Rev. George Sargeant, formerly President of the Western Methodist Conference of the West Indies, wrote: It remained for the United States of America to link with the greatest exposition of the industry of all nations a Parliament of all he Religions. The earnest prayers of Christian people will implore the blessing of God to rest upon every effort to carry out this unique conception. The Christian Church, with her world-wide sympathy, will have a glorious opportunity of recognizing in the representatives of other religions the brotherhood of man. I cherish the hope that, among other results, the contemplated Parliament will have a blessed effect upon the peace of the world. The Parliament was conceived and carried on in the spirit of Milton's faith, that "though all the winds of doctrine were let loose to play upon the earth, so Truth be in the field, we do injuriously to misdoubt her strength. Let her and falsehood grapple; who ever knew Truth put to the worst in a free and open encounter?" Prof. Sampey, of the Southern Baptist Theological Semi nary, Louisville, wrote: "Let an honest effort be made to get at the facts of religious experience, and the truth of God will take care of itself." Rev. James Kerr, of Glasgow, wrote: The conception of such a Parliament of Religions is worthy of so great an occasion. The faith of Christ, of which I am a witness, cannot suffer any eclipse in the presence of any or all of the great historic faiths of the world. The comparisons and the contrasts between the Gospel of the once crucified but now exalted Jesus, and the other gospels that have proffered their healing balms for humanity, which such a Parliament will present and accentuate amid the world's civilization at the close of this nineteenth century of the Christian era, must, I am fully confident, draw world-wide attention to the song of the heavenly host on the plains of Bethlehem, "Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, good will to men." Rev. Lyndon S. Crawford, an American missionary in Broossa, Turkey, wrote: The very thought of such a gathering sends a thrill of joyful hope through and through us. We are believing that we shall feel in our work here the influence of the larger thoughts and inspired prayers of the Relig ious Congress. We do want the teachers and priests of these old churches to look upon us not as enemies come to disturb their religious repose, but as friends, as messengers bearing good tidings, to arouse them up to mental and spiritual activity, and to help them to come out into a clearer understanding of their privileges as sons of God and as members of the universal brotherhood. Prof. Edward Barde, of Geneva, wrote: I beg to express my hearty sympathy with such a purpose, and pray to God that he will pour out his blessings upon the intended Congresses. Rev. Wilbur F. Paddock, rector of St. Andrew's Protestant Episcopal Church, Philadelphia, wrote of the Parliament: It will broaden human thought, create a deeper feeling of charity and good will, and serve to unite the races by stronger ties of sympathy and in closer bonds of Christian brotherhood. Rev. Richard A. Armstrong of Liverpool, wrote: Your Congress will, I feel sure, bring into a clear light the great fact that while theology divides, religion unites. That earnest Christian, Hon. Harnam Singh, uncle of His Royal Highness Jatjat Jit Singh, the Maharajah of Karputhala, who was one of the visitors at the Exposition, greatly regretted his inability to be present at the Parliament, whose principles he cordially approved. President A. M. Fairbairn, D.D., Mansfield College, Oxford, wrote: I think it a scheme of great promise and interest, especially if it be so conducted as to bring about a greater sympathy, more co-operation and mutual understanding on the part of the churches. Whatever aims at such ends meets with my most cordial approval. Cavaliere Matteo Prochet, D.D., of the Evangelical Waldensian Church, wrote from Rome. I think that the scheme is a good one, and quite worth the attention of every thoughtful mind. Truth can bear the broad daylight, and has nothing to fear from it. The call for the Parliament which assembled in Chicago was conceived in the spirit of the broadest fraternity and bore a Christian imprint. Rev. John Coleman Adams, D.D., wrote: It affords an expression of the soul of the church in modern days. The call for the first great gathering in the name of all religions goes forth to the world bearing the autograph of the followers of Jesus Christ. It is an expression of the hospitality of Nineteenth Century Christianity. Rev. Frank Woods Baker, of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Cincinnati, wrote: The Parliament may do much to establish a new and better, a sympathetic, basis for future missionary work. It will contribute immensely to that for which all true men are praying: that is, not only the unity of Christendom, but also the much larger union of all religions in building man up into the perfected image of God in which he was and is created. Comprehension and not exclusiveness is the key to the world's progress and enlightenment at the present time. Men are unwilling to know only half the truth. Not only are their thoughts widened with the process of the suns, but their hearts are growing larger. They are unwilling to exclude from their brotherly sympathies any who are groping, however blindly, after God. |