

teaching staff as a missionary of the C.M.S., and the

Rev.

KANDY

W.

81

who had been Vice- Principal for eight years,

take charge of Christ Church, Galle Face, Colombo.

S. Senior

left to

The Trinity College Annual for 1914 gives a wonderful

account of the various activities and agencies of the college.
nearly one hundred pages and many illustrations.
spiritual side is put well to the front as the following

It consists of

The

quotation will show

school on the best lines,
:

is

Trinity College, while a public

before all a missionary school.
Its

success is not indeed to be measured by mere numbers of those

baotized and confirmed or by the number of communicants.
It is rather to be sought in the
atmosphere and
the
"

"

"

tone,"

outlook on

life

and the general product of the

place.

Yet

if

the general product never crystallized in particular

results,
our success would be questionable. It is with gratitude,
then,
that we are able to record a number of baptisms in 1913, and

a few in the current year.

No pressure save that of public
preaching (and the
atmosphere alluded to), no preferential
"

"

ever brought to bear. Truth is our one

weapon,
cases the candidates have very real obstacles
of antecedents and circumstance to overcome.
As to Confir
mation, the numbers seem to increase yearly, and the annual

treatment

and

is

in several

Confirmation Service more and more becomes a red letter

day of our calendar. No one can be present either on the

Sunday evenings when public baptism is administered, or on

the afternoons when the Bishop confirms, without
being

much moved and much

reality

The

and value
students

cants

inspired, with the

thought of the

of the educational missionary task.

who

are

communicants have a

Communi

Union, the Sunday School has twenty-eight classes

and 210 students, there is also a Union for Social Service,
and in 1914 a College Hostel was opened in
Colombo,
where so many Trinity boys go down for employment or to
continue their studies. There is also a College Cadet Corps,
and Cricket, Rugger, Boxing, Fives and Tennis are keenly
6

CENTENARY VOLUME

82
supported.
tions,

There are also Literary and Reading Associa

and a Masters Guild.

In the report of the year s work read at the Prize-giving in

for the third year in
1915, the Rev. A. G. Eraser said,
the
Commercial
we
headed
examination, and in
succession

the Cambridge Senior Local four of our students

in Book-keeping.
first four places in the Empire

won

the

In the

Junior Local we passed twenty candidates, one obtaining

In the
first class honours, and we obtained four distinctions.
we
with
two
Local
thirty-five
candidates,
Senior
passed

second class honours, five third class, and ten distinctions.

In the Intermediate in Arts all our three candidates passed.

we presented four and all passed. In

the Cricket Championship, and the Inter
Shooting Cup for the ninth time in succession.

In the Inter Science

athletics,

collegiate

We

we won

were the winners also of the Inter-collegiate Shields for

Physical Drill, and for Military Drill, and we still retain the
Boxing Shield. Our Rugby Football team was again with
out rivals, and the only Inter-collegiate competition we have
not come first in is that for track running, and in that we

were equal second.

The Rev. L.

J.

Gaster went on furlough in 1915, and

In his report as Acting Principal

returned the following year.

I
had the privilege of preparing twelve boys for
To see those boys
confirmation, and a few for baptism.
coming forward in the fa:e of opposition, ready to confess

he says,

Christ in baptism, and to take up their cross and follow Him,

something which does not fail to leave its mark on oneself

is

It can be said most emphatically that the Life and

Person of Jesus Christ make a strong appeal, and an appeal

also.

not in vain to the young life of Ceylon.

Mr. A. C. Houlder writes, The Social Service Union
I

of Christ, the life in

is,

agency we have whereby the fulness

The work
Christ, may be demonstrated.

believe, the strongest

KANDY
"

is

voluntary, the motto,

when he makes

their

83

patriot can serve his country only

sorrows and disabilities his

own."

There

are about thirty members amongst the boys, and at least eight
earnest workers amongst the masters.
have made

We

frequent visits to villages, treating cases of sores and ulcers,

and teaching games to the boys.
have also opened a

We

school in an outcaste village.

These people are mat-weavers
by occupation. They are not allowed to attend school with

any other caste people, and until we went there no Kandyan

of good family had been near them at all.
Our boys have
visited them frequently, bicycling ten miles, or walking
seven each way, to see the school, lecture to the boys,
and help them in any way possible, also visiting their
homes.
The following with regard to the great war is an extract from
the Report read at the Annual Prize Giving in December, 1918:
The war ended almost as suddenly as it began. Trinity
College is never a dull place, and has on occasions shown a

wonderful energy of expression, but when the news came

through that Germany had signed the armistice we surpassed
all previous records in the irresponsible enthusiasm of our
rejoicings.

There are sixty-two names on our Roll of Honour. Of

number ten were killed in action on the Western Front,
one was drowned in the Mediterranean on his way to England
to enlist, and one died of disease contracted on active service.
this

In the midst of our rejoicings

R.
will never return

who

we

think of these brave souls

Aiyadurai, N. P. Campbell,
Forster, C. F. H. Kent, J. Loos,

Drieberg, H. C.
K. Murray, A. G. F. Perera, A. Paramananthan, R. Skipp,
P. Scott-Coates, and A. J. Wells.
They went forth unafraid
F.

defend the right, and they gave their lives that the right
thank God for their courage, their
might triumph.

to

We

vision,

and their

self-sacrifice.

CENTENARY VOLUME

84

One of the last to fall in the conflict was Herbert Forsteiv

who left school for the Front early last year, and was killed
in France in March of this year at the age of nineteen.
Besides those who gave their lives, eighteen of our number
were wounded or gassed, and two were made prisoners.
Those who received decorations are J. W. S. Bartholomeusz,
who was awarded the French Croix de Guerre of the First
Capt.
Class, and Vere Modder, who won the Military Medal.
E. C. Squire, who joined our staff and was about to sail for
Ceylon when war broke out, has been awarded the Military
Cross.

Three

of our boys on

the

Western Front obtained

Com

missions, the last being Ajit Rudra, the son of the

Principal
Delhi, and five of our Old Boys
recently obtained Commissions in the I. A. R. O.
Mr. N. P. Campbell joined H. M. Forces at the end of

of St.

Stephen

1914, obtaining a
neers,

In

and

was

Memoriam

College,

Commission as Captain in the Royal Engi

in action
on
May 3, 1917. An

killed

notice in the C.M.S. Gleaner for the following

month says, Not only in the school but outside it in Kandy

were Mr. Campbell s energies spent. His work among the
poor and needy and his keen efforts to help them, and to
Often was he seen alone on a
uplift them, are well known.
roadside helping a lame man or binding up a sore foot.
Even
the poor in hospital knew him and were cheered by the
concerts he organized for them.
doing all he could for the needy,
loved.

Early

in the

war he

He

did not spare himself in

among whom he was much

"

left

us as he believed

right to keep

no

man had

away."
Nothing could prevent him.
dedicated his life to the cause of freedom.

As He died
Let us

to

live to

make men holy

make men free,

He

had

KANDY

85

were the words he set before him. On his final mission he

was called away to a Greater Freedom on High.

THE TRAINING COLONY.

THIS institution takes its root in the first century of C.M.S.
work and looks for its fruit in the second. It is the product
of the past, and the prophet of the future.
In main outline
the plan was conceived by Mr. A. G. Fraser as far back
as 1906.
Into what it shall develop none can prophesy, for
it faces the problems of the day in the dim though growing
light of the future rather than in the still strong but

twilight of the traditional past.

In the first place the Training Colony

is

waning

co-denominational.

The Church Missionary

Society and the Wesleyan Methodist

Missionary Society in Ceylon have federated as regards the
governing of this institution which is in the hands of a

The C.M.S. have at present the preponder

special Council.
ating interest on the basis of larger capital invested, but
there is nothing in the Constitution which in any way gives
special rights or privileges to either Society.
Students from both Societies are admitted and the whole

policy
tially

cally

is

that of the fullest combination

possible for essen

similars, and not that of the mere juxtaposition of radi

Students eat and sleep, work and play, and
differents.

also worship together except for the

Sunday morning

services,

members of their respective Churches the students

attend their own Church or Chapel. At the same time each
Society has full rights and opportunities for teaching its own
when

as

members such

special

doctrines or beliefs as
to

the

Universal

it

feels to

Church.

be

Each

sacred contribution
its
Society has a Vice-Principal in residence to whom the super
vision of the religious life of his flock is specially entrusted.

these two, one is chosen Principal and as such impartially

administers the joint interests of the Colony. Secondly, the

Of

CENTENARY VOLUME

86

Colony

co-educational.

is

Men and women

are trained in

and Sinhalese women, as well as men, teach

the^e classes*
This is as real a step forward as is the whole
hearted denominational federation, and is preparing the way
joint classes,

for

woman

to take her right place in the East.

There are two main departments, the normal training of

Sinhalese teachers for primary vernacular schools, and the
In the former there are about forty

training of evangelists.

men and
objective

is

amounted
Class

is

women. The course lasts three years and the

the Government Diploma.
Government grants

forty

The Evangelist
year to just over Rs. 7,000.
more irregular and so far no such class for women
last

has been started.

The staff comprises

The main policy of

three Europeans and seven Ceylonese.

the work is summed up by the motto

Victory through
self-sacrifice,
self-expression attained
through self-abnegation, Christ in me the hope of Glory. The
vitalizing force in the Colony is the half -hour spent corporately in silent prayer each morning.

From

this

observance

flows power that gives meaning to the rest of the day.

In many ways, by special services for seed-sowing and
harvesting, by a service of beating the bounds, by national

music and

art, by processions and illuminations, we seek to

enable religious faith to express itself in national forms and
the spontaneity of the expression makes one believe that the
springs are deep.
Apart from the daily half-hour of quiet,

when staff and students wait in

with
the
mind
upon God,
receptive for the impress of
the Divine.
The medical side of the work enables the idea
frequent times are taken

silence

of Social Service to

Aid

to be acquired.

be developed and the elements of FirstThe learning of pottery painting adds

another form of beautiful self-expression.

principles of agriculture

The elementary
which are taught send the men forth

the better able to deal with rural problems.

STAFF AND STUDENTS AT FRASER HALT.

MEN

HOSTEL (ASHLEY HALL) AND ESTATE

KANDV

87

games and mountaineering excursions develop the

body and open the mind to the glories of Nature.
Such in outline is the ideal. In conclusion a few facts may
Drill,

be of interest.

The Colony

is

on the

site

of the

Rosehill

Estate, Peradeniya Junction, and contains now about thirty

acres planted in tea and rubber. The buildings comprise
the Principal s Bungalow, the Women s Hostel (Laurie
Hall), the Men s Hostel (Ashley Hall), and the main teaching
school (Fraser Hall), the right wing of which is the Vice-

Principal

house.

There are also houses

for

the married

staff, a dispensary, and buildings for the Evangelist Depart

ments both men s and women s. The Colony was acquired

and opened in 1914. Work began in Laurie Hall

Ashley Hall in 1917, and in Fraser Hall in 1918.
capital cost has been over Rs.

125,000.

in 1916, in

The

total

CHAPTER

X.

JAFFNA.
in

JAFFNA,

inhabitants,

the extreme north, is a town of about 50,000

and the northern province, of which it is the

capital, contains a population of 330,000, nearly

are Tamils.

Jaffna

is

all of

whom

207 miles from Colombo, and, until the

1905, it seemed to be cut off from the

railway was opened in

rest of the island.
A large fort

still

stands which

was

built

by

the Portuguese in 1624, and the massive Church in the form

of a Greek cross, with the date 1706 over the main entrance,
testifies to the importance of Jaffna in the Dutch period.
Jaffna

and

is

supposed to have been founded

is

thus described

in

Casie

Chetty

in the

year A.D. 101

Tamil Plutarch
the Chola country.
:

Yalpana was a minstrel who lived in

Being blind, he depended on the earnings of his wife. One
day his meals were not ready at the proper hour, so he quar
relled with his wife and left the house
saying he was going to

When

Ceylon.

he arrived there, he was refused admittance

into the king s

presence, but it was afterwards arranged that

the king should stand behind a curtain and hear the blind

minstrel

him with

The king, being greatly pleased, honoured

song.
the gift of a tusked elephant, and
by the donation of

a piece of land in the northern

in

perpetuity.

of

It

Jaffna.

he had

it

extremity of the island

This was no other than the present peninsula

was then uninhabited and covered with jungle, but

Tamils from

cleared, and, having induced a colony of

Southern India to settle in it, soon rendered it a rich

country,
which he called after his own professional name

Yalpana

Nadu, that

is,

the minstrel

country.

89

JAFFNA

Yalpana has been corrupted into the modern name of Jaffna.

climate and scenery differ from those of the other parts of
tne island.
Agriculture is the main occupation of the people,

The

palmyra palms and tobacco being the chief products. The

C.M.S., the American Board of Foreign Missions, the
Wesleyans and the Roman Catholics, have all strong missions
in the district.

The

each religion to the

87-76,

proportion per cent, of the adherents of

total population in 1911 was, Hindus

Mohammedans

ll,

Buddhists

09,

and Christians

11-04.

The Rev.

first C.M.S. missionary,

and moved to Nellore in
November. As soon as he commenced work he met with
The people thought it necessary
difficulties and opposition.
to bathe themselves and purify their houses after the mission

arrived

in

Joseph Knight, the

Jaffna in

July, 1818,

ary s visit, and it was usual for the pundit to bathe at the
tank on his way home after giving a lesson at the Mission
House. The first printing press was set up by Mr. Knight,
and thousands of tracts were printed and distributed. The
extent of their distribution may be judged from the fact that
1,002,800 tracts were issued from the press in the years 18351838.
This printing press was afterwards sold to the
American Mission.

to

In 1820 there were 270 children in the schools, and much

was done. The Rev. and Mrs. Joseph Bailey arrived

visiting

March, 1822, but they were able to remain only twelve

months, during which time Mr. Bailey took the English
duties at the Dutch Church.

in

During this year Mr. Knight obtained from Government

an old Dutch Church with a piece of land, adjoining the
mission premises. Of this building, forty-two feet were taken
from one end, for
Mr. Knight married
dwelling house.
Mrs. S. B. Richards and after her death, Mrs. E. S. Nichols,
both widows of American missionaries. He died at Cotta
"a

CENTENARY VOLUME

90

and was buried there on October

11, 1840, aged fifty-three.

Comprehensive Tamil and
English Dictionary, published at Madras in 1862, it is stated
that
it
was commenced by the Rev. J. Knight, late of

In the preface

to

Winslow

Jaffna.

The Rev. W. Adley arrived in 1824 and continued till the

death of Mrs. Adley in 1839, when he left for England,
returning two years later, but being compelled owing to illwork in 1845. Mr. Adley died in
England in 1889, aged ninety-seven years. In September
1826, Mr. Adley baptized four young Tamil men, pupils in
the boarding school which had been established in Nellore in
health to relinquish his

He

1823.

Edward

wrote,

baptized the boys

the

in

Bickersteth, William Marsh, Jcsiah

names

of

Pratt and John

Raban, and afterwards described

to them the characters of

whose names they bore, with a solemn exhorta
tion that they would follow them as they followed Christ.
The same year was baptized Samuel who had been a

the persons

leader of devil worship, practised incantations, given offerings

cow to a temple, keeping it at

giving the priests the milk daily, and had
presented a silver sword and shield as an offering to St. James

to religious mendicants, given a

his

own house and

Roman

He became a most earnest

one evening as he was re
from a missionary meeting, being bitten
turning
by a
His father, a heathen, said,
poisonous snake.
Before,
he was a devil, but after he gave himself
up to Christ he

at a

Christian.

all

evil

Catholic Church.

He met

away.

his death

Shortly after his death

his

put
wife received

baptism. The Rev. F. W. Taylor joined the mission in 1839

and remained till 1841, when the Rev.
J. Talbot Johnston
arrived and stayed eight years.

The same year the district of

Chundicully was taken over.
The old Portuguese Church of St. John the
with its
Baptist,

congregation of ninety, had been handed over to the C.M.S.

by

JAFFNA

91

Rev. Christian David, who was a convert

Services were
of the missionary Schwartsz, in South India.
church
was erected
till
when
the
conducted in it
1862,
present
their old Pastor, the

and dedicated to St. John the Baptist.

The Rev. Robert Pargiter, who had come out as a
Wesleyan missionary and had left that body and been ordained
deacon in 1846 and priest in 1847 by Bishop Chapman, was
added to the missionary band
part of his time at Chundicully,

in

1846, spending the greater

his retirement to England

till

where he died in 1915, aged ninety-eight years. The

Rev. James O Neil arrived also in 1846 at Nellore. Mrs.
O Neil under whose care the Girls Boarding School, which
had been opened in 1842, had grown and prospered, died on
December 16, 1848, aged twenty-seven. A tablet to her
in 1864,

memory in Nellore Church says, After the short space of

two years and nine months, spent in mission labour, she
Mr. O Neil returned to England
exchanged earth for heaven.
in 1856.

In July, 1847, Dr.

Chapman, Bishop of Colombo, visited

when one hundred and thirteen candidates were con
firmed.
In 1849 Copay was adopted as a separate mission
district.
The Mission House and Church were built on a
piece of land given by Mr. P. A. Dyke, the Government
Agent of the Province. The foundation stone of the church
was laid on May 9, 1850, and the completed building opened
Jaffna,

At the opening
^"400.
were baptized. The Rev. Robert Bren
arrived at Copay in 1849 and returned to England in 1858.
The Copay Training Institution for catechists, readers and
teachers was opened in 1853.
In 1855 so much hypocrisy
and mercenary conduct appeared among the Christians in
Jaffna, that it was proposed to close the stations and abandon
the work, but a visit from Mr. Knight revived the spirits of
the missionaries, and the work took a fresh start from that
on January

9,

1852, costing about

service three adults

CENTENARY VOLUME

92
time.

The Rev.

ed the work

Buswell arrived

work owing

C. C.
his

till

to

in

MacArthur arrived

retirement

1867.

in

1859 and extend

The Rev. H. D.

but was obliged to relinquish the

In February, 1867, the
1865.

1862,

ill-health

in

in

Rev. Thomas Good came, just as the schools had been closed
and general work suspended in consequence of a visitation of
cholera, and in January of the following year the Rev. David

Wood

arrived.

In September, 1863, the chief catechist, Mr. J Hensman, was

ordained deacon by the Bishop of Colombo, and was made priest
two years later. The Rev. J. Hensman was a most energetic
.

and enthusiastic worker

were ordained deacons

Three other
his death in 1884.
Handy, G. Champion and E. Hoole

till

catechists, Messrs. T. P.

in 1865.

In 1868

when

the Jubilee

was celebrated, the statistics of the Mission

European missionaries, four Tamil clergy, ten

of the Mission

were, two

catechists, three readers, thirty-four schoolmasters, ten school

mistresses, one biblewoman, one colporteur, 677 Christians,

237 communicants, nineteen boys schools with 961 pupils

and seven

girls

schools with 397 girls.

the
following year, 8640 houses were visited by
the
and
636
pastors
gospel preached
meetings held,
catechists,
to no less than 36,864 persons and work commenced in the
A Church Council was
Islands of Mundativu and Allypitty.
\ 18-2-1.
formed and the amount contributed that year was

The

In September,

1870, the Bishop,

Dr.

Piers

Claughton,

and the following account of the visit is

the C. M. Record of January, 1871.
We are seldom

visited the Mission

given in
favoured with the visits of our Diocesan.

The way

of access

was discontinued, is sc
difficult and tedious that it requires no ordinary amount of
courage and patience, first to undertake, and afterwards to
endure the journey. It is almost as easy, and certainly more
pleasant, to go to England from Colombo, than to come from
to Jaffna,

since the island steamer

95

JAFFNA

to Jaffna.
Having received a telegram from
Mr. Templer of Manaar, that the Bishop had left there at 6 a.m.
for Jaffna, I drove to the beach at 3 p.m. to meet him, but in
consequence of light winds, or no wind at all, there was no

Colombo

appearance of the boat.

to Nellore.

Lordship

However

at 12

waited

I
I

o clock,

8.30 p.m., and returned

till

had the pleasure

midnight.

of

welcoming

his

The boat had grounded

several times, and, in consequence of the darkness and shallow

water, sailing in the large boat had become impossible, and
his lordship wisely hailed

a fishing

was engaged in his nightly

came safely to shore.

toil,

barrow,"

and

in

this

whose occupant
primitive craft

On September 7, the Bishop held his visitation in St. John s

Four Tamil clergy, three English
Church, Chundicully.
After this the
clergy and ten churchwardens were present.
Bishop visited the English Seminary, and in the afternoon a
confirmation service was held at Nellore when twenty-seven

Next morning the Bishop exami

candidates were presented.
ned the children of the schools of Chundicully under the

mahogany

trees,

and afterwards held a confirmation

in the

church when twenty-eight candidates were confirmed.

In

was held at Copay where thirty

candidates were presented, and the Bishop afterwards visited
the English School and Training Institution.
After sunset he
attended a moonlight meeting two miles from Copay, and at

the afternoon a confirmation

Nellore.
The following morning his
held
a
in
confirmation
the
lordship
temporary church in the
9

o clock returned to

Pettah, when twenty-seven persons were confirmed, and the

same afternoon laid the foundation stone of a church at

Kokuvil.

On

Saturday morning the Bishop visited the Girls Board

ing School after which he examined the three candidates for

priests orders, in the afternoon addressed the mission work
ers at Nellore,

and

in the

evening

laid

the foundation stone

CENTENARY VOLUME

94
of the

the

On Sunday morning

Pettah Church.

in the

Bishop preached

Pettah, and at

at 9

o clock,

11 o clock

con

at Nellore, preaching from the

ducted the ordination service
shouldest set in order the things
thou
That
1,5,"
Titus,
text
elders in every city."
The Revs.
that are wanting and ordain

Handy, Hoole and Champion were admitted to priests

and the Revs. T. Good, D. Wood and J. Hensman
There were 158 Tamil
assisted in the laying on of hands.
orders,

communicants. At four in the afternoon the Bishop preached

at the Portuguese service in the Pettah, and at 5.30 in St:
The following day the Bishop
John s Church, Chundicully.
Court
House at Pallai, twenty-five
the
held a confirmation in
miles from Jaffna.
In 1871 the Rev.

Wood removed

D.

to

Colombo

for a

time and Mr. Hensman took the oversight of the Copay

The following year, the missionary
Training Institution.
The dowry system and caste are still great evils
reports,

among

the Christians.

whom

he considers of

not allow his children

lower caste than his own, though everything else
of such an alliance.

Mission

work

was

will

man, professedly Christian,

marry those

to

commenced

this

year,

is

in

favour

1872,

in

Vavunia Valankullam, by the sending of a catechist and

schoolmaster.

The
June

Bishop,

Dr. Jermyn, paid his

of that year.

Much

evangelistic

first visit

to Jaffna in

work was carried on

by the Jaffna clergy and hundreds of Scripture portions

One woman

sold.

offered a quantity of thread for a gospel, another

of tobacco, whilst a cooly woman on an estate

begged her employer to pay a penny in advance out of her
An
hire for the day, and bought a scripture portion with it.
interesting series of meetings was held in connection with a
Lyrical
party of Christians from Tanjore, known as the

two leaves

Preachers, and blessing resulted.

JAFFNA

On December

95

1874, the Rev. J. D. Simmons, who had

fourteen
years in the Tinnevelly Mission,
previously been
Nellore.
Mr.
Wood returned to Jaffna in 1875,
arrived at
24,

1878 the Rev. E. Blackmore was stationed in Chundicully, taking the place of Mr. Wood who had been transferred

and
to

in

Colombo.
Mr. Blackmore died on October 24

of the following

year.

In 1878 there were thirty-eight schools for boys and fourteen

for sirls, with 2,152 boys and 420 girls, and three-fourths of
the four pastors stipends were paid by the Christians, of whom
there were 485 adults and 285 children.

In December, 1880, the Rev. G. T. Fleming arrived, and the

following year on July 17, the Rev. E. Hoole who had been a

and successful worker passed away in his fifty-second

Hoole s father was the founder and proprietor of a
Mr.
year.
dedicated
to the goddess Amman, one of the wives of
temple
Siva.
Every parental effort was directed towards the training
faithful

of

three sons

his

for

their

duties as

temple-masters.

The

greatest ambition was to see his elder son growing in

favour with the gods, but one day he received a great shock,
when he had left him in charge of the household gods with
strict injunctions as to the quantity of food and flowers to be
father

The boy prepared

offered.

the offerings and presented them

had not partaken

to the images, but after a time, seeing they

he expostulated, and threatened them. He then

He had
the gods to pieces.
once before seen an image of Pulliar, which had been sold for
seven shillings and sixpence by a Brahman to a missionary

of the food,

took a

hammer and smashed

who wanted

This had also

to send the idol to England.
In 1837 he was baptized and
helped to undermine his faith.
became a Wesleyan minister. The mind of the younger
brother was influenced by the example of the elder, and, re
his right to the temple, he openly professed

nouncing

Christianity and

was baptized by the name

of

Elijah Hoole.

CENTENARY VOLUME

95

to him
In Memoriani notice in one of the papers referred
with
few
a speaker
as a model pastor, profound scholar and
on
died
true
helpmate
Mrs. Hoole who had been a
equals.
August 26, 1906, in her seventieth year.
The Rev. E. M. Griffith was transferred to Jaffna in

An

In 1884 the Rev.

February, 1882.
1885, the Rev.

men.

The

J.

Hensman, and

in

May,

faithful and good

J. P. Handy, died, both
were ordained in
Backus
and
Niles
Revs. J.
J.

1885.

during the month of March, Colonel Oldham and

C. Grubb conducted a Mission in Jaffna, when
G.
Rev.
the
there were direct conversions, a great awakening among
professing Christians and a great spiritual refreshing.
In 1888

On

October

15, 1889, the

foundation stone of the church at

which was opened on November 30, 1895,

and dedicated to St. Andrew.
On March 13, 1890, the Rev. E. M. Griffith died and the
Pallai

was

laid,

Rev. J.I. Pickford was appointed to succeed him.

On March 24, 1892, the Rev. J. Niles died.
realized

more

fully

than he did

the

Few

responsibilities

have
of the

The people and district committed to his

pastor s office.
charge were always uppermost in his thoughts.
The Nellore Girls Boarding School continued to flourish
was necessary to erect additional
Copay had a hundred
pupils, the fees and government grant meeting all expenses.
On Sunday, December 31, 1893, an ordination was held
entirely in Tamil in Christ Church, when the Revs. G. Daniel,
A. Matthias, S. Morse and C. T. Williams were admitted to
deacons orders. A confirmation was held the same day at
Nellore when thirty-two candidates were confirmed.
Four women missionaries, Misses Heaney, Saul, Paul
and Case were appointed to the district about this time. On
and with 101 pupils

it

buildings, whilst the English school at

January

15, 1896, a

Girls English

High School was opened

97

JAFFNA
at Chundiculiy

during

the

first

under the management of Mrs. J. Carter and

year there were thirty-nine pupils. Miss

Spreat assisted in the school for a few months but returned to

England and died there. Miss Goodchild became Principal in

1898 and Mrs. Carter, the founder, whose ability, earnest zeal
and loving sympathy had won all hearts, died at Jaffna on
June 8, 1899. Seventy-three girls were now in the school and
Miss Payne arrived to assist. Eleven of the pupils were
confirmed the following year. At the first government exami
forty-two girls out of the forty-six presented passed.
In September 1904, Miss Goodchild went on furlough and her
place was taken by Miss S. L. Page who had been helping in

nation,

work since May. Two Sivite pupils were baptized that

year and there were 120 pupils, including fifty-three boarders.
A Christian Endeavour Society and a monthly consecration

the

meeting were started. Four years later there were 150 pupils,
and new schoolrooms and dormitories were erected. Miss
.Whitney acted as Principal until Miss Page returned from
In 1914 there were 214 pupils,
furlough in December 1910.
about half of whom were boarders. The government grant
earned

was

examination.

six

times as

Six

Senior Cambridge

much

as that earned at

the

first

passed the Junior and three the

Locals.
Fifteen girls were confirmed.
girls

On

October 13, 1915, Bishop Copleston opened the new

Kindergarten room, which had cost Rs. 2,100, the government
The school was also
contributing Rs. 600 of the amount.
registered under the

and

new government

regulations as

efficient

entitled to receive a block grant yearly.

In 1896 a church

was

built at Pallai at a cost of Rs.

1,000.

Backus, a catechist, who was afterwards

ordained in 1885, had been sent to the district, his instructions
from the missionaries being, Travel east and west, north and
south, exercise your own discretion prayerfully and fix upon a
In 1863 Mr. John

centre.

He made
7

Pallai his head-quarters, putting

up a

hut,

CENTENARY VOLUME

98

feet by twelve, one half of which served as a school

room, and the other half as a bed and dining room. Sir
William Twynam gave a piece of land, and soon a better

twenty

and house were

school

energetic

work

till

built.

Mr. Backus continued

his

1903, during which time the church and

eleven schools were opened.

In May, 1897, the Rev. Hugh Horsley took charge of the
There were at that time seven ordained
district work.
pastors,

three

women

missionaries,

fifteen

catechists

and

readers, seven bible women, 1,423 Christians, 637 communi

Mr. Horsley
cants, sixty-seven schools and 3,234 scholars.
If we may judge by the atten
report for the year says,
at church and at the Holy Table, the spiritual life is
certainly up to the average of that in England.
Family
in his

dance

prayer

is

the order of the day in

interest has been

shown

in the

many

houses.

restoration of

Considerable

some

of

the

churches.

schoolmaster and catechist of

many

years standing, Mr.

He

and his brother being con

verted about the same time, vindicated their strong convic
C. Bartlett, died this year.

tion of the truth of Christianity,

by demolishing the heathen

garden and was conducted under the
management of their parents. They were the means also of
leading their father, brother, and sisters, to Christ.
The

temple that was

in their

secretary of the Nellore Church Committee, Mr. Alexander

At his funeral, Sir William Twynam
Bailey, died this year.

a former Government Agent of the Province, a friend and

staunch supporter of mission work, said
He was always a
steady man and reliable.
The Nellore Girls Boarding School under Mrs. and Miss
Horsley continued to be a bright spot.
One of the girls

gave

rupee to the church fund, saying that she had worked

during the holidays at plaiting coconut leaves and had
brought her earnings. The Rev. G. Daniel mentions
an
a

99

JAFFNA

woman who had

heard the Gospel for twenty-eight

last
and
had
at
yielded herself to the power of the Word
years,
The Rev. J. Backus mentions the death of an old
of God.
the Bishop s good old
Christian, who was well known as
man.
He was baptized late in life and at the confirmation
service he was so ready with his answers to certain questions
put by the Bishop, that the Bishop s curiosity was aroused,
and he asked Who is that good old man, who was so ready
with his answers ?
Although he lived four miles from the
nearest church, he was always among the first at the

aged

services.

In 1901 a church was erected in the heart of the

at

Vavunia,

Matthias.

name

The

Wanni

superintendence of the Rev. A.

same year, Mr. Charles Wadsworth, whose

under

the

be long remembered with affection and esteem,

especially at Copay, where he worked for forty years as Head
master of the Training Institution, was called to his rest. A
large hall was built at Copay as a memorial to him and is
will

known

as

tion stone

Wadsworth Memorial

the

was

laid

The founda

Hall.

by the Bishop and, on July

1912, the

10,

Hall was opened by him.

Miss E. G. Beeching, who had previously worked

N.-W. America Mission, arrived at Copay

February, 1902, Mr. Horsley was obliged

in

the

this

year.

In

to

return

to

and the Rev. J.I. Pickford

filled the gap, until the appointment of Rev. W. J. Hanan
in August.
The Rev. G. Champion also retired from active

England owing

to failure of health,

service.

The
work

following year the Rev. C. T. Williams

left

Copay

to

Anuradhapura, and the Rev. A. Matthias succeeded

him. Mr. Matthias had spent thirty-one years in Vavunia.
When he first went there, there were no Christians, schools
nor church
when he left, there were seventy Christians,
three schools and a church which was designed by him and
at

CENTENARY VOLUME

100

under his superintendence, partly with his own hands,

Mrs. Hanan was now in charge of the Nellore Boarding
Miss Case reports that in
School with ninety-two pupils.
biblewomen
1903 the
paid 7,536 visits to houses and read

built

the Bible, and taught twenty-two

women

to read.

In August, 1905, Mr. Hanan went on furlough, Mr. Pickford

took charge of the district and Miss A. T. Board of the
Boarding School. The Rev. A. Matthias commenced branches
of the Gleaners Union and the Y. M. C. A. in his pastorate,
and Mr. Backus, who was now at Nellore, mentions sewing
classes, prayer meetings, moonlight services and Sunday
The Rev.
schools as being vigorously worked in his parish.

D. Sattianadhan was ordained priest on Trinity Sunday,

1906, and the same year Miss E. S. Young took charge of
Mr. and Mrs. Hanan returned in 1907,
the women s work.
J.

and the

foundation stone

Tanniuttu, a village
the Bishop in 1913.

in

the

of a new church was laid at

Wanni, which was dedicated by

The Jaffna Missionary z\ssociation at this time was main

taining four workers in out-of-the-way places, the President
of the Association being Mr. James Hensman, a son of the
first

In

Tamil ordained
1909 Mr.

for

C.M.S. work

Hanan moved

to

in Jaffna.

Copay

in order better to

Training Institution, Miss Young went to

Nellore, and Miss Henrys arrived to superintend the Boarding
The Rev. S. Morse died on September 8, after forty
School.

c
supervi e

the

years work, the Rev. T. D. Sattianadhan was transferred to

Tamil Cooly Mission, and Mr. S. Somasundaram was

ordained to the diaconate on June 29, at Nellore.
The Rev.

the

G. T. Weston arrived to assist Mr. Hanan, and Mr. N. G.

Nathaniel was ordained.

The

following year, 1910, the Rev. George Champion died.

one of the oldest Tamil Christians in Ceylon, having
been born on October 1, 1824. In 1844 he became a teacher

He was

101

JAFFNA

was ordained deacon, and in 1870 admitted

For twenty-five years he was in charge of
His record was one
Kokuvil, where he built the church.

at Copay, in 1865
to priests

orders.

of fifty-eight years of active service for the Master.

