Page:The World's Parliament of Religions Vol 1.djvu/98

 70 HISTORY OF THE PARLIAMENT. by the government of the United States to all other nations, contained among other great things to be considered, " The Grounds for Fraternal Union in the Religions of different Peoples." At first the proposal of a World's Congress of Religions seemed to many wholly impracticable. It was said that the religions had never met but in conflict, and that a different result could not be expected now. A commit- tee of organization was, neveirtheless, appointed to make the necessary arrangements. This committee was composed of representatives of sixteen different religious bodies. Rev. Dr. John Henry Barrows was made Chair- man. With what marvelous ability and fidelity he has performed the great work committed to his hands this Congress is a sufficient witness. The preliminary address of the Committee, prepared by him and sent throughout the world, elicited the most gratifying responses, and proved that the proposed Congress was not only practicable, but, also, that it was most earnestly demanded by the needs of the present age. The religious leaders of many lands, hungering and thirsting for a larger righteousness, gave the pi-oposal their benediction, and promised the Congress their active coopera- tion and support. To most of the departments of the World's Congress work a single week of the Exposition season was assigned. To a few of the most import- ant a longer time, not exceeding two weeks, was given. In the beginning it was supposed that one or two Aveeks would suffice for the department of Religion, but so great has been the interest, and so many have been the appli- cations in this department, that the plans for it have repeatedly been re-ar- ranged, and it now extends from September 4 to October 15, and several of the religious congresses have nevertheless found it necessary to meet outside of these limits. The program for the Religious Congresses of 1893, ^s prepared by Dr. Barrows, constitutes what may with perfect propriety be designated as one of the most remarkable publications of the century. The program of this general Parliament of Religions directly represents England, Scotland, Swe- den, Switzerland, France, Germany, Russia, Turkey, Greece, Egypt, Syria, India, Japan, China, Ceylon, New Zealand, Brazil, Canada, and the Amer- ican States, and indirectly includes many other countries. This remarkable program presents, among other great themes to be considered in this Con- gress, Theism, Judaism, Mohammedanism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, Shintoism, Zoroastrianism, Catholicism, the Greek Church, Protestantism in many forms, and also refers to the nature and influence of other religious systems. This program also announces for presentation the great subjects of rev- elation, immortality, the incarnation of God, the universal elements in Religion, the ethical unity of different religious systems, the relations of Religion to morals, marriage, education, science, philosophy, evolution, music, labor, government, peace and war, and many other themes of absorbing inter-