Appendix: "Exhibition of Religions."

Narrator: Chris Genthree
Duration: 5min
 •  4 min. read  •  grade level: 8
Presbyterians, Baptist, Congregationalists, Episcopalians, Methodists, Roman Catholics, and, alas! Unitarians, Universalists, Swedenborgians, Buddhists, Mohammedans, Pagans, and Atheists, are all to meet together on one common platform, in the “stately art palace,” Chicago, on Monday, Sept. 11th. Thus their different religions are to be exhibited to the world for 17 days.
Representatives, they tell us, from almost every part of the world have given in their names to attend. “Over 1,600 men eminent in the religious life and work of the world, and representing nearly all the great Christian Churches, and all the leading historic faiths, have accepted places on the advisory council of the Parliament.” (From Review of Reviews, April, ‘93.) “Brotherhood of Human Good” is their motto. All is looked at from the world’s or a human standing point to “Unite the world in the spirit of co-operative unity.” Scripture says: “Now is the judgment of this world,” (John 12:3131Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. (John 12:31)). “If any man love the world the love of the Father is not in him,” (1 John 2:1515Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. (1 John 2:15)). It is well to remember there has been such a fact as “The cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world” (Gal. 6:1414But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. (Galatians 6:14)), says the apostle, by the Holy Spirit. And again: “Who by Him do believe in God, that raised Him up from the dead, and gave Him glory: that your faith and hope might be in God,” (1 Peter 1:2121Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God. (1 Peter 1:21)). But this parliament of religions would put our risen Lord Jesus side by side with corrupt, fallen man, “A leader of men.” The only living and true God is thus insulted. These “raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame.... Having men’s persons in admiration, because of advantage,” (Jude 13:16), are only manifesting their folly. The mass of humanity care but little for these things—man is flattered and exalted, thus falls an easy prey to the snare of the devil. A more shameful, a more openly corrupt principle has never been put forth. Every abominable doctrine side by side with the truth. A chief rabbi suggests as a text for the parliament, “Have we not all one Father.” Jesus said to such: “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do,” (John 8:41-4441Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God. 42Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. 43Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. 44Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. (John 8:41‑44)). It is just repeating, “Is not this great Babylon, that I have built.... for the honor of my majesty.” Scripture speaks plainly, “Come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,” (2 Cor. 6:16-1816And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 18And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. (2 Corinthians 6:16‑18)). “Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity,” (2 Tim. 2:1919Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. (2 Timothy 2:19)). We who know God in Christ Jesus, are sure, “The longsuffering of our Lord is salvation,” (2 Peter 3:1515And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; (2 Peter 3:15)). We are living in a solemn moment. Jesus, whom God the Father raised from the dead and glorified, is shut outside by this Laodicea. “He patiently ‘knocks’ and says, He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches,” (Rev. 3:14-2214And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; 15I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 16So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. 17Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: 18I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. 19As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. 20Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. 21To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. 22He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. (Revelation 3:14‑22)). “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away,” (2 Tim. 5). “Ye do well that ye take heed.”
EDWARD J. HAYHOE.
The foregoing was written by E. J. Hayhoe, who died in January, 1913, age 69 years. Before he passed away, he requested that the two last verses of our hymn “The Sands of Time are Sinking” be sung at his funeral.
“Oh! I am my Beloved’s, And my Beloved’s mine!
He brings a poor vile sinner Into His “house of wine”!
I stand upon His merit, I know no safer stand,
Not e’en where glory dwelleth, In Immanuel’s land.
“The bride eyes not her garment,
But her dear bridegroom’s face;
I will not gaze at glory,
But on my King of Grace—
Not at the crown He giveth,
But on His pierced hand:
The Lamb is all the glory
Of Immanuel’s land.”
Although my father preached the Gospel for about forty years, he did not go to Heaven on this account, but because he was a poor vile sinner, washed in the blood of Christ.
J. C. HAYHOE.