Mr. Backus

in his

annual report of this year, mentions a

sad case of apostasy of a mother and her three sons and three
daughters, who openly denied Christ on Good Friday in a

heathen temple. The mother many years before had become

a Christian in order to be married, and apostatised in order
to marry her daughters to heathen men.

The Rev. Jacob Thompson had charge

District throughout

1911 until the Rev.

of

W.

J.

the

Jaffna

Hanan

re

Miss Whitney towards the close of the

year took charge of the Nellore school. About this time
work was begun at Mankulam, a large convict settlement in
turned in

May

1912.

the Wanni.

In 1913 the district had three superintending missionaries,

namely, from January to March, the Rev. W. J. Hanan, from
April to September, the Rev. J. Ilsley, and from September

25 to the end of the year, the Rev. A. E. Dibben.

It was decided this year to withdraw the European mis
sionary and to hand over the greater part of the pastoral,
evangelistic, and vernacular educational work to the various

committees of the Tamil Churches.

In the Chundicully Pastorate, which includes work in the
Mandaitivu, the Incumbent was the Rev. S. S.

Island of

Somasundaram. The Christians numbered 541, communicants

246 and vernacular schools nine.
The Nellore-Kokuvil
Pastorate was in charge of the Rev. J. Backus. The Christians
numbered 359, communicants 197, and vernacular schools 17
with 1,288 children.

On

July 15, 1913, Mr.

of service in connection

ciated at the

Backus celebrated
with the C.M.S.

his

fiftieth

The Bishop

Holy Communion, and eighty-two

year
offi

friends of the

CENTENARY VOLUME

102

There was a
of the Sacrament with him.
pastor partook
followed
in
the
by a social
Service
afternoon,
Thanksgiving
gathering at Which Sir William Twynam presided.
In 1915 the Rev. A. Matthias retired from the Incumbency

Copay Pastorate, and in his last report says, The

number 374, communicants 161 and vernacular

of the

Christians

schools

with

thirteen

Christian Union

The Fev.
retirement

The

starting

of

Williams was appointed pastor on the

thus returning to the scene

T.

C.

of

919 scholars.

greatly helped the congregation.

Mr.

Matthias,

At the beginning of the year

labours.
M. Tisdall took charge of the Nellore Boarding
School receiving valuable help from Miss Findlay who
There were
volunteered to accompany her to Jaffna.
former

his

of

Miss A.

then

ninety-four

seven

belonged

pupils
to

the industrial class.

two

attending

the

school,

of

whom

and seventeen to
Sixty-two were Christians and thirtythe

training

class

Sivites.

The

chief event in

was the amalgamation

teachers.

the year

1916, in the Jaffna mission,

of the Training Schools for

vernacular
Hitherto each of the three Protestant Missions

had a training school of its own, the results from each being
poor, yet each Mission was reluctant to give up its own
school.
The question reached a climax when the Govern

ment proposed

to establish a well-equipped training school

on

secular lines, which

would have ruined all three. It was then

decided to amalgamate, and the Government agreeing that
this should be done at the C.M.S.
training school at Copay,
necessary buildings and equipment were procured.
It is
believed that this combination will result in increased

effici

ency and economy, and at the same time form an outward

and visible sign of the inward and spiritual unity which binds

As a part of the
together the Missions of North Ceylon.
scheme sanctioned by Government, Hindu students also are

103

JAFFNA

admitted to a share in the secular parts of the teaching, but

they are housed in a separate hostel of their own quite apart

from the mission compound.

ST.

JOHN

COLLEGE.

1823, an

English Seminary for the higher

education of Tamil youths was opened at Nellore by the Rev*
J. Knight and in 1825 was in charge of the Rev. W. Adley.
The primary aim of the school was to bring forward agents
for mission work.
It had, on an average, thirty boys, select
In the

year

ed from

the

educated

free.

day schools, who were boarded, clothed and

The pupils were required to attend public

worship and other religious services, the Bible was made the
most prominent subject of study, and a good secular educa
tion

was

in
its

also given.

the seminary was removed to Chundicully and

1851 as a boarding establishment it was abolished.
From
foundation to its close, upwards of two hundred lads

In

1841

passed through the regular course, and seventy became con

From 1851 it was called the Chundi
verts to Christianity.
cully Seminary, and carried on without a boarding depart
ment, the pupils paying fees from one shilling to eight shillings
A government grant-in-aid was received until
a quarter.
because
of the introduction of restrictions upon
1862, when,

The school
Scriptural teaching, the grant was relinquished.
six
and
the
first
of
these
into
was for
was divided
classes,
boys preparing for Matriculation in the Madras University,
which the school was affiliated. In 1867 the only two
Jaffna youths who were successful in this examination were

to

pupils

of the

school.

About

this

time the pupils numbered

230.

One day

a Brahmin brought his son to be admitted.

teach the Bible and I .shall

We

Principal said to him,

a Christian of him if I can.

The Brahmin

replied,

The
make
know

CENTENARY VOLUME

104
it,

his

the Bible precepts are good for a son to learn, and as to

it is
becoming a Christian, the Christian religion is good
;

Hinduism. If he wishes to become a Christian,

he may, but I would rather he did not, at least before I die.
The headmasters up to this date had been Mr. W. Santiagoe,
1841-48, Mr. J. Phillips, 1848-53, and Mr. R. Williams,
better than

1853-66.
In a
Retrospect of the Past, written fifty years after by
an old boy, Mr. F. R. Bartholomeusz, we read, The working
of the Chundicully school was under the immediate eye of

Mr. Robert Williams. His sternness was dreaded, but with

a stout heart he possessed a winsome mind, tact, and ability.
The Rev. R. Pargiter took charge of the school in 1846,
built the old hall in

number

1861 and

retired

of Ceylon, Sir
the even tenor of

way

its

and

in

In 1872 the

in 1866.

was 220 and the following

W. H. Gregory, visited the

of pupils

year, the Governor

school.

1885 the

It

pursued

Principal, the

Rev. G. T. Fleming, gave an encouraging report, showing that

had done well in scholastic work, and was the means of

it

spiritual profit to

many

the Headmaster, Mr.

The
who
was
an
Ewarts,

of the scholars.

J.

following year
able man and

an earnest Christian, passed away.

During the Michaelmas
vacation about a dozen of the elder students, members of the
Y.M.C.A., made an evangelistic tour in Mundativu, a large
island

in

the lagoon.

The year 1891 was the Jubilee of the school and to mark
the event the new name of St. John s College was given to
the old Chundicully Seminary, the Rev. J. W. Fall being
The same year, three students passed
Principal at the time.
the Calcutta Entrance examination and three the Cambridge

The Headmaster, the Rev. C. C. Handy, a son of

J. P. Handy of Nellore, was ordained in May.
The number of boarders increased from nine to forty, and
Local.

the late Rev.

an annexure

was

built

to

accommodate more.

In

1894

CRICKET_TEAM,

ST.

JOHN

SCIENCE LABORATORY, ST.

JOHN

COLLEGE, JAFFNA

COLLEGE, JAFFNA

105

JAFFNA
Mr. .Godwin Arulpragasam,

who had

served

the

College

faithfully for fifteen years, died.

In

1895 the Rev.

J.

Carter, the Principal writes,

Chundicully Seminary and as

has done good work in Jaffna.
had risen to 397, with a staff of

Both as

John s College, this school

In 1899 the number of pupils
fifteen Tamil masters assisting
the Principal, the Rev. R. W. Ryde, who had arrived in
August and continued till July, 1900, when he was succeeded
by the Rev. Jacob Thompson.
When I took
Mr. Thompson a few months later writes,
charge, the College buildings were still in a state of pictures
que ruin, while the walls of the boarding house were support
ed only by the rafters that had fallen from the roof of the other
The students were being taught, some on the narrow
building.
verandah of the boarding house, some in the vestry of the
church, others in the village girls school, and even the shade
of a large tree had been utilized.
By October of the follow
St.

new boarding house, a new hall with class-rooms

library, and a new dining hall had been built, and many
other improvements effected.
Above Rs. 10,000 were spent
on the buildings. The Government Inspector of Schools for
ing year, a

and

I have just been

looking round the
which
are
now
not
buildings,
complete,
only externally
In accommodation and furnishing they are
but internally.
models of taste, tidiness and comfort. The influence of
beautiful surroundings, apart from positive training, will, I

the

province reported

new

feel certain, tend to raise the tone of the school.

In addition to the College, Mr.

Thompson was

responsible

Copay, with 150 boys (which

was enlarged in 1903) and the Chaplaincy of Christ Church
in the Pettah.
Mr. Thompson went on furlough in Septem
ber, 1904, and the Rev. W. J. Hanan took charge till August
of the following year, when he handed over to the Rev. J. I.
Mr. Thompson returned at the end of the year,
Pickford.

for a branch English school at

CENTENARY VOLUME

106

and

1906 there were 539 scholars

in

in

the college

and

school.

Three men volunteered

for training for Orders,

one of these

the son of the proprietor of one of the most popular temples.

He had sacrificed his influential position in order to become a

Christian and after taking his degree at Calcutta had been a

master at the College. The government grant for the two
schools had steadily increased from Rs. 1,300, in 1900, to

Rs. 4,600 in 1907.

following year the College lost by death the services
who for nineteen years had worked

The
of the

Rev. C. C. Handy,

with manifest unselfishness for the good of the students and

During Mr. Handy s illness the Rev. and Mrs,

A. M. Walmsley gave assistance in the College, and Mr.
T. H. Crossette was appointed headmaster.
Twenty-two boys passed the Cambridge Locals, one of

people.

whom

This b
Mr. Phillips who sixty years before was-

obtained honours, with distinction in Logic.

was a grandson
headmaster

of

>y

of the school.

In 1909 the premises were further enlarged by an addition

to the playground, the gift of the Old Boys Association, in

Handy. The Senior Mathematical

Somasundaram, was also ordained this year.
The number of pupils had now reached 600.
During 1910 the Rev. Jacob Thompson was absent from
Ceylon for eight months, during which time the College was
under the management of a Tamil, Mr. T. H. Crossette, and
the number of students and the discipline were fully maintained.

memory

of the Rev. C. C.

master, Mr.

S. S.

On

June

was

laid, the entire cost of

21,

given by Dr.

1911,

J.

M.

the foundation

stone of

March, 1913, the library was opened by Mrs.

The

new

library

J.

M. Handy.

College was being carried on

under the auspices of the College Y.M.C.A., Prayer

religious

quietly

work

erecting and furnishing having been

Handy, in memory of his brother. In
of

the

107

JAFFNA

were conducted every Tuesday, Bible classes on

Sunday mornings, Gospel meetings on Saturdays, and a Bible
A Scripture Union with ninetyclass on Sunday afternoons.
Union
six members had been started and a Communicants
meetings

met monthly.
In 1914 the Vice- Principal visited Singapore and Kuala
Lumpur, and collected from the Tamil settlers about Rs. 9,000,

with which a large hall and four airy class rooms were erected.
The College was also re-organized into distinct schools, one
providing a sound commercial education, and the other an,
The staff was
education preparatory to University work.
considerably strengthened and a laboratory added.
In 1915 the Director of Education recognized the uniformly
excellent results of the Junior School by granting a

first

class

Mr. Williams, the headmaster.

In 1916
there were over a thousand boys on the rolls of
St. John s College and its branches, Copai, Urumparai and
Kaithady, with fifty-five masters and one hundred and thirty

certificate to

boarders.

CHAPTER XL
BADDEGAMA.
THE

and Mrs. Robert Mayor landed at Galle on

kindness by the
1818, and were received with great
Mr. Mayor
Glenie.
after,
S.
M.
Shortly
Rev.
the
J.

Rev.

June

29,

chaplain,

writes to the C.M.S.,

It is

not their

readiness

to

welcome

to
the
Gospel which must be your inducement
of
need
instruction,
their
but
great
more
labourers,
send out
and the
duty of a Christian nation to communicate
light of the

positive

the

knowledge

of the

have free access

Christianity
their

are not deeply

children

intellect

only

Saviour to

to the people,

and

rooted

taught to read,

all its

We

subjects.

their prejudices

against

they are willing to have

and these children have an

capable of the highest cultivation.

October 20, Mr. Mayor visited several villages on the

banks of the Gindara river by boat. At Telikada, six miles
from Galle, the government schoolmaster with his scholars and
the headmen, drew up in line and saluted him with three

On

cheers.

The next

place visited

was Baddegama, twelve miles from

where he was met by the Mudaliyar, the chief govern

ment officer, and the Government School boys. Mr. Mayor
Galle,

writes,

The

situation

of

Baddegama appears

to

be exceed

The
a missionary.
ingly
Buddhists.
are
really
people, though nominally Christians,
The Mudaliyar is desirous that I should reside there, and offers
convenient for the

residence

of

to raise a subscription for the erection of a

Church and School.

The Archdeacon would, I believe, very much approve

residing among the natives.

of

my

BADUEGAMA

109

The next

day, Mr. Mayor proceeded up the river to Mapaabout 800 people met him, and out of this
where
lagama,
number there were only ten who had riot been baptized. Mr.
Mayor again writes, The Dutch have done much injury to the
cause of Christianity by disqualifying all persons from in
heriting property

who have not been

of this law, every one,

is

of

In consequence
baptized.
whether he worships Buddha or the devil,

eager to be baptized.

Nagoda

On

his return journey, the

offered to build a school within six

headmen

days and

fill it

At Baddegama he again preached to about

150 people, on our Lord s feeding the five thousand.

with children.

On

return to Galle, after consultation with the other

and with the approbation of Government, Mr.
decided to settle in Baddegama.
Accordingly on

his

missionaries

Mayor

August 14, 1819, he took up his abode in a small house in

Baddegama. Government gave a free grant of land and a
The name
substantial house was finished in November.
Bat denna
Baddegama is derived from the Sinhalese

gamma, or rice supplying village. It is recorded that the

monks of Totagamuwa temple subsisted on the rice which was
supplied from this village by o der of the Sinhalese kings.
About the year A.D. 1240 a bridge of 120 cubits span was
in existence over the river at Baddegama, the same having

been constructed by the minister Patiraja Deva, who was

appointed Governor over the Southern provinces by King
Parakrama II. The bridge was to connect the road from

Near to Elpitiya
to Baddegama via
Elpitiya.
ancient
Sinhalese Gram
the
and
founded
a
Patiraja
college,
and
the locality is
written
was
there,
mar, Sidathsangarawa,
Bentota

known by the name of Patiraja Kanda.

The hill on which the mission house was

still

built

was named

presents a delightful prospect of a winding

a
fruitful
valley, well -watered fields and distant mount
river,
A large school-room of stone was next built, capable of
ains.

Church

Hill.

It

CENTENARY VOLUME

HO
holding 250

and was used

people,

for public

worship

till

the

church was built. Mr. Glenie having removed to Colombo,

the Lieutenant Governor asked Mr. Mayor to undertake duty
at Galle until another chaplain could be provided.
On October 26, 1819, the Rev. Benjamin Ward, on account
of

moved from

ill-health,

preached his

first

Calpentyn

sermon

Baddegama, and
months after

to

Sinhalese,

in

ten

arrival.

On February
was

laid

Don

by

Mudaliyar
people.

14, 1821, the

chief

headman

Abeysinghe, Guard
concourse of

Dias

of a great

the presence

of Galle, in

The

foundation stone of the church

Abraham

of the district,

who had

ly sent a donation of fifty-six dollars, was

Sir Robert
2Q.
collection amounted to

previous
present and the
Brownrigg, the

Governor, expressed his approbation by a public grant and a

The Revs. Mayor, Ward and Glenie
private donation.
Rice and curry were provided for all
addressed the people.

who chose to partake and 350 children were feasted.

The difficulty of erecting the church may be judged from
gunpowder were required

the fact that 700 Ibs. of

rock for the foundation.

The church

is

to blast the

a substantial

stone

by forty-three, with a square tower.

supported by twelve round iron-wood pillars, thirty

building, eighty-four feet

The
feet

roof

is

high, each

of a single tree.

cut out

Most

of

the

wood

used was either iron- wood or teak. A deep verandah surrounds

Before the workmen commenced each morning,
the church.
they assembled under a shed, and one of the missionaries

and gave a short address. The church was

on
March
In the large
11, 1824, by the Archdeacon.
opened
were
the
chief
congregation
government officials, and Sir

offered a prayer

Richard Ottley, the Chief Justice, who presented the

Commun

ion plate.

Mr. Mayor
a monument

writes,
to

The Church

future

ages

of

I
doubt not,
day when the Sun of

will remain,

the

BADDEGAMA

HI

It is the first
Righteousness first rose upon this village.
church which has ever been erected in the interior for the sole

benefit of the Sinhalese.

Before commencing the building of the church, Mr. Mayor

ot the garrison duty at Galle.
The mis
sionaries had also undertaken the superintendence of
forty

asked to be relieved

government schools in the Galle and Matara districts. Mr.

Ward writes, These schools will give us access to many
thousand natives; they will increase our influence, and will
afford us opportunities of preaching the Gospel.
Mr. Mayor, at one time when there was
in

officer

no medical
important functions of that

Galle, discharged the

po-r.

The
large

following extract from Mr. Mayor s diary is interesting :

Left for Belligama. Here preached to a
6, 1822
concourse.
Seventy children present, twelve of whom

read

the

August

New

Testament.

Went

Catechism.

Fifty

to Denipittya

boys repeated their

and married twenty-three

couples.

August
<l

fall of

Proceeded to Mirisse and preached upon the

Married four couples.

man."

August 8 Visited the Matara School after preaching

examined scholars. Married thirty-eight couples. Then on
to Kottecagodde, where I preached and married eleven
;

couples.

Ward
On

Mr.

gives the following instance of the influence of

Sunday, many came to have their banns of

marriage published. By virtue of a late regulation of govern
ment, low-caste women are authorized to wear jackets a

caste.

privilege,

Three

which the system of caste had hitherto denied them.

women appeared in the congregation, each

of these

a white cloth jacket.

When I entered the
perceived the school-girls and other women in the
utmost confusion, apparently resolved not to take their seats.

decently clothed in

church,

CENTENARY VOLUME

112

Some
much

of

them went

oat.

The

three

women who had

given so
I ex

offence sat at the opposite end of the building.

on the impropriety of their

postulated with the congregation
conduct, explained to them the nature and tendency of our
religion,

and reasoned with them upon the childishness of

taking offence at others, for wearing the

as themselves.

same kind

of clothing

There exists prejudice even be

Mr. Ward also writes,
tween individuals of the same caste, and these expect a distinc
We have hitherto found it necessary not to
tion in seats.
indulge

bench

them with an elevated

is

seat,

but with a distinct one.

one

placed either in the front or on

side,

on which

headmen and higher families sit. The Mudaliyar is yet

more distinguished by sitting on a chair.
The missionaries resolutely set their faces against the pre
the

Baptism, which had

name, and Mr. Ward

valent abuse of the sacred ordinance of

led to the degradation of the Christian

The country is full of baptized persons, who worship

Buddha and the devil. We have resolved to baptize the
children of only those persons who attend the public worship
Seven schools were commenced with an
of the true God.
writes,

average attendance of 159 scholars. A school for girls was

commenced in the verandah of the mission house, conducted
by Mrs. Mayor, who writes The average number of girls is
They sit on mats, and are taught to read and sew.
forty.

To encourage
portion of Scripture is read and explained.
to attend regularly, we give them clothes twice a

them

year.

Experience taught the missionaries

success

with

caution.

In

the

to

case

view appearances of
of

many apparently
genuine seekers after truth, the hope of worldly honour and
emolument appears to have been the real inducement. The
missionaries received the following letter from the
Secretary
of the C.M.S., brother-in-law of Mr. Mavor
:

BADDEGAMA
C.

115

M. HOUSE, LONDON,
July

We anticipate

much

19, 1824.

blessing on your work, because the

Lord has so completely shown you your own helplessness,

and is leading you to look more simply to His sufficiency.
He will never disappoint those who trust in Him. We
rejoice to see your zealous

exertions in preaching the word.

You probably
against the enemy.

your grand weipon

somewhat under-rate education, but you do not under-rate
preaching to the adults, and we pray God that there may be

It is

such a manifest blessing on your labours, as may be a great

encouragement to your brethren everywhere. Go on in the
strength of the Lord.
rejoice in your labours, and sym

We

You are our joy and comfort, and

the
Divine
be
may
Spirit
poured out more and more upon
and
and
the
Lord Jesus be constantly magni
your work,
you

pathize in

your sorrows.

fied in you.

E.

The church was

consecrated by Bishop Reginald Heber

of the occasion of his visit to

is

BlCKERSTETH.

an extract from the Bishop

Ceylon

The

in 1825.

following

Indian Journal
Long before day-break
s

we were on
September 24, 1825.
way to Baddegama. At Amlangoda we breakfasted, and
at Kennery left the mam road, and wound through very
narrow paths and over broken bridges, till we had arrived at
the river which we had first crossed on leaving Galle, but
some miles higher up.
our

The
end

of

country then improved into great beauty, and at the

about two miles we came within sight of a church on

summit of a hill, with the house of one of the missionaries,

Mr. Mayor, immediately adjoining it, and that of Mr. Ward
on another eminence close to it, forming altogether a land

the

scape of singular and interesting beauty.

We

ascended by

CENTENARY VOLUME
where we found the families of the
two missionaries and some of our friends from Galle, awaiting
our arrival. At the foot of this hill, the river we had recently
a steep road to Mr. Mayor

of a richly
crossed winds through what has the appearance
above the
one
rise
around
mountains,
dressed lawn, while all

was the church, a very pretty building.

Here we found
was
The whole scene
peculiarly interesting.
and
wives
their
children,
separated
with
two very young men,
of
miles
impass
country,
many
from all European society by
even
to
devoting
in
two
palanquins,
directions,
able, save
themselves entirely to the service of their Maker, in spreading
other.

On

our right

His religion among the heathen and

families.

The two

families, indeed,

in the

seem

education of their
to

form but one

household living together in Christian fellowship, and with no

other object but to serve God, and do their duty to their
I have seldom been more gratified, I may say,
neighbour.
affected.

Mr. Mayor who

is

son to our neighbour at Shaw-

bury (Rev. John Mayor) was originally brought up in the

medical line, his surgical and medical knowledge are invalu
able to himself and his neighbours and even during the short
time we were his guests, we found their use in a sudden attack

our

little girl

had, brought on by fatigue and over-exertion.

the church and afterwards the

The Bishop consecrated

burial ground on the

morning of September

25.

Almost

all

the European residents from Galle and a great number of

The
natives were assembled to witness the ceremony.

Bishop preached from Genesis

xxviii.

16 and 17 and in the

afternoon confirmed thirteen persons, all of whom, save three,

were Sinhalese. In the evening the Bishop examined some
of the scholars.

September 26, 1825. We left Baddegama in palanquins

and made our way along the banks of the river, which was
too much swollen by recent heavy rains to admit of our going
in boats.
Indeed, the track was in some parts covered with

CHRIST CHURCH, BADDEGAMA, CONSECRATED BY

BISHOP HEBEK IN IS25

BADDEGAMA
water so deep that it nearly entered
very fatiguing to the poor bearers.
arrived at Galle.

The Bishop,

115

my
In

palanquin and was

the afternoon we

writing to his mother on the following day

There are also some very meritorious mis

from Galle, says,

One of them, Mr. Mayor, together

with another Shropshire man, Mr. Ward, has got together a
sionaries in the Island.

very respectable congregation of natives as well as a large

He has also built a pretty church, which I conse
crated last Sunday, in one of the wildest and most beautiful

school.

situations

ever saw.

Rev. J. Mayor, Vicar of Shawbury, Bishop

Heber says Mrs. Heber and I had the pleasure of passing
the best part of three days with Mr. and Mrs. Mayor, in their
romantic home at Baddegama, where we also found his

Writing

to the

Mr. Ward, with his wife and family,

in perfect
are active, zealous,
well-informed and orderly clergymen, devoted to the instruc
tion and help of their heathen neighbours, both enjoying a
favourable report, I think I may say without exception, from

colleague

health and contented cheerfulness.

They

the Governor, public functionaries, and in general, from all

the English in the colony whom I have heard speak of them.

Bishop Heber received his home

Trichinopoly, in South India.

Owing

to failing health Messrs.

England
April, 1828.
their work was issued
in

morning

service

seventy adults.

is

The

call

on April

3,

Mayor and Ward

Before they

left,

1826, at
left

for

a joint report of

in which they say,

The Sunday
attended by about 100 children and
Litany is used in the native tongue.

In the evening, prayers are read in English and an exposition

interpreted into Sinhalese.

A
this

stone tablet in the church has the following inscription

In memory of the Rev. Robert Mayor, the founder of
station, and by whose exertions this Church was built
:

CENTENARY VOLUME

116

after nearly ten years of faithful labour in this country

by the loss of his health to return to England

who

was compelled
where he afterwards became successively Rector of Coppenof Chester, at which
stall and Vicar of Acton in the county
last

on the 14th of July 1846,

place he died in perfect peace
in
His friends
Ceylon have erected this tablet

aged

fifty-five.

as a tribute of their affectionate

remembrance

of his character

and labour.
The Rev. George Conybeare Trimnell and Mrs. Trimnell
took charge in September 1826 and soon afterwards the Rev.
were associated with
George Steers Faught and Mrs. Faught
first
adult convert from
the
them. On Easter Sunday, 1830,
in the district was
the
C.M.S.
with
Buddhism in connection
the
baptized, receiving

name

of

Edward

Bickersteth.

The schools are in a

In 1833 Mr. Trimnell reports,
an attendance of 115.
school
the
having
girls
flourishing state,
were unlettered,
a
few
ago,
years
Where all or nearly all,

now many who can read where there was nothing

a few Buddhist books or foolish songs written on
but
to read
a
of
tree, there are now hundreds of printed copies of
the leaf
there ard

the

word

of

God

where there was no sound of the Gospel

it

certainly preached and there are hundreds who hear it

Thus far all is well, but we who cannot
s day.
Lord
every
be satisfied with a change in externals, or without an evidence

now

is

of

spiritual

things

much

life

among

the people, and

who have

seen

almost in their present state for years, are often

He adds as a chief cause of sorrow
discouraged.

there

is

scarcely

any evidence of any one being

really

converted.

the return to England of Mr. and Mrs. Faught in 1836,

the Rev. J. Selkirk took charge until the return of Mr. Trim
Mr. Selkirk again took up the work after Mr. Trimnell
nell.

On

England in 1838, until set at liberty by the arrival of

and Mrs. H. Powell in January 1839.
Rev.
the

left for

BADDEGAMA

117

Bishop Corrie of Madras visited Baddegama in 1840 and

to the Earl of Chichester
Beautiful Badde

thus writes

gama, a Christian watchfire

lighthouse in

a very dark night, a Christian

a very dark place, a cradle of the gospel in a
in

heathen land.
In 1841 the Rev. and Mrs. Charles Greenwood took charge
and for a few months in 1848 the Rev. and Mrs. Isaiah Wood
were associated with them. Balapitimodera and Bentota,
two towns of importance on the coast, were occupied as outstations.

In October, 1847, the

man,

My

visited
to

visit

Bishop of Colombo, Dr. Chap

and
Baddegama,
writing to the C.M.S. he says,
first

Baddegama

Confirmation was

for the

full of

and encouragement. I was met on the banks of its

beautiful river by Messrs. Greenwood and Gunasekara, your
two valued missionaries, and all the catechists and the youths
of the Seminary, and up the hill, close to the mission house,
with its English-towered church and English scenery around,
by Mrs. Greenwood and above sixty children of her native
No welcome could have been more characteris
girls school.
tic or more pleasing.
On the next day the church was filled
interest

Confirmation at eleven o clock. Twenty-three were

one a poor cripple in limb but not in faith, was

for the

confirmed

carried to

blessing

the

Holy Table, and

conveyed

to his

trust the

heart by faith

fullness of the

was not marred by

the unworthiness of the channel through which

him.

On

June

seven,

21,

1850, the Rev.

was drowned while bathing

C.
in

it

reached

Greenwood, aged

thirty-

the river, and his sudden

removal threw the charge of the station upon the Rev.

George Parsons, who had been only six months in the
Island.

was placed in the church in memory of Mr. Green

Mr. Parsons extended the work on the sea coast and

clock

wood.

CENTENARY VOLUME

118
for

some time

left

Baddegama

charge of the Rev. Abraham

Small

in

own

his

residence at Bentota.

Gunasekara, taking up
and Balapitimodera,
congregations were collected at Bentota
but these were formed of nominal Christians, not of converts
schools were opened, but the seed sown
from heathenism
;

At Dodanduwa, however,
visible fruit.
some enquirers presented themselves, and after several
months of instruction, twelve adults were baptized.

did not yield

any

The Rev. G. Pettitt, the Secretary of the Mission, visited

Baddegama in April 1850, and thus writes The view from
Palm Hill, the site of the second mission house, is peculiarly
The eye never rests upon a barren spot, or even
beautiful.
sandy ground, and all this loveliness is
There are how
perpetual, for there is no winter in Ceylon.
it is not
ever disadvantages connected with this excellence

upon a foot of

soil or

Paradise after

capable of

it

It

all.

is

becomes mouldy

in

damp,

everything
an incredibly short time, a

exceedingly

produces a disagreeable amount of

perspiration, and the feeling of languor easily creeps over
the frame, a short pointed grass takes advantage of your

little

bodily

exertion

shortest walk to tease your legs

and demands a considerable

dislodgement, a small leech with a,

troublesome bite operates without medical prescription, while
portion of time for

its

your plans of usefulness, or

them. Snakes, centipede s, scor

frequent rains either impede

drench you

in

adhering

to

pions and other noxious insects abound.

From

1859 to 1862

absence on furlough, the district was

during Mr. Parson
under the charge of the Rev. A. Gunasekara by whom the
s

work was earnestly and faithfully carried on. Mr. Guna

His father
sekara was born in 1802 and died in 1862.
Bastian Gunasekara who was born in 1773 and died in 1853,
came to Baddegama from Galle, having been recom
mended to Mr. Mayor by the Galle Mudaliyar, for the post
of

overseer during the

building of

the church.

tablet

BADDEGAMA
Mr. Gunasekara

to

inscribed as follows

memory was

119
placed

in

the

church,

He was the first Native

where he laboured twenty-three
in the Master s service.
Deeply
and firmly trusting in Jesus his

Missionary of Baddegama
years with zeal and fidelity
sensible of his unworthiness

Saviour he joyfully antici

pated being present with the Lord.

It is related of Mr. Gunasekara that once as a Buddhist boy
he went into the temple to offer his evening flower. When he had

done

so,

he looked into the idol

s face,

expecting to see a smile

of approval, but he noticed that the great eyes stared on with

out any expression of pleasure in them. He thought therefore

that so great a god would not condescend to accept a child s
offering.

Soon

after a

man came

in,

laid

down

his flower,

turned his back and went carelessly away. The boy again
looked in the idol s face and thought he would see an angry
frown at this disrespect, but the eyes stared on as before.

He
in

then began to realize the fact that the image had no

it,

In

and was
1863

catechists

alike powerless to

the

life

reward or punish.

vernacular institution

was removed from Cotta

to

for the

training

Baddegama, and

of

in the

following year, an institution for the training of schoolmasters

was opened under the Rev. S. Coles. These were carried on
until

In
versy

1868 when both were transferred to Cotta.

November

1863,

what

is

called the

Baddegama Contro

began, and several public meetings were held

following February,

when they were stopped by

till

the

order of the

Mr. Parsons writing to the C. M.S. says, The

controversy broke out in November last, and though
was partly prepared for it, I was slow to believe it would

magistrates.
spirit of
I

become such a

serious matter until urged by our people to

The result fully justified their
prepare for a fierce contest.
anxieties, for never before in Ceylon was there such a mar
The one aim of
shalling of the enemy against Christianity.

CENTENARY VOLUME

120

the fifty priests and their two thousand followers who

assembled here on February 8, was not to defend Buddhism
but to overthrow Christianity.
Encouraged by translations

from Bishop Colenso s writings, they considered the utter

defeat of Christianity easy and certain.
Knowing the people
we had to encounter, we felt that our victory would be more
triumphant and complete, by attacking Buddhism, whilst we
defended Christianity.
It was not, however, till we were
in the controversy, that we could fairly
estimate the difficulties of our position, and day by day we
had to commend ourselves in prayer to God and confide

somewhat advanced

in

Him

for

wisdom and

direction at every step.

On

review

ing the whole controversy, I am thankful for what has taken

place, and believe the effect upon this district has been

healthy and encouraging.

On November
consecrated the
originally built

the place.

24,

1864,

new church

Dr.

Claughton,

at Balapitimodera,

the

Bishop,

which was

by Dr. Clarke, a former Police Magistrate of

also held a Confirmation at Badde-

The Bishop

gama when twenty-four

candidates were confirmed.

In April
was suddenly removed, by death from fever,
whilst on a visit to Colombo.
Mrs. Parsons who had dili
gently worked among the girls and women, returned to England
and died thirty years after in November 1896. A beautiful
marble tablet was placed to his memory in the church by the
1866, Mr. Parsons

Christians.
of the

The

station then

Rev. E. T.

came under

the superintendence

During his time the Church

Council system came into operation, and Baddegama, Balapitiya and Dodanduwa were formed into separate pastorates
under a

Higgens.

district council.

In 1869 the Rev. John

Allcock took charge, and although

work had been carried on for fifty years, the Christians only
numbered 240, of whom sixty-four were communicants, and
in the eleven schools there were 457 children.
Mr. Allcock

BADDEGAMA
in his first

other,

annual report writes,

is still

The Church

here, like

many

deficient in apostolic simplicity, earnest convic

tion, zeal, faith,

earnestly

121

desire

yet there are a few who

hope and charity
to adorn the Gospel of our Lord Jesus
;

Christ.

In 1875 a church was erected at Dodanduwa costing

Rs. 2,000, and dedicated to the Holy Trinity.
In 1881 two of the catechists Messrs. A. S. Amarasekara

and G. B. Perera were ordained deacons and stationed

at

Dodanduwa and

Balapitimodera.
Mr. Allcock was an earnest, simple-minded, good man,

full

of the Holy Ghost, enthusiasm and good works, whose one

object was to preach the Gospel, in season and out of season.

