Seven years in Ceylon: stories of mission life . ts to accept it. Iconfess that I find myself greatly perplexed to understand the mental processes of, forexample, our older English-speaking school-boys. For a year, in day-school,Sabbath-school, and in private talks, they have heard the truth, and have understoodit. They can tell the story of Christs life nearly as well as I can. They have hadthe nature of prayer, the duty of faith and repentance, clearly explained. Why then do they not become Christians? They have not yet given up their oldbeliefs. These beliefs are ingrained into their litera
Seven years in Ceylon: stories of mission life . ts to accept it. Iconfess that I find myself greatly perplexed to understand the mental processes of, forexample, our older English-speaking school-boys. For a year, in day-school,Sabbath-school, and in private talks, they have heard the truth, and have understoodit. They can tell the story of Christs life nearly as well as I can. They have hadthe nature of prayer, the duty of faith and repentance, clearly explained. Why then do they not become Christians? They have not yet given up their oldbeliefs. These beliefs are ingrained into their literature, their history, their song, theirevery-day duty and thought. They say that, although we are right, there is much thatis right with them also. They are bound to their friends by the strongest ties, and thefetters are riveted by caste. It is a terrible wrench to break away from all. All these things, and many more, bear on the probable future. Yet of one thingwe are sure, that the steady, faithful, earnest teaching of Gods own word in church. Nicodemiis in Ceylon. 31 and school, in public and private, must be followedby a steady growth of conscientiousness and lovefor truth throughout the community, and by alarger and larger number of individuals turning^V?-,,^^ to God. The Gospel has all along in the^•^^ past been moulding this whole community. Is it nothing that we have almost the wholeeducational work in our hands, that nearlyevery house is open to our visits and thoseof the catechists and Bible-women; that theattendance at church and Sabbath-school isincreasing; that moonlight, village, and Sab-bath afternoon meetings are so largely attended ?All the educated men and women, and theolder children in the schools, are ashamed ofthe ceremonies connected with the Sivite worship and the great festivals, and do notparticipate in them. All through the villages there are men and women who do notrub ashes or visit heathen temples, and many of these in their hearts wor^hip the tr
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