THE CHURCH PAGEANT.

Otago Witness, Issue 2892, 11 August 1909, Page 82

THE CHURCH PAGEANT.

By E. P. Prextts.

11. One -of the features of the church opagea/nt that thrusts itself prominently > forward v; the breadth of the conception. The next, the magnificent field the church affords not only for the exercise of the art of pageantry, but for the wielder of the brush and the writer of legends and song. In all work where there is a. vast amount of material selection is " difficult. Here it must have been unusually so, for the history of a thousand years has been compressed into 10 brief scenes. The prelude symbolises the most important events since Christianity was first brought to Britain, the finale rounds off and connects the whole by the introduction of such modern figures as the Wesleys and the founders of those great societies which have helped to spread the knowledge of Christianity throughout the world. The end of the finale is worthy of the rest — the multitude, audience and performers united, sing that grand profession of faith, the Nicene CFeed. The first symbolic scene introduces seven figures, St. George and the six founder saints — St. Alban, "the first of England's martyrs, a.lone remembered out of hosts" ; St. Ninian, St. David, St. Patrick, and St. German, who went "from Gaul in time of need o succour Britain," and I, _a sole representative of the women who have dared and suffered for Christianity. As their brief speeches and the music of the choir swells Out : [ Praise Him. a.il ye nations. . . Prait-8 the Lord. G-lory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. Then the pageant began in earnest with the dramatising of the publication in Britain of the Edict of Constant kie. In the foreground stands a small Roman Church. A motley crowd are round it, some talking and laughing in groups, fome in the porch or entering and emerging from the church. All are in the costumes of the day, the women in long trailing 6kirts and quaint headdre.*s.ss, the men in smock-like frocks to the knee, with sandals bound to their bare feet by Changs. Suddenly, to a blare of trumpets, a civic procession appears. The citizens throng around, while the bishop comes from the church to learn the news they bring. At this moment a second procession appears from the opposite direction. In the middle of it is a chariot, Hearing two envoys, who display I the precious edict to the duumvirs, senai tors, and biehop before hastening on to Bafiilica for the formal promulgation. The joy of the Christian finds expression in the singing of the Te Deuzn. The second so&ne is in direct contrast, as it shows war, not peace, a<nd is therefore more dramatic. From the dim distance of the misty baekbround across the vast natural "stage" where the green trees merge into the sky a procession appears marching to the grand chant of the Nunc Dimittis. It is headed by Germanusand Lupus, two Gallic bishops who have been preaching the doctrine of original sin. A rumour is rife that an army of Scots and Saxons is about to attack them, so, in preparation, a great baptismal service has beprs held, and many of those now thronging around the bishops wear the white robes. One fearful Briton voices the fears of all i as he faces the leaders, asking : . . what 'tis we needs must do? Fcr naught ha,ve we to give us strength, saving the ca.!m that comes ■from faith m God. Y«t life is sweet, and dear <mr wives and little ones. Germanus bids them have faith and courage, and reminds them of how the glory of God was revealed of yore when he "gave a sign to His chosen people" : they ••shouted a shout, and down a city fell!" Qiiickly the plans are laid, the Britons di=t>er.«e and hide among the trees, while the bishops remain alone, kneeling, in the grrat space. Then up eweep the enemy, their poised, their bodies sheltered behind rude shields. Suddenly Germanus springs to his feet and, holding the cross aloft, shouts " Alleluya !" The mystic word i? ca\ight up by the concealed converts, who chant it thrice in succession with growing confidence, as they note the perturbation of the enemy, who, unable to locate the voices or understand the word, finally retreat in disorder, leaving the bishops serenely confidant in the divine power. Before the echo of the triumphant Gloria Patri has died away a little Pict village is in the course of construction. Queer bee-hive-like huts rise, fires are lighted, and pots slung: on tripods. In one of these twt Druids are brewing a concoction of herbs. The busy life of the village goes on until all work it* flung aside as distant singing founds clearer and a procession of monks ie, seen advancing, headed by a boy carrying a cross. It i« Co4umha. bringing the faith from Erin, and the Druids engage in eager controversy with him. "(Jet you hence!"' they cry. but without ava.il. and the scsne ends ■when Columba exclaim- that Riches are pen«h?ble things. And yet even thc>e \e grudge to those who ask! Our knowledge is o' Ihing3 that shall endure. Therefore we shall see this cross, the sjmlo! of our faith, Which here is set in sign of victory. Stand firm in every corner of your land, Breathing goodwill "and pea<:e, when all your skill And power shall be a. half forgotten tale For men to smile at, doubting! " Come, my brothers," he cries passionately to the monks as the vanquished Druids go slowly off and the Picts gather wonderingly about the little band : Mark out the limits of our dwelling place, A cross at every corner for a sign, That here we shall not cease, until the earth Is with the knowledge of the I/ord filled full. As -with its waters is the encircling sea. The obedient monks range themselves at the four cornei.- of the boundary site, e»teh t<roun holding a cro *•>.». while Columba, a coiifjaeiinp %r.i- ■ in the centre, lift* up