The

was spent going from village to

sowing the good seed. In one of his reports he
I do not
expect very much good from girls day

greater part of his time

village,

writer,

schools.

In

another,

Schools are of

little

use,

we must

and again,
Preaching and sowing are the best
means of winning the people.
In nearly all his letters he
mourned over the apathy and indifference of the Sinhalese

preach more,

Christians, in not caring for the souls of others.

In 1881 Dr. Johnson, Metropolitan and Bishop of Calcutta,

Baddegama, and before leaving wrote as follows, I

visited

Baddegama on Monday, February

from Galle with the Bishop of Colombo.

visited

7,
I

1881, driving out

addressed a large

"

The difficulty of getting

congregation, taking for my subject
free from bondage and the consequent liability to discourage

A special service was held later in the day when I

gave an address to the heathen, endeavouring to draw out the
contrast between the morality of Buddhism and that of
Christianity, the latter being based upon our relations with
It seems that here, as in most
the One God, One Father.
parts of India, the progress is slow, the adult heathen being
ment."

only brought out by ones and two*.

The

schools are gradually

CENTENARY VOLUME

122

exercising an influence and by their means each generation

must, it may be hoped, show increased results.

When
Christians

Mr. Allcock

left for

numbered 481,

of

England

whom

in

March 1883,

the

137 were communicants,

and the schools contained 1,353 children.

A few years after, on Mr. Allcock s death from fever in
the Kandyan country, the sum of Rs. 250 was collected, and
placed in the church tower with the inscription
memory of the Rev. John Allcock.

a large
*

In

bell

In November, 1882, the Rev. J. W. Balding was transferred

from the Kurunegala district to take charge of Baddegama.
At the close of the following year he writes, What grieves
me most is that in nearly every village, I find that of
those who at one time or the other have professed Christ
and been baptized, many now living carelessly are worse than

few of the Christians make the

endeavour to bring others to a knowledge of the truth.
In 1884 a stone school chapel was built at Kitulampitiya,
and in 1885 a similar building at Elpitiya on a piece of land
the heathen around, whilst very

slightest

given by Mr. Elias Perera, the catechist there.

In 1886, an Ordination Service was held

Baddegama

in

Church, when three deacons were admitted to the priesthood,

by Dr. R. S. Copleston, Bishop of Colombo. Archdeacon

Matthew and

ten other clergy were present.

This was the
time that an Ordination had been held in the Sinhalese
language and in the midst of the people themselves.
first

On
girls

June

1,

1888,

Boarding

School

ment has been a success.

teachers in
other

village

Many

schools.

of the pupils

In

addition

Sinhalese

for

was opened by Mrs. Balding, and from

to

its

commence

have

become

missionaries

European ladies, Miss Binfield, Miss Ursula

Kriekenbeck, Miss Henry (all three since dead) and Miss
C. Kerr have given valuable help in the
school, whilst Mrs.
Wirakoon, always called
Mistress
by the girls and

wives,

BADDEGAMA

12

a daughter of the late Rev. H. Kannangara, has been the

invaluable head mistress from the opening day to the present
time. In May. 1893, a lady missionary* Miss Helen P. Philips?
late

Principal of the Clergy Daughters School at Sydney

first worker sent out by the New South Wales C.M.S.

and the

Association,

the

was appointed

following

to Dodanduwa,
November by Miss E. M.

industrial school for boys

wood-carving,

tailoring

to be

joined in

An

Josolyne.

and girls, where printing, carpentry,

and lacemaking were taught, was

commenced.

On August

14,

1894,

the

seventy-fifth

anniversary

of

was celebrated.
founding
Baddegama
Dr. Copleston, the Bishop, and fifteen clergy were present.
At the morning service, a sermon was preached by the Rev.
J. de Silva, on the Parable of the Mustard Seed, after which
the Holy Communion was administered to 205 communicants.
At mid-day the Rev. S. Coles addressed over 600 children in
the church, and afterwards a public meeting presided over by
the Bishop, was held in the English school.
In the after
noon there was a garden party, and in the evening, a lantern
address on the
Holy Land, by Archdeacon de WintonThe sum of Rs. 1,250 was given by the people towards the
A teak reading desk, lectern and
renovating of the church.
pulpit were bought, and a brass offertory dish, alms bags,
A
kneelers and an ebony Communion Table were presented.
stone tablet with the names of the missionaries who had
the

worked
follow

of

the

in the district,

was

mission

with the text underneath

Whose

faith

also placed in the church.

November, 1895, two more women missionaries, Miss

Luxmoore and Miss M. S. Gedge arrived.
About this time the district was well supplied with Sinhalese
clergy, the Rev. James Colombage in Baddegama, the Rev.
G. B. Perera at Balapitimodera and the Rev. J. P. Kalpage
at Dodanduwa.
In

C. N.

CENTENARY VOLUME

124

In 1897 over 700 people attended the service in connec

In the
with the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria.

tion

were presented at the Government

fifty girls
examination of the Girls Boarding School, obtaining eightyfive per cent, of passes and in the Diocesan Religious Exami

same year

nation fourteen girls obtained prizes,

class certificate.

One

and the school a second

who had gone to India

of the old girls

as a mission worker, died of cholera this year.

On

the

first

page of her Bible was found written My mottoes for 1897.

Holiness unto the Lord.
First, suffering, then glory.
In 1898 Mr. E. J. Carus Wilson, a lay missionary, was

Townsend at Dodanduwa and Miss

M. L. Young at Baddegama.
Mis? L. M. Leslie Melville arrived in 1899, and the Rev.
G. B. Perera, who had been in Balapitimodera for twenty-one
years, moved to Baddegama.

stationed at Bentota, Miss

About

this

Rev. Professor Mayor of

period, the

St.

John

College, Cambridge, delivered a lecture on

Antipathies of
race and habit, in which he said,
In the Michaelmas term

had a proof, interesting to me at least, of the truth of that

Cast thy bread upon the waters, and thou shalt

"

promise,
find

He

it

after

is in

many

days."

Sinhalese knocked at

holy orders in the English Church,

won a

my

door.

scholarship

Selwyn College and is reading for the theological tripos

His first words were
My father was a convert of your
father."
He must have been converted from devil-worship.

at

"

my father founded a mission-station at

the ruin of his health, labouring under a
tropical sun, he built church and school and parsonage.
In
that village my sister and I were born, in that church she and
Eighty-one years ago,

Baddegama.

To

were baptized. Seventy-one years ago we left Ceylon,

where Reginald Heber, an old Shropshire friend of
my
father s had visited and blessed his work.
My father would
I

have hailed that one

fruit of his

labours as ample reward for

BADDEGAMA

125

My

and an early grave.

shattered health

friend

had taken

part in the seventy-fifth anniversary of the mission.

In December, 1900, Mr. G. A. Purser arrived to take charge
of the Industrial

the Rev.

J.

district for

W.

School at Dodanduwa, and in October, 1901,

who had been connected with the

Balding,

twenty years, moved

to

Cotta to take charge of

that station.

When

Mr. Balding left, there were two Sinhalese clergy,

five biblewomen, 553 Christians, 226 communicants, thirtyone schools and 2,110 scholars. The Rev. H. E. Heinekey
In 1903 the district
took charge at the end of the year.
the home calls of the Rev. J. P.
of
Mr.
and
Baptist Karunaratne (a son-in-law of
Kalpage,
Rev. A. Gunasekara) who had been a mission worker for forty
The Rev. G. B. Perera also left to become a pastor
years.
This year the Buddhists became very
in the Cotta district.
active in opposing Christian work, and establishing opposition

suffered

severe losses in

schools.

The following year Mr. Heinekey reports

Christianity
cannot be said to be in a thriving condition here, converts are
few, and the best of them seem glad to get away to other
Thus, there are now only 538 Christians against 653
parts.
in 1901, whilst there are

The
deacon

catechist,
in 1904.

324 children

less in the schools.

Mr. R. T. E. A. Gunatilake was ordained

The same year the much- valued matron of

the Girls Boarding School, Mrs.

Mary

Perera, or

old

Mary

For sixteen years she had

faithfully filled her post, and for many years previously had
been a valued school-teacher and biblewoman.
On the resignation of Mr. Heinekey in 1905 the Rev.
The Buddhists were now
S. M. Simmons was appointed.
building schools of a far more substantial nature, which were
thronged with children, and in charge of efficient teachers.
Where there was no active opposition to Christianity, the

as she called herself, passed away.

CENTENARY VOLUME

126

attitude of the Christians

was one

of utter indifference.

The

and at the
Galle Agri- Horticultural Exhibition three prizes were won

Dodanduwa

Industrial School continued to flourish,

.for

carving.
In 1906 the School Chapel and two schools at
pitiya were handed over to the incumbent of Galle.

The

Kitulam-

following year, Mrs. S. M. Simmons, who had thrown

and soul into the work, and won the love and

herself heart

admiration of

all,

Simmons went on

was

called to

leave

to

higher service, and Mr.

for a year, the Rev.

England

R. H. Phair taking oversight of the work. Miss E. M. Josolyne

was at this time in charge of the women s work in the district.
Miss Henry carried on the work of the school during the
year 1908, Miss Walker then being located to

Baddegama

as

Principal.

In 1909 the

number

of schools

had

fallen to 22

and the

scholars to 1543.

Mr. G. A. Purser, who had been

returned to

Baddegama

in

England on furlough,
1912, having been ordained, and
to

Purser took charge.

The following year, he
laments the dearth of helpers, not a single Ceylonese clergy
man or lady missionary being in the district. In 1914 the
with

Rev.

Mrs.

J.

P.

1915, Mr.

deacon.

Ramanayake was

stationed at

Dodanduwa and

in

W.

B. de Silva, the pastoral catechist, was ordained

This year there were four adult and fourteen infant

baptisms and several enquirers, and twenty-two candidates

were presented for Confirmation. The Government grant to
the schools had suffered considerably owing to the continued

Buddhist opposition.
Mrs. Purser, who was Principal of the Girls Boarding
School, reports forty-six girls in the school, and the Inspector
reported

The

and

credit on the

were satisfactory
The
Principal and her staff.
English recitation and writing were both above the average.
reflect

results of the examination

Lady

BAUDEGAMA

127

At the Diocesan Scripture Examination the school obtained

There is a branch of the Young
first-class certificate.
People s Union in the school and a child is supported in a

school at Dohnavur.

Mr. Robert de Silva, who has been connected with the

School since its commencement, and is now in
charge reports, We have sixty-three boys and at the last
This is a very useful,
examination the Inspector wrote,
Industrial

"

school.

The work done

is

really very

good.

The Bishop and Mrs.

pleased with the work."
in the log-book
wrote
and
the
visited
school,

am much

We

Copleston

saw some

I saw some
very good carving, one boy shewing real talent.
In
Gleaner
the
of
being printed.
September, 1916,
pages
Miss L. M. Leslie Melville and Miss Wardlaw Ramsay

returned from England, and the former took up the post of

Boarding School, and the Rev.
Principal of the Girls

G. A. Purser removed to Dodanduwa, superintending the

district from that centre.
In 1918 there were twenty-one schools in the district.
There were two Sinhalese clergy, t\vo catechists, two biblewomen, twenty-two male teachers and twenty -three female
teachers, 662 Christians, of whom 223 were communicants,
and 1,112 boys and 568 girls in the schools.

CHAPTER

XII.

COTTA.
six miles from Colombo, is a place
Ceylon as Jayawardhanapura, and at
the time of the arrival of the Portuguese in A.D. 1505 was
the capital and residence of the Sinhalese king. Sinhalese
kings reigned there from A.D. 1378 to 1573. During the
Dutch rule (164-0 to 1796) the spiritual interests of Cotta and

COTTA,
famous

or Kotte, about

in the annals of

ne ghbourhood were not neglected. Cotta, with six adjacent

its own pastor, supported
villages, formed a parish, having
and
by a Dutch Presbyterian
Government,
superintended
by
clergyman. It had its large and substantial church in Etui
Cotta, on the site where the C.M.S. girls school now stands,
well attended, for, with few exceptions, all the inhabitants had

been baptized and many were communicants. There was

also a school, with three teachers and a singing master, who
The Dutch minister attended
also led the singing in church.
periodically from Colombo to perform religious rites
examine the school.

and to

The post of pastor was for a long time filled by a

Mr. Philipsz, a Sinhalese gentleman, who had been educated
There was also a resident
and ordained in Holland.
to
collect
the people for baptism
whose
was
duty
registrar
and marriage on the periodical visits of a Proponent. On
such occasions fathers and sons, who had been married for
years,

came

have

wedlock christianized and their

Their names were then
the Thombuwa, or Register, and a fee of three
to

their

children and grandchildren baptized.

entered in

fanams, or three pence, was levied for each entry, in payment

COTTA

129

The following extract from the

registrar s trouble.
deed conveying the land to the Dutch minister is interesting
*
On April 23, 1721, the Honourable Isaac Augustin Rumpf,
for the

ordinary Counsellor of the Dutch Indies and Governor and

Director of the Island of Ceylon, of his own free will and
of affection, resolved and thought proper to
make a present of, for the service and benefit of the new-

from motives
built native

property

Reformed Church

in the

at Cotta, a certain garden, his

hamlet Etui Kotte, to the Rev. Wilhelmus

Koning, the only

officiating

minister in

Chingalee, through

whose knowledge in the said Chingalee language accompanied

by a great and good zeal to preach and propagate the true
reformed religion amongst the Chingaleese and other natives,
this Church was expressly commenced to be built about a
year ago, for which reason also full power and authority is
given by the said Honourable Donator to the said reverend
gentleman to act and do with the said gardens as he should
deem most proper for the service, greater airiness and
embellishment of the said church and its compass.
The
transfer of the Government to the British in 1796 produced
a great change.
The
Evangelization was laid aside.
churches and schools, including those of Cotta, were abandon
ed and allowed to fall into decay, and the people returned
to Buddhism and its companions, kapuism and devil worship.
The proponent system was soon abolished, having left, how
ever, an almost indelible

stamp on the

religion of the country,

handing down from generation to generation a nominal pro

fession of a belief in Christianity where none was felt.
The
of the proponents who officiated in Cotta was Don
Abraham of Talangama.
The first English minister who exerted himself for the
benefit pf the people of Cotta was Mr. Chater of the Baptist

last

were attended with so

Mission, but his

efforts

that in the year

1820 he closed the school he had started,

little

success

CENTENARY VOLUME

130

from the place. In 1822 the Rev. Samuel

C.M.S. missionaries
Lambrick, who was one of the first four
been stationed in Kandy,
to Ceylon, and who on arrival had
named
moved to Cotta. A piece of high and waste land,
Diwasof the Cotta lake,
Thotepallekannatte, on the border
was purchased from Government, and

and

retired

nahwa

Juwannawa,

or

from villagers, in order

eight other pieces of land adjoining,
The Government deed of convey
to build mission premises.
ance is dated July 13, 1822, and signed by the Governor of
the
Paget, K.G.C.B., and stipulates that
and
care
take
do
good
Rev. Samuel Lambrick shall and
benefit of the Crown all the cinna
and
care
the
for
preserve
mon trees which are now growing or which may hereafter

Ceylon, Sir

Edward

grow on the said spot of ground.

Soon after taking possession Mr. Lambrick wrote to the
Cotta has a water communication with Colombo
C.M.S.
,

with the Calpera

by means of a canal connecting the Calany
with wooden
road
bridle
is
a
also
there
and Pantura rivers
in
the
but
the
of
branches
rainy season
canal,
bridges over two
;

It is sufficiently distant
frequently impassable.
with a large town.
evils
connected
the
avoid
to
from Colombo
The following year the Rev. Joseph Bailey was transferred

this

road

to Cotta

is

from Jaffna. Buildings were erected, and a printing

from which 15,000 tracts were issued during the

press set up,

first

year.

On November

8,

Sir

1827,

Edward Barnes, Governor

of Ceylon, laid the foundation-stone of a theological college,

called the Cotta Institution, to train Ceylonese for Christian

work among their own people. Most of the civil and military
residents from Colombo, the Archdeacon, the Chaplains and

many
fifteen

others were present.

On

pupils were admitted

the opening of the Institution

to receive -a good

who were

education in English, Science, Mathematics, Philology, Latin,

Greek and

Pali.

COTTA

131

The first student admitted was Abraham Gunasekara who

was ordained in 1839 and worked at Baddegama till his death
in 1862.
The Rev. James Selkirk arrived in 1826, and, on
his retirement in 1839, became Curate of Middleton Tyas,
in

Yorkshire, and in

1844 published his

Ceylon.
In October, 1828, the

first

Recollections

school for girls only

of

was estab

under the superintendence of Mrs. Lambrick, who

had arrived in the Island the previous year as Miss Stratford,
and had been married to Mr. Lambrick. Great reluctance
lished

had always been shown by the mothers

learn letters

to

as they called

it,

to send their

daughters

and Mrs. Lambrick went

to all the houses in the villages inviting the girls to attend.

At the end of the year there were thirty-three girls attending.

In the same year, Mr. William Lambrick, a nephew of the
Rev. S. Lambrick, was appointed classical teacher in the
Institution and in 1831 the Rev. Joseph Marsh arrived from

Madras

to help.

The Cotta

missionaries also prepared a translation of the

Bible into colloquial Sinhalese, and on November 14, 1833,
it
was issued from the press and is known as the Cotta

To

help in the printing of the Bible, a Mr. Riddesof the printing

It may be here stated that the lir.-,t
press for six years.
edition of the whole Bible in Sinhalese was published by the
Bible.

dale

came out from England and had charge

Bible Society in 1823, in three volumes, quarto, of 3,350

pages, the price per copy being ^3-1-6, but as this edition was
found to be too expensive and cumbersome for general use,

and as the need of a glossary shewed that it required revision,

a revised and more portable edition was, in November, 1830
published in one octavo volume of 1,212 pages, the price being
only eleven shillings and sixpence.

The C.M.S.
edition

missionaries

contained so

in

1824, considering that this

derived from the Sanscrit

many words

CENTENARY VOLUME

132

and Pali languages, words

common

in

Sinhalese books

and

not to the great body of

intelligible to persons of learning, but
of
inflections
words, different from
the people, and so many
them difficult to be
render
to
use
so
as
those in common

determined with the sanction of their

understood,
Society, to

prepare and

their press at

Sinhalese.

Cotta a

Thus

Holy Scriptures

new

at

version of the Bible in familiar

were two

there
in

Parent

own expense and

print at their

versions

distinct

circulation, the older one,

the

of

Tolfrey

s,

prepared under the auspices of the Bible Society in Colombo,,

and the Cotta version by the C.M.S. For some years it

was found impossible

translators to

the

parties felt that

it

to reconcile

either

use of the other

was

of the respective

version, although

both

desirable that there should be but one

standard version.

The controversy lasted until 1852, when, at a meeting held

Dutch Church, Colombo, under the presidency of the
Governor, Sir George Anderson, it was announced that all

in the

had terminated and that both sides would join to

The Rev. G. Peltitt
of the C.M.S. and the Rev. D. j! Gogerly of the W.M.S.
were elected joint Secretaries of the Bible Society, and the
second period of translation and revision began. An ad in

differences

prepare one uniform Sinhalese version.

terim version of the

edition issued in 1857.

Bible was

prepared and a revised

whole Bible was
Gogerly, but this translation
first

re-translation of the

begun in 1858, by the Rev. D. J.

was not altogether approved, so the re-translation was started
again in 1887, with the Rev. S. Coles, C.M.S., as chief reviser.

The work was performed with the most painstaking care, but
when Mr. Coles suddenly died on September 13, 1901, whilst
waiting for the assembling of the Revision Committee in the
vestry of Galle Face Church, the revision had been complet

ed only as far as the end of the Acts of the Apostles.

Bishop
R. S. Copleston took the place of Mr. Coles, and had com-

COTTA
pleted

Romans and

Galatians,

politan of India.

It

of re-translation

was

The

was not
finished,

133

when he was appointed Metro

1911 that the whole work
and the new Bible published.

until

public examination of the Cotta Institution took

in
place
1831, and is thus noticed in the Government Gazette
of December 17, A breakfast was given this morning by the
first

Cotta Church missionaries to His Excellency the Governor

(Sir R. J. Wilmot Horton) and Lady Wilmot Horton, at

which

all

ber of the

the civil and military authorities and a great num

officers of the regiments stationed here were pre

After breakfast the

company adjourned to the Institu

examination of the pupils in English reading,
About
geography, geometry, arithmetic, Latin, and Greek.
His
.two hours and a half were devoted to the examination.
Excellency expressed the pleasure and gratification that had
sent.

tion to hear the

been afforded him by an exhibition of so much talent, which

did equal honour to those who taught and to those who re
ceived tuition.
clearly than

He

could not express his own opinion more

to a passage that had just been con

by referring

Nullum tnunus reipublicae afferre

niajus meliusve possumus, quam si doceamus ct enidiamus
we can confer no greater benefit upon the
jtiventiitetn,
On November 11,
country than by the education of youth.
strued by the Latin class

1834, the Bishop of Calcutta,

Dr. Wilson, visited and with

chaplain spent two hours in examining the Institution

students in geography, trigonometry, geometry, Latin, Greek
and the Hebrew Bible.

his

In 1835 the Rev. S. Lambrick returned to England and

became domestic chaplain to the Marquis of Cholmondeley,
and died in 1854, aged 85.
On the retirement of Messrs. Lambrick and Selkirk, the
Revs. J. Bailey and F. W. Taylor carried on the work of the

various departments of the district with the assistance of the

Rev. Cornelius Jayasinha, who had been ordained by Bishop

CENTENARY VOLUME

134

trial it was found

Spencer of Madras. After twenty years
that the object for which the Institution was established had
not been fully effected, as many of the students, after having

of the

more

lucrative

completed their course, made choice

and popular employments at the disposal of the Government.
In 1851 the Rev. C. C. Fenn (who died in 1913 in England
decided to make
at the age of 90) was appointed and it was
a
the Institution more comprehensive by changing it into

was thought that in this way

many more than formerly would be brought under Christian
In 1853 there were 106 pupils
influence and instruction.
Of these
of seventy.
attendance
on the list with an average
kind of

Grammar

It

School.

twenty were boarders, one paid nine

-.hillings,

nine paid seven

four and sixpence

shillings and sixpence, and four paid
teachers
receiving food and four
monthly, three were pupil
free students.
were
three
and
shillings each monthly,
out by Mr. Fenn r
worked
the
of
of
trial
After ten years
plans
were under
numbers
that
it was
manifest
although greater
instruction, there

was no

better supply of mission workers,,

Government Academy, after

to the opening of the

and owing
wards the Royal College,
stayed a

much

in

Colombo, and other Colleges, boys

shorter time in the Institution than formerly.

decided not to keep up an expensive

the
and
institution,
present English school took its place.
The total number of students educated in the Institution
amounted to nearly two thousand. Of these, seventeen be
It

was,

therefore,

came ordained
readers,

ministers, forty-one catechists,

sixty-seven

school

masters,

two

six Scripture

advocates,

one

magistrate, eight proctors, six mudaliyars, sixty-eight govern

ment employees, and many others merchants, clerks,
etc.

was suddenly removed by death, and

Rev. H. Powell was transferred from Baddegama to

In 1841 Mr. Bailey

the

Cotta.

Two

years later no less than

sixty-nine adults

and

THE CHURCH, COTTA

THE BOYS HOSTEL, COTTA

COTTA

135

128 children were baptized during the year and 110 candi
dates were confirmed by the Bishop, and the accounts of the
work were so encouraging that the annual report of the

Parent Society for that year speaks of Cotta as the heart of

the Ceylon Mission.
From 1848 till 1861 the Rev. Isaiah Wood was in charge.
During this period the printing establishment was closed and
In 1861 the Rev. J. H. Clowes arrived, and
the press sold.
the Rev. J. Ireland Jones was the Superintending Missionary.

During the eighteen months that followed, mission work

throughout the entire low-country underwent a severe sifting
process, which brought to light an amount of heathenism and
hypocrisy

among

those

who

called themselves

and were

re

garded as Christians, which was hardly credible. A Buddhist

revival took place during which public lectures were given
for the

avowed purpose

of overthrowing Christianity,

and

The result
leading the converts back to their original faith.
was that hundreds of those, whose names had stood on the
congregational lists of the various missionary societies, for
sook all connection with the Christian church. The one
bright feature of

seemed

to

all

this

was

that the revival of

Buddhism

accomplish what missionaries for years had been

labouring in

vain

to

effect.

It

taught

utterly inconsistent to call themselves

were Buddhists

many

that

it

was

Christians while they

in heart.

In 1863 the Rev. E. T. Higgens removed from Kandy

and took charge.
The unsatisfactory character of many
of the people he felt deeply,
many there were who were

and

in

really

order

to discover

Christian, and

to

how
draw

a line of demarcation between them and the heathen, he

instituted a test which he required the Christians to sign.
It
was a declaration that they believed Christianity to be the
only true religion, that they regarded Buddhism as false, and
that they had renounced all connection with heathenism and

CENTENARY VOLUME

136

one thousand profess

this test, and of these
ing Christians, only 342 persons signed
Mission.
the
of
in
the
employ
many were
In 1865 Mr. Clowes was in charge and had a zealous
all practice of its

ceremonies.

Out

of

The following year the

helper in the Rev. J. de Livera.
Rev. J. Ireland Jones returned with instructions to pursue
vigorously the

work

of reorganization.
in charge of

Jayasinghe who had been

The Rev. Cornelius

Talangama removed

Kandy.
Three years later, when the Mission Jubilee was celebrated,
there were 440 adults who professed to have given up all faith
The schools numbered twenty, with seven
in Buddhism.
hundred children attending, the number on the lists being
about one-half more. The communicants numbered 175.
In 1869 the Rev. R. T. Dowbiggin was appointed and
to

in charge for the next thirty years.

In June, 1871, Mrs. Dowbiggin (who was a daughter of Sir
C. P. Layard, Government Agent of the Western Province)

remained

opened a Girls

Anglo- Vernacular

Boarding School which

continues to flourish to the present day, and has been a benefit

and blessing to many. Up to the end of the year 1916, 860

had passed through the school. In 1886 the Rev. S.

Coles had charge of a class for training catechists, with seven
girls

students.

Two

years later

the

Rev.

H. de

Silva,

the

Pastor of

Talangama and Welikada, the Rev. G. S. Amarasekara, the

Pastor of Cotta and Nugegoda, and the Rev. W. L. Botejue,
the Pastor of Mampe, gave cheering and encouraging accounts
of the work in their Pastorates.
In 1897 Miss A. Dowbiggin was working as a missionary
among the women and girls.
In the same year the Revs. Joseph Perera, Theodore Perera
and W. E. Botejue were appointed to Colombo, Talangama
and Mampe respectively. At the close of 1900 Mr. Dowbiggin

COTTA
.gave a survey of the

work

of

137

the district during his thirty

years superintendence with the following statistics

1870

1900

Christians

...

...

...

...

874
144

1,361

Communicants
Contributions

...

...

Rs. 750

Girls in G. B. S.

...

...

29

3,230
76

...

60

268

...

1,082

3,300

English School
Vernacular School Pupils

Boys

in

412

in the following year the missionary was called to

service
after a painful illness patiently borne and a
higher
memorial brass in the Cotta Church bears these words

Early

LOVING MEMORY OF THE

IN

REV.

RICHARD THOMAS DOWBIGGIN,

C.M.S.

WHO

FOR THIRTY YEARS

PREACHED CHRIST IN THE COTTA DISTRICT.

DIED AT SEA NEAR SUEZ

MARCH STH 1901. AGED 63 YEARS.
ME
TO
TO LIVE IS CHRIST, AND TO DIE IS
THIS TABLET

On March

GAIN.

WAS ERECTED BY MANY FRIENDS.

the Rev.

J.

Ireland Jones was appointed to

Cotta, but the death of the Rev. S. Coles in September

necessitated his return to Colombo, when the superintendence

of the

district

who had been

was handed over

for

many

to

the Rev.

years in Baddegama.

J.

W.

Balding

CENTENARY VOLUME

138

A portion of the district was cut off in 1909 and placed in

the independent charge of the Rev. G. S. Amarasekara, and
This consisted of St. John s
called the Nugegoda Pastorate.
Church, Nugegoda, Christ Church, Mirihana, and six verna
schools.
During his incumbency, Mr. Amarasekara
On the appointment
collected funds and built a parsonage.
cular

of

Mr. Amarasekara to

Kandy

in

1908, the Rev.

J.

H.

succeeded him.

Wikramayake of Mampe
The following year the Rev. G. B. Perera moved to Cotta
and the same year a long-felt want was met by the starting of
a girls English day school by Mrs. Balding.
In 1905 the Sinhalese Women
Teachers

Vernacular

Training School, which had been started in a hired house

in Colombo by Miss H. P. Phillips, was moved to Cotta
under the superintendence of Miss K. Gedge. Mr. Balding
went on furlough this year and the Rev. R. W. Ryde
took charge. In 1908 the re-built Church of St. Matthias,
Boralesgamuwa, was opened, and a new church, dedicated
to St. John, was built at Homagama through the liberality of
Mr. J. C. Ebert.
In 1909 Mr.
Christian
it

work

Balding writes, The Buddhist opposition to

severe and intense, and our means to combat

is

are limited.

ThelMen Teachers Training

School, established

some years

previously, was this year transferred to Colombo, where a

hostel was opened and the students attended the Government

Training College. After the marriage of Miss K. Gedge to the

Rev. H. P. Napier-Clavering in 1909, Mrs. Balding had
charge of the Women Teachers Training School for some

months

till the appointment of Miss Leslie Melville.

In 1910 Mrs. Dowbiggin went to England, and Miss Leslie
Melville with the help of Miss G. Hutchinson managed the

Girls Boarding School.

Mrs. Dowbiggin was missed by all.

of keeping in touch with the old

She had a remarkable way

MRS.

R. T.

DOWBIGG1N

GIRLS ANGLO-VERNACULAR SINHALESE BOARDING SCHOOL, COTTA

COTTA
girls

139

and a wonderful power of winning and retaining the love

of her pupils.

In 1911

there passed

away

in

one week two of the best

and oldest workers of the district, both good men,

Holy Spirit and good works, whose praise was
churches, William de Silva, son of
catechist,

who

for fifty-two

Thomas

full of

the

in

the

all

de Silva, a former

years had been

Headmaster

of

the Cotta English School, and Hendrick de Silva, a catechist

for fifty-one years.
At the end of the

same year the Rev. and Mrs. A. M.

Walmsley took charge of the Girls Boarding School, the
staff was strengthened, the buildings renovated, and some
necessary equipment added. The spiritual side of the work
was not neglected as the following letter to the missionary s
wife will shew, I regret very much to let you know that I
have made out from the letters sent by my two girls that you
have infused into their childish brains the teachings of your
and have nearly succeeded in attempting to revert
We sent the girls to your school to get
their minds to same.
religion,

them educated only. We never expect that our children

become Christians. Therefore I hereby give you notice with
thanks that I am going to withdraw said two girls by the

end"

of March.

The last visit of the Metropolitan, Dr. R. S. Copleston,

took place in 1912, when about 400 people met in the
Mission compound for a garden party and assembled for
Evening Service in church when His Lordship gave an
address.

One

of the best catechists, Peter de Silva, a

education and no training, but whose

life

was a

man

of little

living witness,

was called Home during this year.

The following year, Miss Wardlaw Ramsay, who had been
a missionary in Palestine for some years, came to reside with
Miss Leslie Melville

in Cotta,

and gave much voluntary help

CENTENARY VOLUME

140

in every good work.

The Rev. G. B. Perera moved to
Colombo, and was succeeded by the Rev. R. T. E. A. Guna-

The Talangama

tilaka.

Pastorate, consisting of St.

Matthew

Church, Talangama, St. Mark s Church, Kotewegoda, and

St. Stephen s Church, Upper Welikada, with nine vernacular
schools, was cut off from the Cotta district, and became an
independent incumbency under the Rev. D. L. Welikala.
When Mrs. Dowbiggin returned from England in 1911
she made her home in Liyanwala, a corner of the district

where a good work, inaugurated by her husband, had been

carried on for some years.
With the help of a companion and
a staff of Biblewomen, she still carries on her
self-denying
.labours, going in and out among the people carrying the

Word

of Life, tending

,ing the teachers,

them

in their

sicknesses and encourag-

working independently but

in close

co-opera

tion with the

Superintending Missionary.

The Buddhist

opposition continued active throughout the

and not only had they their day schools, but all
Christian methods were adopted, such as
Sunday schools,
district,

fancy bazaars, Scripture examinations, prize givings, etc.

Buddhist priest, writing to a local Buddhist paper, said,
Christianity is an epidemic which is spreading far and wide.
In June, 1914, the Rev. J. W.
Balding left on furlough and
the Rev. A. M. Walmsley took
charge until the arrival of the
Rev. S. M. Simmons in July.
Unfortunately Mr. Simmons
was invalided home in September, when the Rev. A. E.
Dibben took the oversight until the arrival of the Rev.
W.

J.

Ferrier in 1915.

Mr. Ferrier
writes,

Here

in his first report,

referring to the
is

Boys School,

an Institution the glories of the past of

which are without parallel in the annals of the Mission.

has made an indelible mark in the civil and ecclesiastical
of the Island.

Teacher prior

It
life

Nearly every C.M.S. Pastor, Catechist, and

1900 has been helped in it.

to the year

COTTA
Of Liyanwala he

writes,

141

very earnest congregation

St.
worship
Church, which is the centre of an
One great advantage to the work
of
schools.
efficient group
of
Mrs.
residence
there
is the
Dowbiggin and her helper,

Paul

at

Both

itinerate in the villages, visiting the

schools and cheering the

teachers, and in the house-to-house

Miss Hutchinson.

visiting are assisted by several

From

Biblewomen.

April,

1915 to September, 1916, Mr. Ferrier motor-cycled 6,000 miles

in connection with his work.

