And

measures which he took, both for the temporal and spiritual improvement, not only of the Syrians, but of the whole country. His two great objects were to secure a translation of the whole Bible, and to have an English clergyman at the head of his new college at Cottayam. The study of the English language also he laid great stress upon. The translation of the whole Bible,' he writes to Mr. Norton, into Malayalim, is one of the most important and essential objects of our exertions." again I have no hope of the reformation or improvement of the Syrian Church until an English clergyman is placed in superintendence over the college at Cottayam.' Accordingly, while Mr. Norton, who reached India in 1816, was located at Allepie, built a church and a missionhouse on land granted by the Ranee, with funds partly raised by the Resident, and was constituted a judge in the Allepie Court (a rather questionable proceeding, but one which reflects infinite credit on General Munro's earnestness for the integrity of justice in the courts of law), Mr. Bailey, who reached India shortly afterwards, was placed at Cottayam, and was entrusted with the translation of the Scriptures and the general management of the college.

The principles on which the missionaries proceeded, and the object in view, were to influence the Syrian Church by educating the candidates for the priesthood, and a few of the laity, in the new college; all their

plans and arrangements being subject to the authority of the Metran, and without at all interfering with his rights as head of the Church, or with Church matters in any way at all. This was done with the hope that by means of a superior education an enlightened priesthood would in course of time see, and themselves expunge, the errors of Syrianism. On this plan the missionaries at Cottayam worked for eighteen years. While at Allepie and Cochin the English Liturgy was used by the missionaries Norton and Ridsdale, and missionary operations were carried on in the usual aggressive mode, at Cottayam Mr. Bailey and his coadjutors confined themselves conscientiously and exclusively to the translation of the Scriptures, and the education of the deacons in the college. They preached in the Syrian churches-all of which were opened to them-but in no way interfered with the usual services; even the college youths attended daily mass in the chapel. Thus they endeavoured to influence the Syrian Church for good, while carefully abstaining from any cause of schism."

弊

The spirit which actuated the Church Missionary Society in thus dealing with the Syrians was very different from that which actuated the Church of Rome in her dealings with them two hundred years before. The Italian coerced, anathematised, and endeavoured to burn out the superstitions, to make way for those of

Rome. The Englishman came as a helper, a fellowworker, with the gentle persuasions of the gospel of Christ, hoping that the corrupt Church would learn, and herself purge out the old leaven. We cannot but admire the sanguine hopes of these old and honoured missionaries, and the spirit of love and forbearance which influenced the Society under whose direction they worked; but at the end of eighteen years, although 153 Catanars (priests)—five-eighths of the whole number— had been educated in the college, not one of them, so far as we know, was found willing to abjure the errors of Antioch.

There was one redeeming character, in the Syrian Church, and that was the entire absence of any restraint on the study of the Scriptures. She is so far, and it is a great point, in advance of Rome. It was this, no doubt, that held up from the first the hearts of the missionaries amid all their other hindrances, and, above all other things, encouraged them in their work of patience, and labour of love. But the work of restoring a corrupt Church is one of no ordinary difficulty. Judaism is what it was, although the great Lawgiver Himself and his Apostles were the missionaries; Rome is Rome still, notwithstanding the sturdy eloquence of Luther; and can we wonder, though we admire the efforts that were made, that the early hopes

H

of the missionaries to the Syrians are still unaccomplished? Indeed it was not until the mode of our operations was changed that any real fruits to mission labours were apparent.

It may, no doubt, still be considered an open question by many whether the missionaries should not have steadily pursued their original course of working as cohelpers, and in deference to the wishes of the Metropolitan, notwithstanding the discouragements of eighteen years' experience. Let us, then, see how matters stood during that period. Mr. Norton's introduction to his work may be best described in his own words, in ́ a letter dated October 14, 1816, showing as it does his own views at the commencement, as well as those of the Syrian body.

'While I was at Quilon,' Mr. Norton writes, "the Resident sent for the Metropolitan of the Syrian churches, that he and I might form some acquaintance with each other, and come to a right understanding with respect to the footing on which I should stand connected with him. I had, in consequence, several interviews with him. It appeared that some apprehensions existed in his mind, and much more in the minds of the clergy and people, lest we should innovate, and endeavour to do away with some of their legitimate rites, and bring them under English ecclesiastical power. Indeed this

Mr. Norton and the Metropolitan.

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fear so possessed the minds of a few that they have actually left the Syrian, and joined the Romish Church, intimating that the Bishop was about to betray them to the English. I endeavoured, therefore, in the first place to convince the Metropolitan, in the presence of several of his Catanars, that we had no other object in view than the benefit of the Syrian Church; and assured him that it was our sole desire to be instrumental, by the Divine assistance, in strengthening his hands for removing those evils which they had derived from the Church of Rome, and which he himself lamented, and to bring them back to their primitive state, according to the purity of the gospel, that they might again become a holy and vigorous Church, active and useful in the cause of God. I have reason to be thankful, that, after a little conversation, I succeeded; and he received me, as he expressed himself, as sent by the Lord to be their deliverer and protector, and prayed that God would bless my efforts among them.'

In a subsequent part of the letter the marriage of Catanars is mentioned:

In my conversations with the Metropolitan, one topic on which we touched was that of their clergy not marrying. The Bishop saw the evil of this practice, and wished to remedy it. One reason, among others,