Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1893-10-06

held the attention OF the civilized world
for two weeks. 1t has been one Of the
most remarkable gatherings Of men
ever brought together, and for the
time being seemed to overshadow the
great fair itself For the first time
in the history Of the world, leading
representatives Of various creeds have
assembled together tratcrnally to
listen TO religious truths, and the effect
Of this unpreC edented symposium can
not fail TO broaden wonderfully human
thought
The opening session of the parliament
Of religions was probably it's most
impressive. There were brought to-
gether then for the first time upon
one platform representatives Of the
oldest and the youngest religions.
Amid cheers from 1000 people the fol-
lowers Of Buddha, and Brahma, John
Wesley and Mohalnmed, Calvin and
Confucius, in short, representatives
Of almost every known creed of the
Orient ard the Occjdent, assembled the
stage in the hall Of Columbus in the
Art institute and took seats side by
side. This intermingling Of religions
was incomparably picturesque, the
pictllresqucncss being heightened by
the distinctive dress of the OrlentalS.
The representatives of India were ar
rayed in orange and white robes;
those Of Greece in funeral black with
ctIriOlSly shaped hats; those OF CHINA
in n loose, flowing garment of white,
lined with red, and those Of Japan
in long robe Of brilliant colors. In
the center Of all, scholarly and digni-
feel, sat Cardinal Gibbons, the great
Catholic prelate, in his rich red robe
Of office Around and about i'll striking
contrast with the Oriental priests were
the conventionally attired, representa-
tive American clergymen. The impress
siye session was opened by the audience
of 1000 rising and singing the hymn
that begins From All mat Dwell Be
Meath the Skies" Following the sing
ing Cardinal Gibbons offered prayer,
President Bonney, Of the worlds con-
greSS auxiliary delivered an address
of welcome and responses were made
by the dignitaricS of the many SectS
represented.
The mere enumeration of those who
responded for their various creedS will
serve to show the cosmopolitan charac-
ter Of the parliament. Archbishop
Fetlan OF Chicago, spoke as the repre-
sentative head of the Catholic church
i'm this exposition city. Rev. Augusta
j. Chaplin, 4 woman, added words Of
welcome to the distinguished clergy on
Behalf of her sex. Rev. Alexander
Mckenzie, of Massachusetts, appeared
az the representative of the New Eng
land Puritan. Most ReY. Dionysios
Iatas, tie archbishop Of Zante, Greece,
spoke as the representative or the
Greek church, closing his address with
these eloquent words:
IAN men have a common creator
without any distinction between the
rich and the poor, the ruler and the
ruled All mon have Il common creator
without any distinction of cline or
race, without distinction of nationality
or ancestry, Of name OF nobility. All
men have Il common creator and CON
St.lletly Il common father IN COD,
(ApplauSe, | raise up my hands and L
bless with heartfelt love the great coun-
try and the happy, glorious people OF
the United states" (Cheers.)
This indeed is glorious cried Hresl-
dent Bonney, rising rs the archbishop
resumed his seat, Il sentiment that the
audience cheered heartily.
l.. G. Mozomdan, Of India, author
of The Oriental Christ was then in
troduced as the representative of the
Rrahnins He was followed by a dis
tinguished disciple of ConfuciuS, Pung
Quang Yu, secretary of the Chinese
legation in Washington. An enthusiasts
tic reception marked Pung Quang 1uS
introduction, inspired, no doubt, by
memory Of the persecution OF Chinese
in this country. Men and women III
the audience rose to their feet anu
waved hats and handkerchicfs wildly.
u1le diplomats address, which was
very brief and kindly, was read by DIR.
Burrows. 1t conveyed the interesting
information that the empire of China
had responded personally to the call OF
the parliament of religions by naming
Pung Quang Yu as China's representa-
tive. Prince Serge Wolkonsky, of Rus
STA. a bright speaker, followed. After
him representative of the Shinto faith
the state religion Of Japan, Rt. Rev
Rellchi Shibata, was introduced. The
Japanese bishops address was read by
DIR. Barrows. Count A. Bernstor1
then spoke for Germany; NJ. Bony
Maury for France; Archbishop Red
wood, of New Zealand, for the Catho
lie tnurch; II. Dharmapala, of Ceylon
for 415.0oo,OoO Bhuddists; Carl vN
Bergen for Sweden: Vichand A. Chan
di, Il lawyer of Bombay, on behalf 81
Scherez, editor of an Armenian news
paper published in London, for the Ar
menianS; Prof. c. y. Chakravarti foI
the theosophists of India; Swan
Viyekananda. of Bombay, as thu
representative of the most ancien
order of monks; Principal Grant, a!
representative of Canada; Miss Jeannl
Sarabji, of Bombay. as representativ
of the Parsees: B. B. Nargarkar. anoth
err citizen of Bombay, as an apostle 0
the theiStic movement in India, known
as the religion of the Brahma Somaj
Rev. Alfred w. Momerie. D. D., Q
London, as the representative of tn
Church of England, and, lastly, cam
Bishop Arnett, the distinguished hea
Af hn fri n