The Baptismal Register of the Cotta district records the

baptism of nearly six thousand persons since the commence
ment of the Mission. This does not include the baptisms in
the churches of the separate incumbencies which have been
made in recent years.
The first entry is the following,
Samuel, an adult Jew, on the credible profession of faith in

He was known

Christ.

Misrabi, and

name of Joseph Judah

on the Malabar Coast.

before by the

a native of Cochin

is

Baptized on November

4, 1827, by me, Samuel Lambrick.

entry in the Register of Marriages is James Ford,,
late a Private in H.M. s 16th Regiment, and Anachy Anna

The

first

Kangany married at Cotta on December 22, 1827, by me,

The Register of
James Selkirk, Church Missionary.
Burials

records

churchyard

in

the

burial

In

Cotta.

mark

of

the

212 persons,
graveyard

in

the

little

there

are

only

and four of these

are in memory of two European missionaries and two English
children, so 196 Sinhalese have no memorial stones.
The burials during the first twenty years of the Mission do
not seem to have been recorded.
The first entry is Anna

sixteen stones to

their resting-places,

Maria, wife of Maddamahallinnaygay Juan de Silva, aged

34 years, buried December

8,

1844, by me,

Henry Powell,

Church Missionary.

One
buried

of the first four

in

C.M.S. missionaries to Ceylon

the churchyard, and the following

is

lies

the inscription

CENTENARY VOLUME

142

on

the tomb-stone,

Sacred to the

Rev. Joseph

of the

memory

he
17, 1787, died October 11, 1840
Knight
the
C.M.
with
in
connection
a
as
Society
laboured
missionary
Was wrecked off the
at Jaffna for more than twenty years.

born October

Cape on his way Home in 1838, when he is thought to have

contracted an affection of the lungs, of which he died shortly
His end was peace.
in 1822 and ten churches
commenced
was
work
Although

after his return to Ceylon.

have been

built in

the

out-stations, at

the headqtiarters

in

Cotta there has never been a proper church building, and

the services have been held in the large hall of the Boys
English School. In August, 1904, the Rev. J. \V. Balding
determined to raise money to build a church and issued an

appeal supported by the Metropolitan and the Bishop of the

Diocese. A sum of about Rs. 20,000 has been received from
about 2,500 contributors, and a further Rs. 10,000 is needed
for the work.

On December

31, 1918,

there were

District four Ceylonese clergy

schools with 1,412

boys and 1,156

2,568 pupils; 1,687 Christians, of

cants.

Of

these

Christians

Pastorate and 590 in the

in

the whole Cotta

109 lay workers

girls,

whom

397

Nugegoda

were

thirty-four

making a

total

of

680 were communi

in

the

Pastorate.

Talangama

CHAPTER

XIII.

THE KANDYAN ITINERANCIES.

WORK

the

in

Kandyan Sinhalese

year 1853, and

Itinerancies

was com

now

covers the greater part of

the Central, North-Central and North-Western Provinces and
For the previous
a portion of the Sabaragamuwa Province.

menced

in the

thirty-five years the

work

carried on at the

Kandy

Station

had been almost entirely confined to the Low-country Sinhalese

Very few Kandyan
resident in the town and neighbourhood.
families resided in the town itself, and the object of this new
effort

was

villages.

to convey the Gospel to the Kandyans in their

The Rev. E. T. Higgens commenced the work in

1853, in the district of Harispattu, as being the most

populous for its size of the Kandyan districts. The name
July,

country of the four hundred.

According to tradition it received its name from its having
been originally peopled by four hundred captives brought
from the Coromandel Coast by King Gaja Bahu (113-li>5
had
A.D.) in lieu of those whom the sovereign of that country

Harispattu means the

carried off

from Ceylon during the reign of his father. The

is now a division with 44,000
four hundred

country of the
inhabitants.

Mr. Higgens entered on the work single-handed, but in the

first year, repeated attacks of jungle-fever compelled him to
On his return he found that
take a sea voyage to the Cape.
his wife had passed away during his absence, but he vigor
ously resumed his
village in turn.

Kurunegala

in

preaching in Harispattu, visiting every

Permanent outstations were commenced in

1854 and at Hanguranketa in 1855, and the

CENTENARY VOLUME

144

Itineration was extended to other parts of the country, includ

Nuwara and Yata Nuwara..
ing the populous districts of Uda
Robert Knox, who was a prisoner in the interior of Ceylon

from 1659

to

1679, on his escape from captivity, wrote the

account we have of Ceylon in the English language, in

which he says of Uda Nuwara and Yata Nuwara, These
first

two counties have the pre-eminence of all the rest in the land.
They are most populous and fruitful. The inhabitants there
of are the chief and principal men, insomuch that it is a usual
saying among them that, if they want a king, they may take
any man, of either of these two counties from the plough, and
wash the dust off him and he by reason of his quality and
And they have this peculiar privi
descent is fit to be a king.
none
be
their
Governor but one born in their
that
may
lege,

own country.
The great body

of the people,

when

the Mission

was com

menced, were entirely ignorant of Christianity.

In 1854 Mr. E. R. Clarke joined the Mission and worked
in Yata and Uda Nuwara for a couple of years.
At Hanguranketa and Maturata small congregations had
been collected, and at the former place was built a little
church, by a Sinhalese gentleman, Mr. C. H. de Soysa.
In 1861 the Rev. J. Ireland Jones joined in the work,
on an abandoned coffee estate in Harispattu.
living

Mr. Higgens, owing to repeated attacks of fever, removed to

the low-country, and the Rev. J. H. Clowes took his place.

The Kandyans

of Harispattu were not responsive to the

Mr. Jones removed to Kurunegala, about twentyseven miles from Kandy, and made it his centre.

Gospel, so

The congregation at Kurunegala assumed a more settled

character and a small church was erected where Europeans
and Sinhalese united in worship. The Rev. J. A. de Livera
was appointed Pastor, and by his diligence the congregation

made

further advance.

N-

THE KANDYAN ITINERANCIES

On

Mr. de Livera

removal

in 1862,

145

Mr. Jones again took

his residence there and visited the villages around.

In one of these, Talampitiya, some five years previously, a
New Testament had been left, which had been read by the vil

up

The Holy Spirit had

lagers.

blessed the reading, and

when

the

missionary visited them again, a crowd, attentive and earnest,

listened to the glad tidings.
Within a few months thirteen

men were

baptized, one of them formerly a Buddhist priest.

These converts became missionaries to their own people,
with the result that fourteen more adults were baptized.
About this time Mr. Jones was compelled to return to
England and the Rev. E. T. Higgens again took charge.
The Rev. John Allcock also arrived. The Church at Talam
pitiya continued to prosper, and up to 1867 fifty converts
from Buddhism had been baptized, some of them men of

much

intellect as well as

deep

One

spirituality.

of the

first

converts was Elandege Abraham, whose Christian life and

He became an
character showed the reality of his faith.
earnest evangelist and in later years often accompanied the
He passed to his rest
missionaries in their preaching tours.
on December 13, 1891, and was buried in the Talampitiya

In 1866 Mr. Higgens was transferred to another

and Mr. Allcock became Superintendent.
In 1870 Mr. Jones was again in charge and the work was

churchyard.
district,

extended to Anuradhapura, the ancient capital of the Island.

Two catechists visited it and the country round for a con
siderable distance, preaching

was

journey

Liesching, a

money

to

undertaken

Government

pay

the

and distributing
the

at

official

travelling

request
there,

expenses

who
of

The

tracts.

of

Mr.

Louts

collected

the

the

workers.

Mr. Jones also spent the month of April visiting the villages.
At the close of the same year a Girls Boarding School was
1

begun

in

Kandy by Mrs. Jones with seven boarders

following year there were thirteen.

10

the

Catechists were stationed

CENTENARY VOLUME

146

A church com
Ruanwela, Kegalle and Nawalapitiya.
were made to pay
mittee was formed at Gampola, and efforts
at

the salary and house-rent of the catechist.

In July, 1872, the Rev. S. Coles took charge, at

which time

number of
there were eight catechists and six readers and a
In 1877 the Rev. G. F. Unwin, who had
village schools.
been for a short time in Kegalle, moved to Anuradhapura, but
the following
owing to ill-health had to return to England
year.

Mr. Coles was now

again

took

single-handed in the district

with twenty-seven congregations, forty day schools and 1,200
In 1880 Mr. Coles broke down, and Mr. Jones
Christians.
charge,

residing

Emmanuel Church was

Rev. G.
the

left

built

at

Kurunegala.

and opened

L. P. Liesching arrived in

Kegalle and

Kurunegala

districts

in

The
1881.

Holy

The

1882, and worked

for

in

nearly nineteen

During his time a Mission House was purchased at

Boarding School opened on June
Kegalle, and a Girls
Allcock had charge of the Central
Rev.
The
J.
1, 1895.
till
his death in Kandy in March,
1884
from
District
In the year 1886 sixty-five adults and twenty-two
1887.
children were baptized by Mr. Allcock and eleven adults and

years.

nineteen children by Mr. Liesching. The following year the

invasion of the district by the Salvation Army caused a
division

among

the Talampitiya Christians.

In 1888 the Rev. J.

G. Garrett took charge of the Central

Kandy, and for twenty-three years with
enthusiasm and earnestness threw his very best into the work.
Early in 1911 he returned to Dublin to undergo an operation
and shortly after was called to his eternal rest.
District, residing in

The centre of women s work in the Central District is the

Mowbray Home. This embodies a development of the village
work begun by Miss Denyer, who first came out in 1889 with
Miss Bellerby and Miss James of the C.E.Z.M.S., but after
wards attached herself to the C.M.S. as an honorary worker.

MOWBRAY GKOUP.

1916

GAMPOLA MISSION HOUSK,

C.E.Z.M.S.

THE KANDYAN ITINERANCIES

147

After some years of itinerating work with Kandy as her

centre,
she was joined in 1897 by Miss A. L. Earp from the
parish
of Mowbray, S. Africa. During their village
work^tbey, &v
came convinced that it was necessary to get enquirers
away

from their heathen surroundings, at any rate until their faith

established, and to this end they obtained help from Miss
Earp s home parish and took up their quarters in various

was

rented houses one after another.

them various grades

of enquirers,

Here they gathered round

some with their families,

and also received village women sent on from the C.E.Z.

Mission in Gampola to be tested and taught. There were
some real conversions, and some converts of that day are still
Christian workers, as are also their children.
Rescue work
was attempted, but experience showed that it could not be
carried on with the other work and
accordingly it was handed
over to the Salvation Army. The work found a
permanent
home in 1906 after the purchase and adaptation of the

bungalow

and

enquirers from

only

grounds

many

Christianity,

now known

as

villages were taken

but

elementary

Mowbray.

Here

and taught, not

in

secular

and

subjects

lace-making.

Miss Hargrove came out

Mowbray

for language study.

in

In

1908 and was located to

1910 Miss Earp writes

Sixteen have been admitted into the

two

of the girls baptized.

work in a
Kegalle were

old girl s

ed at

Home

These two are the

and
of an

this year,

first fruits

Five of the girls confirm

sent to school there from
Mowbray, and
confirmed at Gampola, is a prcbationary Bible-

another

girl,

woman

there.

village school.

Three

now employed as
There have been no less than six
Christian marriages this year, five of them with C.M.S.
workers. The new Maternity Home and Biblewomen s
House are nearing completion and the Mission House in
Hurikaduwa is finished.
teachers in the

Home.

of the old girls are

CENTENARY VOLUME

148

mentions the opening of a Training.

Home for Biblewomen and the admission of four women
She also reports the baptism of seven con
for training.
1911 Miss Earp

In

Miss Earp resigned in 1914 and Miss Denyer, with

the help of Miss Findlay, an honorary worker from S.
s Training
Africa, carried on the work, the Biblewomen
from fur
returned
Miss
Hargrove
Class being given up.
verts.

lough early in 1915 and was put

in

Home

charge of the

and doing
work, Miss Josolyne also living at Mowbray
the
districtof
and
women
the
girls
work
among
evangelistic
left for England in 1915 after sixteen years of
Miss

Denyer

and devoted honorary service

faithful

in the Mission.

In his last annual report at the close of 1910 Mr. Garrett

Sixteen catechists and lay
gives the following statistics
:

readers,

Christians, 312 communicants,,

two Biblewomen, 712

fifty-three

men

teachers, twenty-seven

w omen
T

teachers, forty-

In another part he writes,.

four schools and 4,878 scholars.
The schools are crowded out with the very children we want
to

But

reach.

agency

raised

is

a Spirit-filled Sinhalese
will not grow.

evangelistic

The whole

a village gathered to witness the first two

Two young men, aged
ever seen in the place.

community
baptisms

till

up the work

in

eighteen and fifteen, answered most satisfactorily, showing a

The scene was
grasp of the teaching as to the Holy Spirit.

most impressive, a schoolroom,

i.e.,

a shed on rough posts,

mud

walls four feet high, a clay bench all along three

sides, a sloping board nailed on two posts for a school desk, the
village fathers all in a long line along one mud bench which

with

forms half our school furniture

the children, twenty-seven in

number, along the opposite side behind the desk several

little ones on the floor looking up at the bowl of water on my
;

white

table

cloth

the mothers

all

lining the wall outside,

looking over the children s heads the catechist and school

master on our two school chairs, the only ones in the village,
;

THE KANDYAN ITINERANCIES

behind the

little

children, facing the

table.

149

My

Christian

new

convert from a neighbouring village,

formed the Christian congregation. I read all the service
servant and Mark, a

carefully and explained almost every clause, after

two

brothers, Richard

which my
and Thomas, came and knelt on a mat

before the table, and, pouring a handful of water over them,

I admitted them into the fellowship of the people of Him who
died for them, and
of

believe they are indeed living

members

His body.

In September, 1891, the Rev. and Mrs. G. Liesching left

and the Rev. A. E. Dibben took charge of the Western
Itinerancy until June, 1893, when Mr. Coles became respon
In January, 1895, the
sible until Mr. Liesching s return.
Itinerancy which had hitherto been divided into two districts,
the Central and the Western, was further divided, and a new
one called the Northern Itinerancy was formed and placed in
charge of the Rev. H. E. Heinekey.

In July, 1898, Major Mathison, an honorary lay missionary,

to evangelistic work in the Dumbara portion

was appointed

of the Northern Itinerancy, while the Rev.

working

in

Anuradhapura and the Rev. F.

J.

Colombage was

W. Daundesekara

in Kegalle.

Mr. Liesching returned to England in July, 1899, and the

Rev. S. M. Simmons took his place in January, 1900, and
shortly afterwards Miss S. C. Lloyd and Miss M. S. Gedge

were appointed

to

work

in the district.

In 1903 the Rev.

C. T. Williams became Pastor at Anuradhapura, and Major

Mathison had charge of the evangelistic and school work.
During his superintendence a new mission house costing
about Rs. 12,000 was built. The same year Mr. Simmons
was invalided home and the Rev. W. G. Shorten took up his
residence in Kegalle.
Mr. Heinekey whilst in Anuradhapura was instrumental in
collecting a large proportion of the money for the building of

CENTENARY VOLUME

)50

a church, the foundation-stone of which was laid by the

of the
Bishop on August 26, 1905. On St. Andrew s Day
Rs.
16,000,
following year the building, which had cost over

was consecrated
Mathison

left

as

St.

Andrew

on furlough in

Church.

When Major

1908, there were 191 Christians,

fifty-seven communicants, twenty-eight enquirers,

chists and four schools with 196 scholars.

five

cate-

The Rev. R. W. Ryde succeeded Major Mathison, and had

mission
just prepared the

house for the residence of himself and

family, when he passed away after a short illness in Colombo.

In 1907 Miss A. K. Deering and Miss Bennett were working
in Kegalle, whilst the following year Miss M. S. Gedge and

Miss S.H.M. Townshend had charge of the women s work. In

June, 1909, the Rev. R. H. Phair made Kurunegala his head
quarters, and the Rev. C. Wijesinghe was appointed Pastor,,
but on the return of Mr. Shorten, Mr. Phair moved to Anura-

dhapura and took over the Northern Itinerancy. The Rev.

A. M. Walmsley for eight months had been spending a week
each

month

in

the

district

in

addition

to his

work

at

Trinity College.
In 1911 the Rev.

J. P. S. R. Gibson paid periodical visits

D. Welcome was Pastor in Anuradhapura.
On the death of Mr. Garrett, the Rev. W. G. Shorten was
appointed to the Central Itineration and Miss M. S. Gedge

and the Rev,

J.

took charge of the Kegalle Girls Boarding School.

The following year Mr. Walmsley was in charge of the

Northern Itineration for six months, after which the Rev. and
Mrs. T. S. Johnson took up their residence in Anuradhapura.
In the annual report for 1913 the Rev. T. S. Johnson
Anuradhapura may be regarded as the most interesting
says,
town in the Island. Here is a buried city of ancient fame
and splendour, where Sinhalese kings reigned at the zenith
of Sinhalese history and where to-day ruins, rivalled only by
those of Egypt, lift themselves skyward from the mass of

THE KANDYAN ITINERANCIES

jungle and scrub with which thousands
country is covered.

The Rev. R. H. Phair was again back

the

Western Itinerancy, and

in

151
miles of

of square

as Superintendent of

1913 writes

The Buddhist

Those who are at

opposition has been bitter and persistent.
variance in every other matter are united in opposition to the
False stories backed by false witnesses and
cause of Christ.
fabrications

teaching.

of

The

are

sorts

all

Jesuits

Buddhist opposition and

alleged

against

some places add

in

in face of

all this

and our

us

their rivalry

there

is

to

a lack of

workers.

Boarding School was again in

with
the assistance of Miss de
Gedge

In 1915 the Kegalle Girls

charge of

Miss M.

S.

Vos, and Miss E. M. Josolyne was released for work at

Mowbray.
Mr. Shorten went on furlough

Walmsley taking charge

in

May, 1915, the Rev. A. M.

At the

of the Central Itinerancy.

One Sinha
clergyman, four catechists, three readers, three Biblewomen, 141 teachers, 830 Christians, 335 communicants,

close of the year he gives the following statistics:

lese

nineteen adults and

forty-two children baptized, fifty-seven

catechumens, forty confirmed, forty-four schools and 5,378

scholars.

In the early days of the

tramp from

Itinerancy the missionary had to

village to village or use a springless bullock cart

as his means of locomotion.

The

present-day missionary has

motor cycle and Mr. Walmsley writes

In rain and
shine, up hill and down dale, by day and by night, it has been
my constant companion and scarcely ever-failing friend. It
hardly ever grows weary, and still more rarely grumbles.
We have travelled together, during the past year, over seven
thousand miles, and have never yet broken an engagement.
On October 6, 1916, Mr. Phair, then in charge of the
Northern Itinerancy, met with a serious accident whilst riding
his

CENTENARY VOLUME

152

motor cycle. He collided with a bullock cart and his

injuries were so serious that his right leg had to be amputated.
From the shock of this operation he never fully recovered.
In January, 1917, he left for England and returned to his
his

in February, 1918, before physically fit to resume it.

Several of the old mud-and-thatch school buildings have

work

been replaced by more substantial ones during the last few

Just before leaving Mr. Shorten made the following
years.
entry in the log-book of Gonagama School which was re-open

This building has an interesting history.

June, 1915
our own property. The zinc for the roof was
The sawing expenses
given by Mr. L. W. A. de Soysa.
ed

in

The

site is

were paid by Mr. Williams, a planter. The trees were given

by Government, except for one jak tree which was given
by Mr. Soysa. The teacher got the villagers to transport all
some 2,000 square feet free, from a jungle four
the timber
miles away, the best bit of work I have ever got done
1 ton, 4 cwts
was brought
through a teacher. The zinc
three
miles
a mountain
the
school
over
children,
away
by
without costing

pass,

transported

When

it

me

from Kandy

visited

this place

a cent.
to

R. E. S. de Soysa

Mr.

same

at the

Hanguranketa

rate.

on March 5 three or four coolies

were leisurely clearing the ground or site for the new build
All the timber was then growing, except two trees,
ing.
which had been cut down the previous week. The dressed
stones for the

pillars

were still solid rock, and neither sand

This is May 7, and the building is

nor lime were collected.

now
due

The

practically finished.
to the zeal

and hard work

Mr. Walmsley writes

success of the effort

of the

We

head teacher.

can say,

thankfulness to God, that the work

sure that the men and women working
of villages are testifying

by word and

is

in

all

is

largely

humility and

progressing.

away
life,

am

quietly in scores

and that we

shall

continue steadily to reap the fruits of their labours in the

in

THE KANDYAN ITINERANCIES

In one village

Lord.

with eight children,

become a Christian.

153

found a bright sweet-faced woman

evidence of an earnest desire to

who gave

She is learning regularly, and seems to

drink in what one says.
I remember what a joy it was to
watch her face, as I told her recently of Christ s sacrifice for

We

her sins.

have as many enquirers, catechumens and

we can well deal with, con

candidates for confirmation as

sidering the amount of time available for that side of our

work, and so we thank God and take courage.

one were determined to look on the dark side of things

is always enough to break one s heart.
Indeed, Ceylon
has always been a heart-breaking place, from a missionary
point of view.
Why it should be so, I have been trying for
If

there

nearly ten years to find out, but so far unsuccessfully.

Doubtless a great deal of the difficulty is accounted for by the
inexpressible inertia of

move

on, to

Buddhism must

face Ceylon

who can do

make,

Buddhism.

It

seems impossible

the dry bones live.

the impossible,

realize that

to get

Men who come

God

men who can do

to

only wants men

all

things through

Who

Christ,
strengtheneth them.
In 1916 the Rev. T. S. Johnson,

half years

ministered in

who had

three languages,

for three and a

was transferred

Tamil Cooly Mission, while still

remaining
Anuradhapura district.
The Rev. J. N. Seneviratne, who as curate to the incumbent
of Gampola, has the pastoral oversight of the work of that town
and in addition is in charge of St. Andrew s, Nawalapitiya, in

from Anuradhapura
in

to the

charge of the

The

his report for 1916, says:

and

congregations,

English
Sinhalese at Nawalapitiya.
English

(Gampola)

at

The membership

adults,

twenty

eighty-five

adultsj>

sixty

Pastorate consists of three

Sinhalese

Gampola,
is

as follows

and
:

communicants
Sinhalese
communicants
sixty-four
;

Sinhalese (Nawalapitiya)
forty-six adults, eighteen communi
cants.
The contributions to the pastorate amounted to

CENTENARY VOLUME

154

Rs. 1,561 during the year. A Confirmation Service was held

at Nawalapitiya in three languages, when thirty-eight candi
From 1906 to the present date the
dates were presented.
attendance at St. Andrew s Church has been steadily increas
ing,

congregation.
it is

not large enough to accommodate the

Building Committee has been appointed and

and the building

is

hoped to raise Rs. 25,000 during the next three years

order to build a

new

church.

in

CHAPTER

XIV.

COLOMBO.
THERE

are several theories of the derivation of the

Some

name

Kelani River, which

enters the sea near Colombo, by others it is said to be derived
from Calamba, a seaport or fortified place. The derivation

Colombo.

connect

most generally received

it

is

with the

and port were

that the village

known as Colontota, from the Sinhalese words

Cola amba tota,
mango leaves port. The Portuguese,
finding a name so like that of their famous navigator Chris

originally

topher Columbus, called the city Colombo.

There is a tradition that the Khalif of Baghdad, in the tenth
century, hearing that the Moorish traders settled in Colombo
were not very orthodox Mohammedans, sent a priest to instruct

them,

who

also built a

mosque

writer in 1344 described

for their use.

Kalambu

as the finest

town

in

Serendib.

At the

first

census of the people of Ceylon, of which there

in 1824, the population of Colombo is given as

and
in 1871 the population had increased to 95,843
31,188
in 1911 to 211,274.

is

any record,

Percival, writing in 1803 of Colombo, says

part

of the

world where so

many

different

There

is

no

languages are

spoken, or which contains such a mixture of nations, manners

and religions.
This description remains true to-day.
At the census of 1911, persons of seventy-eight different
races were enumerated in Colombo
these included 2,374
British, 110 French, 97 Germans, 13,485 Burghers and
;

Eurasians,

2,495

Kandyan

Sinhalese,

91,590 low-country

CENTENARY VOLUME

156

15,252 Ceylon Tamils, 36,717 Indian Tamils,

24,4S1 Ceylon Moors, 13,688 Indian Moors and 5,364 Malays.
Among the other races represented were Americans, Australi
Sinhalese,

ans, Arabs, Boers, Chinese, Canadians, Japanese, Egyptians,

Parsees, Kaffirs, Zulus, Maldivians, Burmese and Maoris.
The proportion per cent of the adherents of the four chief

the total population in Colombo in 1911 was

Buddhists 30-89, Christians 28-31, Mohammedans, 21-56 and
Hindus 19-07. The Church Missionary Society did not

religions to

commence

a settled work in

although

was

first

it

Colombo

their intention that

until the year 1850,

one of the four missionaries

appointed to Ceylon should be stationed there.

missionaries thought

more desirable

The

first

occupy villages near

In 1828 the Rev.
large towns than the towns themselves.
A. Armour, Chaplain of St. Paul s Church in Colombo,
addressed a letter to the Conference assembled at Cotta
it

to

urging them to begin work in Colombo, but the invitation was

not accepted.
In 1843 a C. M. S. Association was formed

under the patronage of Sir Colin Campbell, the Governor, in

Colombo, to help the Mission with funds.
In 1850 the Parent Society reviewed their missions and
said
While most of the missions have enlarged themselves,
the Ceylon Mission has remained almost
Exten
stationary.
sion in a mission must be looked for, and in this
respect at
:

least, the

Ceylon Mission has proved unsatisfactory. Inviting

themselves continually in other parts of the
world, and when these are put in contrast with the Ceylon

fields present

Mission, a temptation to

withdraw

under brighter prospects

arises.

its

forces for

employment

The Home Committee could

drawal until their best

efforts

not entertain the idea of with

should have been made for its

improvement. For this purpose they have adopted a new

system of management for the mission. A Central Committee,
Avith

the Bishop of the Diocese as

its

President, has been

COLOMBO
appointed, and

its

permanent

157
will

Secretary

reside

in

Colombo.

The Secretary here referred

who arrived from Tinnevelly in

to

was the Rev. G.

April, 1850,

Pettitt,

and visited the

his residence in Colombo in

same year.
He found a few Sinhalese catechists at work in Colombo
and a few converts, and these were organized under the Rev.
C. Jayasinghe.
Tamil work was commenced and a catechist

stations

before

November

taking up

of the

employed. The duties of Mr. Pettitt, as Secretary to the

Central Committee, did not include any ministerial work, and
he suggested that a church should be built, where the Secre

A sub-committee was
tary might take regular English duty.
appointed to enquire whether there was room in Colombo for
another church, and the facts ascertained were such as to lead
to the conclusion that

the building of another church

was a

great desideratum.

The Parent Committee agreed and gave

^"700

on condition

be given. An appeal was

issued in September, 1851, and on January 21, 1853, the
foundation-stone was laid. The land was purchased for
225

that local

assistance should also

on the Esplanade of the Fort called the Galle Face, near to

it into Slave Island, and on the

the bridge which passes from

edge of the lake. With the sea at a distance of about three

hundred yards in front and the lake close behind it, the situa
tion is both cool

and pleasant.

On October 13, of the same year, the church was

opened for Divine Service by Bishop Chapman, who preached
a sermon from Malachi i. 11,
From the rising of the sun
even unto the going down of the same, My name shall be
great

among

the Gentiles.

In the next annual report of the C.M.S. the Rev. Henry

Venn, the Secretary, referred to this service as
affording

a happy

illustration

of

one

of

the

main objects of

the

CENTENARY VOLUME

158

of the church

erection

the union of races

in

the

Church

of Christ.

with its
expenditure for the site, the church
was
wall
^1,566.
fittings, and the churchyard
The Rev. G. Pettitt ministered to the English and Tamil

The

total

until January, 1 355, when he

congregations of Christ Church
H.
Rev.
the
and
Whitley, Curate of Sapcote,
left for England,
him.
succeed
to
was
appointed
Leicester,

was acquired adjoining the church

a
which
parsonage was built. The Parent
premises upon
a
grant of /"600 which was supplemented
Committee made
and
funds
subscriptions of ^"450 towards this
by local
was
house
The
completed by the end of September,
purpose.
took possession in October, but
Mrs.
and
Mr.
Whitley
1860.
In 1857 a piece of land

on November 10 Mr. Whitley received fatal injuries through

church premises.
Bishop
falling of a wall in the
The last sad offices were
wrote to the C.M.S.:

the

Chapman

solemnized by myself on the following evening amid more

universal sorrow than I have witnessed on any previous
The pall was borne by persons of the highest
occasion.
position in the Colony.

tablet in the

Church records that

Mr. Whitley ministered to congregations worshipping in

he was also a faithful
three different languages and that
and earnest preacher of the Gospel to the heathen population
4

of the town.

memorial stone

set in the floor of the school

Galle Face records the circumstances of his death.

Early in 1861 the Rev. C. C. Fenn removed from Cotta to
Colombo, and carried on the work until the end of the year,

room

at

when he was
Rowlands was
Tamil and

Mr.
joined by the Rev. W. E. Rowlands.
directed to give his attention to the study of

to assist

Mr. Fenn

he did until October, 1862,

Tamil Cooly Mission.

England, the

Rev.

J.

in the

English services, which

when he was

transferred to the

Fenn left for

H. Clowes was appointed to Christ

The

following year Mr.

COLOMBO

159

Church and in January, 1864, Mr. Rowlands returned to

Colombo.
In 1866 Mr. Clowes left and the Rev. J. Ireland Jones,
while residing at Cotta, assisted in the work.
In 1867 the
Rev. J. C. Mill was appointed to Colombo and with Mr.

Rowlands worked among the Tamil-speaking population.

In February, 1865, the Government made a grant of land
situated in the Cinnamon Gardens near the Borella Road for
the erection of a mission house and school.

To

erect these

Committee made a grant of ."600, the

while
133 raised some years before for a
Local Fund
Sinhalese Boarding School was appropriated, a Sale of Work
in the Colombo Racquet Court produced ^246 and nearly
-"700
was received by subscriptions. The mission house
and school were soon built and on December, 1867, the
first pupils were admitted
to the Tamil Girls
Boarding
School, Borella, the foundation of which had been laid by
buildings the Parent
^"50,

Mrs. Temple on the previous June 14.

In his report of the following year Mr. Rowlands (who had
been mainly instrumental by his own efforts and liberality in

There
procuring the Borella land and buildings) writes
cannot be a doubt that if we are enabled to carry on the
:

school as

we

desire,

and

if

the

Divine blessing follow our

school will tend very much to improve the condi

tion of the young women of the upper classes, and thereby
efforts, the

confer a benefit which cannot easily be over-estimated upon

the Tamil people generally.
In July, 1870, the Rev. E. T. Higgens took charge of the
English work at Christ Church, the evangelistic work among
the Sinhalese and the

management

of the Sinhalese schools,

and the Rev. H. Gunasekara was appointed Pastor of the

Sinhalese congregations.

Preaching was carried on

in the

streets

and

lanes, in the

coftee-curing establishments and at the Police Court, and the

CENTENARY VOLUME

160

Services were held by Mr.

Maradana, Hunupitiya and
Borella, whilst the Sunday afternoon service at Christ Church
had an average attendance of fifty-three Sinhalese.
The Tamil work was vigorously carried on by Mr. Row
lands
work was started on the coconut and cinnamon
estates in the Negombo district, and a congregation of fifty
hospitals and jails were visited.
Gunasekara in school-rooms at

Christians living at Thiverlei was taken over.

Preaching was
There were also
carried on in the streets and coffee stores.
four congregations of Tamil Christians, numbering 478 persons.
In September, 1871, Mr. Rowlands sailed for England and
the

Rev. D.

Wood

took

This year the Rev. C.

charge.

Jayasinghe was the Pastor of the Christ

Church Sinhalese

congregation.

The Rev. H. Newton became Incumbent

of Christ

Church

February, 1877, and the following year the Rev.

Pickford arrived to strengthen the Tamil Mission.

in

J.

I.

Both the Boys and Girls Boarding Schools at Borella were

and the number of Christians on the congre
was
lists
1,092. Their subscriptions in 1879 amounted
gational
Miss M. Young arrr ed in 1879 to take
to Rs. 1,189-02.
full of children,

charge of the Girls Boarding School, and was married in

1880 to the Rev. J. I. Pickford. The same year the average

number present

Church English service was 144

at Christ

in

the morning and 130 in the evening on Sundays, and 49 at che

service.
The Rev. J. Gabb was assisting
Tamil services.
In 1881 Miss M. Hall arrived to help in the Girls Boarding
School.
She was not only the youngest missionary ever sent
out by the C.M.S. but the only lady worker sent out that
year

Wednesday evening
at the

to

any mission

the Rev.

On

J.

W.

when

later she

was married

to

Balding.

June 30,

opened,

Three years

field.

1881,

the

St.

Rev.

Luke

J. I.

Jones,

Church, ^Borella, was

who had also laid the

BOYS ENGLISH SCHOOL, HORELLA.

OLD PUPILS OF THE GALLE FACE SINHALESE GIRLS SCHOOL

COLOMBO

161

foundation-stone in the previous year, preached the sermon.

Services are now held there in Sinhalese, Tamil and English.
The Rev. H. Newton on his retirement from Ceylon sug
gested to the

Missions

Parent Committee the holding of

or

appointed one

Special Missionary Weeks,

of the first missioners.
The

Missionary

Week

when

Rev. S. Coles of

the

was held

in

England

Missionary
he was

and

first

Special

in

December, 1883,
Ceylon, who was at home on

furlough, was one of the missioners.

In 1883 the Rev. E. T. Higgens again took
charge of Christ
Church and the Rev. S. Samuel assisted with the Tamil

work.

During the year 1886 over four thousand persons visited the
in the Pettah to converse on the
subject of
This room, to quote the words of a Tamil
Christianity.
mission room

was
The Rev. J.

