Pam (228 Missions | ' A Pageant of (Dissions 1860 — 1910 — he . ” 4 rity —_. >. Sn —_ _ —— & “ety, ' ; —# yere- ra : le a merely . ~~ - sp met? sien ill Mesilla Ry at ig Me Ay I A OEE | pa im Ne ee i] - hia } Be) ere hE tana soma on a A Pageant of (Dissinns Presenting the Progress of Western Women in “astern Bands IPO) CASES SR ACI, Osha, FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ORGANIZATION OF Wonwews Foreign Missionary —Suricties in America MStGLOg= sO EO THE WOMEN THAT PUBLISH THE TIDINGS TARE, AWGREALT HOST Metropolitan Opera House Nie vielY, OR KC UT: MARCH TWENTY-SEVENTH NINETEEN HUNDRED AND ELEVEN Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2022 with funding from Columbia University Libraries https://archive.org/details/pageantofmissionOOunse go Rabi Ir; IS REQUESTED. THAT THERE BE NO APPLAUSE {rele Choir of The Musical Art Society Frank Damrosch, Director ADORAMUS TE : i Palestrina TENEBRA FACTA SUNT . Palestrina LO, HOW A ROSE. E’ER BLOOMING . d ; Praetorius ALLA TRINITA BEATA Mediaeval H. ymn PATER NOSTER : ; ‘ Verdi LESOMMEIL DE L’EN- , Old French Christ- FANT JESUS -mas Songs, Ar- CHANSON JOYEUSE ranged by Gevaert STILLE NACHT = Arr. by Frank Damrosch Orchestra of 66 Players Under the direction of David Mannes PROCESSION OF KNIGHTS from OF THE GRAIL **Parsifal’’ CHARM OFGOOD FRIDAY ? Rich. Wagner Pageant BACH TRUMPET CALL PROCESSION OF PILGRIMS PROLOGUE Pilurims of the Night The Pageant opens with a processional of women of all nations who one hundred years ago had not heard the first note of the song of redemption and release for the souls of women. Women of China, with bound feet; little wives and widows of India; black-veiled Mos- lem women; Buddhists from Burmah and Siam ; Japanese women, Turkish, Korean, and Afri- ean; all march steadily on with no hope or light, no goal on earth or in Heaven. Silently, sadly, with no sound of music, they plod wearily on their way, a suggestion of the mil- lions who even yet, after twenty centuries, are untouched by the light and hope of Jesus. None of the Oriental faiths offer hope or com- fort for woman. She is a mindless, soulless creature, incapable of education, a victim of the worst forms of religions which heap their heaviest burdens on women. Now Come the Angelic Geralds of the Damn The choir sings the hymn which is the in- spiration of this first scene, “HARK! HARK, MY SOUL, ANGELIC SONGS ARE SWELLING ”’ The Pilgrims pause to lsten, and as the angels draw near they lift their heads and, with - new life, follow these Messengers of Peace. Orchestra AVE VERUM : . ; . Mozart LARGO : , ; . . Handel SCENE I Beginnings in the West A parlor with rugs and furnishings of one hundred years ago. ‘The hostess, Mrs. Ropes, of Brookline, whose story is told in the first chapter of ‘‘ Western Women in Eastern * sits at a table on which stands a little ands: Japanese basket. She is expecting friends to tea, and as ladies in old-fashioned garb appear, she welcomes them and later tells the story of the basket, which was brought home by a sea- captain whose ship had touched at Japan. The description of these remarkable people, with no knowledge of Christ, touched the hearts of the women. They proposed to take a collection, then and there, and when the country should be opened, later, in answer to their prayers, the money would be ready to begin missionary work for the Japanese. This was in 1829, twenty-five years before Perry’s fleet sailed into the harbor at Yeddo. They contributed six hundred dollars in later meetings, and when it was finally used by the American Board it amounted to four thou- sand one hundred and four dollars. After singing ‘*O God, our help in ages past,’’ the scene closes. Chorus and Audience Sing “THE SON OF GOD GOES FORTH TO WAR” SCENE II Beyinnings in the East This scene represents a market place in a village in India. Devout women worshippers pray in the midst of a busy crowd, where some are buying at the bazaar, others drawing water at the well. The beggar, who is a widow, is avoided by all as a cursed being, though the women gave