THE CHICAGO WORLD'S FAIR

Temuka Leader, Issue 2371, 18 June 1892, Page 3

THE CHICAGO WORLD'S FAIR

A certain rumbling sound of preparation for the great event of the Chicago World's Fair is already reaching Europe from America, remarks the Daily News. The World's Fair is, of course, to be the biggest of its kind yet known. It will be especially strong in ideas—in notions on the colossal scale. Pope Leo is going to send art treasures and relics from the Vatican. Scotchmen promise a microcosmic Scotland on the shores of Lake Michigan—eight acres for hotels and cottages, thirty for " tournaments " and games. Bristol will send relics of Sebastian Cabot. Columbus, as the grand motive of the exhibition, which commemorates his discovery of the New World, will have almost an entire section to himself. The relics of him, borrowed from Spain, are to be brought over 'in a United States ship of war, and guarded by United States troops. The American Federation of Labour asks every reputable labour organisation in tho world to send delegates to a labour congress. This Handel orchestra of industrial debate will no doubt rival its prototype in harmony, as well as in size. Yet it is nothing in the magnitude of conception to the great " World's First Parliament of Religions," which is to be one of the main features of the Fair. Here the promoters have undoubtedly struck the "ile" of perfect novelty. There has been nothing like this great Ecumenical Conference of all the great historic faiths in our time, or indeed in any. It will bring together not only Catholics, Protestants, Jews, and representatives of the Greek Church, but Buddhists, Brahmins, Confucians, Parsees, and Mohamedan s. They are to meet "in frank and friendly conference " over the great things of our common spiritual life. They are not only to find out how they may agree to differ, but perhaps, how they may cease to differ altogether. They will be encouraged to seek in Theism Ja common denominator of all their fractional beliefs. To say that this is on the same scale as the rest is to undervalue it. It is more than colossal—it is American. The world seems delighted with it. According to latest advices from Japan, Mr BunyinNanjio, a learned Buddhist priest of the Shinshu sect, will probably be a delegate from that country. Lord Tennyson has been put on the Advisory Council of the scheme, and he accepts the honour. The president of the Howard University, Washington, goes somewhat farther. " Nothing in connection with the Columbian Exposition," he says, "pleases me so much as the Parliament of Religions. It is as though the Babel tongues of the world were coming back to speak the one dialect of Heaven " a handsome compliment to the language in which the proceedings are to be conducted, which it is needless to say, is our own.