Christian,

like
I.

a good well of water cut in a dry plain.

left for England in 1887 and the

Pickford

Wood early in 1888, when the Rev. J. Ilsley took

charge of the Colombo Tamil work.
Miss Eva Young, who arrived in 1884, began work
among
the Hindu and Mohammedan women assisted by five BibleRev. D.

women.
In 1890 the Tamil work was in charge of the Rev.
J. D.
Thomas. Miss Thomas superintended the Biblewomen and
was assisted by Miss B. Child who arrived in 1891.
A house and garden for the Slave Island pastor was bought
by the Tamil Christians, and at Wellawatte a school

chapel

and residence for a Tamil worker erected. A piece of land

was also purchased at Maradana, on which were erected a
school and a house.
It is

interesting to mention here that the

ber, 1893,

marked a great epoch

mission in Africa.
received

month

of

Decem

in the history of the. Uganda

Pilkington, one of the missionaries, there,

into his soul $ message,

11

from God through

.a

little

CENTENARY VOLUME

162

book written by V. D. David, a Tamil evangelist, which led

David was for some
to a great spiritual revival in Uganda.
years a worker in the Tamil mission in Colombo.
In 1895 the Tamil clergymen, the Revs. S. Samuel and P.
The Rev. G. T.
Peter, died within six weeks of each other.
Tamil
in the follow
the
but
of
work,
Fleming took over part
D.
were called to
he
the
Rev.
Thomas
and
J.
ing year both
in
remained
Mrs.
Thomas
Ceylon, continuing
higher service.

The school hall adjoining St. Luke s

as a memorial to Mr. Fleming.
was
erected
Church, Borella,
In 1895 the Rev. A. E. Dibben took charge of Christ
Church and the work among the Portuguese. A branch of
the Boys Brigade was started and also a branch of the

in

missionary work.

Gleaners

Union.

fall of part of the west wall and the

state
of the fabric of Christ Church,
unsatisfactory
generally

In 1897, owing to the

it

was pulled down,

entirely re-built,

and re-opened on March

18, 1899.

In 1899 the English work

Thompson and
Pickford.

who

first

the Tamil

was in charge
work in charge of

In the following

came

to

Ceylon

May

the.

of the

the

Rev.

Rev.

J.

J. I.

Rev. E. T. Higgens,

in 1851, retired.

Mr. John Daniel, the Headmaster of the Tamil Boys

Boarding School, was ordained this year, and the mission
suffered a serious loss by the death of Lieut. -Colonel

Meaden, who

was honorary treasurer of the mission, a

Finance Committee, and treasurer of the
C.M.S. Colombo Association.

member
The

of the

pastorates of

the Sinhalese congregations of

Christ

Church and St. Luke s Church were separated from the Cotta
district and placed under the Rev. D. J. Perera as pastor.
It had been felt for some years that the work in Colombo
needed supplementing by the establishment of a high-class
educational institution for girls, and therefore in February,

COLOMBO

163

1900, the Ladies College was opened in a large bungalow in

Union Place, with Miss L. E. Nixon as Principal, and Miss E.
Whitney as Superintendent. Progress was at first slow, and
only twelve pupils were in the school at the end of the first
year, representing Tamil, Sinhalese, Jewish and English

homes.
In 1901 the Rev. E. T. Higgens,

who had been mainly

instrumental in starting the Ladies College, died in England

on June 11. For the last few .years of his life, before his
retirement, he had resided at the

Galle Face Mission House,

But the old love of

undertaking the duties of the Secretariat.

evangelization remained and

constantly he was to be seen in

the streets and public places with the catechists, preaching and
inviting the heathen to come to Christ.

The Rev.

S. Coles,

who was

addition to the

station in

also received his

Home

work

in

charge of the Sinhalese

of revising the Sinhalese Bible,

call this year.

One more

diligent in

business, fervent in Spirit, and earnest in serving the Lord, it

would be difficult to name. A brotner missionary, after

How that
spending some time in his company, remarked,
I never saw anything like it.
fellow does work.
And that work continued to the last moment of his life.
On the morning of September 23 he spent some two hours
meeting of the Revision Committee
on that day. At the hour appointed
he walked from the mission house to the vestry of Christ

preparing

for

the

appointed to take place

Church, declining proffered help, and saying in his bright

way that he felt like a young man. These were his last

He

words.

took his seat

in

the vestry, and had only just

done so when with hardly a sigh or a sound he was gone.

Mr. Coles came out to Ceylon in 1861. His chief, if not his
His
only recreation was to get for a time among children.
s

appearance among a crowd of young people, enjoying the

freedom of play hour, was greeted with shouts of welcome.

CENTENARY VOLUME

164

For the children

remarkable

gift

benefit he

used to good

purpose

his

The Rev.

Sinhalese.

in

versification

of

Jones returned to Ceylon and took over the Sinhalese

work in May, 1900, Miss A. Higgens and Miss E. M. Josolyne
were working among the women, and the Rev. W. J. Hanan
J. I.

among the Tamils, assisted by Mrs.

E. S. Young and Miss E. J. Howes.
The Rev. A. R. Virasinghe having

J.

D. Thomas, Miss
the

resigned,

Rev.

V. Daniel was appointed to succeed him as Tamil pastor.

The following year Mr. Pickford returned to superintend
the Colombo Tamil work.
J.

This year the Government acquired for railway extension

purposes the land on which St. John s Church, Maradana, had
been erected a few years before, thus necessitating the demoli

Mr. Chellappah, who had been head

master of the Girls Boarding School for about twenty-eight
He was, as he once said, a Christian
years, died this year.

tion of the little church.

from conviction, and he had to suffer for his conviction.

In June, 1903, Mr. J. W. Ferrier arrived from Australia as
mission accountant.

School in the

Kew

He

also

took

charge of

Sunday

Police Barracks, re-started the Gleaners

Union, and gave help

Colombo.

On November

12

in

the

and around

taking

services

Rev.

Ireland Jones,

J.

in

who had

been connected with Ceylon since 1857, was called to his

Mr. Jones had acted on three separate occa
eternal rest.
sions as Bishop s

Commissary, and also taken a leading part

in the ecclesiastical

settlement

made

at

the

time

of

the

His Handbook
disestablishment of the Church in Ceylon.
has been useful to many a student of the
of Sinhalese

The Wonderful Garden, a story

language, and his booklet,
designed to convince Buddhists of the existence of a Creator,
has been a blessing to many. Of a very gentle and loving
disposition, he yet never made any compromise where he

COLOMBO

165

considered the honour of the Lord or the truth of His word

be concsrned. This year the Tamil work in Galle was

strengthened by the appointment of Miss E. C. Vines and
Miss H. E. Payne.
to

In January, 1904, the Rev. R. W. Ryde took charge of the

Sinhalese work and the Rev. W. Booth, who had come out in
At the end of the same year
1901, of the Tamil work.

Miss Young and Miss A. E. Thomas were working among the

women. The following extract from a letter written by the
latter will give some idea of the nature of the work and of the
blessing that rested upon

houses on

my

list

men, women and

course of the work

it

had between 200 and 300

In

addition to the pupils many

children have heard the Gospel.
In the

to visit.

have realized the truth of the promise,

Cast thy bread upon the waters and thou shalt find it after
many days." Taken by one of the Biblewomen to see a
I

"

young Christian women, I was told that some years ago she
was a learner. After a time she expressed a wish to become
a Christian, but her parents strongly opposed, and prevented
her learning with the Biblewoman by leaving that neighbour
hood.
But she had learnt to read and had a Scripture
Then the mother
portion which she used to read secretly.
married her to a man who had been baptized in his infancy,
but apparently was not a Christian except in name.
These
two went back to the man s native village in Tinnevelly.
There she had more opportunity of learning, so, getting her
husband s consent, she became a candidate for baptism, and
was baptized by my brother-in-law, the Rev. E. A. Douglas.

When

they returned to Colombo, she begged the Biblewoman

come and read the Scriptures and pray with her. Her
father was dead, but her mother was living with her.
Her
to

mother is still opposed to Christianity, and would not stay in

the room when I read.
Two days afterwards the Biblewoman asked if I remembered seeing another heathen

CENTENARY VOLUME

166

woman

who

there,

She
speaking.
was
Oh, why
"

ever teach
teach me,

me

most attentively while I was

had left, that woman exclaimed,
I never told this before ?
Why did no one
about these things ? You must come and
listened

said, after

want

to hear

more."

MacLulich was appointed to assist

at Christ Church, the Rev. G. T. Weston and Miss A. M.
Tisdall to Tamil work, Miss Sparrow to Sinhalese work and
Miss Henrys to work in Galle. The Rev. G. M. Arulanantham was also appointed to the Tamil mission.
A special mission was held at Christ Church in October by
the Rev. H. Pakenham Walsh (afterwards Bishop of Assam)
The services were well
assisted by the Rev. C. R. Burnett.
attended and deep interest was manifested, especially by
European men, whose hearts were so stirred that a number
of them forthwith organized a weekly meeting at the house
of each in turn for Bible study and prayer.
These meetings
were continued with much success till they were broken up
I-i

1906 the Rev. A.

by the interference of military duties consequent on the out

break of the Great War in 1914.
The following year (1907) the Rev. H. P. Napier-Clavering
was Incumbent of Christ Church and Secretary of the
Mission, and Miss L. M. Leslie Melville was superintending
the Biblewomen.
In September, 1908, Mr. MacLulich resigned and accepted
the Incumbency of Holy Trinity Church, Colombo, and on
Mr. Dibben s return from furlough Mr. Napier-Clavering

took up his
Pussellawa.

May.

In

new sphere of work as Planters Chaplain

The Rev. J. Ilsley took over the Tamil work

August,

1909,

the

Rev. R.

W. Ryde

died

at
in
in

Colombo. His knowledge of Sinhalese, his literary ability,

and varied experience, added to his gifts of character and

charm

of manner, had

and caused

his loss to

made him a most

be greatly

felt.

valuable missionary

THE LADIES COLLEGE, COLOMBO

THE LADIES COLLEGE, COLOMBO

LIBRARY AND BUNGALOW

COLOMBO

167

The Rev.

A. K. Finnimore arrived in August to take charge

Church having been in his early days a Ceylon
planter and afterwards a C.M.S. missionary, first in South
India and then in Mauritius.
In 1910 Mr. J. W. Ferrier returned to Australia and Miss
M. A. Ledward joined the Tamil Mission.
This year the Rev. D. J. Perera was given a more indepen

of Christ

dent position by being placed in

congregations

of

Christ

360 Christians under

full

charge of the Sinhalese

Church and

his care,

lt>0

of

St.

s.
He had
were communi

Luke

whom

cants.

The Rev. G. M. Arulanantham was in charge of what

had now come to be called the Tamil Northern Pastorate,
which included the congregations of Hultsdorf, Mutwal and
Maradana.
The Rev. J. V. Daniel was in charge of the Tamil Southern
Pastorate, which included the congregations of Slave Island
and Wellawatte. The Slave Island congregation worshipping
in Christ Church numbered 319 persons, of whom 112 were
communicants.

The three ladies, Mrs. Thomas, Miss Tisdall and Miss

Ledward, working among the Tamils, were living at The
Lodge, whilst Miss A. Higgens and Miss H. E. Hobson were
working among the Sinhalese. The Ladies College had been
growing yearly, and as the work was hindered by cramped
accommodation and noisy surroundings, it was deemed essential
that more suitable premises should be secured.
In addition
Miss Nixon and Miss Whitney, Miss Hall, Miss C. E.
Browne, Miss Clarke, Miss A. Horsley and others had helped
So in 1910 the College was
to make the school a success.
established in its own new quarters in Flower Road.
The money for the purchase of the land and bungalow was
largely obtained through the exertions of Miss Nixon, also

to

funds for the erection of class-rooms,

drill-hall,

assembly-hall,

CENTENARY VOLUME

168

The late
kindergarten rooms and dormitory accommodation.
a
visit
with
to
Rev. C. L. Burrows, when on
Bishop
Ceylon
Ingham, gave ,"1,000 towards the extension in memory of
At the time of the transfer there were eighteen
and
237 pupils. These included fifty little boys
teachers
between the ages of four and ten in the school for young
his wife.

boys attached to the

College,

a class for

the training

of

kindergarten teachers, and about twenty boarders. A class

Old Boys on Sundays, and a monthly At Home for
for
Old Girls, a Students Union and a prayer meeting for
The students also supported a
girls were also inaugurated.
catechist in the Tamil Cooly Mission.

In

1913

in

the

Cambridge Local

Examinations,

nine

students passed, four in the Senior, one with honours, and

five in the Junior.
Sixty-four girls entered for the Trinity

College of Music Examination,

four with honours.

all of

whom

passed, twenty-

In April of the following year Miss Nixon resigned after

fourteen years of devoted work and building up of the
College.

Miss Wardlaw- Ramsay kindly consented to act as Princi

pal, and with the help of Miss A. E. Kent, who had arrived
from England, the College continued to prosper. It was
this year placed under Government as a grant-in-aid institu
tion and, subsequently, classed as a

fully

organized second

Miss Kent resigned on her marriage in

ary
December, 1915, Miss G. L. F. Opie arrived as prospective
Principal from New Zealand and Miss E. Morgan arrived
school.

from England about the same time. Miss Whitney returned

from Nellore to the College early in 1916 as acting-Principal,
afterwards becoming

A
the

library of
efforts

volumes.

of

Warden

reference

Miss

of the Hostel.

books, mainly

Nixon,

collected through

numbers over

thousand

HOLY EMMANUEL MEMORIAL CHUKCH, COLOMBO

TAMIL CHURCH, KANOV

COLOMBO

169

1917 only four girl-students in the whole of Colombo

passed the Senior School Certificate Examination, and two of
In

these were pupils of the Ladies College.

In 1910 the men teachers who had been in training in the
school at Cotta were removed to Colombo, and resided
in

the Teachers

Hostel at Bambalapitiya whilst attending

Government Training College. The hostel

was given up when the training of men teachers was com
menced at the Training Colony. On September 19, 1912,
the new Holy Emmanuel Memorial Church at Maradana
was consecrated by the Bishop in the presence of a large
gathering of Tamil Christians. The Rev. W. E. Rowlands
preached from Psalm 32, v. 7-8, and 133 communicants
partook of the Holy Communion. The church has accommo
lectures

at the

for about six hundred people, and is the gift

Mr. Rowlands to the Tamil Christians as a memorial to

dation

wife

who

died in

On September

Colombo

in 1877.

1912, the

17,

some years had been

of
his

J. Perera, who for

Sinhalese congrega

Rev. D.
of

pastor

the

tions, died.

In 1914 the Rev.

W. J. Hanan was

appointed acting-Incum

bent of Christ Church, the Rev. A. E.

Dibben, the Secretary

of the Mission, left on furlough for Australia in March, and

the Rev. J. W. Balding was acting-Secretary till the end of

when Mr. Dibben, who had returned from Australia

September, resumed office. The Rev. G. B. Perera was

the year,
in

appointed

Miss

Incumbent

of the

Sinhalese congregations, and

of the Sinhalese women s

Townshend took charge

work.

This year the Tamil catechist stationed at the Ragama

Camp, where coolies from India on their way to tea and
rubber estates are detained for a few days by the medical
their
authorities, discovered 869 Christians and reported
arrival to their future

pastors.

This work was commenced

CENTENARY VOLUME

170

through the liberality of a Colombo lady, who gave Rs. 5,000

memory of her husband, towards the salary of a Christian
worker, who should seek out the Christian coolies who came

in

from India, shepherd them while in the Camp, and send

their names and addresses to the clergyman who lived nearest
the estate they were bound for.
A few years ago work was commenced among the Maiayali

There
people who come over from Travancore to find work.
are about 5,000 of these people in Colombo alone.
A congre
gation of over sixty has been gathered together, who hold

Holy Emmanuel Church, and a Malayalam

works among them. Open-air services are also held
for the Maiayali coolies working on the railway.
Much of the progress in this work is due to the devoted
service of the catechist, Mr. K. E. Ephen, who suddenly died
in 1915 from an attack of cholera, whilst on a visit to his

their services in

catechist

relatives in India.

The Rev. W.
give one

Hanan

J.

illustration

of

in his report for

modern

1915 says,

persecution.

My

I must
Tamil

congregation at Mutwal consists largely of road and rickshaw

coolies.
Not far from Mutwal school is a rickshaw stand,

where about twenty

coolies wait for customers.

Three of these

On

a Hindu festival day the others decided

that a present must be sent from that rickshaw stand to a
Hindu temple, and that all must subscribe.
The three

are Christians.

Christians refused

them.

saying that their

They were threatened

religion

that they

did not allow

would be driven from

the stand, and that complaints would be made to the Police

constable near, who would soon find an excuse for locking
them up. They remained firm, so the aid of the constable

was invoked.
thing,

and

He, being a Hindu, entered

told the Christians that

would have them

appealed to

me

in jail

to

help

into the spirit of the

they did not subscribe he

before a week. The Christians then
if

them, and sent a petition with an

COLOMBO

171

and the number of the constable.

Police and asked for an
That very day one of the Christians was arrested
enquiry.
by the constable on a false charge and put in prison. I
engaged a Christian proctor to defend him and went with a

account of their
I

sent

copy

it

difficulties

to the Inspector-General of

of the

petition to the

Police Court.

It

was proved

to

the satisfaction of the Magistrate that the charge was a false

The Christian coolies are
one, and the man was acquitted.

poor ignorant men, unable to read or write, unable perhaps to

give a reason for the faith that is in them that would satisfy

many

of the

modern professors

of Christianity, but willing to

and imprisonment for the sake of Christ.

The Rev. W. J. Hanan, who had been acting-Incumbent of
Christ Church for two years, relinquished this position in May,

suffer loss

1915, and the Rev. A. E. Dibben took charge until the

appointment of the Rev. W. S. Senior in September of that
year.

Miss

Margaret Keith, who

had been the

organist

for

England in November, whilst in

December, by the death of Sir William Mitchell, the Church
lost one of its oldest and most influential members.
The Rev. G. B. Perera, the Incumbent of the Sinhalese
Churches, retired on account of old age in June, 1916, and the
Rev. D. L. Welikala was appointed. Mr. Perera was one of
a Buddhist family who lived in Talangama in the Cotta
It was their
district and had four brothers and four sisters.
in the
mats
on
their
custom to relate stories as they lay
a
children
One night the mother told the
story
evening.
which she had heard from an old woman in the village who
was a Christian. The mother also told them that it was a
Next morning Mr. Perera, who was
story from the Bible.
twenty-five

years, left for

then a boy of eight, on going to school, tried to find the story,

which was the parable of Dives and Lazarus. His teacher

found

it

for him,

and the Holy

Spirit

so blessed

the boy s

CENTENARY VOLUME

172

Soon after this he had

reading that he became a Christian.
an attack of fever, and the mother brought in a devil priest to
perform a ceremony over him, but the boy threatened to jump
from the bed and make himself worse if any ceremony was
performed. The mother was angry and scolded him, but to
her surprise he recovered without the ceremony.
Mr. Perera s wife, who was a true helpmeet and earnest
Christian, died in 1915, after fifty-one years of married

She had a similar story

to tell of her early days.

life.

She became

a Christian whilst a pupil

in the C.M.S. school at Baddegama,

and her parents and three brothers and five sisters were all
Buddhists. On one occasion when she had an attack of fever,
her people got some charmed oil to be rubbed on her forehead,

but, knowing that she did not believe in such things, put the
charmed oil on one side in order to rub it on when she fell

The

overhearing their plans, got out of her bed

cup and poured the oil on the ground. Mr. and
Mrs. Perera were able by God s grace to lead their parents
and many other members of their families to Christ and

asleep.

girl,

quietly, took the

many

of their

children

and

children

children

are

now

Christians.

The Sinhalese

evangelistic

and school work was handed

over to the charge of the Rev. D. L. Welikala at the end of

1917, his Church Committee not seeing their way to shoulder
ing this responsibility.

CHAPTER

XV.

THE TAMIL COOLY

MISSION.

THE existence of the Tamil Cooly Mission is very closely

connected with the fame which Ceylon acquired as a coffeeproducing country soon after the British took possession.
Coffee

country

planting
in the

was

first

year 1820,

commenced

and the

first

16,000 cwts.

The export of
1827.
Ten years later in 1837

34,600 cwts.,

in

was opened

the

in

Government

suitable

for

the

the

Kandyan

regular

plantation

in

coffee that year

was

the exports reached

1849 they had reached 373,368 cwts., and

had sold 287,360 acres of forest land,
cultivation

of

coffee.

Many

speculators

from their inexperience. But still, Coffee became

King, and in 1870 the annual export had risen to 974,333

suffered

cwts., valued at

,"5,000,000.

1840 Major Skinner from the top of Adam s Peak

looked down on a dense pathless forest and foretold that this
In

region

was

destined

to

become the garden

peopled with Europeans as well as Asiatics.

has been largely fulfilled.

and
His prophecy

of Ceylon

We

now come to the people by whom the labour market is

supplied and on whom the planters are dependent for the
cultivation of the estates.
Mr. C. R. Rigg, in an article in the Journal of the Indian
Archipelago and Eastern Asia, Vol. VI, No. 3, writes:

When

planting

first

came

into vogue, the

Kandyans

flocked

hundreds to the great distribution of rupees, but this

source of labour was soon found to be insufficient, and of too
The Kandyan has such
.precarious a nature to be relied on.
in

CENTENARY VOLUME

174

a reverence for his patrimonial lands, that, were his gain to

be quadrupled, he would not abandon their culture. It was
that he could be induced
only during a portion of the year
even by the new stimulus money to exert himself. Next
came the Sinhalese from the maritime provinces, who

have a stronger love of gain, a liking

In

for

arrack,

and a

1841-3 thousands of

rooted propensity for gambling.

they generally left
these people were employed on estates
their homes for six months at a time, and then returned with
;

The sudden access of wealth amongst them

soon engendered as much independence as was to be found

their earnings.

in the

This source

Kandyans.

and the lowlanders were only

as domestics,

artificers,

of labour

known

traders

became dried up

in

the central

provinces

and

carters.

Southern

India stepped forward to

up the vacancy occasioned by
sons of the soil.
of
the
the cessation from labour
fill

The

arrivals of

Tamil coolies

at

Ceylon ports from South

India for the years 1841 to 1846 were 190,074 men, 3,083
women and 1,614 children, a total of 194,771, whilst the

were

departures

1,421
2,331 women and
the
coolies
that
During
period

110,704 men,

a total of

114,456.
remitted to their country about ^"400,000, whilst the value
of rice imported during the same period was valued at

children,

^"2,116,189.

207,995.

In the year

For

their

1900,

enterprise

the immigrants numbered

migrating, the Tamils

in

have been called the Scotchmen of the East. The coolies

lines
live on the estates in long rows of buildings called
their
to
and
teachers
have
houses,
eat,
doctors,
plenty
They
At earlycost them nothing, and their other wants are few.
dawn they are summoned by tom-tom or horn to the musterground and then proceed to work. At about four in the
.

afternoon they finish for the day, first having their names
In the evening the women
entered on the check-roll.

prepare the evening meal of curry and rice, and

all retire early.

THE TAMIL COOLY MISSION

175

Missionary work had been carried on for many years

among the Tamils of Southern India, and had been most
productive,

there
J.

so that

among

T. Tucker,

who came over to Ceylon

In the year 1851 the Rev.
In July
Tinnevelly, wrote

those

were many Christians.

a missionary

in

finding no means of getting a living, twenty-seven of

our Christians went to Ceylon, but previously appointed
one of themselves to act as their reader, and took a Testa
ment and Prayer Book with them. Twenty-five of them
returned at the end of the year.
They had maintained, as
far a-; I can learn, their Christian character,
notwithstanding
In 1846
they were absent from almost all means of grace.
two of the South Indian missionaries, Messrs. Pettitt and
last,

Thomas

visited

means of reaching
But no opening at
In 1854 the
taries,

visited

Ceylon

to

the coolies

ascertain

if

there were

when away from

their

any
homes.

that time presented itself.

Rev.

W.

Ceylon,

Knight, one of the C.M.S. Secre

and was invited by the proprietors

some estates in the district of Matale, in company with

Dr. John Murdoch, who was interested in the spiritual welfare
of the coolies, to consider the subject.
The result was, that

of

some

of the planters agreed to support and bring over from

Tinnevelly trained catechists and arranged that the C.M.S.
should supply a missionary to superintend the work.
Pending

the appointment of a superintending missionary,

E. T. Higgens, who was then engaged in the

the Rev.

Kandyan

Sinhalese Itineration, consented to do what was necessary.

Dr. Murdoch went over to Tinnevelly and laid the subject
before the missionaries and Christians, and invited cate
chists to volunteer

for the

work.

Eight

selves and at the close of the year six

men

offered

came over

them

to

Ceylon.
thus describes their departure:
had an interesting dismissal of the catechists to Ceylon,
when instructions were delivered to them as to the mode of

The Rev.

J.

Thomas

We

CENTENARY VOLUME

176

Each departing

pursuing their work.

the meeting.

They

arrived

located as

in November, 1854,
Annathan to Cabragalla,

Kandy

in

follows

catechist addressed

and were
Joseph to

Gnanamuttu to Pitikanda, Arumanayagam to

Hoolankanda, Vethanayagam to Elkaduwa, Gnanapragasam
The owners of these estates kindly undertook
to Rajawela.
Kinrara,

to

pay their salaries of

The

following

per month.
the catechists went over to Thine -

,"2-10-0

March

and brought back with them their families in July.

November, 1855, the Rev. Septimus Hobbs, who had
for thirteen years been a missionary in Tinnevelly, arrived
with Mrs. Hobbs, and became Superintendent of the Tamil
velly

In

Cooly Mission.
The C.M.S. took charge of the work, a local committee
of planters, comprising me i of various denominations, under
taking to defray all expenses, except the stipends and allow
ances of the European missionaries.

The Committee met

quarterly, all matters of importance

and
much practical good resulted from
were freely discussed,
It was also decided that instead
this system of management.
of being

confined

to

single

estates,

the

catechists

should

itinerate, according to a regular cycle, through all the districts

This plan was adopted only as
within a reasonable distance.

a temporary measure, and in later years the number of

The
stationed catechists has been steadily increasing.
catechist
estates,

He
month,

is

is

and

now

appointed to take charge of some thirty

lives in the centre of the district.

able, therefore,

and has

to

visit

opportunities

each estate at least once a

for

becoming

much more

intimately acquainted with each individual Christian, and for

instructing each one

The
the

more thoroughly.

catechist only preaches on those estates

permission of the Superintendent, and

where

fte

has

generally

at

THE TAMIL COOLY MISSION

six o clock

in the

morning

the coolies assemble at

reading and speaking

find

visits

there,

He

to the sick,

or

also visits the

lines,

any other people he may

schools and

the

twenty minutes when

for about

muster.

177

gives

addresses to the

distributes tracts and portions of Scripture,

children,

visits

and instructs the Christians, and prepares catechumens for

baptism, and in the absence of a missionary or pastor
conducts the Sunday Services.
Mr. Hobbs remained in charge for seven years, until the
close of the year 1862, when the Rev. W. E. Rowlands

became responsible

until the

arrival of the

influence felt

Rev. and Mrs.

J.

Mrs. Pickford soon made her

Pickford in January, 1864.

upon the women and

girls

who came

within

her reach, regularly met the wives of the catechists, estab

lished a Tamil girls school in the Kandy bazaar, and did

what she could

until her

death on

The Rev. D. Fenn was

in

May

6,

1866.

charge for a few months

in

1867, and Mr. Pickford had finally to retire in

owing

to

The Rev. W.

ill-health.

eighteen years in

November,

1868,

Clark,

March, 1868,
who had been

the Tinnevelly Mission, took charge in

assisted by the Rev. E. M. Griffith, who

had been appointed in consequence of an appeal made by the

local committee for a second European missionary and who
was the first T.C.M. missionary to take up his residence in
the

Uva

district.

This year, the twelfth since the commencement of the

work, there were eighteen workers and 600 estates under
visitation, whilst there had been 394 baptisms during the
twelve years.

About

this

time,

in

May,

1869,

orange-coloured

spots

appeared on the coffee leaves a disease called Hemeleia

vastatrix which rapidly spread over the whole coffee region,
whilst grubs attacked the roots, and brown bugs sapped the
life-blood of the trees.

12

In a few years King Coffee

fell

and

CENTENARY VOLUME

178

With

and gold of the

British, other products, cinchona, cocoa, cardamoms, vanilla,
camphor and tea were planted experimentally, and in a few
tea
Camelia Theifera had the supremacy and
years,

was a thing

became
only 23

of the

past.

the

Queen over
Ibs.

of tea

fair

the

fields

were exported,

in

grit

of Ceylon.
In 1873
1911 about 184 million

pounds, 380,000 acres of land being under tea cultivation.

Four years later, in 1915, the export of tea had risen to over
211 million pounds.
The tea shrubs are planted in rows, and owing to constant
pruning never grow to a great height. The tender leaves or
shoots are called the
in

carry

it

rolled,

pekoe,

in

fermented and
orange

fired,

pekoe,

congou and dust.

Colombo, where it
it

flush,

and women and children working

kanganies or overseers pick the flush and

It is there withered,
baskets to the factories.

gangs under

It
is

and

is

graded as broken orange

pekoe, pekoe souchong, souchong,

is then
packed and forwarded to

shipped to

won universal favour as

The Tamil Cooly Mission

has

all

the

countries of the globe, as

best tea in the world.

continued to prosper, and in

1878 there were 42 catechists, 34 school masters, 955 adult

Christians, 442 Christian children, 378 communicants and

A church had also been built in

Kandy, which was in charge of a Tamil pastor,
and two Tamil clergy, the Revs. P. Peter and G. Gnanamuttu,
were stationed at Pelmadulla and Dickoya.
32 schools with 354 pupils.
Hil! Street in

During

the

J.

ten years the Mission was divided

under the superintendence of the Revs.
The
J. D. Thomas and H.
Horsley.

next

into three districts

D. Simmons,

Christians had increased to

1,705, the communicants to 418,

and the school children to 867. During part of this period,
the Revs. A. R. Cavalier, W. P. Schaffter, V. W. Harcourt
and F. Glanvill had worked in the Mission. Mrs. Glanvill
died and was buried in Haputale after a few months of

THE TAMIL COOLY MISSION

179

1882, and the following year Mr. Glanvill,

two years work, retired, and died in Bristol in 1914,
after doing good work as an Organizing Secretary and Vicar.
Dr. Stock, in his C.M.S. History, writes
Glanvill was
a most lovable character and a model Organizing Secretary.
It was said that he had more real
personal influence in
Durham and Northumberland than bishops, deans, arch
deacons or canons, and when he was brought to London, he
.narried life in

after

won

quickly

the hearts of the clergy

with

whom

he came

in

-contact.

Revs. J. D. Simmons,
and
J.
Ilsley
were the Superintending Missionaries. Mr.
Welchman had worked in the T.C.M. for five years and
In

1898

the

W. Welchman

writes as follows

The number

of the Christians on the estates

is

constantly

There are, of course, amongst them not only the

The mission
earnest, but the lukewarm and the backsliders.

increasing.

aries are often wonderfully encouraged by the consistency of

the great mass of Christians.
Many planters will come
forward and give the highest testimony as to their lives, and

there are

many ways by which

be tested.

Not only do the Christians give liberally to the

Fund and to the building and maintenance of

Church

the sincerity of their faith

may

but are themselves supporting several catechists

are working amongst the heathen on the estates.
One
a
Rs.
in
100
a
man, conductor, spent
purchasing magic lantern,

-churches,

who

and Rs. 900 on

slides representing the life of Christ, and now

It is no
goes about the estates preaching to the coolies.
easy matter for a cooly to get up and walk ten miles to church

back

in the burning sun, and yet this is what very

them do. Nor is it a trifling matter for the
catechists and schoolmasters to give up their time and all to
the work when they could get much more remunerative

.and ten

many

of

employment elsewhere,

or for the Christians, as they often do

CENTENARY VOLUME

180
to stand

up

in the

open

and

air

coolies together

and read God

Day by day

word

to
"

asked his reason for so doing, he replied,

my

of

for
in

little

Him."

one of

children to Himself,

man was

schoolmaster

The
1,070,

an offering

beaten

house

Christians in
the

schools

over

he gathered

On being
has taken six

them.

God

want

Not long ago a youth who had

the schools was turned out of

for refusing to take

another

now

An

Christ.

testify for

seer on an estate built a small room.

to

win

souls

six

learnt about Christ

his father s

house

to the little idol-house,

and

for

the

very

severely

going

to

and learn about Christ.

1898 numbered 2,932, the communicants
to read the Bible

48,

the

scholars

1,893,

whilst

the

income from all sources amounted to Rs. 10,934. During

this last decade the Revs. W. J. Hanan, J. W. Fall and
H. C. Townsend were workers for different periods, whilst in
1899 the Rev.

J. I.

Pickford and

Storrs gave valuable help.

Mission in 1901.

in

1904 the Rev. A. N. C.

The Rev. W. Booth

joined

the

The Rev. J.D. Simmons retired in 1903 and died in 1914, and
In Memoriam notice in the C. M. Review for June, 1914,
Few men have more decidedly left their mark upon the
said:
an

Tamil Cooly Mission than he has. His sterling character

and entire devotion to the work he had in hand were highly
appreciated by the European planters, even by those who
were not in a position to estimate his spiritual qualifications
at their true value, while his gentlemanly bearing and kindly
disposition won for him the affectionate esteem of many of
chem. The catechists and schoolmasters could not fail to
realize that in him they had a teacher and guide of no
ordinary spiritual power.
In 1904 the Rev. J. llsley

was in charge of the Central

Division and part of the Southern Division, residing at
Nanuoya. and the Rev. R. P. Butterfield, who arrived in
Ceylon

in

1900 and had rendered help

in

Haputale,

St.

