Page:The World's Parliament of Religions Vol 1.djvu/211

THE CLOSE OF THE PARLIAMENT. 1 83 better for us to be one than to be divided, our Lord and God would not have prayed to his Father that we might all be one as he and the Father are one. O, let us pray for unity, and taking up the glorious strains we have listened to to-night, let us, morning, noon and night cry out : " Lead, kindly light ; lead from all gloom ; lead from all darkness ; lead from all imperfect light of human opinion ; lead to the fullness of the light." President Bonney then presented with cordial words the Chairman of the General Committee, who said : The closing hour of this Parliament is one of congratulation, of tender sorrow, of triumphant hopefulness. God has been better to us by far than our fears, and no one has more occasion for gratitude than your Chairman, that he has been upheld and comforted by your cordial cooperation, by the prayers of a great host of God's noblest men and women, and by the con- sciousness of divine favor. Our hopes have been more than realized. The sentiment which inspired this Parliament has held us together. The principles in accord with which this historic convention has proceeded have been put to the test, and even strained at times, but they have not been inadequate. Toleration, brotherly kindness, trust in each other's sincerity, a candid and earnest seeking after the unities of religion, the honest purpose of each to set forth his own faith,- without compromise and without unfriendly criticism — these principles, thanks to their loyalty and courage, have not been found wanting. Men of Asia and Europe, we have been made glad by your coming, and have been made wiser. I am happy that you have enjoyed our hospitali- ties. While floating one evening over the illuminated waters of the White City, Mr. Dharmapala said, with that smile which has won our hearts, " All the joys of Heaven are in Chicago ;" and Dr. Momerie, with a characteristic mingling of enthusiasm and skepticism, replied, " I wish I were sure that all the joys of Chicago are to be in Heaven." But surely there will be a multitude there, whom no man can number, out of every kindred and people and tongue, and in that perpetual parliament on high the people of God will be satisfied. We have learned that truth is large and that there are more ways than one in God's providence by which men emerge out of darkness into the heavenly light. It was not along the line of any one sect or philosophy that Augustine and Origen, John Henry Newman and Dean Stanley, Jonathan Edwards and Channing, Henry Ward Beecher and Keshub Chunder Sen walked out into the light of the eternal. The great high wall of Heaven is pierced by twelve portals, and we shall doubtless be surprised, if we ever pass within those gates, to find many there whom we did not expect to see. We certainly ought to cherish stronger hopes for those who are pure in deeds, even though living in the twilight of faith, than for selfish souls who rest down on a lifeless Christianity. I am glad that you will go back to India, to Japan, to China, and the