The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-12-13

Here are the patriarchs Of the high
church of Greece wearing somber cas-
socks of black and strangely formed
| hats From China came the long flow
ing robes of white and red: from far
away India the robes of orange and
white; from Japan the gorgeous robes
of the colors Of the rainbow. Many and
varied are the garbs we see. and with
the many finely-formed faces and
| happy, intelligent looks the picture is
one that thrills the soul.
The session was opened by singing
and prayer after which President Bon
ney delivered his address of welcome TO
the nations. from which we quote the
following words:
''Worshipers of God and Lovers of
! Man-Let us rejoice that we have lived
10 see this glorious day; let US give
thanks 20 the eternal God whose mercy
endureth forever. that we are permitted
to take part in the solemn and majestic
event of a worlds congress Of religions.
The Importance of this event cannot be
Overesumated. In this congress
the word religion means the love and
worship Of Cod We believe the script
ure that of q truth God is no respecter
Of persons. but in every nation he that
feareth God and worketh righteousness
/ Is accepted Of Him We come together
in mutual confidence and respect with
out the least surrender or compromise
of anything which we respectively be
lieve to be truth or duty. with the hope
that mutual acquaintance and a free
and sincere interchange of views on the
great questions of eternal life and hui
man conduct Will be mutually bene-
fetal. The religious faiths of
the world have most seriously misunder
stood and misjudged each other from
the use of words in meanings radically
different from those which they were
intended to bear and from disregard
# the distinctions between appearances
IL
md the things signifed and represented.
such errors it is hoped that this con-
gress viii do much to correct and render
hereafter impossible
President Bonney's address was quite
lengthy and deeply interesting. as was
that of the chairman. the Rev. John
Henry Barrows, TO whom so much is
due the success of this great event. In
his address Of welcome ne said:
Mr. President and Friends-If my
heart did not overflow with cordial well
come al this hour, which promises TO be
great moment i'm history. it would be
because l had lost the spirit of man
hood and had been forsaken by the
spirit of God. The whitest snow on the
sacred mount Of Japan. the Clearest wa
ter springing from the sacred fountains
of India are not more pure and bright
than the joy Of my heart and Of many
hearts here that this day has dawned
in the annals Of time, and that from
the farthest isles of Asia from India.
mother of religions; from Europe. the
great teacher Of civilization; from the
shores on which breaks the long wash
Of Australasian seas that from neigh
| boring lands and from all parts of this
republic which we love 10 contemplate
as the land Of earths brightest future,
you have come here at our invitation in
the expectation that the worlds first
parliament of religions must prove an
event of race-wide and perpetual sig
nificance. For more than two years the
general committee. which 1 have the
honor to represent, working together in
unbrOken harmony and presenting the
picture Of prophesy of a united christen-
dom, have carried on their arduOus and
sometimes appalling task in happy an
ticipatiOn of this golden hour. Your
coming has constantly been in our
thoughts and hopes and fervent prayers.
I rejoice that your long voyages and
journeys are over and that here, i'm this
young capital of our western civiliza-
ton. you find men eager for truth,
sympathetic with the spirit Of universal
human brotherhood. and loyal 1 believe,
grateful to almighty God that they see
your faces and are to hear your
words .
1T is perfectly evident to all illumin-
ated minds that we should cherish low
| ing thoughts of all people and human
gions, and that whoever would advance
the cause Of his own faith must first
discover and gratefully acknowledge
the truths contained in other faiths.
This parliament is likely to prove a
blessing to many Christians by marking
the time when they shall cease think
ing that the varieties and virtues of
other religions discredit the claims of
| Christianity or bar its progress. 1t is
our desire and hope TO broaden and
81 I'll
| of men. Believing that nations and
| faiths are separated in part by ignor-
ance and prejudice why shall not this
| parliament help TO remove the one and
| soften the other?
1--WE are not here to criticise one an
| other but each to speak out positively
| and frankly his OWL convictions regard
| ing his own faith The great world out
side will review our work; the next CEN
fury will receive it. 1t is our high and
/ noble business to make that work the
| best possible
1 will now pass by a few Of the next
| speakers, however worthy of note and
| call your attention TO some of the men
| from the Orient. The most Rev. Diony-
| sios Latas. the archbishop of Zante.
| Greece, was introduced as a representa-
| tive of the Greek church. In his ad-
| dress he said:
Reverend Ministers, Most Honorab bic
| Gentlemen, the Superiors of this Con-
| gress and Honorable Ladies and Gentle
men:
| Il consider myself very happy in hav-
| ing set my feet on this platform to take
part in the congress of the different
nations and peoples. / thank the great
| American nation, and especially the
| superiors Of this congress, for the high
! manner in which they have honOred
me by inviting me to take part, and 1
/ thank the ministers of Divinity Of the
| different nations and peoples which, for
the first time, will write in the books
/ of the history Of the world.
my voice as representing the little
kingdom of Greece may appear of little
| Importance as compared with the voices
| of you who represent great and power
/ full states, extensive cities and numerous
| nations, but the influence of the church
| to which 1 belong is extensive and my
| part is great. But my thanks to the
superiOrs of this congress and my
| blessings and prayers to Almighty God
| must not be measured by extent and
| quantity, but by true sympathy and
| quality.
"All men have a common creator with