President Charles Carroll Bonney, in the opening address, said: "Worshipers of God and lovers of man: Let us rejoice that we have lived to see this glorious day.... That we are permitted to take part in this solemn and majestic event of a World's Congress of Religions. The importance of this event can not be overestimated. Its influence on the future relations of the various races of men, can not be too highly esteemed. If this Congress shall faithfully execute its duties with which it has been charged, it shall become the joy of the whole earth, and stand in human history like a _new Mount Zion_, crowned with glory, and marking the actual beginning of a _new epoch of brotherhood_ and peace. _For when the religious faiths of the world recognize each other as brothers, children of one Father_, whom all profess to love and serve, then, and not until then, will the nations of the earth yield to the spirit of concord and learn war no more.... We meet on the mountain height of absolute respect for the religious convictions of each other.... This day the sun of a new era of religious peace and progress arises over the world, dispelling the dark clouds of sectarian strife. _It is the brotherhood of religions._" Chairman John Henry Barrows, in his address, said: "We are here not as Baptists and Buddhists, Catholics and Confucians, Parsees and Presbyterians, Methodists and Moslems; we are here as members of a Parliament of Religions, over which flies no sectarian flag, ... but where for the first time in large council is lifted up the banner of love, fellowship, brotherhood.... Welcome, one and all, thrice welcome to the world's first Parliament of Religions! Welcome to the men and women of Israel, the standing miracle of nations and religions! Welcome to the disciples of Prince Siddartha, the many millions who worship their lord Buddha as the light of Asia! Welcome to the high-priests of the national religion of Japan! This city has every reason to be grateful to the enlightened ruler of 'the sunrise kingdom.' Welcome to the men of India, and all faiths! Welcome to all the disciples of Christ! ... It seems to me that the spirits of just and good men hover over this assembly. I believe the spirit of Paul is here. I believe the spirit of the wise and humane Buddha is here, and of Socrates the searcher after truth.... When a few days ago I met for the first time the delegates who have come to us from Japan, and shortly after the delegates who have come to us from India, I felt that the arms of human brotherhood had reached almost around the globe." World's Parliament of Religions, Chap. III. Similar congresses have since been held. While I never expect to see all these principles of evil under one organized form, yet it is evident that the spirits of devils that have gone forth into "all the world" are uniting them all under one _spirit_--that of Antichrist.