When we think of the millions of devotees of this form of Paganism, multitudes of church-members and preachers, surely it is not difficult to see that the dragon is loose in deceiving power again.  That he is meeting with great success in forming his confederation of all false religions, is obvious.  The world’s Parliament of Religions, held in Chicago in the year 1893, is an illustration of this statement.  The dragon, the beast, and the false prophet met in “mutual confidence and respect,” a “brotherhood” of religions.  Theism, Judaism, Mohammedanism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, Shintoism, Zoroastrianism, Catholicism, the Greek Church, and Protestantism in many forms—­all these were represented.  And the devotees of these religions met, as they said, “To unite all religion against all irreligion; to make the golden rule the basis of this union; and to present to the world substantial unity of many religions.”  The following are a few extracts from addresses made before the Parliament.

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