Chicago and Outside...

In Chicago Swamiji stayed for a long time giving lectures in churches, clubs, city homes, parlours etc. From His letter we know that He spoke on Buddhism at Ladies’ Fortnightly Club on 27 October1893. This club avoided publicity hence we don’t have any printed information from the newspaper. But from ‘Tribune’ we come to know that the Fortnightly Club had its first meeting and lecture by Swamiji on Buddhism at Hotel Richelieu which is recorded in the Club’s yearbook of 1893. Now the hotel is demolished and this is what we know of Swamiji’s engagements in Chicago.

But regarding His lectures in the neighbouring towns we can gather from the newspaper reports.

Prof. Wright’s friend Dr. Bradley lived at Evanston which was on north of Chicago. At the Parliament there was Dr. Carl Von Bergen, a representative from Scandinavia, Sweden who spoke only once. He stated that Sweden’s Christian Church had a broad and tolerant outlook towards all religions. These two fellow delegates became friends and later we find them having lunch together more than once.

On 29^th Sept.1893 the ‘Chicago Evening Journal’ announced -

             “ALTRUISM OF CHRISTIANITY”

             It Will Be Contrasted with Hindoo Ethics in Lectures at Evanston.

             Suami Vivekananda, a representative from India to the recent World's Parliament of Religions, and Dr. Carl Von Bergen, a representative from Scandinavia, will give three lectures in Evanston beginning tomorrow evening. The other lectures will be given on Tuesday and Thursday evenings of next week in the Congregational Church. The subjects for Saturday evenings are "Altruism in Christianity; illustrated by the life of Catherine of Siena, the herald of pure Christianity in the middle ages," by Dr. Von Bergen; "Hindu Altruism," by Suami Vivekananda. Tuesday evening, "Monism," Suami Vivekananda; "Lord Shaftesbury, the most earnest philanthropist of our age," Dr. Von Bergen. On this evening John W. Hutchinson will sing a number of the old time songs which have made him so famous. Thursday evening, "Huldine Beamish: the founder of the Edelweiss," Dr. Von Bergen. "Reincarnation," Suami Vivekananda.

Exactly when did He sign up with the Lecture Bureau we do not know. But i dread now to tell all hereafter in what way this bureau literally made Him run around the places and minted money at His health's cost. 

 I wept when i read about His physical exhaustion... let us read tomorrow.