The morning call., 1893-05-28
The "world,s Parliament Of .KeIlgIOnso wIII

The "Word's Parliament OF Religions" VIII
open in Chicago on September II next.
1t is stupendous undertaking. II rivals and
probably surpasses every other feature of the
Worlds Columbian Exposition. II scales what
has been held insuImounrable; bridges space
hitherto called Infinite; supersedes all previous
segregations of the world into nations, denom-
nations. sects.
For al the vital springs of every nation lie its
religious principles. They may b called honor,
pride. virtue. even credit, but they depend OH a
national appreciation of morality Religious
forms may be scoffed at, but deep down in every
heart in every nation is rooted some faith, If it
be only faith In valor, a faith in pure physical
force.
All the nations of the earth, besides all the
men OF every nation, have such faiths. a CON-
mon nature underlieS them. All faiths are
basicaly .eachngs out toward 1.-THE beautiful
and whatever seems most beautiful TO any man
or nation becomes his religion.
But this common objecI-"The beauuful'-
has myriad fOlms. One nation may see 1t in
perfect art; another in political Independence;
another in commercial supremacy. 1t is Pro-
team and haply slips away from question and
becomes unreeognizable under some new gu,e.
1t WAS TO hold-to photograph as il wete-the
most valuable aspects of ''thr beautifui' that
doctrines were formulated. 1t was 10 con-
serve those doctrines that the various religions
exist to-day.
Thus 1t VIII be seen why all the nations Of
the earth take such an absorbing lnteres In
this forthcoming parliament OF Religions"
Here will be presented to public view the
nations cherished ideas. The ablesf eXponents
of each ideal viii proudly exhibit it. The bars
OF ignorance, of prejudice. of fanaticism will
fall fol once in the history of the world. II
men cannot with their finite limitations re-
cognize the unity of the ideals they Will at
least be able to learn what Is beautiful in an
others eyes. knowledge and recognition of
differences are the first steps toward an ALI.
ance.
1t is really. then, an exposition of tie worlds
ideals or The worlds views Of ''Ibe beautiful
that this parliament of Religions offers.
There are to be no auctioneering tactics; no
polemical magnifyng of religious beliefs. II
Will be a tournament OF peace Quietly aud
with dignity each champion will rise and ex-
plain his denominatlon's views of life aud
drath; he will justify that view-quOte figures
and instances to support it; h VIII define 1t,
and, as it were, place it ON record, SO that all
may thereafter be able to appreciate the thick
ness and formidableness OF the barriers sepa-
rating one religion from another.
In the volume of human life. slipping down
like river into an unknown sea, the various
religions have been compared 10 locks or reser-
vors. They are needed to maintain sufficient
depth OF morality or grasp OF truih--to render
progress possible. They are divided from one
another. il is true; each evolved from peculiar
necessities OF various times, peoples and con-
ditions
But it is conceded that all have been neces-
airy to promote progress, and as the world to-
day. in spite of its advancement, still contains
units in every stage of progress. it may be al
lowed that every religion TO be represented at
the parliament is necessary to-day. a religion
does not necessarily stand stl but from its
very nature it is a cIysiallization of strong
elemental beliefs into a creed. These beliefs
are themselves subject 10 the Irresistible law
Of evolution. Hence the formation of new reli-
gions.
In the following succinct and able papers, es-
pecially contributed TO THE CALL by San Fran
cisco clergymen, there will b. found some of
the most interesting aspects of this great par
liament, which marks epoch in the religious
aud therefore secular history of The world
Individuality enters largely into the papers.
This makes them specially interesting and
sometimes very opposite in view. Enough in
common remains, however. to justify para
phrase of the poet:
THROUGH all the changes one incr easing purpose
runs.