{ < i 4 se WT he Triumph of CHRISTIANITY AUG 9 1922 A Play in Three Parts by Florence Walvoord WOMAN’S BOARD OF Svea pate isis tana S Reformed rae ta in Amer 25 East 22nd St. New “Yo rk City ay ¥ a tt Ty ete NR The Triumph of Christianity A PLAY: IN THREE PARTS By FLORENCE WALVOORD BAR DT ScENE—Land-of-the-Heathen. CHARACTERS CHILDHOOD—Small person dressed to represent suffering. WoMANHOoD—Larger person—hands bound with chains and dressed in very sober colors. MANHOoop—Burden on his back. SUPERSTITION FAMINE Any costume thought appropriate—Pesti- PESTILENCE | lence might be bright red or yellow. FALSE WORSHIP DEsPAIR—Woman or man dressed in black (flowing robes if possible). (Manhood, Womanhood and Childhood in the background as if ina half conscious state—Superstition enters) SUPERSTITION—-Who am I but Prince Superstition? Here am I in the Land-of-the-Heathen where I am Lord of all, whether man, woman or child. King am I at the fireside, 3 THE TRIUMPH OF CHRISTIANITY ruler am I in the streets; yea, even to beds of pain I come to assert my authority in hours of agony, and I bring torment until the last breath of life has passed away. Once I held sway over the world, but my enemy, the Prince of Light, has taken many lands from me, but here in the Land-of-the-Heathen, I hold full sway over these (pointing to the three in the background) and their kindred and I shall continue to hold them in my iron grasp if only that _ancient foe, the Prince of Light, comes not. Away with Him from the earth! (Enter Famine) FAMINE—(Looking at the three figures) Ah! here I find some of my subjects. But what are these among so many, for I dwell in the most densely populated districts of the world. In India and China alone do I control one-half of the world’s people. With the aid of my accomplices, Poverty and Ignorance, I hold in a bondage worse than death, millions of human beings. Because of the aid of kind Ignorance they know not how to make the earth yield her increase, and friend Poverty keeps down thousands until I can demonstrate my power and crush out the breath of life. Yea, ye and your kinsmen (looking at group in background) are mine and can be wrested from me by one only, the Spirit of Christianity. Let her be content with those she now controls. (Steps aside a little as Pestilence enters). (Enter Pestilence) PESTILENCE—I, Pestilence, follow at the heels of Igno- rance, Superstition, Poverty and Famine. Since they dwell in the Land-of-the-Heathen, so must I. My chief delight is 4 THE TRIUMPH OF CHRISTIANITY in visiting the crowded cities with no knowledge of sani- tation, and spreading my disease-bringing fingers over them. Then I show my power, and many such as these (pointing at group) wither at my touch. Those at the evening of life drop off, those who are still living at high noon droop and fade and even the opening bud of childhood is powerless against me. Ah! what brings greater satisfaction than to show that one is powerful even over the life of man. (Steps aside a little as False Worship enters). (Enter False Worship) FALSE WorSHIP—Some call me Buddhism, some Con- fucianism, some Shintoism, some Mohammedanism. /Yea, my names are many. But those to whom Christ is known know me by the name False Worship. Some of these hate me with a bitter hatred, but thanks be to some that call themselves Christians I can rule for many ages to come in the Land-of-the-Heathen. Here I am safe because of thy help, O Prince Superstition, and the help of thy friend, Ignorance. Through thee millions acknowledge me as their king and lord. Through thee men bow down to wood and stone and live in mortal fear and agony of the world of Evil Spirits. Oh, yes, power have I over body and better than that, over soul. Yea, the souls of many are bound as with a chain which One alone can break. That One has given the privilege to those whose chains he has broken to help break those of others, but thanks be to the Spirit of Indifference many of them have fallen asleep at the task. Let them remain in that self-satisfied state; let them content themselves with their own freedom from bondage; let them leave prayer unused; let them satisfy themselves with get- ting wealth wherewith to get greater comforts. Then shall has) THE TRIUMPH OF CHRISTIANITY I not only hold unlimited sway of these in the Land-of-the- Heathen but I may even win those praylerless, money-crav- ing hearts for myself. Ah! no, the king, False Worship, is not dead. (Enter Despair) DESPAIR—Most of my subjects are found in the Land-of- the-Heathen. My favorite place is in the heart. When my aids, Superstition, Famine, Ignorance, Poverty, Pestilence and especially False Worship, have done their best, there is “no room in the heart for Hope, but I delight in that kind of an environment. There is food for me and I grow and increase. So much do I grow that often I take entire pos- session of the darkened heart. (Superstition, Famine, Pestilence, False Worship and De- spair recede to the background as Childhood arises.) CHILDHOOD—I