St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-10-01
THE LESSON OF THE PARLIA-
NIENT.

The parliament of religions has come
and gone. Christian, Mohamme dan.
Brahmin, Confucian, Buddhist, Parsee
and Jew-and all of the different sects
or the Christian system, ''from Rome to
pure reason"-have met for the first
time in the worlds history upon com
mon level. They. have discussed that
many-Sided problem, the spiritual eX.
istence of man; they have all listened
with patience while. in turn, the dis
ciples of Christ, of Confucius. of Mo-
manned, Of Zoroaster, of Buddha, have
set forth the divine teachings of their
several prophets and masters. They have
found that the golden chain of love, the
silken strands of faith and hope are
woven through and through each sys-
tenn. identifying it and making it strong
against the assaults of the world, the
flesh and the devil.
This congress is significant sign Of
the times. During all the ages of the
past these systems have been rending
each other. They have met upon the
field of slaughter and Striven tor spirit
ual supremacy with the carnai weapons
of war. Each in turn has striven to
prove its divine mission by persecution
and an unholy alliance with the instru-
ments OF physical force.
While this pregnant scene was being
enacted in the heart of the greatest re-
public ever known to man, one Chris
tian nation of Europe was, in Asia,
holding the sword at the throat of a
pagan nation, and demanding ''your
territory or your life." Other Christla II
nations of Europe at the same nom ent
were engaged in dividing the lands of
the Dark Continent into colonies and
dependencies for their several populaA
tions without taking into account the
wishes of the possessors of the soil.
Other Christian nations IN South and
Central America were applying them
selves to overturning existing govern
mentS, and striving to institute anew
by force the administration of the law.
At the same moment every Chris tian
nation OF Europe was armed to the
teeth. each engaged in striving to ter
rify it's neighbor into peace by a public
exhibition Of its military strength.
1t is one of the contradictions of hu-
man nature that all the nations which
profess to be guided by the teachings of
the meek and lowly Nazarene are for
ever the War-makerS and the coDquerOrs
of the world. Christ proclaimed, My
kingdom is not of this world" and yet
the professed followers of this universal
peacemaker are lost in the struggle for
universal material dominion; and would
seem to be never happy unless carrying
the cross into the Willis of human bar
barism, while hiding razor i'll their
boots.
The parliament of religions will not
have been in vain if it commences to
instruct the rulers of Christian states
that the ethics of the Savior were meant
to teach the lesson of peace and good
will toward all men. The sword OF the
conqueror is strong in warfare, but the
lesson is better taught by the represent
ativeS of some Of the more ancient
religions that there are no victories
gained by men which are as actual and
permanent as those won by the sword
of the Spirit-by truth, justice, equity
and mercy. Let US be thankful thai
the meeting just closed was held in the
great republic. Let US pursue and
perpetuate the policy of tolerance
and charity for all honest religious
opinions established by the fathers
of the nation, and see to it that re-
ligious liberty is made perpetual
for without the full freedom of re.
ligious opinion IN America civil and
political liberty are the veviest mockery