Page:The World's Parliament of Religions Vol 1.djvu/188

l60 HISTORY OF THE PARLIAMENT. Before we part I wish to say three things. First of all I want to tender my warmest congratulations to Dr. Barrows. I do not believe there is another man living who could have carried this Congress through and made it such a gigantic success. [Applause.] It needed a head, a heart, an energ3% a common sense and a pluck such as I have never known to be united before in a single individual. During my stay in Chicago it has been my singular good fortune to be received as a guest by the kindest of hosts and the most charming of host- esses, and among the many pleasures of their brilliant and delightful table, one of the greatest has been that I have sat day by day by Dr. Barrows, and day by day I have learned to admire and love him more. In the successes that lie before him in the future I shall always take the keenest interest ; but he has already achieved something that will eclipse all. As Chairman of this first Parliament of Religions he has won immortal glory which noth- ing in the future can diminish, which I fancy nothing in the future can very much augment. Secondly, I should like to offer my congratulations to the American people. This Parliament of Religions has been held in the new world. I confess I wish it had been held in the old world, in my own country, and that it had had its origin in my own church. It is the greatest event so far in the history of the world, and it has been held on American soil. I con- gratulate the people of America. Their example will be followed in time to come in other countries and by other peoples, but there is one honor which will always be America's — the honor of having led the way. And certainly I should like to offer my congratulations to you, the citizens of Chicago. While our minds are full of the Parliament, I cannot forget the Fair. I have seen all the expositions of Europe during the last ten or twelve years, and I am sure I do not exaggerate when I say that your Exposition is greater than all the rest put together. But your Parliament of Religions is far greater than your Exposition. There have been plenty of expositions before. Yours is the best, but it is a comparatively common thing. The Parliament of Religions is a new thing in the world. Most people, even those who regarded the idea with pleasure, thought that it was an impossibility. But it has been achieved. Here in this Hall of Columbus vast audiences have assembled day after day, the members of which came from all churches and from all sects, and sometimes from no church at all. Here they sat side by side during long — I had almost said weary hours; the hours would have been weary but for their enthusiasm. Here they sat side by side during the long hours of the day listening to doctrines which they had been taught to regar-d with contempt, listening with respect, with sympathy, with an earnest desire to learn something which would improve their own doctrines. And here on the platform have sat as brethren the representatives of churches and sects which, during bygone centuries, hated and cursed one another, and scarcely a word has fallen from any of us which could possibly