Atmanandji Jainacharya Janmashatabdi Smarakgranth

Author(s): Mohanlal Dalichand Desai
Publisher: Atmanand Janma Shatabdi Smarak Trust

Page 66

Virachand R, Gadnhi in Američá
B. A, of Bombay, India, who was elected by avote of 5,000,000 Jains to represent them at the late world's Congress of Religions in Chicago.
Mr. Gandhi was given a perfect ovation as he stepped forward in his Oriental costume of royal purple silk and yellow turban and sash, and said: "Brothers and sisters of America: I greet you in the name of India and her three millions of sops and daughters. I greet you as brothers and sisters and bring you a message of peace, love, universal brotherhood and fellowship from the aged and well-preserved nation of India, which is proud to clasp the hand of the youngest child of the ages. Our country in all confidence places in your lap the key to its archives of ancient philosophy and attainments, because you are in a perfect intellectual condition to appreciate its mystical treasures of religious lore. India has been studied from the outside and from a limited point of view and consequently misunderstood." Evening Post, Cleveland, O.,
Sept. 19, 1894. Virchand R. Gandhi, representative of the Jain religion, the oldest of old India, lectured on the Occult sciences and philosophies of that far-off country last evening, at Association Hall. His lecture was profusely illustrated by means of the stereopticon and the views presented, showing as they did scenes of interest and people of a most fascinating land, were warmly appreciated by the large number of persons in attendance, Chicago Suburban Star, Nov. 30, 1893. .: The Universalist Church, Sixty-fifth street and Stewart avenue, was comfo
tably filled Sunday evening on the occasion of the third lecture in the Union Study Club course, which was given by Virchand R. Gandhi, of Bombay, Honorary Secretary of the Jain Association of India. The lecture contained a geographical and historical review of India, a digest of the religions philosophies, theosophies, literatures of the Aryan races, and a very interesting description of the social customs of the Hindus. The speaker very emphatically denied the popular story about the car of Jaggernaut, under whose wheels the religious devotee has been supposed to cast himself and be immolated. He characterized the tale of Juggernaut and other recitals of Hindu self-torture as the falsifications of sensational missionaries. Buffalo Times, N. Y., Aug. 8th, 1894.
Virchand Gandhi is the guest of honor at Cassa daga. He has already won his way to the hearts of the people by the soft persuasiveness of his reasoning, oriental in its simplicity, strength and power of conviction. His musically modulated voice and physical repose distinguish him no less than his Oriental costume at any time and any place. The Jamestown All, New York,
Aug. 13, 1894, The Buffalo excursion brought six carloads of people and the Jamestown and Titusville the same. It was a ''big day" and most of the people came to hear, the learned Hindu, Virchand Gandhi. His subject Sunday afternoon was his impressions of our country and various institutions. He complimented us, as a nation on our hospitality, our common schools and universal education,
Shatabdi Granth ]