Page:The World's Parliament of Religions Vol 1.djvu/117

ASSEMBLING AND WELCOME. 89 parative religion. Only the happiest results will come, I am sure, from our meeting together in the spirit of friendliness. Each may learn from the other some lessons, I trust, of charity and good will, and discover what is excellent in other faiths than his own. In behalf of my government and people, I extend to the representatives gathered in this great hall the friendliest salutations, and to those who have spoken I give my most cor- dial thanks. Prince Serge Wolkonsky, although present in no formally representative character, either from the Russian Empire or from the Russo-Greek Church, was made welcome as a member of the Parliament, and tendered his thanks for so high an honor, SPEECH OF PRINCE SERGE WOLKONSKY. [Speaking of the common note of charity, humanity and brotherhood that had been heard in all the denominational congresses. Prince Wol- konsky dwelt on the fitness of bringing together all these harmonious voices into a single chorus, and recognized in the Parliament the realization of ihis thought. He continued :] I will take the liberty of relating to you a popular legend of my coun- try. The story may appear rather too humorous for the occasion, but one of our national writers says, " Humor is an invisible tear through a visi- ble smile," and we think that human tears, human sorrow and pain are sacred enough to be brought even before a religious congress. There was an old woman who for many centuries suffered tortures in the flames of hell, for she had been a great sinner during her earthly life. One day she saw far away in the distance an angel taking his flight through the blue skies ; and with the whole strength of her voice she called to him. The call must have been desperate, for the angel stopped in his flight, and coming down to her asked her what she wanted. " When you reach the throne of God," she said, " tell him that a miser- able creature has suffered more than she can bear, and that she asks the Lord to be delivered from these tortures." The angel promised to do so and flew away. When he had trans- mitted the message God said : "Ask her whether she has done any good to anyone during her life." The old woman strained her memory in search of a good action during her sinful past, and all at once : " I've got one," she joyfully exclaimed, " one day I gave a carrot to a hungry beggar." The angel reported the answer. " Take a carrot," said God to the angel, " and stretch it out to her. Let her grasp it, and if the plant is strong enough to draw her out from hell she shall be saved." This the angel did. The poor old woman clung to the carrot. The angel began to pull, and, lo ! she began to rise ! But when her body was half out of the flames she felt a weight at her feet. Another sinner was clinging to her. She kicked, but it did not help. The sinner would not let go his hold, and the angel, continuing to pull, was lifting them both. But, lo ! another sinner clung to them, and then a third, and more and always