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84 HISTORY OF THE PARLIAMENT. him and the world, and more than justify his efforts, and prove the wisdom of his work. It is a source of satisfaction that to the residents of a new city in a far country should be accorded this great privilege and high honor. The meeting of so many illustrious and learned men under such circumstances, evidences the kindly spirit and feeling that exist throughout the world. To me this is the proudest work of our Exposition. What- ever may be the differences in the religions you represent, there is a sense in which we are all alike. There is a common plane on which we are all brothers. We owe our being to conditions that are exactly the same. Our journey through this world is by the same route. We have in common the same senses, hopes, ambitions, joys and sorrows ; and these to my mind argue strongly and almost conclusively a common destiny. To me there is much satisfaction and pleasure in the fact that we are brought face to face with men that come to us bearing the ripest wisdom of the ages. They come in the friendliest spirit, which, I trust, will be aug- mented by their intercourse with us and with each other. I am hoping, Mr. Chairman and gentlemen, that your Parliament will prove to be a golden milestone on the highway of civilization — a golden stairway leading up to the table-land of a higher, grander and more perfect condition, where peace will reign and the enginery of war be known no more forever. The Pastor of the Shepard Memorial Church of Cambridge, Massachusetts, having been introduced as one who should offer welcome in the name of New England Puritanism, spoke of the distinctively religious purpose and work of the Puritan colonists, and its formative influence on the character of the Republic. SPEECH OF THE REV. ALEXANDER m'kENZIE. The Puritan came early to this country with a very distinct work to do, and he gave himself distinctly to that work and succeeded in doing it. There are some who criticise the Puritan and say that if he had been a different man he would not have been the man he was. I venture to say that if the Puritan had not been precisely the man he was this gathering would never have been heard of. The little contribution that he makes this morning in the way of welcome to these guests from all parts of the world is to congratulate them on the opportunity given them of seeing something of the work his hands have established. Men sometimes find fault and say that we are a materialist nation. I think we should give thanks that we are materialists, that we are blessed with railroads, steamships, banks, bankers and many kinds of money, pro-* viding they are good. [Laughter.] It would be no use attempting to main- tain institutions of religion or schoolhouses without material and financial resources. It is rather a reproach to us if we cannot advance the institutions