John

THE TAMIL COOLY MISSION

181

College, Jaffna, and Colombo, assumed charge of the Northern

Division, together with the Sabaragamuwa portion of the
Southern Division. Working in Kandy among the Tamil and

Mohammedan women were Miss Franklin, Miss Howes and

Miss Finney. On the departure of the latter to England,
Miss Poole (who afterwards became Mrs. W. S. Senior) was
associated with Miss Howes in the same work.
Until 1895 this work had been carried on under the
superintendence of the wives of the missionaries stationed
in Kandy.
having no

It

was

Home,

greatly handicapped for

to

many

which enquirers and others

years by
could be

brought for instruction or protection. In 1906 the need was

as the head
supplied by the renting of the
Snuggery
quarters of the Women s Work, and the Home thus provided
has proved the mean> of much blessing. Miss Howes in

one of her annual

speaks of it as being the most fruit

In the early days, lace-making was
taught as a means of livelihood for the converts, and was
brought to a high degree of perfection, but of later years
ful

letters

part of her work.

Home has gradually assumed the character of a school,

thus showing that there is in Kandy an opening fora boarding
school for Tamil girls.
Several converts have gone from the
the

American Mission
in all 140 girls
and
at Uduvil, Jaffna,
Hospital
have passed through the Home, 54 of whom were Hindus
and 12 Mohammedans.
The visiting in the slums of Kandy has gone on regularly
and many Mohammedan women have learnt to read the Bible.
to

Snuggery

for

be trained as nurses

in the

Women

Definite results have not been obtained, but the way of Life
has been opened to many. As Mis? Howes writes
It is
difficult for the women to make any stand for Christ as they
are so much in the power of their relations
and again
definite results are precluded largely because the men, their
:

husbands,

are

untouched.

In

1910,

150

Mohammedan

CENTENARY VOLUME

182

being taught regularly. Visiting has been done

in Gampola,* Nawalapitiya, Matale, Peradeniya, but when,
as has frequently occurred, one missionary has had to carry
on alone, the outstation work has had to be dropped. Miss
Miss Led ward have all
Case, Miss Henrys, Miss Tisdall and

women were

worked

in

Kandy

at

different

times.

The

lace school

in

Brownrigg Street, carried on for many years as part of the

women s work and attended mainly by Hindu and Moham

medan

girls,

was handed over

to the

Kandy Tamil

Pastorate

in 1913.

The numerical weakness

of the staff of missionaries in the

T.C.M. became very marked

in

1905 when the Rev.

J.

Ilsley

England, the burden of the whole work fell on

having
the Rev. R. P. Butterfield and the Rev. T. S. Johnson, who
On
later in the year took charge of the Southern Division.
left for

the return of the Rev. J. Ilsley the T.C.M. had once more its
normal complement of three missionaries. This state of things
however only lasted for a brief while, for in March, 1906,
the Rev. J. Ilsley left the mission and the work again
devolved on his two younger colleagues.
But in 1907 the T.C.M. received a very welcome accession
to its staff in the person of the Rev. W. E. Rowlands, who
had had so much to do with its earlier development and who,
after a lengthy spell of 23 years in parish

now returned to the land and

The Rev. and Mrs. R. P.

work

in

England,

the people he loved so well.

Butterfield left on furlough

T.C.M. was managed by

1908 and for two years the

E. Rowlands and the Rev. T. S. Johnson.
period however a marked advance was made

W.

in

the Rev.

During
in the

this

organi

Tamil congregations into nine definite pastorates^

Kelani
In 1907 the
Valley had become a vigorous pastorate
Doss. This was a comparatively new
G.
Rev.
under the
J.
zation of the

district

having been

first

opened for evangelistic work among

J. D. Simmons, when there

the coolies in 1884 by the Rev.

KAXDY SLUM

REGULARLY VISITED BY THE WOMEN MISSIONARIES

OF THE T.M.

THE TAMIL COOLY MISSION

183

were reported to be 45 Christians, whose contributions

amounted to Rs. 13-40. In 1917 there were 813 Christians,
and their contributions amounted to Rs. 2, 129 59. We also
find the

nathan

Rev. A. Sathianathan at Dickoya, the Rev. A. PakkiaDimbula and the Rev. C. T. Williams in Kandy.

in

In 1908 the Christians in the whole T.C.M. had increased to

3,934, the

communicants

scholars to 5,551.

The

to

1,400, the schools to 107

statistics of the mission

and the

do not always

fully represent the year s work, as sometimes it happens that

the
a larger number of Christians than usual return to
or a larger number arrive.
coast,
During recent years the

of para rubber (Hevea Brasiliensis] has been

In 1898 only ten tons of rubber
taken up by the planters.

cultivation

were exported

thirteen years after in 1911, six million pounds

weight, valued at over 28 million rupees, left the country.
Four years later, in 1915, the exports in rubber had reached

the enormous

Rubber

amount

of forty-six million

pounds weight.

obtained from the trees by what

is called tapping.
Spiral or herringbone cuts are made in the tree to the height
of about six feet, and the milk or latex then runs down, is
is

collected in tins,

and acetic

acid,

removed

to the factory,

and clotted

mixed with creosote

rubber, which are

into sheets of

placed in the hydraulic press and compressed into blocks about

The wounds on the tree are re-opened at
thick.
the next tapping by shaving off a small slice.
(Dr. Willis.)

two inches

Rubber

grow almost anywhere

and Sinhalese
work on rubber estates.

will

elevation of 3,000 feet,

attracted to

in

Ceylon below an

villagers

seem

to be

The Rev. T. S. Johnson left on furlough in 1909, and his

place in Kandy was filled by the Rev. W. Booth, who had
also returned from furlough, while the Rev. R. P. Butterfield
assumed charge

of the Central Division.

The Ceylon Observer, established in 1834, and since 1859

owned by the Ferguson family (Messrs. A. M. and J. Ferguson)

CENTENARY VOLUME

184
has from
all

its

Christian

commencement been a warm

work.

had

It

of

supporter

on

article

leading

the

Tamil Cooly Mission in its issue of April 24, 1911, from

The report of the
which the following is an extract
Tamil Cooly Mission constitutes a very effective reply to
:

that diminishing

number

of

who

people,

are

still

sceptical

and value of Christian work in the

There are still some who
planting districts of the island.
think that the Tamil cooly was a better labourer and a more
contented man in the good old days before any attempt had
been made to bring him that Message to which his employer
owed more than he was frequently willing to confess. That
attitude completely ignores the vast changes which have
or doubtful of the use

in the

taken place in the labour problem

period in question.
most cases a proprietor
his workers than the

planter of fifty years ago was

with a closer personal interest in
average servant of a company can possibly have.

The

in

the moral status of the cooly

fifty

years ago

it is

as high as

grounds

for

is

immensely higher.

is

that of

not to say that

should be, or that it is impossible to find

cheap sneers at or even sincere criticism of

fashion, who
estimate is made of
that

is

That

it

the cooly s character.

ism which

Moreover,

when compared with

shall

if we begin
to mark iniquity in
be able to stand ? When a fair

But

the generations of soul-destroying heathen

behind the cooly,

not lower than we find it.
lie

it is

surprising that his level

And
is

the most hopeful feature of the case is, that the cooly
so susceptible to civilizing and evangelizing influences,

that he responds so readily to the truth that

is

brought

in clear

and

guileless

is

taught

when

methods before him,

it

that,

speaking generally, he proves to be a consistent Christian

We do not forget that
according to the light that he has.
even now an occasional facetious advertiser declines to con
sider applications

from Christians

for

employment.

But the

185

THE TAMIL COOLY MISSION

most casual examination of such cases usually shows that the

irate employer has been deceived by a smart scoundrel using
Christianity for financial profit, which could easily have been
detected by the simple method of writing to the man s alleged
both
pastor, or that there has been a good deal to say on

by no means the only injured

Christian Church in Ceylon can
the
point to numerous cases, perfectly genuine and open to
most rigid scrutiny, of coolies who have embraced the

sides,

and the employer

party in the

affair.

is

The

Christian faith, and are as a result living up to a standard

There
that would not disgrace a Christian of any nation.
are authentic records of direct evangelistic efforts made by
coolies

who were

in possession

not satisfied that they alone should remain

manner of life, that they had learned to

of a

value so highly, and that had made so great a difference to

them. Thus the conversion of one or two members of the
labour force of an estate sets in motion forces for good, the
results of

which

it is

difficult to calculate.

In 1912 the Rev. A. K. Finnimore,

who had

joined the

Ceylon Mission in 1909, succeeded the Rev. W. E. Rowlands

in the charge of the Southern Division and in the Secretary
ship of the Mission, and in the same year a new pastorate
was formed in Sabaragamuwa under the charge of the
Rev. P. A. Paukiam, son of an old catechist connected with
the

Tamil Cooly Mission.

In the report for 1915 we find there was an income of

Rs. 13,949. The 5,500 adults and children also contributed
The grace of
Rs. 17,361. The Rev. W. Booth writes
:

win
word by reading it
prayers show that some of the
A tea maker
of the real thing.
liberality,

of

God

sum

vessels.

efforts to

sufficient

and the honouring

privately and at family
Christians have got hold

others for Christ,

for the

purchase

is

giving

of a

set

by instalments
of

communion

CENTENARY VOLUME

186

At a Confirmation an overseer brought two sovereigns a^

a thank-offering for his recovery from a serious illness.
In one district, on Good Friday, when a collection was

made

for the Jews, a

Rs. 12 as her offering.

The

catechists,

who

woman

to prosper,

congregation brought

are our messengers

greatly deserve the prayerful

work

in the

for their

sympathy

task

is

of all

to

the

people,

who wish

their

not an easy one, and the

discouragements they meet with from those

who ought

to

help them are many.

One of these catechists writes in his journal, The estates
are not near to each other.
I have to pass through
forests,
cross rivers and climb up and

down

the steep

On some

hills.

have no place to sleep, and sometimes I can get

to
eat before I lie down.
Yet I take much pleasure
nothing
in visiting the estates, and telling the Hindus about Christ.
Another writes, I walk in sunshine and rain. On some
estates

estates
I

had

On one

no place to stop for the night.

find

occasion

to sleep in a cattle shed.

noteworthy point, gleaned from the

year 1916,
themselves

contributions

considers

statistics

for the

Tamil Christians
exceed the European and general

that the contributions of the

is

Rs. 16,879-29
Rs. 13,990-35

the

by

When

one

who form

the

Rs. 2,888-94.

circumstances of the coolies

greater part of the congregations, one realizes with thankful

ness and feelings of shame that the lesson of self-support

and the duty of every church to be from its commencement

a missionary church, are being learnt and put into practice
by these new Christians in a way that sets an example to
Christians and Churches of an older growth.
In 1917 the staff of the Mission was the normal one of
four superintending missionaries the Revs. W. E. Rowlands,
A. K. Finnimore, R. P. Butterfield and T. S. Johnson.
At
the

same time there were

eight

Tamil clergy associated with

THE REV. W.

E.

ROWLANDS AND TAMIL WORKERS

AN ESTATE CHURCH

THE TAMIL COOLY MISSION

them

in the pastoral

were the
P. A.

187

Rev.

These
oversight of the congregations.
T. D. Sathianathan at Badulla, the Rev.

Paukiam

at Rakwana, the Rev. J. Yorke at Avisawella,

Pakkianathan at Lindula, the Rev. J. G. Doss
at Dickoya, the Rev. S. M. Thomas at
Gampola, the Rev.
N. G. Nathaniel at Matale, while the Rev. G. M. Arula-

the Rev. A.

nantham was expected

take charge of the

to

Kandy Tamil

congregations.
The Christians connected with the T.C.M. have increased

from 3,140 in 1900 to 4,711 in 1918 and their contributions

from Rs. 5,314-93 to Rs. 14,728 48.
The work sustained a severe loss in 1918 by the death in

England of the Rev. W. Booth, and a further one by the

well-earned retirement of the Rev. W. E. Rowlands, which

was the occasion for the unique honour of an appreciative

minute being passed by the Ceylon Planters Association
and for the request that an enlarged portrait of the veteran
missionary should be placed

The minute

is

as follows

in the Planters

Hall, Kandy.

This Association desires to express the

deep sense of

planters of Ceylon of their appreciation of the long and valua

ble services rendered to the community in general and to
plant
ers and their coolies in particular by the Rev. W. E. Rowlands,

Secretary of the Tamil Cooly Mission.

CHAPTER

XVI.

CHURCH OF ENGLAND ZENANA MISSIONARY

SOCIETY IN CEYLON.
AN

effort to

bring Christian education to the

Kandyan

girls

C.E.Z.M.S. into Ceylon. The high-class

Buddhists of the Kandyan country had seemed as inaccessible
to ordinary methods of foreign missions as the rocky height
-of Adam s Peak, which only enthusiastic pilgrims scale in
search of salvation.
The Rev. and Mrs. J. Ireland Jones
believed, in spite of every discouragement and adverse opinion,
that it would be possible to induce the parents to entrust their
daughters to the care of English ladies. The Rev. J. G.
Garrett (C.M.S.) also had the project at heart and when
of rank

first

led the

speaking in Birmingham in 1888, appealed for ladies to start

the work.

Miss Bellerby and Miss James responded to the appeal and

the Church of England Zenana Missionary Society sent them
out in 1889, the expense of the venture being largely met by
warm supporters of the Society.

a few

On arrival in Ceylon, Miss Bellerby and Miss James went to

Cotta to learn the language. Miss Denyer, who went out
as an unattached and honorary worker, joined them and
worked amongst the

villages

around Kandy.

Later on she

transferred to the C.M.5., as that Society was responsible for

the evangelistic work in the Kandy district.

In 1890 a suitable bungalow, Hillwood, was found, in which

to begin the proposed boarding-school

in

Bellerby and Miss James removed there.

Kandy, and Miss

A prospectus was

SOCIETY IN CEYLON

C.E.Z.M.

189

issued bearing the names of three Kandyan Chiefs.

Miss R.
Gooneratna of Cotta was associated with the missionaries in

the

work during these

efforts did

much

Hilhvood was
School

in

early years and her wise and untiring

up the school.

to build

Clarence Memorial
originally called the
of the infant son of the Rev. and Mrs.
J.

memory

Ireland Jones, but owing to the confusion that

constantly
arose through having two names to the same institution, the
Society decided in 1900 to drop the name
Clarence

Memorial.

Such progress was made that

in

in

1892 there were

the

boarding school, and Miss

Maiden was sent out to help Miss Bellerby in the work as
Miss James had married the Rev. E. Bellerby.
Miss Scovell accompanied Miss Maiden and, after learning
altogether

twenty

girls

the language at Hilhvood, went to

Gampola

to start the village

mission work there.

In 1892 the Government Agent, Mr. P. A. Temple, in the
Administrative Report writes, I should not pass unnoticed an
admirable institution conducted in Kandy by some English
ladies for the education of the

daughters of Kandyan Chiefs.

have made an attempt, even partially

successful, to bring out into the sunshine of knowledge and
womanly accomplishments a class which native prejudice has
hitherto consigned to the gloomy and uncultured life of a
It is

no small thing

to

Kandyan Walauwa.
In 1893 three of the pupils were confirmed one being
the first convert to Christianity.
In 1894 the work was reported of as successful, though the
spadework done in those early years by Miss Bellerby had

been exceedingly

difficult.

For many

years,

owing

to the in

before the days of train and

accessibility of the Walauwas
of motors
the children only went home once a year, during

Sinhalese

New

Year

in April.

The numbers soon outgrew

the capacity of the bungalow,

CENTENARY VOLUME

190

1895 a dormitory to accommodate thirty girls was

added. In 1897 Miss Alice Naish arrived to help in the school
and carried on bravely with Miss Maiden during Miss Bellerby s
furlough, but she died at Home in 1901, the strain of the work

and

in

having too great for her.

In January, 1901, Miss Lena Chapman, who had been
invalided home from Bengal, was sent to Kandy.
During

arrangement by which the Principal of Trinity

was
College
manager of the school, the Rev. J. G. Garrett,
Clerical Secretary and Mr. (afterwards Sir) William Duff
Gibbon, Financial Secretary, came to an end. Miss Bellerby
was appointed Manager as well as Principal, and the Rev.
A. E. Dibben became Corresponding Secretary with the
this year, the

Home

Society.

In 1902 Miss

Menage came

out to help in the care of the

She was transferred to the Deaf School in Palamcottah, South India in the following year, and returned to
help in the Deaf and Blind School in 1912.
The latter
In 1903 Miss Scovell and Miss Maiden retired.
had been invalided home in 1901 having done good work in
The first success
the school, and was not allowed to return.
girls.

examination Junior Cambridge was obtained in

1903, one fesult of this being that girls were allowed to stay
thus a blow was struck at the prevalent
longer at school
in a public

practice of too early marriage.

In 1904 Miss Eva Heather, B.A.,

came to Hillwood, and

from 1904-1907 Miss Lena Chapman was acting-Principal,
Miss E. Curtis joined
while Miss Bellerby was on furlough.
Hillwood in 1905 as a local worker, and in 1907
Middlea
a
school
for
near
was
as
wood,
Hillwood,
bungalow
opened
schools
little boys from four to eight years of age, the boys
in Kandy not catering for such young children and the parents
being desirous of having their small boys at Hillwood with
Miss F. Naish took charge of Middlewood.
their sisters.

KANDYAN BRIDE AND BRIDEGROOM OF CHIEFTAIN RANK

C.E.Z.M.

In 1908

SOCIETY IN CEYLON

191

Miss Rose Overton (Somerville College, Oxford)

M.F. and Miss B.E. Brutton

joined the Hillwood staff and Miss

came

out to give voluntary help for a year.

In this year,

Hillwood was enlarged to accommodate over a hundred girls.

This was done by blasting away a large portion of the hillside
and filling up a deep ravine with the debris. Thus a two-storied
school building, play-ground, and tennis court were evolved.
In 1909 seven girls were bapti/ed and five confirmed

work of the past years in breaking up the

In 1910 Miss Cave, M.A., formerly Editorial Superin
tendent of the C.E.Z.M.S. and Miss J. Oakley arrived to
fruits of the faithful
soil.

help at Hillwood and Middlewood.

Miss Lena Chapman returned from furlough in 1910 and

opened Peradeniya School for girls ineligible for Hillwood,

but in the following year Miss Bellerby was invalided home
and retired from the work, and Miss Lena Chapman was
asked to close Peradeniya School and return to Hillwood as
Principal bringing some of her girls and all her school plant
with her.

Miss Heather, who had been

in

England

for

some

little

The Annexe
time, retired from the C.E.Z.M.S. in 1911.
was built on the hillside in 1912 and it has served as a
valuable isolation block
the

in

cases of infectious illness.

In 1913

Miss Hall,
day pupils were admitted to Hillwood.
joined the staff in 1915 and a Science Room was built.

first

B.sc.,

Miss Rose Overton, having learnt the vernacular (Sinhalese),

lent to the C.M.S. Training School, and she has since
been in charge of the Women s Department of the Training
In 1915 the first
Middlewood old
Colony, Peradeniya.

was

boy was baptized at Trinity College.

In 1916 class rooms and a covered way connecting the
1
Annexe with the school were added. Several baptisms had
taken place during these years, and this year saw the first
Miss Dorothy Gunston
Christian marriage from Hillwood.

CENTENARY VOLUME

192

arrived during the year and took charge of the Kindergarten.

Other Christian marriages followed in 1917, and thus the
of the Christian Home,
goal of the work, the foundation
the
school was abundantly
now
been
reached,
having
justifying

its

existence.

In 1917 Miss Oakley returned from furlough and brought

Miss Cragg with her as an honorary worker. As Miss Oakley

broke down a few months after her arrival, Miss Cragg gave
invaluable help for over three years at Middlewood by taking
over the charge of the small boys.
The Kandyans are a rapidly changing community and are
coming abreast of the other races in their national life.
least potent force in this modern forward
the influence of its educated and enlightened

Perhaps not the

movement is
womanhood.

THE SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF AND BLIND

In 1910 Miss M. F. Chapman joined her sister at the Peradeniya School for a year and whilst there wrote an article in
The Rivikirana, calling attention to
a Sinhalese newspaper,
the fact that nothing was being done for the deaf and dumb of

The
the Island and appealing for funds to start the work.
census returns for 1911 showed that there were 3,233 deaf and
dumb persons in the Island and 3,957 blind, 947 of these being
under fifteen. Mr. K. J. Saunders, of Trinity College, took
up Miss Chapman s appeal and commended it to the public
through the press. Mr. T. Gracie, Secretary of the Ceylon
branch of the Bible Society, also wrote supporting the appeal

and suggesting the formation of a scheme which would include

As a result, an Appeal Fund Committee was
the blind also.
the
with
formed
Bishop of Colombo as Chairman, Mr. Saunders
as Honorary Secretary and Mr. Gracie as Honorary Trea
Meanwhile, Miss
surer, with the object of raising Rs. 37,500.
to
and
in
went
succeeded
England
Chapman
collecting over

CENTENARY VOLUME

192

arrived during the year and took charge of the Kindergarten.

Other Christian marriages followed in 1917, and thus the
of the Christian Home,
goal of the work, the foundation
the
school was abundantly
now
been
reached,
having
justifying

its

existence.

In 1917 Miss Oakley returned from furlough and brought

Miss Cragg with her as an honorary worker. As Miss Oakley

broke down a few months after her arrival, Miss Cragg gave
invaluable help for over three years at Middlewood by taking
over the charge of the small boys.
The Kandyans are a rapidly changing community and are
coming abreast of the other races in their national life.

Perhaps not the

movement is
womanhood.

least

potent force in this

the influence of

its

modern forward

educated and enlightened

THE SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF AND BLIND

In 1910 Miss M. F. Chapman joined her sister at the Peradeniya School for a year and whilst there wrote an article in
The Rivikirana, calling attention to
a Sinhalese newspaper,
was
the fact that nothing
being done for the deaf and dumb of

The
the Island and appealing for funds to start the work.
census returns for 1911 showed that there were 3,233 deaf and
dumb persons in the Island and 3,957 blind, 947 of these being
under fifteen. Mr. K. J. Saunders, of Trinity College, took
up Miss Chapman s appeal and commended it to the public
through the press. Mr. T. Gracie, Secretary of the Ceylon
branch of the Bible Society, also wrote supporting the appeal
and suggesting the formation of a scheme which would include

As a result, an Appeal Fund Committee was

the blind also.
formed with the Bishop of Colombo as Chairman, Mr. Saunders
as Honorary Secretary and Mr. Gracie as Honorary Trea
Meanwhile, Miss
surer, with the object of raising Rs. 37,500.
Chapman went to England and succeeded in collecting over

C.E.Z. M.

SOCIETY IN CEYLON

193

a thousand pounds. She also secured the services of Miss

Bausor, a trained teacher of the blind, and induced the C.E.Z.

M.S.

to enter

upon

this

new work

in

Ceylon.

Miss G. Bergg

offered herself to the Society specially for work

amongst the
deaf of Ceylon and went into training.
Miss Mase, a trained

came out to help in the work until Miss

Bergg had completed her course, anJ. Miss Menage, who had
previously worked at Palamcottah, joined the staff as matron.
The Appeal Committee collected about Rs. 48,600, the Hon.
Mr. A. ]. R. de Soysa, M.L.C., gave a site of six acres
near Mt. Lavinia, and on this land the school was built. The
work itself was begun in 1912 in a rented bungalow in Dehiteacher of the deaf,

new building not being ready for occupation until

when the Appeal Fund Committee, having completed its

wala, the
1914,

work, handed over to the C.E.Z. M.S. A serious outbreak of

occurred immediately after the removal and as it was
seen that further drainage was necessary, Icicle Hall in
illness

Colombo was rented and the school carried on there

Miss Bausor returned to England in 1914 owing

time.

for a
to

ill-

health and Miss G. Bergg, having completed her training,

arrived in Colombo in February, 1915, Miss Mase leaving
In September, 1915, Miss Chapman left
shortly afterwards.
on medical advice and the school was re-transferred to

new buildings. Miss S. C. Lloyd, of the C.M.S., was

asked to undertake the oversight of the work temporarily, and,
after five months, Miss Bergg became Principal, and shortly
the

Manager

also.
During the yean, 1916 and 1917
was
several
new buildings were added,
made,
steady progress
the numbers increased and new industries were started.
A

afterwards,

training

class

was opened

teachers of the deaf or

for girls

blind,

who wished

to

become

and most encouraging reports

were received as a result of the Government examination, the

annual Government grant being considerably increased.
Besides this generous grant the school has no fixed income,
13

CENTENARY VOLUME

194

and

is

ing as

entirely dependent on voluntary contributions. Appeal

it does to the sympathies of every class and creed, the

work has aroused widespread

in

its efforts

interest

and encouraging support

to train these afflicted children to

happy and, as

far as possible,

independent

become

useful,

citizens.

VILLAGE WORK.
In 1892 Miss A. Scovell was sent out, specially supported for
work in the villages around Kandy, which remained her centre
until
first

1896 when the present Mission. House at Gampola was

The C.E.Z.M.S. was then assigned the womerrs
rented.

Gampola district, thirty-six miles long by thirtyand

Miss Scovell and Miss E. S. Karney carried on
four broad,
a zealous evangelistic campaign in the numerous villages,
work

in the

besides running a very successful dispensary in

Gampola

itself.

elementary medical work touch was obtained

Through
with many of the surrounding villages, patients taking back
The C.E.Z.M.S. reliev
the Gospel message to their homes.
ed the C.M.S. of the ten girls schools in the district: and opened
this

Miss K. Gedge worked in Gampola from

and then took charge of the C.M.S. and C.E.Z.
M.S. Training School for vernacular teachers at Cotta from
Miss Johnson arrived in
1904 until her marriage in 1909.
1904 expressly for village work. Another valued helper was
Miss M. R. Gedge who, after a period of honorary service in
East Africa, came to Ceylon in 1900 and rendered useful help
in various mission stations, both C.M.S. and C.E.Z.M.S.,

five

new

1898 to

ones.

190,;,

devoting herself to the English-speaking people.

s Christian Association branch of seventy
members was started in Gampola in 1898 and Bible-classes

especially

A Young Women

formed, and these two branches of work were carried on by

Miss Gedge on her arrival with much success. Living at

Gampola, she also visited in the railway settlements at

Kadugannawa and Nawalapitiya. Later this work among

C.E.Z.M.

SOCIETY

IN

CEYLON

195

the railway employees and their families was

taken up by
Miss M. Peto, another honorary
missionary, who, after service
in North India, made her home at
Gampola in 1910 and
has since worked among the
Miss
English-speaking people.
Scovell retired in 1903 and Miss
Karney in 1905. Miss
M. E. Lambe arrived in 1906 and from that time
she and
Miss Johnson have carried on the work. The
Society having
acquired the bungalow and compound, a new
dispensary
.and sick-room were added in
191J, a boarding school was
started and a preaching band formed.
In this year Miss
Karney returned to the Mission and developed the work at
Talawa, a village ne_ir Anuradhapura, in which
village she
Jived until her departure from
Ceylon in 1915.
Some of the girls schools taken over from the C.M.S. were
given back to that Society in 1918, thus
setting

missionaries to devote

more time

to evangelistic

free

work.

the

CHAPTER

XVII.

THE GREAT WAR AND RECENT PROGRESS.

THE

great

war

of

1914-18 had a

less direct

effect

on

the

Mission than on those of

India, Uganda, Egypt,

Ceylon
China and Japan. Ceylon sent no Labour Corps officered to a
certain extent by missionaries as did Uganda, India, China
and Japan, but this was mainly due to the inability of the
Ceylon Government to finance such an effort. Apart from

the enlightened and active patriotism shown in some of the

secondary schools, the attitude of the mass of Sinhalese and

Tamil Christians was that

of sympathetic spectators of the

conflict.

The Ceylon Mission played its part in the war as far as its
numbers and position would allow. The Revs. A. K. Finnimore and A. G. Fraser served as Army Chaplains on the
Western Front, while another missionary was accepted as a
chaplain, but withdrew on account of an urgent call to
return to Ceylon.

Trinity College, Kandy, gave of

including seven of its

four of its pupils, of

staff,

whom

of

whom two were

eleven laid

down

killed.

its

best,

Fifty-

their lives, also

took part.
Its contribution to the war was graciously recog
nized by the King, who presented one of the captured
German machine-guns to the College. Mounted on a granite
stand,

this

was unveiled by the Governor

William Manning,
1921.

in

of Ceylon,

Sir

the presence of a large assemblage, in

THE GREAT WAR AND RECENT PROGRESS

The Rev.

A.

M. Walmsley served

tor a

197

short time in the

I.A.R.O.
Mesopotamia and in 1917 when compulsory
military training for all Europeans under fifty was introduced,
in

of

several

the

members

of

the

Mission preferred to join

Defence Corps rather than be exempted by reason

The son of a T.C.M. catechist joined up in
of their calling.
1916 and
fought throughout the Palestine campaign.

the local

boys of our elementary English schools also

and
served in Palestine and Mesopotamia and on
joined up
old

Several

other battle fronts.

The smaller boarding schools, both boys and girls

contributed to the best of their ability to the various war
,

funds.

In consequence of the war and the subsequent problems

arising from it, the desire for greater political freedom has

become

mftre intense

community share
the

only

and more widely spread.

difference being

make more

The

that their non-Christian

Press and of public

forward the particular ends which they favour.
use of

self-determination
of their agitation.

Christian

to a great extent in this legitimate aspiration,

the

the

is

It

is

not

political

brethren

meetings to

With many,

war-cry and the object

the purpose

of this chapter

to

movement, but simply to note to some extent its

as seen in the manner of the recaption of the Christian

discuss this
effect

message.

Among the masses

of the Sinhalese there

is

a decided

tendency to regard Buddhism as the national religion, while

many, both Tamils and Sinhalese, regard Christianity as a
Hence has arisen the somewhat
religion of the West.
widely-spread idea that to become a Christian is to become
denationalized and to be out of sympathy with national
For this reason, the missionary body as a
aspirations.

whole would welcome a far greater measure of self-reali/ation

the Cevlonese communities than has hitherto been

for

reached.

CENTENARY VOLUME

198

The

revival

of

Buddhism,

which

became noticeable
from this
seems to

the century, has received a further impetus

early
national movement.
Of recent years this revival
in

have taken the form of an attempt to demonstrate that the

Buddhist system of philosophy is capable of adaptation as a.

working force in the modern movements of the day, many of

which are essentially Christian in origin. Thus we have, as
pointed out in Ch. Ill, Buddhist Grant-in-aid Schools run by
a central organization, just as we have Christian Grant-in-aid
Schools run by different Christian bodies
Buddhist Sunday
;

Young Men s Buddhist Associations in emulation

Young Men s Christian Association and a Buddhist

Schools
of the

Literature

Society
Christians in

with

Buddhists co-operate
contemplated.
Social Service Leagues and in other

is

societies for the amelioration of suffering.

As
stated

regards
is

the

Mohammedans

that their attitude

is

the most that can be

more friendly than in pre-war

days.

Dealing with the congregations of Sinhalese and Tamil

Christians connected with and owing their
origin to the C.M.S.,.
it should be noted that the ten
years prior to 1918 have seen
a considerable development in
organization, especially in
connection with the Diocese.
Missionaries and Ceylonese
clergy of the C.M.S., holding the Bishop s
are
license,

naturally part of the Diocese as

directly associated with

it,

much

as are the clergy more

their relationship to the C.M:S.

being something additional.

C.M.S. missionaries took a
prominent part in the formation of the Diocesan Synod in
1880, and have ever since taken their share in its work

and

in that of the

Diocesan organizations generally.

present Bishop of Colombo, Dr. E. A.
Copleston, accepted the invitation of the Parent Committee
to become Chairman of the C.M.S.
Conference, and the estab
In

1909 the

lishment of this closer connection between the

Bishop and

THE RIGHT REV.

E.

A.

COPLKSTON,

D.D.,

BISHOP OF COLOMBO

THE GREAT WAR AND RECENT PROGRESS

199

the Society has been attended by much profit to the work.

Whilst thus intimately connected with the Diocese, it is
however natural that as the Parent Committee makes large
grants to the Ceylon Mission and sends out missionaries from
it should claim a certain amount of control and this
up to the present has been secured by the Conference and the
Finance Committee which together form the Local Governing
Body of the Mission, and by a Patronage Board which

England,

controls the appointment of Ceylonese clergy to the charge of

The Parent Com
pastorates connected with the Society.

mittee

Memorandum

of 1900 forms the basis of

the policy

which has been pursued. Four Ceylonese clergy, elected by

their own fellow clergy, and two laymen nominated by the
Conference have seats on the Conference, and two of these
are

generally elected

each year to serve on the Standing

Committee.

in which the leading pastor

to a status of selfattained
ates, Sinhalese and Tamil, have

stage has

now been reached

from
support and independence, receiving practically no grant
assisted
but
for
by
the Parent Committee
pastoral work,
grants in aid of

nearly

all of

the

evangelistic

and

school

work which

them have undertaken.

is now no Di-trict Missionary in

has been undertaken by the
work
of
his
whole
The
Jaffna.
Church
their
Committees, with Chundicully,
four pastors and
as
their
Pallai
and
centres, leaving only the
Nellore, Copay
the
and
work
training of vernacular
English educational

Thus

fo r example, there

In the Cotta
in the hands of the missionaries.
and
the
with
has
been
taken
similar
Nugegoda
a
District
step
the Sinha
as
Colombo
in
and
regards
Talangama pastorates,

teachers

In Kandy the Tamil pastorate has

lese and Tamil pastorates.
become independent, and the Sinhalese congregations there,
namely at Trinity Church, Katukelle and Gatembe, have been
in this position for nearly forty years.

200

CENTENARY VOLUME

A remarkable feature of recent years has been the progress

and development of the Tamil Christian pastorates in the
Whereas in 1900 there was but one
planting districts.
ordained Tamil clergyman working in the sphere of the Tamil
Cooly Mission, the Rev. A. Gnanatuuttu of Kandy, there are
nine.
These men are in charge of vigorous pastorates in

now

Kandy, Dikoya, Dimbula, Nuwara Eliya, the Kelani Valley,

Sabaragamuwa, Matale, Badulla and Gampola.

CHAPTER

XVIII.

RECENT EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENTS.

THE

past twenty years have witnessed a great and ever-increasing demand for education, and a correspondingly higher

standard in missionary schools has been necessitated. The

days are past when any sort of a weather-proof building

would do

for a school

sufficient

education

to

and when a teacher need have only

impart

instruction.

