Omaha daily bee., 1898-07-11
SERVICES HELD ON THE GROUNDS.
worI. of the Parliament of Religions
ts Analysed.

WOrts OF the Parliamen OF "
ts Analysed.
The first religious services to be held In
the Auditorium on the exposition grounds
occurred yesterday afternoon at 4 o'clock
when Rev. Jenkin Lloyd Jones of Chicago
secretary of the Congress of Liberal Re
ligions, preached a sermon on the topic,
9TH Parliament of Religions, and What
Next?'
The Auditorium contained an audience
which would have made a large congrega-
ton in any ordinary church. Among those
present were many prominent representa-
tives OF the loading churches and many
people who are not regular attendants at
any church. The ethics which usually gov
ern audiences in church edifices were waived
on this occasion and several times the au-
dience manifested it's approval of the re-
marks of the speaker by applauding.
In addition to Rev. Jones there were on
the platform Rev. w. II. Thomas of Chi
cago, president of the Liberal Congress of
Religions; Rev. Newton M. Mann, pastor of
Unity church of this city; Rev. T. ]. Mackay
OF All Saints Episcopal church, and Rev.
John McQuoid of the First Methodist church.
The music for the occasion was furnished
by a double quartet from the Exposition
chorus under the direction of Mr.. T. j.
Kelly.
Tho exercises commenced with the sing
ing of the Doxology by the congregation,
Rev. Mann explaining that the big organ
was not fully completed and could not be
used as had been intended.
Rev. Mann delivered the invocation and
read the scripture lesson, choosing the
twelfth chapter of the Epistle to the Ro-
mans for that purpose.
After an anthem by the choir prayer was
said by Rev. Mackay, who invoked the di-
vine blessing upon the exercises and upon
the country during the perilous times pre-
vailing.
After a hymn, in which the entire au-
dience Joined, Rev. Mann introduced Rev.
Jones, referring to the fact that he is the
secretary of the Liberal Congress of Re-
ligions, the outgrowth of the great Par
lament of Religions held during the Worlds
Fair. Mr.. Mann said it was especially sig
~niticant and fitting that the secretary of
such a body should preach the opening SER
mon in the Exposition Auditorium.
Mr.. Jones said it was a strange happening,
and one without premeditation on the part
of any person, that he had had the good
fortune to preach the opening sermon at
three expositions-at New Orleans, at Chi
cage and now at Omaha; and he felt that
this occasion was to be but the first of a
series of religious services.
Speaking of the grandeur of the exposi-
ton Mr.. Jones said that as he sat Satur-
day night under the magic spell of the
lights in the main court he was moved as
he had never expected to be moved again
as he recalled the great court of the Worlds
Columbian exposition at Chicago. AS one
who believed that harmony is an element
of character, the speaker said he wanted
to express his appreciation of the magnii-
cence of the scene and he declared that the
soul OF man ought to rise TO great heights
under the >infuence of the highest ideals, OF
which architecture and beauty are but a
token.
Taking up his subject, the speaker re-
viewed briefly the course of events in con-
nection with the great Parliament Of Re-
ligions held in Chicago in 1893. He said
he had served as secretary of the commit
tee of fifteen in charge of the parliament
and as such officer had had opportunities
for obtaining a great insight into the inner
workings of affairs in connection with tina
great undertaking.
He declared that the Parliament of Re
ligions was the greatest corporate event in
the religious history of the world. For the
first time in the history of man the words
of the Master were fulfilled: Men came from
all quarters of the earth and sat down to-
gether in the kingdom of God, which the
speaker declared to be the kingdom of love.
During the great attractions of the exposi-
ton, when there was so much to claim and
hold the attention, for seventeen consecutive
days there gathered the representatives OF
all the nations Of the earth and spoke their
message of love, which was received with
gratitude by the ever-increasing throng.
To show the great interest which pervaded
tho entire session of the parliament, the
speaker said he was required by his duties
to be on hand at 1880 o'clock in the morn
ing and remain until 1880 at night during
the entire session, and he said he never ar
rived too early or left too late to see little
groups of Christian men and women sitting
about discussing what was passing and en-
deavoring to learn something from all that
TRANSFERRED.
The speaker referred somewha in detail
to the character of those who attended the
parliament, speaking especially of the dig
nihed men who came from far-away India
to bring their message, discussing in pure
English, which made the others ashamed OF
their own ignorance, the religious doctrines
which had been handed down to them from
unnumbered centuries.
The representatives of the Catholic
S-iuiNhI Nv IliSSopdi tuuItH, the Alto
American representatives and many Others
were mentioned. the speaker referring to
the fact that the many colors displayed in
the robes of some of the visitors had caused
the newspapers TO refer to the result as
the rainbow religion" He turned this
humorous designation to account by saying
that the rainbow could be made from white
light and could be transformed again Il
white light, and his was what the parlia.
ment was intended for, to amalgamate all
the different religions and bind them to-
gether into one grand white beam to light
the world.
Rev. MIR, Jones spoke of the great uncer-
tainty which prevailed at first regarding
the Limitation which should be placed OF
the congress, but said a Methodist minister
cut the Gordian knot by declaring that any
question which could throw any light or
the great subject should be a proper one
From this he passed to a discussion of the
various representatives who came from for
eign lands to take part In the parliament
Among the most unpromising in appearance,
Of these was a Shinto priest, who seemed
the embodiment OF narrow bigotry and {
most unpromising member of the congress
He was unable to speak English, but wher
a translation OF the paper he had prepared
was read TO the congress. IL was received
with the greatest enthusiasm and proved L
be the strongest paper presented during thu