IS THIS THE REIGN OF CHRIST?
THIS is what the W. C. T. U. column of an Eastern paper has to say of the opening of the Parliament of Religions:— Cardinal Gibbons came to the platform, leaning on the arm of Judge C. C. Bonney, president of the World's Congresses, followed by Mrs. Potter Palmer and Mrs. Chas. Henrotin, of the Woman's Auxiliary, these succeeded by Rev. John H. Barrows, D.D., chairman of the Parliament of Religions, and after them the most brilliant and cosmic cortège of ecclesiastics—among which were two women—the world has ever seen. Archbishop, bishop, and priest of the Greek Church marched with Judaism, Christian and Confucian, Hindu with Mohammedan, Parsee and Presbyterian, Buddhist with Shintoist—until ten different faiths of the world were seated on the rostrum, gorgeous in many-hued pontifical robes. Cardinal Gibbons led in the universal prayer of our Lord in the opening of the solemn and majestic event of the World's Parliament of Religions. A Hindu [Dharmapala] said that twenty centuries ago a ruler of India had called a similar gathering of faiths in that cradle of religion at the foot of the Himalayas, but it was demonstrated that such a crowning glory as the fraternal union of religions has not been possible till within the last fifty years, when steam and electricity and science have thrown down the barriers between nations. In this "more than imperial feast" men eager for the truth have come together with mutual respect and tolerance, and without surrender of what each holds most dear. In this new, great act in the historic evolution of the race, the supreme fact is the universal brotherhood in the family of God; and a joy dawns in every devout heart that this day, when "acid sect dissolves in Christian charity," is the precursor of a reign of the Spirit which shall ultimate in universal love and peace. "Joy to the world, the Saviour reigns! Let earth receive her king." This is what the Woman's Christian Temperance Union thinks. Mr. Dharmapala thinks that the Western civilization was never ready to receive Buddhism till now. What kind of a religious meeting must that be which is so especially cheering and hopeful to both "Christian" and "Buddhist"? If Christianity were a compromise religion, we could understand the matter, but it is not. It stands for Christ, the Alpha and Omega of all salvation, with Jesus himself the only Saviour. Buddhism, and other isms also there represented, hold that man is his own saviour. The only Bible reconciliation possible is for all to yield to God's love, and that would obliterate every religion save that of Christianity. The only union between these religionists is for the so-called Christian to compromise Christianity, and then they are no longer Christians. Jesus Christ said, "My kingdom is not of this world," and his Spirit said, "What concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? and what agreement hath the temple of God with idols?"