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RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE.

We have great pleasure in presenting to our readers the following account of the present condition of the Syrian church in India. To those who may not be familiar with some allusions, we recommend a perusal of Buchanan's Christian Researches. This document has been transmitted by a friend of primitive Christian truth and worship, from Calcutta. The following extract from our friend's letter will recommend the whole subject to the attention of our readers, in language better than our own.

"I am glad you take an interest in the Syrian church, and I will endeavour to get you the last report of the Madras Church Missionary Society, which treats largely, and delightfully, respecting them. They are a most interesting and amiable people, and improving. The archdeacon of this diocese has lately made them a visit, and speaks in raptures of them. I shall defer speaking of what is doing here, until the annual report is published, which will be in a few days."

To Colonel Newall, British Resident at the Courts of Travancore and Cochin.

SIR,-In compliance with the wish you did us the honour of expressing to us, we beg to transmit to you the following statement of the condition of the Syrian Christians. We do not flatter ourselves, that it will convey to you much additional information, on a subject with which you must be so conversant but we trust it may not be altogether useless, if it serve to bring before you a few particulars, which a residence of some continuance among them, and degree of attention to their current traditions and history, as well as to their present circumstances, have enabled us to collect.

It will be unnecessary, and perhaps irrelevant, to detain you on the antiquity of the church in Malabar; a point which has so long engaged the attention of the learned in Europe. Whatever may be thought of the credit due to the current traditions of these people, that the Apostle Thomas planted Christianity among them; yet, so much, may, we humbly conceive, be considered as established beyond contradiction, that they existed here as a well established church, connected with the Syrian church in Persia, as early as the year 535, the period when Cosmas travelled to this coast; that, at a period somewhat later, but certainly prior to the year 825, the commencement of the era of the country, considerable grants, immunities, and precedences, were conferred on them by one of the Perumal princes; and that the greater part of these privileges have been uninterruptedly enjoyed, and are now visible among them. Every person of observation, now visiting the interiour of the country is necessarily led to this conclusion. He discovers a race of Christians, differing widely in their general manners from the later specimens of native converts, that from the time of the Portuguese settlements have been so numerous on the coast; bearing

indeed undoubted marks of their Syrian original, and of the high dig. nity to which in former times they were raised a people, in short, who identify themselves with the subjects of the above traditions, and to whom the names of Portuguese and Roman Catholicks are comparatively new. But we feel it would be unpardonable to trespass further on your time in enlarging upon a topick, which is a matter so entirely of personal inspection.

It may, however, be useful here to introduce a few remarks respecting their moral character. A body of people, separated by its religious and social customs, from the other classes of the community, may naturally be expected to possess a peculiarity of moral feelings and impressions. And the state of the Syrian Christians will be found to justify this expectation. At the time of their first discovery by the Portuguese, they were distinguished by their scrupulous regard to truth, and their general manliness and independence of character, and were considered as constituting the chief strength of the nations who employed them. Many testimonies to this effect are collected by La Croze, to whose interesting and accurate work we beg leave to refer you. The acts of the synod of Udiyampur, the number of books then destroyed, and the strong opposition which Menezes not unfrequently encountered in propagating his innovations amongst them, bear ample testimony to a point nearly allied to the former, the learning of their clergy. And, notwithstanding the many causes that have conspired to produce a lamentable deterioration in this respect, yet the most curso ry observers find, even now, continual traces of their former eminence. We beg leave to call your attention to a few of the causes which have led to their decline. The breaking up of the petty sovereignties created by Cheram Perumal, through the overbearing influence of the rajahs of Travancore and Cochin on the one side, and of Hyderally, and of the Europeans on the other, cannot but be conceived to have produced a sensible alteration in the condition of the Christians; whose political importance rested entirely upon the immunities and privileges they enjoyed under that remarkable system. From being a compact body, forming either separate principalities of themselves, or aristocracies, considerable as to numbers and influence among the petty states through which they were distributed; they now formed but a small integral part of a large community, in which their consequence was left to depend solely on the opinion which their former influence had created. But independently of these causes, (which apply equally to that very remarkable body, the Jews of Cochin,) there are others which in a more serious and peculiar manner, affect the Syrian Christians. These causes are all to be referred to the appearance of the Roman Catholicks on these shores, and the contest which this church has consequently had to sustain, for three centuries, with the unremitted vigilance, the force and intrigue, of a usurping and intolerant hierarchy. The preponderating influence of the Portuguese with the heathen government was all employed in forwarding the designs of the Romish emissaries : while, through the system adopted, either from policy or principle, by the Protestant states, the Syrian church has been left unaided by any

