Page:The World's Parliament of Religions Vol 1.djvu/186

 158 HISTORY OF THE PARLIAMENT. the Halls of Washington and Columbus. For more than an hour before the time announced the eager crowds swept up against the doors of the Art Palace. The throng extended from the doorways to Michigan avenue and thence for half a block in either direction. It is said that ticket speculators were at work, and that three and four dollars were. demanded and paid for cards which admitted only to the Hall of Wash- ington where the overflow meeting was held and the entire program was repeated. It is quite within bounds to say that the spirit of the closing sessions of the Parliament was Pente- costal. Such manifestations of love, fraternity, hopeful religious enthusiasm, the world has never seen before in any such assembly of the children of our common Father. An eye-witness reports : " Never since the confusion of tongues at Babel have so many religions, so many creeds, stood side by side, hand in hand, and almost heart to heart, as in the great amphitheater last night. On the great platform of Colum- bus Hall sat the representatives of creeds and sects that in by- gone days hated one another with a hatred that knew no modera- tion. The last and closing scene of the great Parliament of Religions is one that will live forever in the memory of those who were so fortunate as to be spectators. The great Hall of Columbus was illuminated by a myriad of lights. Every inch of room was used by the greatest crowd that ever sat within its walls. On the stage, beneath the folds of the flags of all nations, were the representatives of all religions. The dull, black and somber raiment of the West only intensified the radiantly contrasted garbs of the Oriental priests." Twice during the evening flash-light photographs were taken of the historic group on the platform. President Bon- ney and Chairman Barrows presided alternately. Among those present on the platform besides the twenty- four who took part in the speaking may be mentioned : Dr. Carl von Bergen of Sweden, the Japanese Buddhist priests who had formed so picturesque and pleasant a part of the historic Con- gress, President Kozaki of Kyoto, Rev. B. B. Nagarkar of Bombay, Mr. Narasima of Madras, Paulus Moort of Liberia,