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4. Dr. John Henry Burrows: He was the secretary of the Parliament of Religions at Chicago in 1893. He was impressed by the way in which Virchandbhai defended Hinduism in a gentle but effective manner and added to the dignity of the conference. When Virchandbhai stayed on in America after the conference, Mr. Burrows temporarily vacated his own residence for Virchandbhai to stay there.
5. William Pipe He was the joint secretary of the Parliament of Religions. He was an admirer of the activities of Virchandbhai and was helpful to him whenever possible.
It was under the guidance of William Pipe that Virchandbhai conducted the classes at the School of Orienal Philosophy and Esoteric Studies.
HYPNOTISM AND SHRI VIRCHAND GANDHI
This incident is one about which no one would have known if Mahatma Bhagwandin had not mentioned it in his book 'Mere Sathi'. In that he writes:
Shri Virchand Gandhi was born in the 19th century. India had become a slave (of the British) only 37 years ago. At that time there were some individuals in this country whom the slavery had not touched. One among such individuals, Shri Virchand Gandhi had declared in America that India was the place where the system called hypnotism was born. Oh my! What a number of people must have been awed by Shri Virchand Gandhi ! While giving a talk of hypnotism at the Masonic Temple, he got the light to be dimmed. As soon as the room was dark, a beautiful glow emitted from the body of the Indian dressed in white. His white turban was glowing so brightly that it seemed there was a bright sun shinning behind Gandhi's face'.
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