Page:The World's Parliament of Religions Vol 1.djvu/135

ASSEMBLING AND WELCOMING. I07 India and its outskirts have been glorified by the touch and teaciiing of the prophets of the world. It is in this way that we live in a spiritual atmos- phere. Here in the far West you have developed another phase of human life. You have studied outward nature. We in the East have studied the inner nature of man. Mr. Sen, more than twenty years ago, said : " Glory to the name of God in the name of the Parliament of Religions." Parliament of Religions is exactly the expression that he used on that occasion in his exposition of the doctrine of the new dispensation. It simply means the Church of the Brahmo-Samaj, Church of India, so that what I wish to express to you is that I feel a peculiar pleasure in being present here on this occasion. It was only two years ago that I heard of the grand scheme that was to be worked out here in the midst of the country of liberty, and I took the first opportunity to put myself in communication with the worthy Dr. Barrows. For a long time I thought I should not be able to come, but God has brought me safe and I stand in the midst of you. I consider it a great privilege. In the East we have a number of systems of philosophy, a deep insight into the spiritual nature of man, but you have at the same time to make an earnest and deep research to choose what is accidental and what is essential in Indian philosoph3^ Catch hold very firmly of what is perma- nent of the eastern philosophy. Lay it down very strongly to heart and try to assimilate it with your noble western thoughts. You western nations represent all the material civilization. You who have gone deep into the outward world and tried to discover the forces of outward nature, you have to teach to the East the glory of man's intellect, his logical accuracy, his rational nature, and in this way it is that in the heart of the church of the new dispensation — call it by whatever name you will — you will have the harmony of the East and the West, a union between faith and reason, a wedding between the Orient and the Occident. The exercises of the day were brought to a close with an address by Bishop Benjamin W. Arnett, of the African Metho- dist Episcopal Church. SPEECH OF BISHOP ARNETT. Through the partiality of the Committee of Arrangements, I am put in a very peculiar position this afternoon. I am to respond to the addresses of welcome, on behalf of Africa. I am to represent on the one side the Africans in Africa, and on the other side the Africans in America. I am also, by the Chairman, announced to give color to this vast Parliament of Religions. [Laughter.] Now, I think it is very well colored itself, and, if I have any eyes, I think the color is in the majority this time, anyhow. But Africa needs a voice. Africa has been welcomed, and it is so pecu- liar a thing for an African to be welcomed that I congratulate myself that I