The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-12-13
FROM .AIAUD MAPLE"
Sketches of the Worlds Parliament
of Religions.


Dear Brothers and Sisters-However
tardy 1 may appear in contributing to
the interest of the club. l did try, while
in Chicago, to tell you something of the
great white City" which ] designate
as the city of the gods. but it failed 10
appear, and as time was at such high
premium / did not try again. But now
that I am at home again l will endeavor
to sketch for you some Of the scenes
and sayings Of the worlds great par
lament of religions. which. as you all
may know, convened at the art palace,
Chicago, for seventeen days.
of all the worlds congresses held at
this place as an auxilery to the Column
bian exposition, there were none to COM
pare in vital significance with the
worlds parliament OF religions.
While all the congresses of the scien-
ces, arts, literature, education, profess
sions, occupations and religions were
very interesting and instructive. it re-
manned for the parliament Of religions
TO demonstrate the brotherhood Of man
and the unity Of souls. 1t was indeed
the most profound and significant event
of the world and of the centuries. It's
influence on the relations of the races of
men for good cannot be measured by
mans conception. 1t marks an epoch
in the evolution and involution of the
race and the fOreshadowing Of the ful-
fllment of the prophecies Of the ages.
As none could conceive of the greatness
and grandeur of the worlds fair unless
Seen-and not fully then-sO il is with
this, the worlds first council Of the
faiths. No reading can fully impress
you with its spirit of love, fellowship,
force Of truth and beauty.
The program for this parliament di-
Scotland, Sweden, Switzerland, Ger
many, Russia, Turkey, Greece, Egypt,
Syria, India, Japan, China, Ceylon, New
Zealand, Brazil, Canada and the Ameri-
can states, and indirectly included many
other countries. Among the great
themes considered were Theism, Judia-
ism, MOhammedanism, Hinduism Budd-
hism, TaOism, Confucianism, Shintoism
Zoroastrianism, catholicism, the Greek
church, professionalism in many forms, and
also referred TO other religious systems
There were subjects on revelation. i'm.
mortality, the incarnation Of God. the
universal elements in religion, the ethi-
cal unity of different religious systems
the relation Of religion to morals mar
riage, education. science, philosophy,
evolution, music, labor, government
peace and war" etc, all Of which make
a stupenduOus program to sketch from
and must necessarily be made brief and
select; and 1 shall confine myself prin-
cipally to the foreign faiths and their
representatives, that we may broaden
our knowledge and views of them.
Now come with me in thought and
view the scene Of this great assembly
on the formal opening day of this par
lament Long before the hour for open
ing the great hall of Columbus was
packed with an eager thrOng to witness
event that will be written in the
worlds history. At 10 o'clock the rep
resentatives Of the religious faiths Of
the world marched down the center aisle
and, amid the cheers Of 1000 men and
women. took their seats upon the stage
There were over thirty foreigners and
almost as many Of our own countrymen.
Such a magnificent gathering on one
platform no eye ever witnessed before.
Many dignitaries and distinguished
scholars OF the world-sages, priests,
bishops. archbishops, princes, theolo-
g1ans and professors grouped in pict-
uresque array. The wise men Of the
East meeting face to face the wise men
of the West. The oldest religions of the
world greeting in brotherly love the
youngest religions. Beneath the waving
flags Of all countries sit in harmony the
representatives Of the many faiths Of
the nations; many sects and countries
clad In their own peculiar mode of dress