Page:The World's Parliament of Religions Vol 1.djvu/103

 ASSEMBLING AND WELCOME. 75 aspirations by the Nile and the Ganges, in the deserts of Arabia and by the waves of the Yellow Sea. It is perfectly evident to illuminated minds that we should cherish loving thoughts of all peoples and humane views of all the great and lasting religions, and that whoever would advance the cause of his own faith must first discover and gratefully acknowledge the truths contained in other faiths. This Parliament is likely to prove a blessing to many Christians by marking the time when they shall cease thinking that the verities and virtues of other religions discredit the claims of Christianity or bar its progress. It is our desire and hope to broaden and purify the mental and spiritual vision of men. Believing that nations and faiths are separated in part by ignorance and prejudice, why shall not this Parliament help to remove the one and soften the other ? Why should not Christians be glad to learn what God has wrought through Buddha and Zoroaster — through the sage of China, and the prophets of India and the prophet of Islam ? We are met together to-day as men, children of one God, sharers with all men in weakness and guilt and need, sharers with devout souls every- where in aspiration and hope and longing. We are met as religious men, believing even here in this capital of material wonders, in the presence of an Exposition which displays the unparalleled marvels of steam and elec- tricity, that there is a spiritual root to all human progress. We are met in a school of comparative theology, which I hope will prove more spiritual and ethical than theological. We are met, I believe, in the temper of love, determined to bury, at least for the time, our sharp hostilities, anxious to find out wherein we agree, eager to learn what constitutes the strength of other faiths and the weakness of our own. And we are met as conscien- tious and truth-seeking men, in a council where no one is asked to surrender or abate his individual convictions, and where, I will add, no one would be worthy of a place if he did. We are met in a great conference, men and women of different minds, where the speakers will not be ambitious for short-lived, verbal victories over others, where gentleness, courtesy, wisdom and moderation will pre- vail far more than heated argumentation. I am confident that you appre- ciate the peculiar limitations which constitute the peculiar glory of this assembly. We are not here as Baptists and Buddhists, Catholics and Confu- cians, Parsees and Presbyterians, Methodists and Moslems ; we are here as members of a Parliament of Religions, over which flies no sectarian flag, which is to be stampeded by no sectarian war-cries, but where for the first time in a large council is lifted up the banner of love, fellowship, brother- hood. We all feel that there is a spirit which should always pervade these meetings, and if anyone should offend against this spirit let him not be rebuked publicly or personally ; your silence will be a graver and severer rebuke.