Buildings,

to

of a much higher
satisfy Government requirements, must be
few
exceptions, be more or less
type, and teachers must, with
and
Thus the burden
expense of missionary schools
experts.
becomes increasingly heavier. Secondary schools must have
their laboratories and science equipment and all schools must

have a certain proportion of trained teachers on

feature of the

present demand

their staffs.

for education

is

the desire

Parents will pay anything in reason and

to learn English.
for
than
often more
they can afford for English education
Pupils will daily trudge miles to supplement
course with some instruction in English.
school
a vernacular
accentuated
of
The importance
higher educational work is
are taking
Ceylonese
national
of
aspirations.
in these days
a more and more prominent part in public life and although
receive
the few proceed to an English University, the many
schools and
their deepest educational impress in the high
Moreover, in connection with the
colleges of the island.
the development of the Church
progress of Christianity and
to aim at the
of the future, it is increasingly necessary
It
fitted to take a leading part.
training of men who will be
notable
exceptions,
fact that with some few
is a
their children.

significant

CENTENARY VOLUME

202

the Ceylonese of outstanding capacity in politics, Government

service and business, are Christians or have received their

education in a Christian institution.

A distinction more or less defined may be noticed in the

outlook and ideals of the Christian and non- Christian leaders.
Christianity gives a wider and more altruistic outlook and, in
many of the present-day leaders, tends to moderate the
ambitions of the extreme Nationalists without, however,

evincing any lack of sympathy with any reasonable scheme for

the greater self-realization of the Ceylonese races.

The teaching
great

strides

Agriculture
the

is

both pure and applied, has

of science,

of

recent

doing

years.

great

The School

of

made

Tropical

work and receives the support

of

Agriculture as a profession is
beginning to compete with the practice of law and medicine
and with the attractive Government service.

land-owning

classes.

The world-wide movement towards Social Service has not

Ceylon untouched. The first Social Service League in
the island was initiated at Trinity College under the leader
The movement has
ship of the late Capt. N. P. Campbell.
spread, and in Colombo and in other places similar organiza
left

tions are

working

for the

uplift

these are even non -Christian, but

the masses.
Some of
when one remembers the

of

pessimism of the Buddhist philosophy, the negative idealism of

Hinduism and the fatalistic creed of Mohammedanism, there
can be no doubt as to the source of the inspiration.

Higher education

for

girls is still largely in the

hands of

the missionary bodies at

work in the island. The Buddhists

have two institutions in Colombo and others are projected,
whilst the Hindus have one school in the North.
The
Mohammedans, the most backward race as regards education,
are beginning to bestir themselves, but so far only as regards
the education of their boys.
Signs are not wanting that in
India the more enlightened Mohammedan communities are

CONDEMNED

VILLAGE SCHOOL

THE SAME SCHOOL REBUILT,

1915

RECENT EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENTS

the

realizing

necessity

hoped and believed

for

educating their

that this

movement

and

girls,

before

will

to

There are two factors which

Ceylon.
urgency of the higher education of girls. One

spread

203

mark
is

it

is

long
the

that the

educated young Easterner feels the need of and demands

a correspondingly educated and
enlightened partner. The
second is the increased scope for the work of women
in social

service.

emancipation of

The pace

women

in

at

which the movement

the East

for the

progressing leaves
the historian breathless.
During the last year or two, the
claim for the franchise for women has been
urged in India
with no uncertain voice.
The fulfilment of this claim is

probably far distant, but that

momentous advance.

From

it

is

has been

made

at all,

a missionary point of view, the Boarding

for Girls are the

share with

all

most satisfactory

in results.

is

Schools

These, however,

other grades of schools, in the necessity for

demands of Government for better

more competent staff, and more up-to-date equip
ment. To keep pace with these demands is an
ever-increasing
complying with the

buildings,

difficulty

few

and many schools barely pay their way.

years ago compulsory education was introduced

and

is
gradually being enforced.
With it came also the
Conscience Clause, a copy of which is displayed in every
school.
A new policy of education affecting our vernacular
schools, recently foreshadowed by the Ceylon Government,,
constitutes a problem for our Missionary Societies. The near

future will witness a considerable modification of

evangelistic
effort, the chief notes of which will be more concentration

and greater efficiency.

Within the sphere of the Tamil Cooly Mission the most
noticeable development of recent years has been the increase
in the number of Estate Schools.
This is due chiefly to a

Government ordinance requiring

estates to

make

provision for

CENTENARY VOLUME

.204

the education of the children of their

the ordinance

fails

in that

it

attendance, a large number

and many of these are under the
aries.

smaller

the missionaries.

owing

to the

number

labour

force.

Though

contains no clau-e for enforcing

of estates have provided schools

management of the mission

managed and financed by

are both

Educationally, they are of doubtful value

irregularity of the attendance,

though

this,

we

hope, will be remedied to a great extent by the provisions of

a new labour ordinance which will limit the employment of

From
very young children in manual labour on the estates.
a missionary point of view, the chief points in favour of many
of them are that they provide a point d appui for beginning
work among the
building

is

coolies of an estate,

and that the school

useful a? a meeting-place for the Christians.

CONCLUSION.
IT

is

hoped that the foregoing pages have given a fair and a

account of the work of the Church Missionary

readable

Society in Ceylon during the century which ended in the

year 1918 and that the reader will rise from their perusal
with some idea of what God has wrought by this imperfect

and unworthy instrument.

work much cause

He

has given to

all

concerned in

and thanksgiving for the

measure of prosperity and progress which He has permitted
them to witness, for the many souls brought into His
Kingdom and for the moral uplift of the peoples of Ceylon.
At the same time there is much cause for humiliation when
the

for praise

is borne in mind that throughout the century there have

been multitudes, young and old, rich and poor, educated and
illiterate, who, although they have had the Gospel of Christ
put plainly before them, have either deliberately rejected it or
turned away from it with indifference, as though it were
it

something which did not concern them. The proportion of

to non-Christians in the whole island is still a

Christians
fraction

below ten per cent. This constitutes a loud call

who have embraced the Christian religion

the Ceylonese

Take up the torch and wave

it

to

to

wide,

work of evangelizing the country must now be left

more and more in their hands, and dark places still abound
for the

to be illuminated with

which need

"

Gospel

light.

The

struggle nought availeth,

The labour and the wounds are vain,
The enemy faints not nor faileth,
And as things have been they remain."

Say

not,

tired waves vainly breaking,

here no painful inch to gain,
Far back, through creeks and inlets making,
Comes silent, flooding in, the main.

For while the

Seem

And

not by eastern windows only

daylight comes, comes in the light
In front the sun climbs slow, how slowly
But westward, look, the land is bright.

When

HYMN FOR CEYLON.

Jehovah, Thou hast promised

The isles shall wait for Thee;

The joyous isles of Ocean,^

The jewels of the sea
Lo we, this island s watchmen,
Would give and take no rest,
(For thus hast Thou commanded,)
;

Till

our dear land be blessed.

Then bless her, mighty Father,

With blessings needed most,
In every verdant village,
By every palmy coast
On every soaring mountain
O er every spreading plain.
May all her sons and daughters
;

Thy

righteousness attain.

Give peace within her borders,

Twixt man and man goodwill,
The love

all unsuspicious,
love that works no ill
In loyal, lowly service
Let each from other learn,
The guardian and the guarded,
Till Christ Himself return.

The

To Him our land shall listen,

To Him our land shall kneel,
All rule be on His shoulder.
All wrong beneath His heel

Oh consummation glorious,
Which now by faith we sing
Come, cast we up the highway

That brings us back the King.

W.

S.

SENIOR.

APPENDIX
CEYLON

LIST OF

Abbreviations.

Dublin

C.M.S.

A.

MISSIONARIES

Oxf., Oxford; Camb.,

Durham

Cambridge

(MEN).
Dub.
;

Church Missionary College,

Islington;
d.,
deacon; p., priest; m., married; S.M.,
Sinhalese Mission
T.M., Tamil Mission
T.C.M., Tamil
T.C.K., Trinity College,
Cooly Mission
Kandy
Ret.,
;

Dur.,

Isl.,

Retired from Ceylon;

D., Died.

C.,

7
Curate; V ., Vicar;

Rec., Rector;

1818

m. 1827 Mary Ann

Lambrick, Rev. Samuel (Matlock)
d. 1860.
Stratford,
S.M. Ret. 1835. Tutor at Eton, 1816.
1.

Chaplain

to

Sinhalese
2.

Marquis

of

Cholmondeley, 1837. Compiled a

D. 1854, aged 85.
Vocabulary.
Robert, son of Rev. John Mayor, of

Grammar and

Mayor,

Rev.

Shawbury.m. September

4,

1817, at St. George

s,

Everton,

Charlotte

Bickersteth, daughter of Rev. E. Bickersteth of

Watton, and Secretary of the C.M.S. S.M. Ret. 1S28. V. of

Acton and Rec. of Coppenstall, 1838. D. July 14, 1846, aged

55.
A soa, Rev. John Eytou Bickersteth Mayor, born
Baddegama, January 28, 1825, became Professor of Latin,
St. John s College,
Cambridge, in 1872, and wrote several
classical, philological and antiquarian
works.
He died

December

Another son, Rev. Joseph

1910, aged 85.
Mayor, was Professor of Classics at King s
College, London, 1870-79, and died in November, 1916,
aged 88.
1,

Bickersteth

3.

d.

Ward, Rev. Benjamin (Wellington)

S.M. Ret. 1828.
Hon. Canon

1864.

m. Mary Meires.
of

Carlisle,

1857.

APPENDIX A

208

A son, Rev. D.
87.
in
died
1912, aged 85.
Vic. of Upton, Cheshire,

Rec. of Meesden, 1859.

Ward,

D. 1879, aged

Rev. Joseph, born at Stroud on October 17,

m.
(l) Mrs. S. B. Richards, D. April 26, 1825.
1787. T.M.
D. February 4, 1837 both widows of
E.S.
Nichols,
(2) Mrs.
missionaries.
They were buried in churchyard of
American
Knight,

4.

American Mission,
in

Cape

October

The

1838,

died

Wrecked off the

Tellippalai, Jaffna.
shortly after his return to Ceylon on

and was buried at Cotta.

above missionaries were ordained by Bishop

11, 1840,

four

Ryder, of Gloucester.
1821
5.
Browning, Rev. Thomas (Stroud) m. Mary Stephens,
D. 1839. S.M. Died at sea in July, 1838.
m. (l) Sophia
6.
Bailey, Rev. Joseph (Dewsbury) S. M.
D.
(2) 1834, Octavia Bulmer, D. 1864.
Parkin, D. 1825.
at Cotta on March 19, 1844, aged 47, and buried there.
Compiled a Church Hymn Book.

1824

m. (l) Lucy
Adley, Rev. William (Canterbury) T.M.
Catherine
Theodora
D.
1839.
Gauntlett,
(2)
1841,
Coles,
Rec. Rudboxton.
D. 1889, aged 97.
D. 1880. Ret. 1846.
7.

1826
Selkirk, Rev.

8.

James (Harwich),

Mrs. Selkirk died in 1876.

St.

Bees

Coll.,

S.M.

Two

children, Emily Jane (1831)

and John (1832) were buried in St. Paul s burial ground,
Colombo. Chaplain of Hull Gaol. D. 1880, aged 81. Wrote
in

1844

Isl.

Recollections of Ceylon.

Trimnell, Rev.

9.

S.M.

aged

80.

Ret. 1847.

Ret. 1840.

George Conibere (High Wycombe),

Mrs. Trimnell died in 1861.

D. 1880,

APPENDIX A

209

1827
10.

Clerc.

Faught, Rev. George Steers,

d,

Ret. 1836.

1870.

Isl.

C. Bradfield.

S.M. m. Anne Le
D. 1873, aged 72.

Three children, Susan Margaret (1830), Marcus Steers

(1835) and Godfrey Steers (1835), died and were buried at

Baddegama.
1830
11.
m. on April 7,
Ridsdale, Mr. William (Hull), S.M.
1832, at St Peter s, Colombo, Susan Dorothea, eldest daughter

W.

von Drieberg.

of Captain

F.

Mary Anne

(1834), buried in Galle

Ret.

Face

1836.

daughter,

burial ground.

1831
12.

Marsh, Rev. Joseph (Bonsall),

Isl.

S.M.

Died

at sea,

1831.

1835

Oakley, Rev. William (Hertford), Isl. S.M. Born

October 3, 1808. m. 1839, Frances Mary King, D. in Kandy
A tablet to ner memory in Trinity Church,
July 14, 1866.
13.

The Lord

Wrote

Supper not a Sacrifice, Conver

Religion,
Simple Truths of Chris
Did not visit England aftei
tianity and several other tracts.
his arrival in 1835, and died in Nuwara Eliya on July 18,

Kandy.

sation on the Christian

1886, in his 79th year.

Mr. Oakley

London

in

only son sailed for England in the City of

1850, the vessel foundered and all on board
s

His only daughter, Mary, married at Kandy on

May 10, 1867, Priestly Jacob, Head Master of the High
School, Poona, son of the Rev. G. A. Jacob, D.D., Christ s
Hospital, London.
1838
perished.

14.

Powell,

Ann Heath.
Manchester.
14

Rev. Henry (Reading), Isl. S.M. m. Mary

1845. Vicar of Bolton and Hon. Canon of

Ret.

D. 1898, aged

84.

APPENDIX A

210

1839

Haslam, Rev. John Fearby (Halifax), B.A., Camb.

m. (1) 1837, Elizabeth Denton, D. 1839. (2) 1842,
Sophia Elizabeth, daughter of Rev. J. Bailey, D. 1873.
Translated into
Compiled Vocabulary, and Arithmetic
Life of Christ.
D. in Colombo
Sinhalese Dr. Mill s
15.

S.M.

March 19, 1850. Buried in Galle Face burial ground.

The Haslams arrived on January 7, 1839. The first Mrs.
Haslam died at Cotta on March 24, aged 25, and their
Both buried in
daughter, Elizabeth, died on November S.
the Galle Face burial ground.
m.
16.
Taylor, Rev. Francis W. (Luton), Isl. T.M.
Ret. 1849.
V. West Thorney. D.
Caroline Bella Price.
1887, aged 76.

1840
Johnson, Rev.

J. Talbot (London), Isl. T.M.

m. Amelia Winn. Rec. Beccles. D. 1871.

17.

1849.

Ret.

1841

Greenwood, Rev. Charles (Cambridge), Isl. S.M. m.

D. 1872. Drowned whilst bathing in the
Gindara river at Baddegama on June 21, 1850, aged 37.
18.

Harriet Winn,

1845
19.

T.M.

Pargiter, Rev. Robert (Cornwall)

m.

(1)

d.

1846.

p.

1847.

1844, Charlotte Elizabeth Jones, D. 1849.

(j)
Matilda Palm, D. 1900.
Ret. 1864. C.M.S.

1851, Anna
Association Secretary, 1865-1885.

V. Towersey, 1885.
D.
Charmouth, April 1, 1915, aged 98. Mr. Pargiter went to
Ceylon in 1844 under the Wesleyan Missionary Society and
joined the

son,

C.M.S

Robert

ment Agent

of

the following year.

S. Pargiter, C.C.S., died as Assistant

Negombo

in

1876.

Govern

daughter, Mrs. John

APPENDIX A

211

Pole, died in Ceylon, and another son, A. H. Pargiter, died in

in 1898.
Another son, Rev. G. E. A. Pargiter, was
Principal of St. John s College, Agra, 1883-91.

Colombo
{

1846
20.

1854.

Gordon, Rev. Alexander Douglas,

D. 1865.

21.

Neill,

beth.

d.

1845.

Isl.

S.

M.

Ret.

Rev. James (Kilcoleman),

1846.

p.

Isl.,
B.D., LamElizabeth Adams, D.
T. M. Ret. 1854.
V. Luton.

in.

1846,

December 16, 1848, aged 27.

D. December 28, 1896, aged 75.
There

is

a marble

bust of Mr.

Neill

Luton Parish

in

ChurcL where he was Vicar for thirty-four years. A

James
Arthur, a physician in Devonshire; another
^
Henry Edward, H. M. Consul at Rouen.
22.
Isl. S.M.
Collins, Rev. Henry (Maidenhead),

son,
son,

Ret.

1849. D. 1860.

1847
23.

Wood,

Rev.

Spencer, D. 1873.

Isl.

Isaiah,
Ret. 1861.

S.M.

m. Sarah

Ann

D. 1889.

1849
24.
Bren, Rev. Robert (Reading),
Brown.
D. 1885.
Ret. 185S.
Jordan

T.M. m. Sarah
Wrote Christianity

Isl.

and Hinduism Compared (Tamil).

25.
m. Diana
Parsons, Rev. George (Bath), Isl. S.M.
D.
D.
1896.
Colombo, April 18, 1866, aged 42.
Alway,
Buried in Galle Face burial ground. Wrote
Exposition of
the

Thirty-nine

memory

in

(Sinhalese).

Baddegama Church.

Parsons, a C.

Articles

M.

S. missionary

in

Eldest

tablet

son,

Bengal, for

to

his

Rev. G. H.

many

grandson, Rev. B. G. Parsons, C.M;S., Fuhkien.

-years.

APPENDIX A

212

1850

velly,

Rev. George (Birmingham), Isl. S.M. Tinnem. Louisa Hare, D. 1892.

1855.
Ret.
1833-50.

V.

Jude

Fettitt,

26.

St.

Mission
of

Birmingham. D.
Life of Rev.
(1850),

1873.

s,

Custom.

J.

Wrote

T. Tucker,

Tinnevelly

The Mirror

(1862).

1851

Fenn, Rev. Christopher Cyprian, son of Rev. Joseph

d.
Fenn, Travancore. Born at Cottayam. M.A., Camb.
D.
Emma
in.
M.
S.
Poynder,
(l) 1859,
1848.
p. 1849.
27.

1870.

(2)

1872, Harriet Elizabeth Christiana Morris.

Ret.

C.M.S. Secretary, 1864-94.

C. Ockbrock 1848-50.
1863.
at
Wells, aged 90. Wrote
Tunbridge
D. October 12, 1913,
to
Winodaniya.
Answer
Durlabdy
(1868)

Edward Thomas (Snodland), Isl.

Higgens, Rev.
D. June 9, 1854. (2) 1858 r
Amelia
Dyke,
S.M. m. (1)
D. June 11,
Ret. 1900.
1911.
D.
Schon,
Catherine
Annie
No
Salvation in
78.
Wrote
aged
at
Chatham,
1901,
Buddhism (Sinhalese). The first Mrs. Higgens, and their
28.

son,

Edward

Albert,

who

died on October 6, 1854, buried in

Holy Trinity Churchyard, Kandy,

1853
29.

S.M.

Barton,
Ret.

Mr. Henry James (Ipswich), St. Aidan s r

m. A. Allen. Afterwards ordained and

1862.

Chaplain of Poplar Sick Asylum.

Highbury Training College,
30.
Sorrell, Mr. Joseph,
X.M. Ret. 1860. Afterwards ordained, d. 1863. p. 18,64,
C. St. John s, Limehouse, 1901. Rec. of St. Nicholas ,
Holton, Somerset.

D. November

1,

1916, aged 88.

APPENDIX A

213

1854
Rev. Richard, M.A., Camb. T.C.K. Ket.
Frances Wright, D. 1862. (2) 1863, Frances
Anne Hawksworth. V. Kirkburton. D. 190C, Wrote Philo
31.

Collins,

1880.

m.

(1)

sophy

of

Jesus Christ

(1879),

The After Life

Missionary Enterprise in the Far East, and

Leviticus in Pulpit Commentary.

(1894)

introduction to

1855

Whitley, Rev. Henry, B.A., Camb. Incumbent of

Christ Church, Galle Face.
m. 1855, Marcia Paterson.
32.

Accidentally killed by the falling of a wall of school room,

Galle Face, November 10, 1860, aged 34.
A tablet to his memory in Christ Church.

Hobbs, Rev. Septimus (Portsea), Isl. T.C.M. m.

Sarah Westbrook, D. 1898. Ret. 1862. 1842-55 in
Rec. Compton Vallence. D. 1898, aged 82,
Tinnevelly.
33.

1849,

1857
Jones, Rev. John Ireland, M.A., Dub. Isl. S.M.
m.
(1) Kitty Crawford Colclough, D. 1877. (2)
1882, Frances
Matilda Sinclair. D. Colombo, November 12, 1903. Wrote
34.

Jubilee Sketches

Handbook

lese),

The Wonderful Garden (Sinha

Answer to Durlabdy
Sinhalese,

(1868),
of

Winodaniya.
Eldest

son,

Rev. Philip

I.

second son, Beauchamp, died

H.

W. Umvin,

Jones,
in

C.M.S., North India;

Kegalle, and daughter, Mrs.

died in England.

1858
35.

Mac Arthur,

Rev.

Charles

Chapman, (lona), Isl.

T.M. -m. Annette Cohen, D. 1898. Ret. 1867. Rec. Burlingham. D. 1892. Wrote First Principles (Tamil).

APPENDIX A

214
36.
(1)

Foulkes, Rev.

D.

Miss Maiben,

February

6,

1853.

Only one year

(Holywell),
(2)

1859, aged 22.

Church.

Nellore

Thomas

tablet

Tinnevelly, 1849-58.

to

T.M.

Isl.

Mary Anne
her

Ashley,

memory

Madras,

mD.
in

1859-60,

in Jaffna.

1860

Highbury Training College.

Coles, Rev. Stephen,
m. 1860, Elizabeth Nicklin, D. 1898. D. Colombo,
Wrote Essay on the Atonement.
1901.
Comp. Scripture
Text Book,
Hymns for Children. Trans. My King
37.

S.M.

(Sinhalese),

Picture Tracts.

Tonge, Rev. Robert Burchall (Manchester),

Mrs. Tonge died
Lond. Isi. S.M. Ret. 1867.
38.

B.A. r
1875.

C. Gresley.

1861

Clowes, Rev. Josiah Herbert (Yarmouth), Isl. S.M.

in.
Susan Emily Seppings. Ret. 1866. C. Woodbridge,
Diocesan Inspector of
1868-70.
1867-68.
C. Newton,
D. Beccles, May 16,
Weston.
1880-96.
Rec.
Schools,
39.

1911, aged 74.

A son, Rev. E. G. Clowes, Rector of Weston a daughter

married Rev. E. A. Fitch, C.M.S., E. Africa.
Edvvard
40.
(Worcester),,
Rowlands, Rev. William
;

M.A.,

Oxf.

1864.

T. M. Ret.

Isl.

Born
in

October 30, 1837. d. 1861.

1884 and rejoined in 1907. m.

p.
(1)

(2) 1S88, Emily

1863, Mary Black well Evans, d. 1877.
Charlotte Adams, D. 1889. C. Watermen s Church, Wor-,
Rec. Bonchurch, 1895-1906. Assistant Chap
cester, 1861.

Les Avants. 1906-07. Ret. 1918.

Rev. H. F. Rowlands, C.M.S., Punjab, killed in
another son, Rev. F. W.
earthquake at Kangra in 1905

lain at

son,

Rowlands, Japan Mission.

....

APPENDIX A

215

1862

Bus well, Rev. Henry Dixon,

41.

Isl.

d.

1862.

1863.

p.

T. M.

m. 1862, Mary Sophia Cullis, D. 1892. Ret. 1865.

C.M.S., Mauritius, 1866. Archdeacon of Seychelles, 1894.
42.
Pickford, Rev. John (Sheffield), St. Bees. T. C. M.
Previously eleven years

D. 1866.

Ret. 1868.

in

m.

Tinnevelly.

Mary Turner,

D. 1882.

1865
43.
Allcock, Rev. John (Marston), Isl. S. M.
m. 1867,
Harriet Elizabeth Gladding, D. 1899.
D. Kandy, 1S87.
Eldest son, Rev. W. G. Allcock.
C. St. John s, Baling.

1866
44.

Rev. Thomas

Good,
1866.

beth.

d.

1869.

m. 1867 Catherine

velly.

D. 1888.

T.

(Kilbourne),

Isl.

B.D.,

Lam

M.

m. 1867, Susan Brodie.

Ret. 1874. C. Baggotrath, 1874-78.
V. Sandford Ranelagh,
1878.
Wrote on Temperance.
45.
Mill, Rev. Julius Caesar (Lodi, Italy),
T.M. Ret.
p.

1867.

Mary

Schaffter.

1869-75 Tinne

1867
46.

Fenn,

months
47.

in

Rev. Richard Thomas (Hawkshead).

Isl. S. M. m.
1869, Letitia Ann
D. at sea near Suez on March 8, 1901.
27,

1838.

Edward Moule
Griffith, Rev.
Camb. T. M. m. 1867, Mary
D. Jaffna, March 13, 1890, aged 47.
48.

B.A.,

Only four

Dowbiggin,

Born April
Layard.

Rev. David, M.A., Camb. T.M.

D. 1878.

Ceylon.

(Birmingham),

Isl.

B. Skinner Marshall.

APPENDIX A

216

Wood, Rev. David (Stockton on

49.

Tees),

d.

Isl.

1867.

T.M. m. 1869,
Margaret Webster. Ret. 1892..
p. 1869.
Brief History of Prayer Book
Wrote
Rec. Willand, 1898.
(Tamil).

Rev. A. R. Wood, V. Thorpe-le-Soken

son,

a daughter,

Mrs. T. Gaunt, C.M.S., China.

1868
50.

aged

(South wark),

Mary Anne Baker.

sition of

Prophecy,

1.880-84

velly.

William

Rev.

Clark,

m. 1851

in

Ret.

Christian Minister.

Isl.

T.C.M.

Wrote

1878.

1848-68

Expo
in

D. at Highbury

Travancore.

Tinne-

in

1013,

88.

1873
51.

1878.

Rev.

Unwin,
S.

M.

Ret.

Gerard

Francis,

Isl.

d.

1873.

p.

V. Frocester.

1878.

1874
52.
d.

Rev. Anthony Ramsden (Sheffield), Isl.

Ret.
T.C.M. m. 1876 Mary Grey.
1883-85, Tinnevelly. Secretary, Z.B.M.S. V. Man-

Cavalier,

1874.

1880.

p.

1875.

cester, 1915.
53.

1882.

Dunn, Rev. Thomas (Wallhouses),

Columbia.
54.

1860.
1861.
1903.

m. 1874, Jane A. Ford.

1904-10. Rec.
1886-90, Japan.

Ret. 1881.

Isl.

d.

p.

Weare

Gifford.

Simmons, Rev. Jonathan Deane (Shiplake), Isl. d.

T.M. m. (l) 1860, Caroline J. Bolton, D.
p. 1862.
Ret.
(2) 1864, Ada Van Someren Chitty, D. 1900.
In Tinnevelly, 1861-74.
D. March
27,
1914,

Wokingham, Berks, aged

79.

1875
55.

and

1882-84, British

Smith, Mr. William.

Ret. 1878.

D.

at sea.

APPENDIX A

217

1877

Newton, Rev. Henry, M.A., Dub. d. 1870. p. 1871.

Christ Church, Colombo.
Ret. 1885.
C. St.
Matthew s, Dublin, 1870-72. C. Christ Church, Leeson Park,
1872-73.
Inc. St. Paul s, Portarlington. 1873-76.
Perp. C.
56.

Incumbent,

St.

Mark

s,

1901-15.

Brighton, 1885-95.
V. Haydon, 1916.

V. Christ Church, Surbiton,

57.
Ferris, Mr. William Bridger, Isl. T.C.M.
Ret. 1878.
Ordained d. 1878. p. 1879. V. Christ Church, Worthing,
1898.
Hon. Canon of Chichester.
58.
Born November 1, 1847.
Taylor, Mr. Isaac John.
Isl. T.C.M. Ret. 1878.
S. India, 1878-80.
Ordained d. and
N. W. Canada, 1884-1897. V. Linstead, 1907.
p. 1880.

1878
59.

Schaffter, Rev. William Pascal,

Isl. T.C.M., son of

Rev. P. P. Schaffter, C.M.S., Tinnevelly. m. 1861, Theresa
Stammer, D. November 29, 1916. Ret. 1879. Tinnevelly,

1861-78.
60.
Blackmore, Rev. Edwin (Exmouth), Isl. T.M.
D. Jaffna, 1879. Tinnevelly, 1874-78.
61.
d. and p.
Pickford, Rev. Joseph Ingham (Sheffield)
1878. Isl. T.M. m. 1880, Mary Young. Ret. 1907. C. Wingneld, 1888-9.

C. St.

Mary

s,

Islington, 1897-98.

V. Walpole,

1909.

1880

Fleming, Rev. George Thomas (Pimlico), Isl. T.M.

.m. 1892, Minnie Frances Fleming, daughter of Rev. T. S.
Fleming, formerly of the Chekiang Mission, who died on
62.

November
63.

S.M.

aged 90. D. Colombo, 1896.

Rev. John Galloway (Boyle), M.A., Dub.
m. 1878, Eliza Margaret Bradshaw. D. Dublin, 1911.
11, 1916,

Garrett,

218

APPENDIX A

Father of Rev. Geo.

Second

Garrett,

C.M.S.,

William Oakley Garrett,

Lfeut.

also

of

killed in action

in

Uganda,

Mesopotamia, 1915.
1881
64.

Rev. Frederic (Exeter).

Born November
and p. 1880. T.C.M. m. (l) 1882. Frances

Glanville,

19, 1856. Isl.

d.

Ann White, D.

1883.
1883.
(2) 1885, Eleanor Keen. Ret.
John Evang. Penge, 1880-81. C.M.S. Organizing Sec.,
1885-1901.
V. St. Matthew s, Kingsdown, Bristol, 1901. D.
C. St.

Bristol,

May

15, 1914.

65.

Balding,

March

20, 1856.

Born

Rev. John William.

Isl. d.

1881.

p.

1884.

at

S.M.

Horncastle,
m. June 10,

Wrote Story of Baddegama Mission,

Story of Cotta Mission,
Centenary Volume of the Ceylon
Mission
Eldest son, Charles John Balding, A.M.I.C.E.,
drowned at Felixstowe in 1912, aged 27
youngest son,
1884, Matilda Hall.

Second Lieut. Reginald Norman,

in 1917, aged 22.
66.

Rev.

Horsley,

1873.

d.

p.

1877.

velly, 1873-79.

Hugh

fell in

action in

Mesopotamia

(Courtallam), M.A., Camb.

M.E. Kendall. In Tinne-

T.M. m. 1877,

Ret. 1894.

V. Oulton.

V. Eastwood.

1882
67.
Field, Rev. John (Schull), Isl, d. 1880. p. 1881. S.M.
m. 1872, Emily Jane Mattock. Ret. 1885. In Yoruba, 187779.

C.

Pitt Portion, Tiverton, 1880-82.

British Columbia,

1886.

Born July 18,

Liesching, Rev. George Louis Pett.
Isl. d.
1882. p. 1885. S.M. m. 1882, Maude Edridge.
Ret. 1901.
C. St. Paul s, Dorking, 1892-3.
St. Stephen s,
68.

1856.

Walthamstow, 1902-03. Bushbury, 1903-04. Bovington, 190407.

V. Little Horwood, 1907.
A daughter, Grace Liesching. Assistant Secretary of the
Z.B.M.S., London.

APPENDIX A

219

1884
69.

1855.

llsley,

Jeannette

Rev. Joseph (Liverpool).

d. 1879.

Isl.

p. 1885.

Morgan,

D.

T.

1905.

-Born September

M. Ret. 1914. m.
(2)

Boesinger. In Tinnevelly, 1880-84.

(1)

19,.

1881,

Isabella Jane
1909,
C. St. Giles Northamp
,

ton.

1886
70.
Thomas. Rev. John Davies, Isl., son of Rev. John
Thomas, Megnanapurarn. In Tinnevelly, 1863-86. m. 1*63
Mary Jane Green. T. M. D. Colombo, April 18, 1896, aged
56.
Buried in Kanatte Cemetery. Translated
Whately s

Evidences and Butler s Analogy, Part I into Tamil.

Father of Dr. J. Llewellyn Thomas, many years in Colombo,
of Mrs. T. S. Johnson, C.M.S. and Mrs. E. A. Douglas, C.M.S.
71.
Hodges, Rt. Rev. Edward Noel, D.D., Oxf. T.C.K.
m. 1877 Alice Shirreff. Ret. 1889. Masulipatam, 1877-86.

Travancore and Cochin, 1890-1904. Rec. St.

A son killed in
Cuthbert, Bedford, and Hon. Canon of Ely.
France in 1916.
Bishop

of

1889
72.
d.

C.

Fall,

Rev. John William (Bedale), M.A., Camb.

T. M. m. 1893, Ethel Berridge. Ret. 1897,

1887. p. 1888.

Walcot,

1887-89.

Jesmond,

1898-1900.

C.P.A.S., 1900-02. V. St. Andrew

V. Christ Church, Ware, 1917.
73.

T.C.K.

Perry,

Rev. Edward John

s,

Asst.

Secy.,

Whitehall Park, 1902,

(Stratford;,

M.A.,

Accidentally shot near Alutnuvvara on April

2,

Oxf.
1890,

aged 34 years. Was of Worcester College, Oxford, and

Pusey and Ellerton Scholar and had been a master at

Merchant Taylors School.

APPENDIX A

.220

1890
Napier- Clavering, Rev.

74.

1885.

d.

C.

Gedge.

T.C.K.

1886.

p.

Henry Percy, M.A., Camb.

1908.

Ret.

Monkton Combe, 1885-89.

m.

C.K.E.

1909,

Rec. Stella, 1900-07.

Clerical Secy., C.E.Z.M.S., London,

Chaplain, Pussellawa.
1912-16.
Chaplain, Beaufort War Hospital, Fishponds,
Bristol, 1917.

Dibben, Rev.

75.

p. 1888.
87.

S.

M. Secy,

John

St.

s,

Arthur Edwin, M.A., Camb.

of Ceylon Mission.

1886.

d.

C. Fairfield, 1886-

Chelsea, 1887-89.

1891
76.
<1.

Carter,

1889.

Rev.

1890. m.

p.

James (Netherseale), M.
(1)

1893,

Mary

Agnes Layard Dowbiggin.

