Source: http://www.sriramakrishna.org/chicago.htm

At the World's Parliament of Religions, Chicago
11th September, 1893

" Sisters and Brothers of America,

It fills my heart with joy unspeakable to rise in response to the
warm and cordial welcome which you have given us. I thank you in the
name of the most ancient order of monks in the world; I thank you in
the name of the mother of religions; I thank you in the name of
millions and millions of Hindu people of all classes and sects.

My thanks, also, to some of the speakers on this platform who,
referring to the delegates from Orient, have told you that these men
from far-off nations may well claim the honor of bearing to different
lands the idea of toleration. I am proud to belong to a religion
which has taught the world both tolerance and universal acceptance.
We believe not only in universal toleration, but we accept all
religions as true. I am proud to belong to a nation which has
sheltered the persecuted and the refugees of all religions and
nations of the earth. I am proud to tell you that we have gathered in
our bosom the purest remnant of the Israelites, who came to Southern
India and took refuge with us in the very year in which their holy
temple was shattered to pieces by Roman tyranny. I am proud to belong
to the religion which has sheltered and is still fostering the
remnant of the grand Zoroastrian nation. I will quote to you,
brethren, a few lines from a hymn which I remember to have repeated
from my earliest boyhood, which is every day repeated by millions of
human beings: "As the different streams having their sources in
different places all mingle their water in the sea, sources in
different tendencies, various though they appear, crooked or
straight, all lead to Thee."

The present convention, which is one of the most august assemblies
ever held, is in itself a vindication, a declaration to the world of
wonderful doctrine preached in the Gita: "Whosoever comes to Me,
through whatsoever form, I reach him; all men are struggling through
paths which in the end lead to me." Sectarianism, bigotry, and its
horrible descendant, fanaticism, have long possessed this beautiful
earth. They have filled the earth with violence, drenched it often
and often with human blood, destroyed civilization and sent whole
nations to despair. Had it not been for these horrible demons, human
society would be far more advanced than it is now. But their time is
come; and I fervently hope that the bell that tolled this morning in
honor of this convention may be the death-knell of all fanaticism, of
all persecutions with the sword or with the pen, and of all
uncharitable feelings between persons wending their way to the same
goal."

Swami Vivekananda
--- In advaitin (AT) yahoogroups (DOT) com, "V. Krishnamurthy" <profvk@...>
wrote:
> >
> Namaste
>
> One more recalling would be worthwhile. It was on Sept.11, 1893
that
> the Eastern World spoke to the whole world at Chicago addressing
> them 'Sisters and Brothers' and the very address opened up a new
> world of spirituality to the West, in the form of the clarion call
> of Swami Vivekananda!
>
> PraNAms to all advaitins.
> profvk
>