An Introduction to the Hidden Treasures of Islam — Page 176
176 appointed time. On this day, also the period of two hours and a half assigned for the finishing of the paper proved inadequate and since the audience with one voice desired that the reading should continue, the directors had no option but to extend the sitting to the next day. In short, it took two days, seven hours and a half to finish the reading. There was a stir in the city of Lahore and everyone agreed that the essay had carried the day at the conference, and the followers of all creeds and sects were unanimous in its praise. Those who wrote the reports of the conference estimated that during the time the paper was being read, the audience gradually swelled between 7000 and 8000, while on earlier days the gathering was small. Following are some of the comments on this lecture from the Introduction to Islam i U su l K i Philosophy , by Hadrat Jal a l-ud-D i n Shams ra , R uha n i Khaz a’ in, vol. 10, pp. 12-16: A surprising factor of this Conference was that the Promised Messiah as issued a leaflet before the holding of this conference on December 21, 1896 with this heading: A GREAT GOOD NEWS FOR THE SEEKERS OF THE TRUTH In the religious Conference beginning on December 26, 27 and 28 in the Lahore Town Hall, an essay of this humble self would be read on the topic of the beauties and miracles of the Holy Quran. This will be an essay which would be superior to human intellect and will be one of the Divine Signs. The writing of this was prompted by His Command. It will list so many truths and realities and these will brighten Islam like the Sun…and it will be adjudged as superior to all. …The Civil and Military Gazette (of Lahore) wrote: “Particular interest centered on the lecture of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian, a master in the apologetics of Islam. An immense gathering of all sects from far and near assembled to hear the lecture, which as Mirz a