1903,

Jaffna. Ret. 1904. Asst. Master, St.

St.

s Coll.,

Christ Church, Stone, 1890-91.

Rec. Kineton and Oxhill, 1905.

1888-89. C.

1904-05.

D. 1899.

T.C.K. and

Oswald

Camb.

A..,

Fertile,

C.

(2)

John

s,

Ellesmere,
Branston,

1892
(Bristol), M.A., Camb.
m. Elizabeth Marshall Griffith, 1892. T. M.
Ret. 1899. V. Holy Cross, Bristol, and Hon. Canon, 1901.

Welchman, Rev. William

77.

d. 1890. p. 1891.

Army Chaplain
A son, Lieut.

in France, 1915-16.
Eric Welchman, fell in action, 1914, in France.
Simmons, Rev. Sydney Mainwaring, son of the Rev.

78.
J.

D.

Simmons.

Isl.

d.

Beatrice Reynolds, D. 1907.

1897.
(2)

p.

1898.

m.

(1)

1909, Helena Elsie

1897.

Marion

Walker. S.M. Ret. 1915. C. Christ Church, Great Woriey,

1915. Rec. Little Laver, 1917.
79.

rine

Carus-Wilson, Mr. Ernest Jocelyn.

Mary Chapman. S.M.

Ret. 1899.

m. 1898, Kathe-

APPENDIX A

221

1893

Heinekey, Rev. Henry Edward, Lond. Coll. Div

1889. p. 1890. m. 1892, Ellen Flora Harris. S.
M. Ret.

80.
d.

1905.

Compiled

Sinhalese

child died and buried at

1889-91.
St.

St. Cuthbert s, West

Hampstead, 1891-93. V.
Westcombe Park, 1906. C. St. Thomas
Hull,

C.

George

Birthday Text Book.

Only
C. St. Paul s, Stratford,

Baddegama.

s,

1916.

V.

St.

Peter

s,

Drypool, Hull, 1917.

1894
81.

Mathison, Major Gilbert Hamilton Fearon.

Edith Alary Tucker.
Ret. 1909;
S. M.

m. 1906,,

Formerly Major

iti

Alexandra P.W.O., Yorkshire Regt.

1895
82.
Ryde, Rev. Robert William (Brockley), M.A., Camb.
T.C.K. and St. John s, Jaffna m. 1897,
Emily Margaret

Loveridge.

S.

M. D. Colombo,

1909.

1896
83.

Hamilton, Rev. James, B.A., Dub.

m. 1880, Wilhelmina M.B. Moore.

T.M.
cumbent

d. 1876. p. 1878.

Ret. 1897.

In

of Thornhill, Ireland.

1897
84.

Townsend, Rev. Horace Crawford

(Clonakilty), B.A.,

Dub. d. 1893. p. 1894. m. 1899, Mary Edith Grace

Young.
T.C.M. Ret. 1903. C. Ballymena, 1893-96.
Incumbent,
Craig Army Chaplain, France, 1915-17.
Cross (Fourth Class), 1917.

Awarded

Military

1898
85.
d.

1895.

1895-8.

Hanan, Rev. William John (Cahir), M.A., Dub.

m. 1899, Miriam Clarke. T. M. C. Cahir,
p. 1897.

APPENDIX A

222

Thompson, Rev. Jacob (Liverpool;, M.A., Camb.

86.
.d.

College, Jaffna.
C.

1895-96.

Beatrice Brockbank.

Amy

1888. p 1894. m. 1888,

Travancore,
1896-7.

Peel,

Thompson, Bishop

of

1888-94.

Brother

Rt.

of

John

St.

Blundell Sands,

C.

Rev.

J.

D.

Sodor and Man.

A son, Lieut. H. B. Thompson of the Berkshires, was

awarded the Military Cross in December, 1916, was wound
Another son, Second Lieut.
ed and missing the same month.
R. Denton Thompson, joined a Motor Cycle Signalling
Corps, and a third son, Second Lieut. J. Cyril Thompson of
the East Lanes., was taken prisoner.
1900
87.

Our.
88.

Butterfield, Rev. Roland Potter (Aylsham),

ra. 1904, Clara Herbert.
d. 1900.
p. 1901.

Isl.

M.A.,

T.C.M.

Rev. Arthur Ashfield (Birts Morton), M.A.,

D. April 30, 1902, at Nuwara Eliya, aged 29.
d. 1911. p. 1912.
Purser, Rev. George Arthur, Isl.
m. 1911, Elizabeth Beatrice Sparrow, S.M.
Pilson,

Oxf. T.C.K.
89.

S.M.

1901

Booth, Rev. Wilfrid, B.A. Oxf,

1904, Constance Magdalene Clift.

90.

m.

d.

1895.

p.

1896.

T.C.M. C. Great
Yarmouth, 1895-1900. D. Teignmouth, March 23, 1918.
91.
d. 1901.
Shorten, Rev. William Good, Isl. B.:\., Dur.

p. ,1903.

m. 1907,

S.M.

Amy

Kathleen Deering, S.M.

1902
Johnson, Rev. Thomas Sparshott, Isl. B.A., Dur.
d: 1902.
m. 1905, Annie Elizabeth Mary
p. 1903. T.C.M.
92.

Thomas, T.M.
1903
93.

MacLulich,

M.A., Dub.
1899-1900.

Colombo.

d.

C.

Rev.

1899.

p.

Archibald

1902.

T.C.K.

MacLulich
Ret. 1909.

Carrickfergus, 1900-02.

V.

(Clonaiin),

C.

Holy

Tuam,

Trinity,

APPENDIX A
94.

223

Rev.

John William, Moore Coll

Sydney
L.Th., Dur.-m. 1901, Evelyn
May Garland
5.M. Accountant of Mission till 1910
rejoined 1915, having
been ordained in Australia.
Ferrier,

d.

and

p. 1912.

1904
Fraser, Rev. Alexander Garden, M.A., Oxf
1915.
m. 1901, Annie Beatrice Glass. T.C.K..

95.

p.

1900-04.
~6.
Isl.

Army

Phair,

of Winnipeg.

Uganda^

p.

1906.

Hugh

Son

Oliver, B.A., Manitoba

of the Rev. Archdeacon
Phair

S.M.

Storrs, Rev. Arthur

97.

Chaplain, France, 1917.

Rev. Robert

d. 1904.

191

d.

Noel Coopland, B.A. Camb

m. 1893, Anna Maria Louisa Fitton. T
1889-04.
Son of Rev. W.T. Storrs,

d. 1887. p. 1888.

CM
CMS

Tinnevelly,
India.
Ret. 1904.

1906
98.

Walmsley, Rev. Alfred Moss (Stockport), M.A., Camb

~d. 1906. p. 1907. m. 1906, Alice J.
Murgatroyd, B.Sc
London. Trinity College, 1906-1911. S.M., 1911.
Served

in

Mesopotamia, 1918.
99.
Weston, Rev. George Thomas (Langley),
1906.

p.

T.M. Ret.

1907.

1911. Planters
Chaplain,

Isl

-d

Matale

1912.
100.

Senior, Rev.

Walter Stanley, M.A., Oxf

d 1903
Incumbent of Christ Church
Colombo, 1915. m. 1907, Ethel May Poole, T.M. Author
p.

1904.

of

T.C.K.,

Pisgah or
sacred subject

1906-1915.

The
in

the triennial prize

Choice,
the University of Oxford, 1914.

poem on

1908
101.

Rev. John Paul Stewart Riddell

Camb. F.I.A.-d. 1906. p. 1907. m.
1904, Kathleen" May
Armitage. T.C.K., 1908-1914. Training Colony,
Peradeniya,
Gibson,

MA

APPENDIX A

224

Saunders, Mr. Kenneth James, B.A., Camb. T.C.K.Trans. DhamRet. 1913. Y.M.C.A., Calcutta, Rangoon.
102.

mapada

Author of Maitri The Coming One,

Heroes of Social Service (St. Francis
The Candid Friend, or Buddhism from

into English.

Two

Buddhist Ideals,

and

St.

Within,

Dominic),

The

Vital Forces of Southern

Adventures
Gospel,
several other pamphlets and
to

the

of

Buddhism
Christian

the

in relation

Soul,

and

articles.

Campbell, Mr. Norman Phillips, M.A., Oxf. T.C.K.

m. 1913, Lettice Margaret Armitage (a sister of Mrs. P,
Gibson). Joined H.M. s Forces in 1914, obtained commission
1917.
as Captain in Royal Engineers, fell in action on May 3,
103.

1909
Isl.
M.A., Dur.
T.C.M. m.
Colombo.
Inc. Christ Church,
d. 1885. p. 1888.
South
In
India, 1885-90.
1885, Mary Elizabeth Hughes.
C.M.S. Organizing Secy., 1901-08. C.
Mauritius, 1893-01.

104.

Finmmore, Rev. Arthur Kington,

Eastbourne,

1908-09.

Army

Chaplain,

France,

1915-16.

A son, Lieut. David Keith Finnimore, died from wounds in a

A. C.
military hospital on May 10, 1917. Another son, Major
E.
D.
Miss
a
in
the
daughter,
Royal Engineers
Finnimore,
;

Finnimore, a missionary at Palamcotta.

105.
Mulgrue, Mr. George Robert. T.C.K.

Ret. 1915.

1910
106.

T.C.K.
S.M.

Gaster,

m.

Rev.

November

Lewis John,

Isl.

d.

1910.

p.

1912.

18, 1911, Harriet Elizabeth Hobson,

1914
107.

Houlder,

Mr. Alfred Claude (Croydon), B.A., Oxf.

T.C.K.
1915
108.
d.

McPherson, Rev. Kenneth

1915.

p.

1917.

Cecil, B.A., Oxf.

T.C.K

APPENDIX A

225

SINHALESE CLERGY.
1.

jayasinghe, Rev. Cornelius.

at Cotta Institution. First Catechist

Talangama and Slave

at

d. 1839. p. 1843. Educated

and Interpreter. Stationed

Island.

In 1867, Trinity Church,

Kandy. Editor of the Sinhalese CM. Record. D. Colombo

on November 18, 1876.
Mr. Jayasinghe s name stands fourth
on the C.M.S. List of Native Clergy and Mr. A
Gunasekara s
fifth.
2.

Gunasekara,

Rev.

Abraham.

d.

1839.

p.

Educated at Cotta Institution.

Bishop Spencer.
in Baddegama and died there on
June 27, 1862,

The

son of Bastian Gunasekara,

who was

born

1843

by

Worked
aged

in

60.

1773 and

The father of Rev. H. Gunasekara, who died

1916, Paul Gunasekara, a catechist and schoolmaster for
fifty years, who died on January 3, 1917, aged 74
and

died in 1853.
in

years,

Mrs. B.

Karunaratna, a Bible woman for many years. A

grand- daughter married Rev. T. G. Perera, and another
married Rev. A. B. Karunaratne.
3.
Rev. Cornelius. d. 1846.
Senanayake,
1851.
p.
Educated at Cotta Institution. Transferred to Colonial
Establishment in 1852 and died in 1886. Wrote a Sinhalese
Church Hymnal.

4.

De

Educated

Livera, Rev. James Andris.

d. 1861.
p. 1867.
Cotta Institution. Stationed at
Kandy and

at

Nugegoda. Died December 23, 1868. At his examination

Deacon s orders by Bishop Chapman, he was offered his
choice between the Greek Testament and the Sinhalese
Bible
and he unhesitatingly chose the former.
for

5.

at

Gunasekara, Rev. Henry.

d.

Baddegama Seminary and Cotta

Teacher,

(2)

Colombo,
15

Church,

p.

1871.

Institution.

Educated

Pupil
Stationed at Nugegoda,
Kandy. Retired in 1909.

Catechist, (3) Pastor.

and Trinity

1867.

(1)

APPENDIX A

226

Died

May

1916,

24,

Lunawa.

at

Mr. Gunasekara

married in 1870, and his widow died on

A son of Rev. A. Gunasekara.
6.

de Silva, Rev. Hendrick.

at Cotta

Institution,

(2)

7.

12,

Katukelle,

(3)

Negombo

1891.

Jayasinha, Rev. Daniel.

Institution.

was
1916.

Catechist,

Pastor at Cotta, Nugegoda and Talangama. Died at

on March

1,

Educated

1868. p. 1885.

d.

Schoolmaster,

(l)

November

Schoolmaster,

(1)

Nugegoda and

Cotta.

d.

1868.

(2)

Educated at Cotta

Catechist,

(3)

Pastor at

Died at Cotta on January

1,

1887.
8.

Wirasinha, Rev. Bartholomew Peris.

d.

Edu

1869.

cated at Cotta English School.

(1) Schoolmaster at Cotta,
Retired
(2) Catechist for sixteen years, (3) Pastor at Kegalle.
in

1894 and died

9.

in 1900.

Rev.

Kannanger,

Hendrick.

d.

1869.

(1)

School

master, (2) Catechist, (3) Pastor at Talangama, Cotta, Bentota. Retired 1885, and died on July 13, 1894. Father of Mrs.

Wirakoon, Head Mistress

School
10.
p.

of

Girls

Baddegama

Boarding

Perera, Rev. Garagoda Arachchige Bastian.

1886.

Retired

1916.

The son

of

d.

1881.

Garagoda Arachchige

Don Abraham Perera and Thudugalage Dona

Christina.

Talangama on December 19, 1836. Stationed at

Balapitiya, Baddegama, Cotta and Colombo. Celebrated
Born

at

golden wedding and fifty-fourth anniversary of service with

C.M.S. in 1914. Mrs. Perera died the following year.
A daughter married Mr. H. C. Jayasinghe of T.C.K.

Amarasekara, Rev. Abraham Suriarachchi. d. 1881.

Stationed at Kegalle, Dodanduwa and Kandy.
Retired in 1885 and became (l) Curate of Holy Emma
nuel,
Moratuwa, (2) Incumbent of Matale. Founder of
11.

p. 1884.

Matale Mission
12.

to the Duriyas.

Kalpage,

Rev. Johannes Perera.

d.

1881.

p.

1887.

APPENDIX A

227

Kurunegala, Kegalle, Baddegama, Dodanduwa, Bentota.

Died 1903 from the effects of a crushed finger, and buried
in
Kanatte cemetery. Father of Rev. J. A. Kalpage of
Tangalle.

Amarasekara, Rev. Gregory Suriarachchi. d. 1887.

Educated at Baddegama and T.C.K. (1) School
master, (2) Pastor, Cotta, Nugegoda and Trinity Church,
Kandy. Celebrated twenty-fifth anniversary of ordination to
A brother of Rev. A. S. Amarasekara.
Priesthood in 1914.
Rev.
14.
Welatantrige Lewis. d. 1889. Edu
Botejue,
13.

p.

1889.

cated at

Cotta

Institution.

and died there on

Mampe
W. E. Botejue.
15.

pola.

(1)

May

Catechist, (2)

13,

Pastor at

Father of

1895.

Seneviratne, Rev. Henry William.

Retired 1902. Died in 1917, aged 80.

d.

1889.

Rev.

Gam-

Colombage, Rev. James. d. 1894. p. 1898. Edu

Retired and
cated at T.C.K. Baddegama and Kegalle.
Paul
St.
s,
of
staff
Kandy.
joined the
17.
Daundesekara, Rev. Frederic William. d. 1894.
Educated at Kurunegala and T.C.K. Colombo and
p. 1910.
16.

Kegalle.

Retired.

Botejue, Rev. Welatantrige Edwin.

Educated at T.C.K. Mampe. Ret. 1902.
18.

d.

1896. p. 1901.

Incumbent

of

Ratnapura.
d. 1896. p. 1898.
Edu
Perera, Rev. Theodore G.
Cotta English School. Talangama. m. a grand
Ret. in 1902.
daughter of Rev. A. Gunasekara.

19.

cated at

20.

21.

22.

d.

Joseph.

d.

1896.

p.

1904.

in 1912.

Gunatilaka,

wickrama.
Cotta,

Died

D.

Rev.

Perera,

Colombo.

Rev. Robert

19C3.

p.

1905.

Teuton Eugene AbeyaBaddegama, Dodanduwa,

Mampe.
Welikala,

Rev.

Don

Talangama and Colombo, m.

Louis.

d.

1903.

a sister of Rev.

J.

p.

1905.

Colombage.

APPENDIX A

228

Wikramanayake, Rev.
Mampe, Nugegoda.

23.

1905.

Rev.

Wijesinghe,

24.

John

Charles.

1903.

d.

Henry.
1903.

d.

p.

Gampola,

Kurunegala, Liyanwela. Ret. 1916.

Gregory

Newsome.

d.

p.

26.

1914.

Schoolmaster,

-d.

1909.

Cotta.

Mampe.

Ramanayake, Rev. John Perera.

27.
(1)

James

1913.
Gampola.
Wickramasinghe, Rev. Benjamin Perera.

1909.

p.

Rev.

Seneviratne,

25.

d.

Catechist, (3) Pastor,

(2)

1913.

p. 1917.

Homagama and

Dodanduwa.
d. 1915. Talampitiya.
Jayasundra, Rev. D. S.
d. 1915. Educated at
de Silva, Rev. W. Bernard.

28.

29.

(D Catechist, (2) Pastor. Baddegama.

Master
Weerasinghe, Rev. C. B. Educated T.C.K.
d. 1918. Kurunegala.
at T.C.K.

T.C.K.
30.

TAMIL CLERGY.
1.

Hensman, Rev. John.

d.

Teacher,
Cotta Institution.
Chundicully, 1840. Copay, 1848.
tember 5, 1884.

1863.

p.

Nellore,

1865.

1837.

Pastor, Copay.

Educated

at

Catechist,

Died Sep

d.
1824.
Champion, Rev. George. Born October 1.
Cate
(1)
Batticotta
at
Seminary.
Educated
1865. p. 1870.
Retired 1902.
Nellore, and Chundicully.
chist, (2) Pastor,
in 1894.
Service
C.M.S.
his
of
Celebrated
1910.
Jubilee
Died
2.

Pundit, 185CX
Hoole, Rev. Elijah. d. 1865. p. 1870.
Pastor.
1852.
Chundicully,
Catechist,
Died at sea July, 1881, on his way home from Bishop s
3.

Assembly at Colombo.
4.
Handy, Rev. Trueman Parker. d. 1865. p. 1870.
School Inspector, 1850.
Educated at Batticotta Seminary.
died
Pastor at Nellore.
1851.
Catechist, 1856.
Pundit,

May

17, 1885.

APPENDIX A
5.

Peter,

Rev.

Pakkyanathan.
T.

1856.

Teacher,

229

M.

C.

1872.

d.

Catechist,

1874.

p.

Assistant

1862.

Died June 15, 1895.

Rev. John S. d. 1872. p. 1874. Retired 1877.
T.C.M. Pastor, Kandy. Died 1906.
7.
Retired 1883.
Gabb, Rev. John. d. 1876. p. 1883.
Missionary, Pelmadulla, 1892.
6.

(1)

Peter,

1876-81, Mauritius.

(2)

1881-83, Ceylon.

(3)

1883-94,

Madras.

Gnanamuttu, Rev. Arulananthar.. d. 1881. p. 1885.

Died 1906. Schoolmaster, Catechist, Pastor
T.C.M. Dickoya, Kandy.
9.
Samuel, Rev. Samuel. d. 1878. p. 1881. Educated at
Palamcotta Training institution. Son of Rev. A. Samuel of
Died
Tinnevelly. 1878-84, Tinnevelly.
1884-95, Colombo.
May 6, 1895, in Colombo.
10.
d. 1885. p. 1889.
Niles, Rev. John.
Copay. Died
8.

Retired 1897.
,

March

23, 1892.

11.

Rev. John.

Backus,

master,

(2)

d.

1885. p. 1889.

fiftieth year of C.M.S. service

died December 17, 1916.

his

Handy, Rev.

12.

B. A.,

John

Charles Chelliah.

Calcutta University.
College, Jaffna.

13.

Virasinha,

1891.

d.

1896.

p.

of

St.

Died 1908.

Rev. Arulumbalam Russell.

T.C.K.

Stationed T.C.M. Died 1914.

14.

Daniel,

Rev.

George.

Seventy-five

Kackus

Head Master

T.C.K.

1900.

Copay.

Celebrated

Mrs.

1913.

in

School

(1)

Catechist, ^3) Pastor, Pallai, Nellore.

years

d.

of

1893.

age

on

d.

1892. p.

Catechist,

1858.
retirement
in

1912.
15.
p.

Williams,

1896.

T.C.K.

Rev. Charles
Pastor,

Tissaverasingam

Kokuvil, Anuradhapura,

d,

1893.

Kandy,

Kopay.
16.
Morse,
Died 1909.

Rev.

Samuel.

d.

1893.

p.

1896.

Nellore.

APPENDIX A

230
17.

Rev.

Matthias

Vavuniya.

Arulpragasam.

d.

1893.

1898.

p.

Retired after forcy years of service

Copay.

in

1915.

Sathianathen, Rev. Aseervathem.

T.C.M. Nanuoya, Dickoya. Retired 1914.
18.

19.

1899.

d.

p.

1902.

Died 1916.

d. 1900.
p. 1902.
Daniel, Rev. John Vethamanikam
of Borella Boys Boarding School, Incumbent of

Head Master

Tamil Congregation, Christ Church, Colombo.

Satthianadhan, Rev.
T.C.M. Badulla.
1906.

20.
p.

Arulananthan,

T.C.M. Lindula.
23.
Doss, Rev. James

G.

d.

1907.

p.

1903.

d.

Rev. Gnanamuttu Manuel.

1908.
Incumbent, Emmanuel Church, Colombo.
d. 1906.
22.
Pakkiariathan, Rev. Asirvatham.

21.
p.

Tillainather David.

1910.

d.

p.

1906.

1908.

T.C.M.

Dickoya.
24.
p.

Somasundaram, Rev. Sangarappillai Samuel.

1911.

Jaffna.
25.

Jaffna.
26.

Calcutta.

B.A.,

Chundicully.
Nathaniel, Rev.

Master

in

St.

John

d.

1909.

College,

Gunaratnam N.

d.

1909.

p.

1913.

Welcome, Rev. Jesson Daniel.

d.

1910.

p.

1914.

1917 Matale.

Anuradhapura.
27.

1914.

Daniel,

Rev.

Samuel Chelvanayakam.

d.

1910.

p.

Pallai.

Paul Abraham. d. 1912. p. 1914.

Died 1918.
29.
Yorke, Rev. John Vedamanickam. d. 1914. p. 1917.
Avisawela T.C.M.
30.
Thomas, Rev. S. M. d. 1915. p. 1917. Wellawatte
28.

Paukiam,

Rev,

Rakwana T.C.M.

T.C.M.
31.

32.

Ratnathicum, Rev. J. S. d. 1915. Jaffna.

Refuge, Rev. M. d. 1915, Matale. 1917,.Vavuniva.

APPENDIX A

LIST OF

CEYLON

231

MISSIONARIES

C.M.S.

(WOMEN)
1821

Knight, Miss Jane (Stroud), T.M.

1.

m.

Rev. D. Poor,

1823.

1823
2.

Cortis,

Miss

Hannah.

S.M.

m.

Rev.

J.

A.

Jetter,

1823.

1827
3.

Stratford,

Miss Mary Ann. S.M.

in.

Rev.

S.

Lam-

brick, 1827.

1841
Bailey, Miss Sophia Elizabeth.

4.

S.M.

m. Rev.

J.

F.

Haslam, 1842.
1879

Young,

5.

R.

Young

of

Miss Mary
Athabasca.

(Louth),

T.M.

sister

m. Rev.

of

late

J. I.

Bishop

Pickford,

1880.

1881
Hall, Miss Matilda, sister of Rev. j. W. Hall and
Miss Margaret Hall, and cousin of Miss E. Hall, of the
C.M.S., India. T.M.m. Rev. J. W. Balding, 1884.
6.

1884
7.

T. M.

Young, Miss Eva (Louth), sister of Nos.

-m. Rev. H. Robinson, N. W. Canada.

and

12.

1886
8.

1877

Higgens, Miss Amelia, daughter of Rev. E. T. Higgens.

I.F.N.S., Punjab. S.M.

in service of

APPENDIX A

232

1891
9.

10.

T.M. Ret. 1898.

Child, Miss Beatrice.
S.M. Ret. 1915.
Murton.
Ann
Miss
Denyer,
1892

11.

Phillips,

Miss

Helen

Plummet.

S.M.

Previously

Ret. 1905.
Principal of Clergy Daughters School, Sydney.
12.
Young, Miss Emily Sophia. T.M. Sister of Nos. 5

and

Ret. 1910.

7.

1893

Heaney,

13.

T.M.
14.

Ret.
Saul,

Miss

Kate,

Highbury

Home.

Training

1898.

Miss Mary, Highbury Training

T.M.

Home.

Ret. 1899.
15.

Paul,

Home. T.M.

Miss

Annie

Elizabeth,

Highbury

Training

Ret. 1897.

The Willows.

S.M.

16.

Josolyne, Miss Ellen Maria.

17.

S.M. Ret. 1896.

Forbes, Miss Constance Cicele.
Miss
Lizzie
Ann, Highbury Training Home.
Case,
Ret. 1912.
m. Rev. G. Hibbert-Ware, S.P.G.

1894

18.

T.M.

1895

Luxmoore,

19.

S.M.
20.

Miss

Caroline

Noble.

The Willows.

m. 1896, Rev. J. H. Mackay, Murree.

Finney, Miss Harriet Ellen, daughter of

Rev.

W.

Ret. 1904.
H. Finney, Birkin. The Olives. T. M.
21.
Loveridge, Miss Emily Margaret, Highbury Train
m. Rev. R. W. Ryde, 1897.
S. M.
ing Home.
22.
Gedge, Miss Mary Sophia (Redhill). The Willows.
S.M.

1896
Spreat, Miss

23.

Died

in

Helen Mary Warren. T. M.

London, 1898.

Ret. 1897.

APPENDIX A

Wood, Miss Minnie

24.

The

Olives.

T.M.

233

Alice, daughter of

Dowbiggin, Miss Agnes Layard,

25.

Rev. D. Wood.

Ret. 1898.

daughter of

Rev.

K. T. Dowbiggin. S. M.
m. Rev. J. Carter, 1904.
D.
Mrs.
T.M. Ret. 1914. Remained
26.
Thomas,
J.

on

staff after

the Rev.

J.

D. Thomas death.
1897

The
Townsend, Miss Susan Henrietta Murray.
of
W.
H.
Townsend
of
Rev.
Willows. S.M. Daughter
Abbeystrewry and sister of Rev. H. C. Townsend.
28.
Earp, Miss Annie Louisa (Capetown). The Olives.
S.M. Ret. 1915.
2.7.

1898
29.

The

Oxf
Goodchild, Miss Amy Chanter, St. Hugh s Hall,
m.
School.
Willows.
Principal of Chundicully Girls
.

Mr. C. V. Brayne. C.C.S. 1906.

30.
Thomas, Miss Annie Elizabeth, daughter of Rev.
Thomas. The Olives. 1887-93 in Tinnevelly under
J. D.

C.E.Z.M.S.
31.

m. Rev. T.

Young, Miss

Johnson, 1905. T.M.

Lucy. The Willows. S. M.

S.

Maud

Ret.

1899.
32.

T.M.

Franklin, Miss Valentina Maria Louisa.

Ret. 1912. m. Rev. Ashton.

The Willows.

1899
33.

Payne, Miss Harnette Edith.

The Willows. T.M.

-Ret. 1911.
Leslie Melville, Miss Lucy Mabel, daughter of the
Rev. Canon Leslie Melville, Welbourn. The Willows.

34.

late

S.M.
35.

Ireland.

Ladies

Nixon, Miss Lilian Evelyn, B.A., Royal Univ. of

The Olives and Willows. Principal of C.M.S.
College, Colombo.

Ret. 1914.

APPENDIX A

234

36.
Whitney, Miss Elizabeth. St. John s, N.B. Canada.
C.M.S. Ladies College, Colombo.
37.
Howes, Miss Eva Julia. The Willows. T.M.

1901
Tileston, Miss Mary Wilder, B.A.
The Olives. Ret. 1902. S.M.

Harvard Univ.

38.

39.

Dowbiggin, Mrs. R.T.

Dow biggin

Mr.

40.

Home.
C.C.S.,
41.

1907.

death.

Beeching,

Miss

Edith

Pacific Mission,

Remained on

S.M.

Grace,

T.M.

1894.

staff after

Highbury Training
m. Mr.

J.

B.

Dutton,

1906.

The

Lloyd, Miss Sarah Cecilia.

Rejoined 1914.

Olives.

S.M.

Ret.

Died 1918.
1902

42.

Vines,

W.

S.

Vines, Miss Ellen Campbell, daughter of Rev. C. E.

C.M.S.,

Agra.

Hunt, C.M.S.

1889,

South

India.

T.M. m.

Rev.

1907.

1903
43.

S.M

Board, Miss Annie Theresa

(Clifton).

The

Olives.

Ret. 1907.

1904
Ketchlee, Miss Sophy Laura.
A. N. MacTier, C.M.S., Tinnevelly.
44.

45.

of

Poole, Miss Ethel

Bishop Poole,

W.

first

May. The

C. of

The

Olives.

Olives.

E. Bishop

in

m. Rev.

T.M. Daughter

Japan.

m.

Rev.

S. Senior, 1907.

Sophia Lucinda (Bath). The Olives.

Principal, Chundicully Girls High School.
47.
Bennitt, Miss Edith Gertrude
(Harborne), L.L.A.
46.

St.

Page,

Andrew

Miss

Univ.

The

Olives.

S.M.

Ret. 1908.

1905
48.

Wales.

Browne,

Miss

Constance

Emily, B.Sc., Univ. of

C.M.S. Ladies College and T.C.K. Ret. 1914.

APPENDIX A
49.
Deering, Miss
Shorten, 1907.

Amy

235

Kathleen. S.M.

W.

m. Rev.

G.

1906

Sparrow, Miss Elizabeth Beatrice.

50.

S.M.

m.

Rev.

G. A. Purser, 1911.
T.M.
51.
The Willows.
Tisdall, Miss Adairine Mary.
T.M.
South
52.
Miss
Florence
India,
Emily.
Henrys,
190,2.
Returned to India, 1917.
1908

Walker, Miss Helena Elsie Marion. S.M. m. Rev.

M.
S.
Simmons, 1909.
54.
Daughter of the
Hargrove, Miss Eleanor Mabel.
The Willows. S.M.
late Rev. Canon Hargrove.
53.

55.

Rev.

J.

Hobson, Miss Harriet Elizabeth. Grand-daughter of

Hobson, C.M.S., China. S.M. m. Rev. L. J. Gaster,

1911.
56.

Anna Frances, Newnham. The Olives.

Rev. H. Horsley. C.M.S. Ladies College. -

Horsley, Miss

Daughter

of

Ret. 1914.

1910
57.

Led ward, Miss Mary Amelia.

T.M.

1913
Kent, Miss Alys Emily, C.M.S. Ladies
m. Mr. H. S. Stevens, 1915.

58.

Coll.,

Colombo.

1915
59.
60.

Morgan, Miss E. C.M.S. Ladies College.

Opie, Miss Gwen Lilias Fanny, M.A., B.Sc.

C.M.S-

Ladies College.
61.

Higgens, Miss E. C. (In Local Connexion).

1918

62.

School.

Taylor, Miss

J.

R.,

L.L.A.

Chundiculiy Girls High

APPENDIX

B.

NEW CONSTITUTION FOR THE CEYLON

MISSIONARY CONFERENCE
AS APPROVED BY

THE PARENT COMMITTEE

OF MARCH

8,

1921.

LOCAL GOVERNING BODY.

The Local Governing Body of the C.M.S. Ceylon Mission
Conference of men and women hereinafter refer

shall be the

red to as the Conference.

CONFERENCE MEMBERSHIP.
The Conference shall consist of
(a) The Bishop of Colombo, if
:

member

of the

Church

Missionary Society Chairman.

(b) All ordained Missionaries of the Society.
(c)

All lay Missionaries in

nexion with the Society, both

(d)

and two

Home, Colonial,
men and women.

or Local

Con

Eight Ceylonese, of whom six shall be clergymen

be from the laity, one man and one woman,

shall

annually elected by the Conference. Among the six clergy

men, those priests in responsible charge of Districts formerly
under the charge of European Missionaries shall first of all
be included. The remainder shall be clergymen in Priests

Orders elected annually by the whole body of Ceylonese

clergy in connection with the C.M.S., provided that the six
clerical representatives shall include at

least

two Tamils and

two Sinhalese.
(e) Seven lay members, primarily
of finance,

and

who

shall hold

shall
office

to advise on matters
be appointed by the Parent Committee,

for

three years, being eligible

appointment at the end of that period.

for re-

APPKNDIX B
(/)

Any

additional

membership by express
on the recommendation

237

members who

be appointed to
Parent Committee

shall

resolution of the
of Conference.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.
While nothing

shall be considered

of the Conference as a whole,

it

as outside the purview

its attention

should direct

more particularly to the larger matters of Mission policy, to

receiving and dealing with the reports of its Committees, and
to the opportunity for united devotion and intercession, devolv
main responsibility for actual administration, includ
ing finance, on its Executive Committee.
This Executive Committee shall direct the work of the
Mission between meetings of the Conference, and shall con
ing

the

sist of

(a)
(/;)

(c)

The Chairman of Conference.

The Secretary of the Mission.
The Chairman and Secretary

of

the

Women s

Committee.
(d)

The seven laymen appointed by

the Parent

Com

mittee.

Ceylonese, and four men and two women from

members of the Conference, to be elected by
the whole body of the voting members of the Conference.
(e)

Two

the Missionary

FINANCE SUB-COMMITTEE.
There shall be a Finance Sub-Committee of the Executive
Committee to consider and when required report to the Exe
This Sub-Commit
cutive Committee on matters of finance.
tee shall consist of the seven lay members appointed by the
Parent Committee, and three members elected by the Exe
cutive Committee, together with the Secretary ex-officio.

PRINTED
BY

IN

INDIA

GEORGE KENNETH

AT THE DIOCESAN PRESS, MADRAS

1922