corresponding influence in the opposite direction. And the consequences of all this, upon its moral and ecclesiastical condition, have been indeed most deplorable. Mutual fears, suspicions, and jealousies, fomented by their enemies, and terminating in a fatal and apparently irreconcilable schism in their own body, the destruction of their best ancient monuments, during the short calamitous interval in which they were all nominally subjected to the Papal power, together with the interruption, both then and since, of the regular intercourse with Syria, on the feeling of which depended that peculiar spirit and individuality of character for which they were formerly so distinguished; these may be noted as the more general and direct consequences, from which others, of a more particular nature, and more immediately striking the attention, have proceeded. Such as, the withdrawment, from conscious weakness and want of favour, from all share in the publick history of their country, in which they formerly acted so distinguished a part; the increasing ignorance of the clergy; their growing unacquaintance with the only language in which the principles of divine knowledge were contained, and their consequent inability to become acquainted with these principles, far less to communicate them to the people; the disuse of education; the introduction of many superstitious practices, unknown to their ancestors; and a gradual verging towards many of the customs and some of the vices of the country. It is remarkable, that, under all the causes of deterioration which have been mentioned, the character of the Syrian Christians should still present so many points of superiority. The duplicity and deceit, for which the natives of India are so proverbial, is not a feature of their character. On the contrary, they may be said to possess, in no small degree, the opposite virtues of honesty and plain dealing, accompanied with a peculiar simplicity of manner, which distinguishes them in the eyes of the stranger, from the other inhabitants of the country. But we feel it would be needless to do more than hint at a subject, which, we humbly conceive, cannot have escaped your observation.

With regard to the actual number of these people, it is difficult to arrive at any exact conclusion. It appears, however, most probable, as well from the reason of the case, as from the accounts of Anquetil Du Perron and others, that they were a much more numerous body of people in former times than we find them to be at present. They now, themselves, reckon up eighty-eight churches belonging to their body; of which fifty-five bave maintained their independence with the Roman Pontiff. According to the most accurate estimate we have been able to form, the number of families belonging to these fiftyfive churches amounts, at the lowest computation, to thirteen thousand. The majority of these are poor, and support themselves by daily labour others employ themselves in merchandise and agriculture. Though inany among them are most highly respectable, especially those of the class termed Farragan, yet there are none who can justly be styled men of property. There are very few indeed among them possessed of a property to the amount of 5000 rupees.

The number of officiating Priests, commonly called Catanars, is one

bundred and forty-four. These are wholly supported by the offerings of the laity, on festival days, and on the administration of the occasional rites of the church, which, for the most part, afford but a very scanty support: and in very few instances do the monthly offerings, received by a Catanar, exceed five rupees. They are generally of the best families; and, consequently, upon their character, as to morals and information, depends, in a great degree, that of the districts in which they reside.

Having thus, sir, explained, in as brief a manner as we could, the former and present condition of this interesting people, we beg leave to submit to your notice, the plans now in operation for their benefit, and some others that have been proposed for the same purpose. In doing this, we act under the direction of the very reverend the Metropolitan; and we beg leave here most distinctly to state, that whatever relates to the concerns of this church, proceeds directly and entirely from him; with no other advice and assistance from us, than that which, partly our official relation to him, and partly his voluntary consultation of us, have made it our duty to give. The objects which the Metropolitan has in view may be included in these four heads :-First, the circulation of the holy scriptures in the Syriack and vernacular tongues, with other works of religious and general information. Secondly, the general instruction of youth.

