The Red Cloud chief., 1893-09-15
ON A COMMON GROUND.
THE CONGRESS OF RELIGION MEETS
AT CHICAGO.

Christian, jew, BrahmiD, Buddhist. with
other Shades of Theology Gather In u
Most Notable acknowledgements
tive Men from All over the would.
CHICAGO, Sept. 12.-A professional In
which the religions Of the world were req
resented %signalized the opening OF the
Worlds Parliament Of Religions ut the
Art institute. 1t was a professional that
had a world OF meaning In IT.; one that
would have been impossible not many
years ago. jew marched with Gentle
aud Roman Catholic with Protestant.
The religious beliefs Of India, OF China,
those Of the Epglish-speaking nations.
All attired in their priestly robes and
wearing the insignia Of their office
marched In peace and fellowship to the
platform, while the audience rose and
cheered at the sight. First came Cardinal
Gibbons escorted by President Bonney.
Then came Mrs. Potter Palmer and Mrs.
Charles Henrotin, representing the board
Of lady managers.
Some Elements Of the Procession.
There were following in the procession
An archbishop Of Zante, Greece; a Mctho-
dist minister from Chicago; u Roman
Catholic archbishop of Chicago; several
Lutherans from Germany and Sweden;
two or three East Indian Brahmius and
Buddhists; a Chicago Presbyterian clergy
man; a Chinese Buddhist; Chicago Israel
lite; a couple Of Bombay ~theologians, and,
In fact, the most heterodox line OF religion
lists ever seen since the world begun. As
this remarkable parade reached the hall
the audience rose and joined in singing
praise God from Whom All Blessings
Flow" a hymn that, as it acknowledges
the Christian doctrines Of the Trinity, was
hardly appropriate In such a gathering.
The Prayer OF All Who Believe In God.
The next thing ON the programme was
more universal than the hymn. Cardinal
Gibbons led the heterodox gathering in
prayer and the petition he put up wal the
| Lords Prayer" and there was not one
| OF those present who could not, whether
he did or no., join in the prayer. For the
Mohammedan, the Buddhist, the Brah-
min, all Of whom were present, believe In
a supreme being. The scene was a novel
| one, for many OF the visitors from the ORR
ent were clad In their native costumes,
the prelates In some instances In their
robes Of office. There was not a vacant
seat in the hall and many were standing
against the walls and in other places
where a view Of the platform could be
had.
The Versatile President IIouney.
There Is one mar connected with these
Worlds fair congresses who has hardly
had the credit that he deserves, and that
is President Bonney. Being the head OF
these gatherings to this gentleman has
fallen the duty Of welcoming the various
bodies which have met under the auspices
Of tho Worlds Auxiliary. lie has had
to speak to woman suifragists, spirit
ualists, civil engineers, social rcformers
Of all kinds, and in fact to the believers In
or agitators OF everything that is current
In the world Of progress. And he has
shown a versatility Of speech tnat has
enabled him to speaK to them all In such
a manner as to tell them 'what they were
there for" without making a single mis-
take. Every one Of his brief addresses has
been felicitous and just what the occasion
called for.
How lie Talked to H~eterodoxy.
And in addressing this congress-prob'
ably the one in addressing which 1t was
the easiest to say something that would
rankle-he was especially happy. lie said
In brief that they should all give thanks
for being able to take part in so grand a
congress-, one that so iully ~exemplitied
peace and progress, and which would have
80 great an influence OH the world. After
reviewing the programme Of the congress,
he welcomed all in the name Of the
brotherhood Of religion.
Rev. John Henry burrows. chairman OF
the committee o organization, then nd
dressed the congress. He said that never
before had such a congress been under
taken, and not long ago it would have
been deemed impossible to carry it to sue
cessful completion.