The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-09-19


Churches of All Denoninations.
. CHICAGo Sept. Is,-The cosmopolitan
character OF the worlds parliament or re-
lgions were more forcibly demonstrated
yesterday afternoon than at any time since
the opening. 1t had been laid down as a
rigid rule by the committee ON arrange
ments that there should be no controversy
or comparison, that UNCONVENTIONAL diff
ferences should be forgotten, and that
good will toward man should be the ruling
principle. And SO it was that when fe-
male theosophisU from the capital of Great
Britain was denouncing the tax gathering
church, the hereto burning church, the
church of oppression, and declaring that
all had been given death blow by this
parliament OF religions, the strains of the
grand old hymn, "All hail the Power of
Jesus Name" sung by thousand voices
In room across the corridor, 1oated
through her audience and bore eloquent
witnesses to the fact that to one assem-
blage of believers, at least, death dealing
blow had not up to that moment been adj
ministered
1t was great day for the small proper
tion of the ten thousand or more that
sought admission to the Art Institute ut
the morning and afternoon sessions,
whether they were interested in Puritan
ism or Judaism, i'll liberal Christianity or
In Confucianism, in strict orthodoxy or
Mohammedanism. the particular religious
publium which they sought was there for
the seeking.
Confucianism had it's advocate in King
6hien Ho, of Shanghai who said that in
his religion the most important thing was
to follow the will of Heaven. All men
had at birth nature for goodness,
and yet If there was nothing to fix it then
desires arose and passions ruled, and men
were not far from being like beasts. Con-
fucianism searched into all things It ex-
tended knowledge. 1t taught q sincere
aim for right heart. 1t taught virtu-
GUS life; it taught good government to the
nation and peace to all under Heaven. All
down the centuries its worship and reli-
gion had been wisely regulated, and hence
1t had been transacted from the oldest
times until now. This was what had
caused 1T to be superior to all other reli-
gons.
Quite in another direction was the adj
dress of Mrs. Laura Ormiston Chant. of
England. She said that many theologians
were clever religious jugglers and that
with all due respect to the theologians the
value of the present congress lay in the
soul that was behind it, and not in learned
words.
Professor G. 8. Goodspeed. of the Uni
versity of Chicago, expressed the opinion
that the session of the parliament would
do more for religion than years of philoso-
phising, while Professor Washburne, of
Constantlnople in paper upon points of
contact between Christianity and Moham-
mechanism insisted that while the first had
been identified with progressive civiliza-
ton. the latter had been identified with a
stationary religion.
Standing room in. the hall allotted to
the theosophical congress was at pro-
MUM. Behind and about n table piled
high with floral designs sat w. G. Judge.
Annie Besant Mrs. Cooper Oakley and
Miss Henrietta Mueller, of London, and
the Buddhist Dharmaple, of Ceylon, and
the Brahmist Chakravarti, of Calcutta.
George b. Wright, of Chicago, welcomed
those before him with the declaration that
the present congress was the realization of
the dream of the theosophists the world
over. AS the first speaker he introduced
Professor Chakravarti, who expounded
the fundamental beliefs of the Brahmins,
dwelling upon the principles of evolution,
and holding that while the animal was al
ways behind the man, he was yet entitled
to all consideration, because he was NOV
Ing toward the perfective point toward
which man was travelling.
There were loud calls for Annie Besant.
and when the high priestess of theosophy,
costumed In one of Worth's most magnifl-
cent creations in cream silk, stepped to
the footlights buzz of admiration went
through the feminine portion of the audi
ence, while the men cheered heartily.
With tribute to the late Mime. Blavat-
sky, as a messenger of the Master, she
agreed that, the theosophical movement
was but another spiritual impulse, less
yelled than before the race was further
evolved.
Following her came Miss f. H. Mueller,
costumed in a blue silk gown of an
Oriental character, and wearing around
her neck string of enormous amber
beads. She denounced all kinds of churches,
anu declared that the present parliament
had given them their death blow.
MOB IN DANvILLE.