The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1893-11-23
ULTIMATE RELIGION.
REV. Mr.. DlxoN's THIRD SERMON ON
WORLDS FAIR PROPHECIES.

Religious Parliament.
New YORK, Nov. 19.-The series of
sermons on the Prophecies Of the
Worlds Fair" was continued in Asso-
citation hall this morning by the Rev.
Thomas Dixon. Jr. The subject for
today was The Religion of the Future,
From the Point of View of the Worlds
Parliament of Religions"
He maintained that this great and
unique gathering has emphasized the
glory of Christianity. He declared that
the ultimate religion of man which we
begin to see dimly outlining itself will
recognize tho wider revelation Of God
to all peoples and races, rs did Paul /;
that the test of its orthodoxy can only
be the measure of tho character of its
disciples; that bigotry and ignorance
must yield to charity and light; that
true civilization and The Kingdom of
Cod are one und tho same in their de-
velopment, ald that the missionary eff
forts of Christianity will be readiusted
to the apostolic ideal of moro sym
pathetic recognition of the truths of
other systems. The text chosen was:
We are also his offspring.-Acts xvii, cs.
For the whole law is fulfilled I'm ono word,
even in thie, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as
thyself.-Galatians V, IL.
THE RELIGIOUS PARLIAMENT.
The worlds parliament of religions
held during the great exposition in Chi.
cago. it seems to me, marks an epoch in
the age history Of humanity.
To the earnest evangelical enthusiast
this meeting most naturally excited
the deepest feelings of antagonism. It
was question Of temperament and
thought habit. Yet many who opposed
the idea have been forced to confess
that the results did not justify their
alarm. A few Of our best men of deep
spirituality, tinged unconsciously with
Greek mysticism and eastern dream,
still persist in their protest. This
thought was graphically expressed re-
Gently in letter on tho subject to the
editor of a religious weekly. The writer
said, Il do not believe that in many
centuries such a dishonor has been in
ficted upon the gospel of our Lord
Jesus Christ, as by this deliberate at
tempt to bring it into adulterous init
macy with the pagan religions of the
world"
But after all is not this q most super
fetal view of a great event2
What has Christianity to fear from
contact of its noblest representatives
with the priests and prophets Of all
other religionsp Can we believe that
the apostle Paul would have declined to
enter such an arena of warfare from
fear of contamination? Was that the
sort of religion practiced by the great
apostle to the gentle world? Hardly.
The worst that can be said about this
parliament is that it was spectacular.
1t was of course show. So was all
the fair. But was it worthy showp
Shows have their deep lessons for man.
A show may be heavy with the wisdom
of ages and eloquent in its prophecy of
the future. This show, it must be
granted, was something new under the
sun. 1t marks distinctly period in
the whole history Of the world. The
like was never seen before. 1t was
never possible before. Hence its tre-
mendous import. 1t was show, yesl
And what show!
THE ONE GOSPEL.
What contrast with the past when
we greeted each other with curses and
carried on our arguments with sword
and spear, shot and shell! Really is it
not worth while to hold such an exhibi-
ton Of human progress2 Does it not
mean much for the future Of the race?
And now that this gathering IS in the
past and become matter of history
does it not begin to appear already that
Christianity is to be the gamer by this
interchange of ideas?
By contrast Christianity shines in
this gathering with unique brilliancy.
No other religion has spoken word to
compare with the glory Of the two
thoughts in tho texts quoted. No one
has told us news that can compare with
the majestic thought of universal
human brotherhood--an overshadow-
ing fatherhood of God. The only reli-
gion that has told us to love our neigh
Dor as ourselves is the religion Of Jesus
Christi How poor is the sum total
of all elsel Should it not thrill the soul
of Christendom to stand thus face to
face with the assembled world and feel
the throb of such thought? For this
reason no Christian ever asks the ques-
ton, is life worth living? The world
that gropes in the twilight of smaller
revelations may ponder the problem of
annihilation, but the Christian replies:
Is life worth living2 Yes so long
As there is wrong 10 right,
Wall Of the weak against the strong,
Or tyranny to fight;
Long as there fingers gloom to chase,
Or streaming tear to dry,
One kindred woe, one sorrowing face
That smiles as We draw nigh.
Long as q tale of anguish swells
The heart and lids grow wet,
And at the sound of Christmas bells
We pardon and forget;
30 long as Faith with Freedom reiRns,
And loyal Hope survives,
And gracious Charity remains
To leaven lowly lives;
While there is one untrodden track
For intellect or will,
And men are free to think and act
Life Is worth living still.
viii not our own faith be strength
ened and ennobled by this meetingp
Does not the bare fact of such gather
Ing point to the ultimate coming Of a
broader, truer faith--a faith which
every Christian knows will be domi-
mated by Jesus Christi II seems to me