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Mr. C. R. JAIN'S ACTIVITIES IN AMERICA 23 such non-sense to a speaker. What if any one is not inclined to take the same view of the address ? On one such occasion I thought the joke had gone far enough and disregarded the appeal of the chair, though I did not like to be considered discourteous. I would also suggest the leaving out of the prayer portion. In my opinion no one can be sincerely expected to join in praying to other peoples' gods. I certainly thought all the time that the entire conception was silly, and though I stood up out of courtesy and love for the others, I certainly did not utter a word of the prayers to gods who were no true gods in my opinion. Indeed, how could I be expected to do so without giving up my convictions, which being supported by reason (have'nt I got a right to think and say so) could not be abandoned ? This does not mean that I am unsympathetic towards others, I have always been complimented, on the contrary, on my sympathy for all creeds and religions. I did not even join the reading of the Jain adoration so long as it retained the objectionable phrase Supreme Ruler, which I am happy to say was at last, on my persistent remonstrance, removed and replaced with one more in consonance with the Jain ideals.
The Conference apparently was not a financial success. I had to buy a pass, that is an admission ticket, for five dollars. I subsequently learnt from other delegates that they did not have to buy a ticket at all. I am going to look upon the matter as a personal distinction, because of the reputed fabulous wealth of the Jainas. On the whole there