Thirdly, the special instruction of the clergy.

Fourthly, the erection and enlargement of churches. Upon each of these objects, allow us to add a few words; with so much regarding ourselves and our mission, as may be necessary to show the proposed mode of attaining them.

The first object proposed, is the circulation of useful works, and especially of the holy scriptures. The importance of the latter point, in every scheme of moral improvement, will be acknowledged by every Christian; and its claim in the present case is made more urgent by the veneration which the whole Syrian community have for the scriptures, and their eager desire to be possessed of them. A translation has in consequence been commenced with the co-operation of some of the principal clergy of the Syrian Church, and with the assistance of some Brahmins and Navis well skilled in the language of the country. A few other works, principally such as are required in the college and schools, have been translated; and others are in progress and contemplation. A press, with a fount of English types, has been forwarded by the Church Missionary Society, and a fount of Malayalim types is expected.

The second thing proposed, is the instruction of youth. In furtherance of this most necessary object, it has been thought desirable that schools should be formed in every parish; and that, independently of these, three institutions, on the plan of what we term in England free or grammar schools, should be established in different districts. Parochial schools have accordingly been formed for thirty-seven out of the fiftyfive churches, subject to the Syrian Metropolitan and the central grammar school has been erected at his residence at Cotayam. Some

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of the parochial schools are supported by the Syrians themselves, partly from the contributions of individuals, and partly from the church property of the parishes to which they belong others are supported by the contributions of the Church Missionary Society and the remainder, constituting the greater proportion, from both these sources jointly, but principally from the latter. The sum allotted to this purpose by the society is 800 rupees annually, but no buildings have hitherto been erected; a circumstance much required on account of the heathen children in the schools, as the Syrians and the heathens have an equal aversion to their being instructed within the walls of the Church. The average cost of one of these buildings will be 100 rupees.

The annual funds of the grammar school at Cotayam, amounting to 1000 rupees, are supplied entirely by the society: but these are not found sufficient for the support of more than fifty boys, a number far below what was originally intended to be admitted on the foundation. The two remaining grammar schools for the northern and southern districts have not yet been established, for want of funds. The building alone, of each of these schools, including the apartments for the master, &c. cannot be estimated at less than 1000 rupees. In addition to the education received at these schools, it is proposed that the most proficient scholars should eventually be transferred to the college, to complete their education for such civil and ecclesiastical duties as they may be called to fulfil.

The third object proposed, is the instruction of the clergy, that is, of those destined for the clerical office. In a body so situated as the Sy. rian church is, it is principally from this portion of it, that we must expect an academical institution to be supplied. It is on this account only that we have referred to the head of the instruction of the clergy the notice of the college of Cotayam; without, however, losing sight of the fact, that it will include other students to whom an acquaintance with the higher branches of literature may be important and desirable.

The college was begun by the late Metropolitan, Mar Dionysius, and continued by the present Metropolitan, under the patronage of the Mate British Resident, Colonel Munro. It was endowed with extensive grants of land and money, by her highness the Rannee; and is now in operation, under the eye of the Metropolitan, who resides in it as its head. The establishment consists of two Malpans, or Syrian doctors; who, besides their lectures in Syriack, officiate daily in the college chapel; a learned Jew of Cochin, teacher of Hebrew, towards which language the attention of the Malpans and others is excited two native teachers of Sanscrit: and an English teacher and his assistant. It is in contemplation to introduce the study of the Latin and Greek languages, and a general acquaintance with European literature. The number of students is fifty-o -one eighteen of whom have received the initiatory ordinations; and from the experience we have already had, we feel fully justified in expressing our conviction, that the students will prosecute their studies with credit to themselves and the institution. The annual revenue of the college, consisting of the

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