The Irish standard., 1893-09-16
PARLIAMENT OF cREEDs.

convened last Monday morning in Chi
cago in the Hall of Columbus at the Art
Palace and was formally opened with
prayer by Cardinal Gibbons after the
new Liberty Bell had pealed forth vel
come to the representatives of the ten
great religions of the world who had
met together for deliberation for the first
time in the history of mankind. 1t was
the strangest, the most unique end pic
turekque gathering of churchmen ever
seen on earth. Seated side by side on
the platform were men Of all races,
creeds aud colors. The representatives
of Catholicism, Professionalism, Judaism,
Hindooism, Mohammedanism, Bud
dhism, Parseeism, Confucianism and
other isms shock hands as children OF
the same heavenly Great II and we're on
the best of terms Each delegate of the
various religious from the different ma
tions of the earth had peculiar mode OF
dress and was gorgeously arrayed. It
was a motley convocation and an i'm.
mense crowd was present to witness the
grand spectacle. The opening address
by Rev. John Henry Barrows, D. D..
chairman of the general committee
struck the popular chord and elected
frequent applause. He was followed by
Archbishop Feehan, of Chicago, who
Welcomed the delegates in the name OF
| the Catholic Church and said among
other happy things that those men pres
emit who represented the races and faiths
of the world, meeting together and talk.
ing together and seeing one another, will
have for each other in the eud sincere
respect and reverence and cordial and
fraternal feeling of friendship. Cardinal
| Gibbons came next and delivered mag.
niicent address which is reproduced
elsewhere in our columns. A woman
followed the Cardinal and carried the
audience with her in libsrality of senti-
ment. A representative of the Puritans
next came forwa d and spoke in the
broadcast liberation. He was followed
by bishop of the Greek church who
closed an admirable address by invoking
the blessing of heaven on the United
States and its happy and glorious people
The earnest men from the Orient, the
disciples of Buddha, Confucius and Ma
homet, had their say and expressed their
pleasure of being present. The audi
ence we're astonished to hear the pill
grims from Japan speak huently in
the most perfect English.
There is no doubt but the comming-
ling of men of different creede in this
memorable congress of religions will
wear away prejudices and that before
the symposium is over they will have a
higher respect for each others opinions.
They have assembled not for polemical
purposes or to indulge in discussion or
debate but to elucidate the faiths they
profess so that all can understand the
various doctrines as expounded by rec
ognized authorities. The Christians can
better understand and appreciate the re-
ligions of the East when they hear them
explained by eminent pagans from Ash
attic climes. We have been long since of
the opinion that "the heather in his
blindness" does not chow down to wood
and stone" as alleged by Christian mis-
sionaries, but that he worships the God
of the universe while paying an inferior
form of worship to the founders of his
religion. Men cannot judge from ex-
terror worship what is in the heart and
| mind of man and we would prefer to get
the Interpretation Of his religi n from
the pagan himself than from the Chris
tian who is likely to misrepresent aud
mis- .onstrue the outward manifesto lions
OF bis creed. How often have not Gath
lies been accused of idolatry by Protest
ants because they have statues and rel
les in their temples Of worship and dsdi
cate their churches to some patron
saints It may be that the followers of
Confucius and Buddha ,rship God
alone while honoring the great men of
their race who left them q code OF moral
laws.
There will be no attempt at this par
lament to formulate creed suffcietly
elastic and pliable to include all Of its
members. All that can be reasonably
expected is that the various religions
will. be better understood than ever be-
fore. There may be conversions from
one faith to another Of persons outside
the congress but it is very improbable
that any of the advocates Of the different
creeds represented will change his views
one iota. One Of the delegates, DR.. Nc
Pherson, says: "This parliament will Saf-
ford the best single opportunity in the
history of man for the study Of compare
tive religion. It will be the most novel
and at the same time the most interest
ing exhibit that q Worlds Exposition
could make, for it represents the grand