The morning call., 1893-05-28
THE DAWN OF REASON.
Rev. ioratio Stebbins Deems the
Event a Human TriuHIDEI.
Of popular debate.

ENCsl u
The Parliament of Religions, Tie fact, and
tn lea of ii, suggest a new era of religious
thought.
Within the last half century a great change,
much greater than most men think, has taken
place IN The minds Of philoSophic writers re-
Speeting the IeiigiOuS systems OF the world.
Less than hundred years ago those systems
were regarded by writer's OF reputed wisdom
and learning, who gave the tone to the public
opinion of Cbristendom, as the devices of bright
and cunning scbemerS, priests or lawgvers,
who for heir own purposes of selfish power
played kind of spiritual legerdt maiI upon
humanity through the fears that ignorance so
jealousiy fosters. This was the generally ad-
mit,ed fact, and so sweeping and urlver sal was
the conclusion that it became necessary to set
up 81 ecial defenses 10 show that the Christian
religion was tue one solitary exception to this
world-quackery.
Ii Is not 100 much perhaps TO say that all this
hls been swept away in the revoluIion-or
evoluton-of modern thought. Among the
guides OF men, and among the more thnughifu
eVerywhere, ii is felt iha the faiths of mankind
have much broader and deeper foundation
that theu are in the heart of 1nGIl-aud have a
common root in the common human nature
Ii bis is so, there must be some Wit i relation
some sympathy, some point OF comparison be-
tween thesr faiths OF The world. II is the recog-
milton OF this great Human, World-Fact th { all
systems, creeds and doctrines have root of
Truth and sincerity, and are not scheme OF
counteffeits and forged notes that gives pecu-
liar emphasis TO this event.
FTfty-Ihree years ago to-day. on May 8, 1910,
Carlyle said: "a false man found religion?
Why, false man canBot build a brick house!
Ii he do not know and follow truly the proper
ties of mortar, burnt clay aud what else he
works in, 1t is no house that he Makes but
rubbish heap.n
This recognition of the hone sty and sympathy
OF religions does not imply that they are all of
equal value, more than the recognition of
princi pie OF order and law in the civilizations
OF the world implies that one civilization is a.
good as another. or that Madagascar Is ''all the
same" as England. 1t i'm plies that underneath
all these varieties OF religious expression there
is fundamental tru b, common bond of
sympathy ana communion. as human nature is
common bond of sympathy aud communion
among men.
This, then. is the idea-the bottom fact-of
the arliament OF Religions at Chicago The
religions OF the world are not false, but i'm per-
feet-as laws and manners are imperfect-and
they may be supplemented fulfilled by mutual
conference moral sympathy and exchang-.
1t Is sign OF the progress OF human thought
not surpassed IN any other sphere of mans en-.
terprse. No conquest of mans brain over earth
or sea, pendulum, steam, electricity. telegraph,
or telephone, surpasses this dawn of reason on
the mountains Of ignorance and superstition,
revealing the unity of humanity in a common
origin and common des my.
VI hat may be the Immediate practical result
OF the parliament II is impossible to tell.
Probably no immediate Notwithstanding the
face OF tn wotid-wlll follow. Great prlnci-
| pies 40 not work -. 1t is enough that in our
| age they are recognized and felt, and that The
day once dawned VIII not go back into nighf.
The "Parliament of Religions at the Worlds
Fair is sign OF the increasing common sen Sc
and good-nature of the world, aud Il new pledge
/ tina
through the ages one increasing pur-
pose runs.
/ and the thou hts OF men are widened with the
process OF the
! How many religions there are on The earth no
rnan knoweth. There is no accurate standard
of measurement and no definition that does not
/ quire 20 be defued AS no TWO men see the
bow in The heavens" alike, 20 every man
wersllips his own God and dashes The In
bnile with the color of his own mind. But
/ To see tie Representative OF some of
! the great falIhs Of mans ind-Ihe spokes-
/ men Of Buddha. Moses, Confueius, Jesus
and MGhammed-in council for the common
cause OF truth and human welfare would be
/ pirasant, perhaps impressive, sight. II
would remind oae surely of the long-mind d
thought OF an old Hebrew saimi who saw In
/ vision OF eternal light 'the mountain OF the
Lords house established In the top of the
+! tions flowing TO it, and give suggestion