The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1893-07-19

and the marvellous religious progress
Z OF the nineteenth century be reviewed;
and to facilitate separate and indie
pendent congresses Of different re-
ligious denominations and organiza-
tions, under their own officers, in
which their business may be trans
acted. their achievements presented
and their work for the future eonsid-
cred The plans for this unique
meeting are IN the hands OF an execu-
tive committee of which Rev. John
Henry Barrows, D. D., the most emil
nent Presbyterian minister in Chicago,
IS the chairman He is assisted by Rt.
Rev. Bishop William +. McLaren, Of
the Protestant Episcopal church; Prof
David Swing. an independent preacher;
Archbishop P. A. Feehan- Catholic;
Rev. DR.. T. 4. Noble, Congregational
ist: Rev DR.. " u. Lawrence, Baptist;
Rev DR.. +. N. Bristol, Methodist
Episcopal; Rabbi Emil G.. Hirseh, Jew;
Rev. DIR. A. J. Canfeld, Universalist;
IT Rev Bishop c. Z. Cheney, Reformed
Episcopal. Rev. II. C. Ranseen, Swedish
Lutheran; Rev. J. Berger, German
Methodist; Mr.. J. W. Plummer, Quaker;
Rev. }. Z. Torgersen, Norwegian Luth-
Gran; Rev. l. p Mercer, Swedenbor-
gian, and Eev. Jenkin Lloyd Jones',
Unitarian.
The general committee has labored
hard to make the congress complete
success. II was instrumental in form
ing an advisory council, which now
numbers several thousand members
and represents all known forms OF
Christianity as wei as the different
schools Of Judaism, Buddhism. Shinto-
ism. Taoism, Zoroastrianism, Moham-
mechanism, COnfucianisln, and many
sects of minor Importance.
Among the members of the advisory
council are men famous in all parts Of
the world, such as Prof. Max Muller,
Sir Edwin Arnold, the bishops Of Wor-
cester and Ripon, William E. Glad
stone. Canon Freemantle, Gen. VIII
liam Booth. William T. Stead, DR.. Adler,
chief rabbi OF Great Britain, and other
famous English churchmen and laymen;
Count BernstorfT, Prof. Otto Paeiderer,
Prof. VI. lazarus. Prof LEthardt, Prof.
l. Hommeu and other leaders OF Ger
man religious thought; Prof J. T. Y.
Doedes and Prof. J. Naleton, Jr, of
Holland; Count Goblet d Allirella, OF
Belgium, and an almost countless num-
Der Of scholars from the rest of the con-
tinental nations. Prominent among
the Oriental members of the council are
Hon. Justice Ameer Ali, Of the supreme
& q = =, IL.
Inedan; Rev. Zitsuzen Ashitsu, of Omi,
Japan, Buddhist high priest; Nil
lanth Vithal Shastri, a hereditary
high priest of the Hindoos; Reichi
Shibatha, high priest of the Zhiklzo
sect Of Shintoism; Dastur HOshang, 4
Parsee high priest; Hon. Dadabhai
Naoroji. known to history as sails
bury's blae, man" NUM- Atmaramji,
high priest of the jain community in
India; Rev. George T. Candlin, Chris
tian missionary at Tientsin, China;
NeoPhytus VIII, most holy archbishop
and ecnmenical patriarch Of the Greek
church at Constantinople. (For the
pictures OF many Of these gentlemen
this journal IS indebted TO Frank Les
lies illustrated Weekly.
The general committee realized from
the start that il needed the enthusias-
tic cooperation of the religious world
10 make the congress an epoeh-cre-
ating gathering and sent out the fol-
lowing eloquent invitation to all parts
OF the earth:
Believing thar God is, and that He
has not left Himself without witness;
believing that the influence of religion
tends to advance the general welfare,
and Is the most vital force in the social
order of every people; and convinced
that Of a truth God is no respecter of
persons, but that in every nation he
that feareth linn and worketh right
eousHess is accepted OF Him. we affec-
tionateiY invite the representatives OF
all faiths 10 aid us Ia presenting to the
world, at the exposition of 1885, the
religious harmonies and unities OF hu-
rlaaity. and also in showing forth the
moral end spiritual agencies which are
al the root of human progress. II is
proposed 10 consider the foundations
Of religious faith; to review the tri-
uInphs OF religion IN all ages; TO set
forth the present state OF religion
among the nations and its inanenee
over Literature. art. commerce. govern
ment and the family life: TO Indicate
its power in promoting temperance
and social purity. and It's harmony
with true scieEcc; to show its domi-
nance in the higher institutions Of
learning; 10 make prominent the value
Of the weekly rest day oE religious and
other grounds; and TO contribute to
those forces which shall bring about
the unity Of The race in the worship of
God and the service of man. Let rep
resentatives from every part of the
globe be interrogated and hidden to
declare what they have to offer or sug-
gest for the worlds bettermeut; what
light religion has to throw on the
labor problems. the educational ques-
tiOns, and the perplexing social condi-
tions Of orr time; and what illumina-
tion it can give 20 the subjects Of vital
interest that come before the other
congresses Of 1895. 1t is proposed to
have these and similar themes dis I
eussed by great masters Of human
thought from many lands. and we in /
vite suggestions and assurances Of co.
operation from those persons and re-
ligious bodies TO whom this address is
particularly sent.