am hungry and sick. I don’t know what’s the matter. And in my heart there’s a longing for some- thing, but I don’t even know what it is. I am afraid the evil spirits will get me and that the gods are angry with me. They tell me that in the Land-of-Christianity when children are hungry some one feeds them; when they are sick some kind person gives them something that cures them; and that someone they call Jesus loves them; that they are not afraid of their God; that children laugh and sing all day long. They say that’s because Jesus lives there. Couldn’t he live here? Do the children there know that there are many here who are not as happy as they? I wonder, if some of them came here, whether Jesus wouldn’t live here too. Oh! I am so tired and hungry and sick. I wish Jesus lived here too. THE TRIUMPH OF CHRISTIANITY MANHOop—(arises) This burden on my back is very heavy, but there is something that seems heavier. Where can I get rid of it? Is there no power that can take it from me? Why do the gods bring us upon this earth? It it to be tormented and tortured by the evil spirits? Is there no place to which I may turn to get rid of the weight inside of me? Drown it in the depths of the river I cannot, to flee from it is beyond my power. Oh! what can I do? WoMANHOOD—Oh, what a life is mine! Here I am bound. Would that I had never been born a woman! Even the birds of the air and the beasts of the field are free. I have heard of a land where women live happily with their husbands and children, where women and girls are loved. Love! What is Love? I understand it not. Live happily with my husband! Impossible! The only time he speaks to me is when I have done something to offend him and then he snarls at me. Most of the time he is gone with other men. What does he care about me! They say that in that land women appear on the streets with faces unveiled. If any man but my husband should see me, I should bring disgrace upon myself for life. I should rather die than that. And yet women are respected there? Im- possible! But, oh! I am so tired of being bound. Just for a day of freedom. What have I done that the gods treat me worse than my sisters of the West? Won’t someone tell me how to appease the wrath of the gods? Won’t some- one tell me the secret of that wonderful charm? Whence shall my help come? Oh, sister of the West, I beg of you tell me your secret of a happy life. Oh! just for a day of freedom. (Curtain or lights) 7 THE TRIUMPH OF CHRISTIANITY TABLEAU—(representing the power of Superstition, Famine, Pestilence, False Worship and Despair over the heathen). (Manhood, Womanhood and Childhood in the center with heads bowed and evil spirits—Superstition, False Worship, Famine, Pestilence and Despair—grouped about them with hands upon them to show their gripping power). Sonc—(“F'rom Greenland’s Icy Mountains” stanzas 1 and _2 by choir or few individuals seated). PART SCENE—In the Land-of-Christianity. CHARACTERS INDIFFERENCE—Slovenly dressed, even mixture of color, but not colors that clash. Sir on Mapam UNINForMED—Carrying a daily paper—air of self-content. HIDDEN VOICE. MISERLINESS—gripping pocket book carried so that it is readily seen. SELFISHNESS— Well-dressed. ALTRUISM—Carrying basket of food or toys that might be given away. Dressed in some delicate color, preferably not all white. CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR—Dressed in traveling suit of business- like attire. THE TRIUMPH OF CHRISTIANITY SPIRIT OF CHRISTIANITY—Dressed in long white flowing robe, dainty white head-dress or otherwise a crown. She may also carry a staff. FattH—Dressed in white, but with something to make it. distinctly different from the costume of Spirit of Chris- tianity. Carrying a cross. HoreE—White costume—carrying an anchor. LovE—Dressed in blue flowing robe or otherwise like a nurse. On the platform is a chart containing statistics about the situation in the foreign field—e. g. number of people who have not heard the gospel, proportion of doctors to population, cost of sending a missionary. (Enter Indifference) INDIFFERENCE—(reads aloud) Oh, I heard that story be- fore. I saw that in some religious. paper at my neighbor’s home. One day I was waiting for him and saw the paper lying on the table. For want of something better to do I read it. You know my neighbor likes to read about missions. But what do I care about those heathen so far away? I never was interested in them. What are they to me? Most of them are black, or yellow, or brown anyway. (Goes away and Sir Uninformed enters). (Enter Sir Uninformed) Sirk UNINFORMED—/(reads slowly and aloud) That many people without doctors, and so many who are still in dark- ness without the Gospel who never heard the story of Christ? I never heard that before. I wonder what is the matter with 9 THE TRIUMPH OF CHRISTIANITY them? Can’t they read the Bible? Didn’t they have just as goood a chance to hear about Christ as I? Don’t they know that people sometimes are sick? Then why don’t they have doctors? I