Page:The World's Parliament of Religions Vol 1.djvu/84

56 HISTORY OF THE PARLIAMENT. prepared articles for the Polish and German papers in regard to the World's Congresses of 1893, and who was present at the Parliament. Count Goblet d'Alviella, of Brussels, wrote an elaborate article for the Revue de Belgiqiie in which he said : The significance of such an attempt cannot be too much insisted upon. In opposition to sectarian points of view which identify Religion with the doctrines of one or another particular form of worship, it implies, i. That religious sentiment possesses general forms and even a sphere of action independentof any particular theology ; 2.- That men belonging to churches the most diverse can and should come to an understanding with each other in order to realize this program common to all religions. Maggonlal Dulputram wrote for Muni Atmaramji, High Priest of the Jain Community of Bombay : The learned Muni is sure (and when he says so he echoes the united voice of the Jain Community) that an assemblage of the leaders of thought from all parts of the world will be of incalculable benefit to humanity in general. The phenomenon of the learned depositaries of religion and philosophy meeting together on a common platform, and throwing light on the religious problems, has been the dream of his life ; and when he sees that this dream is going to be realized, his joy knows no bounds. The Rev. T. F. Hawks Pott, President of St. John's Col- lege, Shanghai, China, wrote : The more emphasis is placed upon the conciliatory attitude that Chris- tianity should assume toward other religions, so much the more will the missionary effort of the churches be advanced. To-day no greater obstacle exists to the success of foreign missions than the unchristian and antag- onistic attitude of missionaries to other faiths and philosophies. Rev. S. R. Modak, an earnest Christian of Ahmednagar, India, wrote : I am sure such a meeting and discussion will be of the greatest use in enabling us to see how much and in what manner God has not left himself without witness in the different parts of the world. It will help ev^n those who have been blessed with the fullness of the revelation of God to under- stand the exact position and condition of the other children of the Father in heaven. Hon. Andrew D. White, the American Minister at St. Petersburg, had several interviews with the Procurator of the Holy Synod, and explained to him the purposes of the Parlia- ment, urging that delegates be appointed from Russia. The