The Progress., 1893-09-16
PRIESTS FROM INDIA.
Buddhists in a Chicago Presby-
terian Church.
MORMONS ALSO IN THE FAIR CITY.

WORLDS FAIR, Sept. 13 - Especial. -
For ten days we have had continuous
series of festivals, state days and special
displays, all increasing the average at
tendance, and the same are to continue
five days more with, it is to be hoped,
similar but increased result. First was
the arrival OF a whole palace car full of
Orientals to see the fair and then take part
in the great religious discussion which be-
gan on the 11th and is TO continue seven
teen days. Bright looking gentlemen
they are, too, but their names are known
already, l presume, to the general public.
Icannot spell them anyway, and if Icould
the reader could not pronounce them; so
for the present we will do as Bill Arp did
when he came to French or Latin phrase
in book-'just call it lignum vitae and
go ahead.'
On their first Sunday here all the Budd-
hists, whether priests, monks or scholars,
attended the First Presbyterian church in
body, clad in their best official robes, as
a mark of special respect to DR.. John
Henry Barrows, principal organizer of the
congress. Among those whose names /
can spell the most noted were Banriu
Yatsubuchi, Zitsuzen Ashitsu, Yozo Nc
mura and Ryo Watanabe, all of Japan.
On the platform with DIR. Barrows sat his
grace the Right Reverend Dionysios
Latas, archbishop of Zante, Greece, and
his deacon, and all about the church sat
men whose names are great in many
branches of theology. Regret is expressed
at the non-arrival of Justice Ameer Ali. of
India, descendant of that Ali who was the
companion of Mahomet, and the only
noted man of that blood who has en-
braced Buddhism. / take it for granted
that with him it is sort of scientific
theory rather than Vital faith. Asto ac-
cepting the great doctrines of absorption,
separate soul annihilation and passive con
templation-well, nay guess is that Arabs
are not built that way
This is the first time Buddhist priests
ever appeared on the streets or in a mixed
assemblage in an American city in their
sacerdotal dress, and Chicago records with
pride that there was not a rude word or an
audible laugh. The fact is, we are so
satiated with wonders that if Queen Vic
toria should step into McGonnigle's and
call for 1.-TWO beers" the folks would not
look at her more than twice At night the
archbishop made an address in which he
stated that Zante had within few years
suffered $500 earthquakes which demol-
ished 14 churches and out of {, 200 houses
left but fifty uninjured, and this, he added,
gave them a realizing sense of the insta-
bility of earthly things. Well, l should
think it would. The same night arrived
from Salt Lake city magnificent train of
palace cars containing AIS persons, among
them the presidency of the Mormon
church, the great Tabernacle choir of go
persons and some pioneers who had never
seen the Missouri river since they Left it
in 1S47.
Old Red Stick and Yellow Sun and other
chiefs who befriended them have long
since gone to the happy hunting grounds
. and on their corner of the reservation has
sprung up the enterprising city of Omaha;
but some of these old fellows look almost
as fresh and gay as when last saw them
in 1875. President Wilford Woodruff is
S4 years old, but almost as spry as when /
first heard him preach in 1865 George @.
Cannon, his first councillor, a native of
the Isle of Man and the best scholar in the
priesthood since the death of Orson Pratt,
looks just as he did when a delegate in
congress. Joseph F. Smith, second coun-
cilor, is comparatively young and a son
of that Hyrum Smith, brother of the
Prophet who was killed with him at Car
thage, Ills, June %, 1874 These three
constitute the first presidency, the head of
all authority. have embraced every op-
portunity of getting good look at the old
Mormons without their getting look at
me, and my main thought is, How these
old fellows do lastl Polygamy evidently
agreed with them. The choir took part in
the great Eisteddfod contest, gave public
entertainment in the city, assisted at the
celebration of Utah Day, and all then de-
parted for their mountain homes
Labor Day came next and was oe1e-
brated, of course, with extra enthusiasm,
10000 men marching in the city procession.
On the fair ground it was New York Day.
The size of it may be judged from the fact
that one train brought l 400 people chiefly
from places on the New York Central
Chauncey Depew was the orator of course
though others spoke, and at night there
was grand reception. 1t was relief all
around, for it must be confessed that the
numbe of New Workers in the park has
been remarkably small hitherto. Wiscon-
sin Day, which came next, was not notable
for its crowd; but on Pennsylvania Day
there was a grand turnout. The music
was special feature. 900 voices being the
chief attraction. OF course this does not
include the speeches by Governor Pattison
and others, which were also good in their
way. The fireworks at night were espe-
cially brilliant. On the Sth came the
great choral contest in the Eisteddfod,
with exhibition drill by the United States
Life Saving corps, and at night grand
procession of historical floats on the canals
and lagoons.
On the 9th there were too many events
for any one person to see half of them.
California particularly distinguished her.
self by distri buting presents of fruits and
flowers in honor of the forty-third anni-
versary of her admission as a state. Utah
commemorated the same anniversary of
her establishment as a territory. Five
great organizations also celebrated, and at
night the plaisance outdid itself with fire
works, fan and racket. On Labor Day
the plaisance was uncomfortably crowded