Page:The World's Parliament of Religions Vol 1.djvu/214

 I 86 HISTORY OF THE PARLIAMENT. tance is immeasurably enhanced by its environment and relations. It is the center and crown of a great movement which touches all the leading interests of humanity. It has been aided by, and is, in turn, beneficial to all these interests. Religion is but one of the twenty departments of the World's Congress work. Besides this august Parliament of the World's Religions, there are nearly fifty other congresses in this department, besides a number of spec- ial conferences on important subjects. In the preceding departments one hundred and forty-one congresses have held 926 sessions. In the suc- ceeding departments more than fifteen congresses will be holden. Thus the divine influences of religion are brought in contact with woman's pro- gress, the public press, medicine and surgery, temperance, moral and social reform, commerce and finance, music, literature, education, engineering, art, government, science and philosophy, labor, social and economic science, Sunday rest, public health, agriculture, and other important subjects embraced in a general department. The importance of the denominational congresses of the various churches should be emphasized, for they conserve the forces which have made the Parliament such a wonderful success. The establishment of a universal fraternity of learning and virtue was early declared to be the ultimate aim of the World's Congress Auxiliary of the World's Columbian Exposition. The Congress of Religions has always been in anticipation what it is now in fact, the culmination of the World's Congress scheme. This hour, therefore, seems to me to be the most appro- priate to announce that, upon the conclusion of the World's Congress series as now arranged, a proclamation of that fraternity will be issued to promote the continuation in all parts of the world of the great work in which the con- gresses of 1893 have been engaged. And now farewell. A thousand congratulations and thanks for the cooperation and aid of all who have contributed to the glorious results which we celebrate this night. Henceforth the religions of the world will make war, not on each other, but on the giant evils that afflict mankind. Henceforth let all throughout the world, who worship God and love their fellow men, join in the anthem of the angels : " Glory to God in the highest ! Peace on earth, good will among men ! " After the close of Mr. Bonney's address, the great assembly joined with Dr. Emil G. Hirsch in the Lord's Prayer. This was followed by a prayer of benediction delivered with great earnestness by Bishop Keane. Dr. Barrows retired to the Hall of Washington, delivered his address, and after the multitudes had joined with Dr. Hirsch in the universal prayer, and the