alms in order to gain holiness. A child wife of high caste and gorgeously dressed, comes with her mother to worship, and later with her Bible women and a group of school girls we see achild widow. The missionary talk to the women, who steal up, frightened Or and shy, but deeply interested in the strange newcomers. She tells her story with many in- terruptions and ignorant questions, so well known to all missionaries. The Bible women, assisted by the school girls, sing a native hymn and pass on to other villages. In the bazars, the street sellers continue their daily routine, paying little attention to messenger or mes- sage. Now and then one pauses to listen to the music. The high caste women are shut in and must be visited in their homes. Chorus and Audience Sing **HARK, THE SOUND OF HOLY VOICES ”’ SCENE III A Dispensary in China Here are seen the usual throng coming for dispensary treatment. Besides the doctor, nurses and Bible women are the sick people and their friends. "Two Chinese ladies come to have their feet unbound. . A group of blind people follow a leader who can see a little. Notwithstanding careful directions, the pa- tients persist in doing absurd things; swallow- ing the entire contents of the medicine bottle in hope of speedy cure, passing it about to friends, removing their bandages as soon as they are out of sight. Superstition and igno- rance lead to frightful abuses. One physician to a million people with poorly equipped hos- pitals, does not prove adequate for reaching the masses in India and China. ‘The Bible women talk with them of the Great Physician: and Healer of Sin. Chorus and Audience Sing **O JESUS, THOU ART STANDING ” Orchestra LEONORE OVERTURE No. 3 Beethoven SCENE IV Japanese Hindergarten Like butterflies, these happy children of Japan, in their gay kimonos, flit through their greetings and motion songs. They form a _ bright spot against the dark background of ignorance and heathenism. ‘The kindergarten appeals with great force to the Japanese, who » are devoted child lovers. They demand the best in everything, and will not be content with anything not the best in religion. Have we Christians any doubt as to what is the best? The schools for girls lead up from kindergarten to college. The present opportunity to help in forming the best ideals is limitless. Yet, it is impossible to find college women to fill posi- tions in mission schools. Chorus Sing **I THINK WHEN I READ THAT SWEET STORY OF OLD ’”’ Chorus and Audience Sing ** JESUS MEEK AND GENTLE”’ SCENE V Che New Woman of the Gurkish Empire With the fall of the Sultan and the estab- lishment of the new government, came larger opportunities for women, bringing develop- ment of body, soul and mind. We see in the darkness of the harem life, the vanity, empti- ness, and uselessness of the old order. Strongly contrasted with this, there is shown in the second scene, the fuller life made possible by Christian Education. ‘The signifi- cance of the Commencement exercises of the American College for Girls in Constantinople is emphasized by the display of the school motto, ‘* The Lord is my Light. ”’ Chorus and Audience Sing ‘*O ZION, HASTE, THY MISSION HIGH FULFILLING ”’ SCENE VI @Out of Darkest Africa The scene is the contrast between the old Africa, still by far the greater part, with the new Africa, with its schools, churches and in- dustries, of which those given are quite typ- ical. In this village school, the girls are re- ceiving instruction in sewing and various kinds of industrial work. Savage chiefs who have brought their daughters to see the school peer through the palms. ‘They are persuaded by the missionaries to have their girls educated. (Those taking part in this scene are from the Howard Colored Orphan Asylum of Brooklyn) All Sing ‘TEN THOUSAND TIMES TEN THOUSAND?’ “RISE CROWNED WITH LIGHT ”’ Mr. Richard Henry Warren will direct chorus and orchestra during the singing of the hymns. & och 7 7. ; * - 7 SO ee es yet hy : se : - 7 + ~ ‘f : ’ 7 4 . —- ’ ' P r , 7 - ia 7 - ; . ¥ cate * ws _— oe iad = ae F = e i 7 at ’ = 2, *. e ie nt 2