The morning call., 1893-09-12
ALL GIVE PRAISE.
Where Men Meet on Conn
mon Ground.
REASON FOR THEIR FAITH.
Here Is the Most Notable Gathering,
Perhaps, in the History of
the World.

CHICAGO, Sept. 11.-An event OF world
wide historic interest, one without previous
counterpart in the history of the world,
took place here to-day. 1t was the as
sembling of the Parliament of Religions,
the gathering of representatives Of all the
great beliefs of the earth with the object
OF showing how important are the things
on which all are agreed and how compare
lively unimportant are the differences in
creed.
The result of the parliament is expected
to emphasize what is fundamental and
throw into the background differences
| merely accidental and superficial.
Since the series of worlds congresses
began with the opening of the Worlds
Fair no such immense crowd has gathered
at the Memorial Art Institute as was as
sembed this morning. Long before the
hour for the exercises to begin, ingress
was absolutely impossible. Not merely
since the beginning of the Worlds Fair,
but never since the foundation of the
world has such a cosmopolitan assemblage
of opponents of the worlds religions
taken place. The Occident, in severely
plain garments. touched elbows. not only
on the platform. but in the great audi
IN picturesque commingling. The follow
ers OF Jehovah. Christ. COnfucius, Buddha,
Mohammed, with the various sects there
of, stood ready, in turn, to give without
controversy, the reasons for the faith that
is in them.
Learned religious teachers from China,
Japan, India, Turkey, Islands of the Sea,
Catholic and Protestant Europe. and of
the Hebrews of the world. assumed atti-
tudes of prayer as the leading representa-
tive of the Catholic church present, the
Cardinal Archbishop of Baltimore, the
Most Reverend James Gibbons, pro-
nounced an invocation to the deity.
Then followed addresses of welcome by
the Worlds Fair officials and local di-
vines, followed by responses by learned
pundits and famous religious scholars from
all parts of the world, practically cOnsum-
ing the entire day.
II was an inspiring spectacle when the
principal party of those who were to make
the addresses of the day, all attired in theiY
priestly robes and wearing the insignia Of
their Office marched in company to the
platform. Even more inspiring was the
scene when the whole audience rose and
| Joined in the song: "Praise God. from
| whom all blessings t1ow." and later when
| Cardinal Gibbons led those of all nations
and all religions in recting the Lords
Prayer.
| Rev August j. Chapman welcomed
| parliament on behalf of the women, say
ing the assemblage was among the grandest
and most significant ever assembled on the
face of the earth and not least of its glories
was the recognition of women.
The secretary of the Chinese legation at
Washington, Pung Ruang Yu. ws TSc=
corded a warm welcome and made n<IlZA
address of thanks in his own language
which was afterwsrd translated. To-nig4s
nearly all delegates to the congress-were
present at magnificent reception given in
their honor at the home of MI. and Mrs
a. c. Bartlett.
There is every indication, and the Expo
sition officials confidently expect, the at
tendance at the fair this week will far ex-
coed that of any previous week. Every
day there will be special features, which,
it Is hoped, will tend to cause this increase.
To-day the gates were taxed to admit big
crowds arriving from all points. This was
silver day. and small audience was ad-
dressed in Festival Hall in the morning by
Dougherty Of Texas.
At the afternoon session Governor
Waite of Colorado delivered an address in
which he characterized the banking sys-
tenn as failure and bankers as rascals.
Governor Prince of New Mexico made a
brief address and appropriate resolutions
were adopted.
The National Commission adjourned at
to-day's meeting, and will not reasonable
until October 4. The executive committee
will practically control affairs during the
recess.
Forty-six celebrated French engineers
visited the fair to-day and were enter
tanned by Director General Davis.
Tuesday will witness the beginning of
series of exercises by the Kansas people.
Colorado and Maryland will also share the
honoTs of the day. Governor Brown and
John V. l.. Findlay of Maryland and Car
dinal Gibbons of Baltimore will make ad-
dresses. Governor Lewelling and other
noted Kansans will be here.
The Michigan people will celebrate
Wednesday and Thursday, and number
less excursions will bring the people of the
State to the fair. Governor Rich and Presi-
dent II. w. Palmer will be orators.
Thursday the citizens of Ohio will come
and listen to addresses by Governor Nc
Kinley and others.
Mexico. Costa Rica and the Kelley grad
yates will take possession Friday.
Saturday will be New Mexico day, and
| Governor Prince will entertain his PEG pie
at the Territory building.
| The total admissions to-day were 1S9. $780,
| of which 160.016 paid.
| New YORK. Sept. 1.-THE executive
council of the American Bankers Asso-
citation has determined TO hold the de-
ferred nineteenth annual convention at
| Chicago on October Is and 49,