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- 130 The Parliament of World's Religions
at Chicago, Illinois, USA
August 28th to September 5, 1993 All the faiths of the world will celebrate Parliament of World Renew the role of religions of the world in relation to Religions Centennial Year. Hundred years ago in 1893 the personal spiritual growth and the challenges facing the first parliament of World Religions was held at Chicago. Shri global community. Virchand Raghavji Gandhi attended the Parliament as a Jain delegate. The Centennial Celebrations in Chicago will take • Develop and encourage interfaith groups and proplace from 28th August to 5th September, 1993. At a joint grammes which will carry the spirit of the Parliament meeting between IOJ, JAINA and Jain society of Metropoli- into the twenty-first century. tan Chicago it was unanimously agreed that Jain representation at this function be under one banner of “The Jains". The Total attendance over 9 days period will exceed 50,000. programme will include Processions, Exhibition, Seminars, It will be a highly publicized event of the century of Lectures, Workshops, Audio Visual Film on Mahavira etc.
multi-faith get togethers.
100 Years ago - 1893
SOME OF THE EXTRACTS OF COMMENTS FROM
NEWSPAPERS AND INDIVIDUALS IN USA:
The First Parliament of the World's religions was held at Chicago in 1893 as a part of World's Columbian Exposition. It was the first meeting of the representatives of the major religions in the history of the world. About four hundred per- sons spoke about their faiths to audiences of four thousand or more. The parliament marked the beginning of interfaith dialogue in the modern world. Jainism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Zoroastrianism trace their beginnings in the west to their participation in the parliament. Hundred years ago the Parliament was more of a familiarisation and introduction of religions.
1. Now here is VRG, the Jain, whom you well know in
Bombay. This man never takes anything but pure vegetables even in this terribly cold climate and tooth and nail tries to defend his countrymen and religion. The people of this country like him very well.
Letter written by Vivekanandji to Shri Diwanji
November 1894
The Jain Representation
2.
These lectures are instructive to both, old and young, and should be seen and heard all over America.
The Rochester Herald - October 3, 1893
A Jain Acharya Shri Vijayanandsuri (popularly known as Atmaramji) was invited to attend the parliament to represent the Jains. The rules of the conduct of Sadhus prevented the Acharya from going to Chicago. He deputed Shri Virchand Raghavji Gandhi (VRG) to fulfill the mission. VRG was the first honorary secretary of Jain Association of India. He travelled by boat with Swami Vivekanandji and others. VRG gave several lectures on Jainism at various cities in USA after the conference.
3. His lecture was a most scholarly production both in mat
ter and form, and showed a thorough grasp of oriental philosophy
Rev. R.A. White, Chicago
100 years after - 1993
4. It was rarely, if ever, been my good fortune to meet a
man whose reading and culture have been so wide and varied, and who, withal, has so sweet, sincere and teachable a spirit as Mr. Gandhi.
Hon. E.B. Sherman, U.S. Circuit Court
The centennial Parliament is scheduled for nine days from Saturday 28th August to Sunday 5th September, 1993. It will bring together leaders and representatives of the World's faiths, experts on economic, social, scientific, environmental and political issues, and spiritual pilgrims from all over the globe. The centennial celebrations in 1993 will be a historic event.
Encourage the spirit of harmony and to celebrate with openness and mutual respect, the rich diversity of religion.
7TH BIENNIAL JAINA CONVENTION - JULY 1993
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