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CHAPTER V. THE CLOSE OF THE PARLIAMENT. BEFORE bringing to an end the chronicle of the Parlia- ment, it will be well at this point to describe a few inci- dents which make up a part of this history. Very much of the best life of this first great convention of the world's relig- ious leaders was lived outside the daily meetings in the Hall of Columbus. The friendships which were formed, and the social intercourse enjoyed will be a part of the Parliament's contribution to that true (pharity in which, as Lord Bacon said, " there is no excess." Several devotional meetings had been held in the early morning hours, under the leadership of Mr. Theodore F. Seward, the founder of the Brotherhood of Christian Unity, and Mr. Seward had also conducted conferences in the inter- ests of a closer union of Christian disciples. The chronicle of the Parliament would not be complete without a reference to these efforts and to Mr. Seward's work in bringing before the minds of Christians their great opportunity and great duty to come into closer and more active fellowship. On the evening of September ii, the opening day of this historic convention, the Chairman gave a reception to the for- eign delegates attending the Parliament of Religions, at the beautiful home of Mr. and Mrs. A. C. Bartlett on Prairie avenue. The gracious hospitalities extended by the host and hostess to the representatives of all the chief faiths and of all the leading divisions of Christendom form a delightful part of the memories which many hundreds of invited guests will ever cherish of the golden September days of 1893. The halls and rooms of Mr. Bartlett's home were beautifully and appropri- ately decorated with many hundreds of flags of all nations. Assisting Mr. and Mrs. Bartlett and Dr. Barrows in receiving 155 •