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1324 Jain Conférence Herald.
[October - On their return to India from their short journey to Enrope, the question of crossing the seas was raised by their castemen and the matter whieh by being handled cautiously and diligently would have been settled amicably took a huge and, monstrous form on account of which the conteuding parties had to seek the protection of law. The suit coso both the parties some lacs of rupees which might otherwise lave well been utilised in founding a Central Jain College or organising a protectire iustitution for the destitute and helpless Jains and Jain orphans. Over and above this tax on the purse matters were brought to light which would better have been never revealed at all. The whole Jain community of India was divided and put to great domestic inconvenience in as much as parents belonging to one side could not invite their daighters married in families favoring the cause of the other side. Persons who were once friends turned out deadly foes by taking opposite sides. In short the Jains seemed to have totally turned out mad on the question and in their frenzy they cared little to injure theinselves by aiming a blow of the axe at their own feet. An impartial observer fainted at the very idea of division which in face of the fury and tumult of the multitude, it was impossible for him to avoid. The time for peace and union so anxiously waited for had not yet arrived, that the foreign adventures of Mr. Manekchand from Jaipur, for mercantile purposes and Mr. Fatehchand Kbabiya from Ajmere, for educational purposes, added fuel to the fire and the community seemed once more to have divided for ever.
As time rolled on matters began to mend themselves till in the latter part of 1892 an intimation was received by Acharya Atina Ramji Anand Vijayji from the Americen Committee on Religious Congresses, of his being appointed as a member of the Advisory Council of the Parliament of Religions to be held in Chicago in 1893. The learned Acharya was very glad to hear of the movement and accepted his appointment. But he wrote in reply that he was unable to be present in America on account of old age, strict observance of Shastrin injunctions and other collateral worldly considerations. The chairmac of die committee Dr. Barrows, in his eagerness to see the famous Muni asked him:-"Is it not possible for you to attend the Parliament in person ? It would give us great pleasure to meet you. At any rate will you not be able to prepare & · paper which will convey to the occidental mind, a clear account of the Jain Fuith which you so honorably represent ?" In response to this call Muni Maharaj Atma
