Page:The World's Parliament of Religions Vol 1.djvu/190

 1 62 HISTORY OF THE PARLIAMENT. give offense. If occasionally the old Adam did show itself, if occasionally something was said which had been better left unsaid, no harm was done. It only served to kindle into a fiame of general and universal enthusiasm your brotherly love. [Applause.] It seemed an impossibility, but here in Chicago the impossible has been realized. You have shown that you do not believe in impossibilities. It could not have been realized but for you. It could not have been realized without your sympathy and your enthusiasm. Citizens of Chicago, I congratulate you. If you show yourselves in other things as great as you have shown yourselves in regard to this Parlia- ment of Religions most assuredly the time will come when Chicago will be the first city in America, the first city in the world. Rev. Jenkin Lloyd-Jones and Rev. L. P. Mercer had charge of the equally crowded session in the Hall of Washington, where the distinguished guests were presented by Dr. Barrows in a body before they entered the Hall of Columbus. Mr. Merwin-Marie Snell delivered the opening address in the Hall of Washington on '• The Future of Religion " and was followed by Dr. Momerie. After Dr. Momerie's address in the Hall of Columbus, the Chairman next introduced P. C. Mozoomdar of the Brahmo-Somaj, who delivered the following address : Brethren of Different Faiths. — This Parliament of Religions, this concourse of spirits, is to break up before to-morrow's sun. What lessons have we learned from our incessant labors ? First, the charge of mate- rialism, laid against the age in general and against America in particular, is refuted forever. Could these myriads have spent their time, their energy, neglected their business, their pleasures, to be present with us if their spirit had not risen above their material needs or carnal desires ? The spirit dominates still over matter and over mankind. Secondly, the unity of purpose and feeling unmistakably shown in the harmonious proceedings of these seventeen days teaches that men with oppo- site views, denominations with contradictory principles and histories, can form one congregation, one household, one body, for, however short a time, when animated by one Spirit. Who is or what is that Spirit ? It is the Spirit of God himself. This unity of man with man is the unity of man with God, and the unity of man with man in God is th^ kingdom of heaven. When I came here by the invitation of you, Mr. President, I came with the hope of seeing the object of my lifelong faith and labors, viz., the harmony of religions effected. The last public utterance of my leader, Keshub Chunder Sen, made in 1883, in his lecture called "Asia's Message to Europe," was this : Here will meet the world's representatives, the foremost spirits, the most living hearts, the leading thinkers and devotees of each church, and