The morning call., 1894-04-19
SPIRITUAL UNITY.
How Christianity Helps
Progress.
LEARNED DIVlNES SPOKE
And the Religious Congress
Applauded.
PROFESSOR J. LIE CoNTE's VIEWS
Bishop Nichols Enthusiastic Adj
dress-A Speaker From San Jose
and Two From the University.

Congress of Religions treated of Christian
ity pure and simple. without any admlx-
ture of agnosticism, Brahmnism or Bud
dhism.
Rev. A. G. Hirst opened the session with
q very few words and introduced the first
speaker, Rev. j. w. Dinsmore. DID,, Of
San Jose, whose topic was christianity
in History" After stating the impossi-
biIity of giving a comprehensive range to
a subject so large when comprised within
the limits of so brief a paper, DR.. Dins-
more declared Christianity to be one of the
most distinct and definite forces in his
tory" 1t is a powerful and penetrating
force in thousands of human hearts and
lives. 1t is also perfectly exclusive,
boldly asserting its claim to be the one
only true religion.
INV theme is not with the doctrines of
Christianity but with its practical results
what may be called its secondary effects
on the world, and every one of these is
salutary and happy. Christianity has the
right to be represented by its friends.
why do those who deny 1t insist on telling
US what it is?
1.-THE beneficial results of Christianity
are theef0ld. In this discordant world
the great problem is to establish happy
relations between human beings. The
doctrine of universal brotherhood, with
all that that implies, is insisted on by
Christianity as perfectly fundamental.
The Christian scriptures are the magma
eharta of human rights and liberties. All
men are created in Gods likeness and all
men stand on an equality before God, who
is no respecier OF persons. 1t is true that
here and there some rare SAGE of the
heather world has seemed to have glim-
mering of the Incompatible teaching of
the Deealogue and of the sermon on the
mount. but these glimmerings have had
no practical result. Think Of any age and
country, anu where do you find the right
of man res pecied where the influence OF
Christianity has not been felt? The cit-
Zens in the ancient re ublics had rights,
but the masses Gad none.
1.-The third historical influence of Chris
tiaDity has been the advancement of pop
ular education. The Bible teaches man
that bis eternal destiny depends not upon
what another man thinks for him but
upon what he thinks for himself"
Professor NJ. S. Cross of the University
of the Pacific, in opening his address On
The Message of Christianity to Other
Religions" used the scriptural parable of
the merchantmen seeking goOdly pearls.
declaring that all humanity was seeking
some pearl of the hereafter. Professor
Max Muller saws that no human beings
have yet been found who do not believe in
something beyond their eyes. The Gospel
does not find any heart empty. Can we
ignore the faith of these human souls
when we come to them with our own mes
sage"
After thus stating his case Professor
Cross proceeded to give c0geUt reasons for
answering the question in the affirmative.
1--WE bring the professors of these faiths
more precious jewel than they possess.
Many tell US that for the lowly HOttentot
the Hottentops own religion is bes, for
conservative China the doctrine of Con-
fueius, for speculative India her mystical
Buddhism, that for the savage a savage
religion is best. l do not believe this;
cannot believe that ignorance is best for
ignorant men.
MAX Muller himself, so familiar W it'll
the manifold tongues of mankind. has
said: No language has yet been found
into which il has been impossible 10
translate the Lords PRAYER But words
are the symbols of realities of thought.
No tribe has yet been found too low 10 be
reached by Christianity. and there is not,
there never has been, any other religion
which has proved. as Christianity has done,
by an overwhelming array of undisputed
facts. that il is perfectly adapted to every
race of men,"
The Right Rev. William Ford Nichols,
DID,, Bishop of the Episcopal diocese OF
California, who came last on the list of
afternoon SPEAKERS, delivered an address
upon Jesus Christ, the Unifer of Man
kind" that made a profound impression
upon the audience and was most enthusi-
astically applauded. The discourse touched
some of the vital principles of Chris
tianity, and while not aggressive, either
in his matter or his manner, the Bishop 5
attitude was so uncomprOmlslngly earne
and determined that he commanded the
8 h. a g.
him.
The ground taken by the speaker was
that nothing short of an acknowledgment
Of the absolute divinity of Christ is to be
called Christianity.
THE three unities of mankind are its
unity with Itself, it's unity with all nature
not itself, and lis unity with GOO. The
Christian holds that mans unity with Gnd
is effected through Christ. Mans unities
unite in him; their discords are harmon
lied through him. He is the atone meut Of
the universe. This is a simple staten ent,
not an argument
when we speak of the unity of man.
kiDd in this religious congress we can only
dwell upon tie spiritual and religious side
of mans unity Bishop Nichols then
spoke OF scriptural authority. which, he
stated, might be denied in religious con-
gress. but added: "To ignore it is simply
to be in fools parad ise.'
Commenting upon the influence of Jesus
Christ upon tho world he said: ''As a
simple historical fact, be has drawn to
himself more interest than any other char.
acter. How much would be left IF our
nineteenth century civilization if we could
eliminate all that there is 10 1t of Chris
tianity? If there had been daily jour.
nalism in Jerusalem in the time of our
Lord whole columns would have been de-
voted TO his sayings and d0ings, because
of the public interest they aroused, and
the staying power of this public interest has
continued until to-day.
1.-THE simple rational of Christianity is
stated In the claims of Jesus Christ, All
power is given unto me in heaven
and earth That Jesus Christ is the uni
fer of mankind, that and nothing short OF
that is its claim" Continuing this thread
of reasoning Bishop Nichols secuted the
idea of those so-caled Christians who
claim that Christ was merely good man.
declaring that if lie were nos God Christ
was a false pretender, worthy of the bit
terest punishment heaped unOn him. In
conclusion the prelate stated his firm be-
lief in the divinity of the Savior and en-
phasiZed it by reciting portion of the
Nicene creed.
The afternoon session was then closed
by the chairman, DIR. Hirst.
So large a crowd gathered to hear the
SpclL S<of The eRaninp that il was niece 8