don’t believe the things that chart says. Somebody told a lie. They’ll have to prove that first before I believe it. HIDDEN VoIcE—Oh, man, thou shouldst have known of _the cause of the Kingdom. Knowest thou not that in thy country ignorance of the law excuseth no one? Neither does ignorance concerning the situation in the spiritual kingdom excuse thee. Thou knowest that thou shouldst have read the reports of the Kingdom as well as of thy state and country. Go to thy home and study concerning the Kingdom of thy God that thou mayst know the world’s need. (Goes out slowly with bowed head as if conscience stricken. (Enter Miserliness) MISERLINESS—(reads also, especially amount of money it takes to support a missionary.) I don’t see why people must always ask for money anyway. It’s give to this and give to that. Recently it was the Liberty Loan, Red Cross, United War Work and such things. Then came a call to help the refugees in Armenia and Syria and I just heard they want some more now. And here and other places I see that they are asking more for missions than ever be- fore. I’m tired of giving. I’d like to know what right they have to ask for my money? Isn’t it mine? Didn’t I work for it? Can’t I do with it what I please? I’m tired of being asked for money. (Goes out disgusted, almost stamping). 10 THE TRIUMPH OF CHRISTIANITY HIDDEN VoiIceE—Dost thou think that thou canst take thy silver and thy gold with thee into the world beyond? Dost thou not know that thy silver and gold perish with thee? And if thou hast worked for it, has not thy God blessed thy efforts? Was it not in His power to take it from thee? Dost thou not know that to thee has been given the great privilege to work with thy God through thy money? Dost thou owe Him nothing as a thank-offering for thy salvation? (Enter Selfishness) SELFISHNESS—(reads and is impressed) So many without doctors! How awful disease must be! So many souls perish- ing without Christ! Oh! those thoughts are too awful. I do not want to think about them. I am so happy in my home. I can’t spoil my happiness by being haunted by the needs of others. Some way or other the heathen must take care of themselves. I must get away from this thought, or it will haunt me in my dreams to-night. Besides, what are those black and yellow people to me anyway? I care more about the people here. Those over there are such thankless creatures. They’ll never know anyway that I helped them. I want to work where I am appreciated. (Hurries away). HIDDEN VOICcCE—How long will love of self and ease live in the world! Woman, where wouldst thou and thine have been if no one had taken more thought for thee than thou dost of thy brethren across the seas? (Enter Altruism) ALTRUISM—For years I have been working among the poor and unfortunate of our own land. Here, and in other places, I find that my brothers and sisters of the black and 11 THE TRIUMPH OF CHRISTIANITY yellow skin are still more in need. I must do something to help them too. What would the people in this country be if it were not for the Gospel and the civilization which it brings? I’ll give my money, I’ll give my time, yea, anything to help them. (Christian Endeavor enters and Altruism calls her attention to the chart). See! Christian Endeavor, our brothers and sisters are calling for help. Can you - suggest any way in which we can bring it to them? CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR—Dear Altruism, the Church and I, her helper, make it our business, too, to help those in need. We have found that by sending the Spirit of Christianity we can do the most good. Why not send her with her hand- maidens, Faith, Hope and Love? We can see that she is supplied with all the things needed to work with. That will be our little part, for you know she never goes unless people will do something to send her. So the Divine Ruler has decreed. Here comes the Spirit of Christianity now. (Christianity enters with handmaidens). Oh, Spirit of Christianity, over there in the Land-of-the-Heathen there are many whose need you alone can supply. Won’t you let us send you and your handmaidens? We have plenty, they are in want; we are happy, they are in despair; we know the true God, they bow down to wood and stone. Oh! you who have brought life and happiness to us, won’t you let us send you to them with your healing power over body and soul? CHRISTIANITY—My handmaidens and I are anxious to go to those waiting harvest fields. We should have gone long ago but there was no one to send us. Blessed are men when they know God, but thrice blessed are they if they are anx- ious to make Him known to those who know Him not. In- deed, I say it is doubtful if they know God if they do not 12 THE TRIUMPH OF CHRISTIANITY tell the story to others. But the Kingdom requires haste. There is no time for delay. The harvest fields are white. Let us go. (Curtain or lights.) . Sonc—(“Speed away, Speed away.’ By choir or quartette.) PART III. ScENE—In the Land-of-the-Heathen. CHARACTERS Manhood, Womanhood, Childhood, Superstition, Famine, Pestilence, False Worship, Despair, Spirit of Christianity, Faith, Hope and Love. Attired the same as in Parts I and Il. Opening scene the same as the tableau at end of Part I. Spirit of Christianity appears with her handmaidens. She sends Love first. (Enter Love) LovE—(touching Childhood) Child, you are in pain. What is the matter? (Child starts at sympathetic touch) Ah! yes, I see you are underfed and sick and that your arm has been hurt. Won’t you let me help you? (Childhood stares in wonderment and fear as she binds up the wound. Love soliloquizes as she works) Poor Childhood in the Land- of-the-Heathen. It shrinks at the kind word and sympathetic touch. So foreign is Love, all because the Christ-Child has not come. It must be given food and nursed back to health, and the story of Jesus, which it longs for, must be told to 13 THE TRIUMPH OF CHRISTIANITY man, woman and child. Then will Childhood in the Land- of-the-Heathen be joyous and happy as it is in the Land-of- Christianity. (Speaks to Child) Do you know that Jesus loves you? CHILDHoopD—(In bewilderment)—Loves? Love—Yes, He loves you and wants to live with you and _make you happy like the children living in the Land-of-Chris- tianity. (Love leaves Childhood with a joyous expression on the face. She touches Manhood and Womanhood also. Despair loses grip, Pestilence recedes a little. The Spirit of Christianity steps forward with Faith and Hope. Love steps back a little.) MANHOoOopD—Who are these that are coming? SPIRIT OF CHRISTIANITY—I am the Spirit of Christianity and these are my handmaidens, Faith and Hope. I have already sent Love. We all have come to help you. We have been sent by your brothers and sisters in the Land-of-Chris- tianity. Their burdens have fallen and they desire the same for you. FattH—Oh, Manhood, Womanhood and Childhood in the Land-of-the-Heathen, I bring you a gladsome message. I bring you the story of One who will take away all the burdens from your heart and will help you to bear all others. You have long groped about in darkness and sin. You have found that the gods you worship cannot take away your burdens. The burden that weighs upon you is the burden of sin and only Jesus Christ can save you from it. ‘God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” Do you hear that message? God is not a God of anger. He is a God of love. You need not bring Him costly offerings to appease His wrath. All He asks 14 THE TRIUMPH OF CHRISTIANITY is that you believe in Him. Your gods do not love you, Christ does; your gods cannot give you freedom, Christ can. Re- ceive The Christ. Let Him dwell with you and let Him give freedom that cannot be taken away, joy that knows no ending, and peace that passeth understanding. MANHOOD, WOMANHOOD AND CHILDHOOD—(prayerfully) Oh, Lord, I believe. Help Thou my unbelief. (False Worship departs with Superstition; Despair recedes) Hopr—I, too, have come to aid. I bring you the same message as Faith. But that you may be happier I shall give you schools that you may learn how to drive away Pestilence and Poverty, how you may drive away Famine by making the earth to yield her increase. But better still, through these schools you may learn more about the Christ and how to bring Him and His story to those who have it not. The God you have just accepted depends upon you to bring the Gospel to most of your countrymen. (Famine and Pestilence recede. Despair departs. Manhood, Womanhood and Childhood draw nearer the Spirit of Christianity ) MaNHoop—O blessed Spirit of Christianity, O blessed Hope and Faith and Love! The burden on my heart is gone and the burden on my back is lighter. The promise is true. Now we know that Love comes from The Christ alone. Without Him Love cannot be; neither can there be Faith and Hope. Thanks be to Thee, O Spirit of Christianity, to those who made it possible for thee to come and to the God who sent thee. Praise shall ever be on our lips. But one 15 THE TRIUMPH OF CHRISTIANITY request I have, speed thy message to the ends of the earth ere it is too late. WoMANHOOD,—(Joyfully) At last, I am free. Oh, to think that I shall never be bound again! I, too, must tell the good news to the rest of my sisters. I must go at once before they perish. CHILDHOopD—I was hungry and ye fed me, sick and ye came unto me. Ye taught me what love is. I, too, feel the love of Jesus in my heart. No longer am I afraid of evil spirits. God is a God of love. I know it better than tongue can tell. Now I, too, shall laugh and sing from morn to eve. (Curtain or lights) TABLEAU—Triumph of Christianity. Spirit of Christianity standing on some elevation. Faith, holding aloft the cross, Hope holding up the anchor, and Love, all grouped just below the Spirit of Christianity. Manhood, Womanhood and Childhood kneeling before them. Sonc— (“Now Be the Gospel Banner”, or any other song that has a strong triwmphant note.) Woman’s Board of Foreign Missions Reformed Church in America 25 East 22d St., New York, N. Y. 16