Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1906-02-24
PRAYER OF A "HEATHEN"
An Incident ~ the chicago Pariia-
mcnt OF Religions.

an tnctueut Nt the nhNEO fhFhtm-
mcnt OF RcIigions.
The recent death of l'rotap Chunder
MoZoDmdar brings tn mind al incident
occurring nj the parliament of religions
in Chicago twelve years ago which
more than anything else have seen
or heard OF him manifested his won
dcrful spiritual power In the formal
exercises of the parliament cure was
taken 20 exclude all criticism of the SO
called heather religions and all efforts
to prosclytr their adhercnts. though
now and then such speakers as Joseph
Cook and George lcntccost could not
resist the temptation TO violate all cour
tcSies and go for them face TO face
ON the common platform.
But besides the formal meetings Of
the parliament presided over by its
officers. Il multitude Of subsidiary gath
crin.S were held by the different Chris
tlan denominations. among them morn
ing prayer meetings. over which the
general officers had no control At one
of these prayer meetings. quite numer-
buNIN dAltilu'u ~ representatives. Va
the non Christian faiths. the spirit OF
proScytiSm was let loose The new
corners We're prayed for ~ souls lost In
pagan darkness and cXhprted 10y speak
or after speaker To forsake their hea
then superStitionS. come 10 Jesus and
he saved from eternal death by being
washed in the blood of crucificd Re-
deemer II was all doubtless well in
tended. but an exhibition OF the mis-
sionary zeal Of Christianity in its worst
form. and some of us wearing the
Christian name could not but be pain
ed ana ashamed NJ It's occurrence.
Near the close of the meeting. after
specially denunciatory haraEgue. Mo
2oomLar uroSc simply 10 oflcr prayer.
and with the first half dozen words the
entire atmosphere was changed There
was no allusion to anything which had
been said. no petitions in behalf OF
narrow minded Christian brethren
and some Of MS have had experience OF
the wounds that can be inflicted by
prayers In our behalf no use Of Jesus
them for they know not what they
do" hut simply Il great spiritual ma
ture lifting the whole assembly above
all narrow. dividing. controversial diff
fercnccS into the very presence of the
Eternal one himself Noart could have
what had been said against heather
religion. no wit or logic has put its
defenders more To shame or more pal
pdbly In the wrong. hut the best of IL
WAS the feeling IL produced that there
was no art about 1t, nothing but the
natural authorizing of the man. and
that It's hearers We're made to forget TO
be ashamed, and we. sympathizers with
him. made 10 forget any cXultation
over them forget everything but that
we We're being lifted into the Joy of
worship ana into the beauty of world
never experienced before and lever till
then known To exist
The PRAYER WAS very short. and when
1t was ended there was no hymn sung.
no hcncdiction pronounced. no other
voice that could break into the unutter-
able peace it left on all souls. and
without even the usual buzz OF CONVEX
sation. but with shining eyes, the meet
ing dissolved into the outside world
An orthodox lady who was present said
that hitherto she had always attended
monthly missionary meetings and put
her quarter of Il dollar into the contri-
button box 10 send religion to the hea-
then. but hereafter she should devote
her money to getting some heather TO
come here aud show us Christians
what religion really Is John c. Kim
ball in Christian Register.