his voice in that ancient Irish melody, the; Loricar I bind unto myself to-day the strong n«Aei -of th« Trinity. Another scene of much the same character, though with a veiy different setting, is the coming of St. Augustine. Here is a court in place of a village, a king on his throne instead of white-robed Druids. And around the central figures of Etihelbert, Queen Bertha, and the saint all the pageantry of a Court — the gold and purple and scarlet of royal attire, white horses, gorgeous in their trappings. The sombre black robes of the little group of monks seem the more conspicuous among the brilliancy of the courtiers. The bewilderment and doubt of the King are well expressed) in his dramatically-deli-vered speech to St. Augustine : — Thy words are fair, and far thy men have come To bring us tidings that ye think are true ; But they are doubtful, difficult, unproved. A God who came in fashion of a thrall! A God who would not fight — and suffered tin us. [He breaks oS to gaze at the crucifix held aloft.] Our Gods are warriors ! However, he bids them go where they will, promises shelter, protection, aud freedom to speak to any man. To earl or t.brurl, -Roman ox little child, About these matters. Free are ye, free, too, Our folk of Kent, for they ate Englishmen, Not to be forced l , but ready to be fair. This came spirit of iairness is seen again later, when monks and canons dispute before the King as to whether the rigid rule of the Benedictines shall be reintroduced into England. The canons persisted that it was permissible to marry and hold 1 private property, while Athelwold, Bishop of Winchester, champion of the monks, has other views, and cries out that the sacred lamp is burning dimly in the land, that the old vows are being broken : Cancoi3 . . . live ■with wife and child en wealth whicb is not theirs, but vowej to Gcd alone. The King then bids the canons make their answer, though the Queen steps forward to plead for them, picturing well the misery of those who, returning to monastic cells, leave their loved ones to face a difficult life alone. "Leave all and follow Christ J" chants a stern voice, and a woman's shrill cry of despair rings out as a man steps forward, takes the proffered black robes of denial, and joins the sombre little, band to the right of the thronging group of gorgeous courtiers who surge around the King with his attendant semi-circle of mounted men. "He is God's — not woman's. Back!" And the distracted creature is forced away from the tortured band. "My child is motherless/ cries another, confronted by tihe bitter choice. "God — or the world?" He chooses sanctity, and the frantic child is gathered into the arms of the pitiful Queen. So on they come, these varying scenes. A thousand years pass before in quick succession until the brain is satiated and the eyce weary. Sometimes abuses are shown, or the poor of the land are seen clamouring around the King's table, but always the triumph of righteous feeling. And as the day passes, French, English, Latin and Welsh are declaimed with equal ease. But it is in the gorgeous scenes that the pageant is at its best. For instance (in the first part), the sacring of William the Conqueror and the forcing of the Magna Charta from the unwilling handa of John. No nobles and ecclesiastics, and knights in chain armour jostle others in brasj helmets and fantastic clothing around some central figure, perhaps Wyclitfe at St. Paul's, Latiirer preaching at the Cross or, perchance, the player?' oxdiawn cart, in which the old-world mystery play is given. A tiling symbolic in its way, and yet so crude! It shows the Virgin Mary in purple and red robes, looking as if she had stenped from «oras mediaeval stain&d-qlass window, standing before a straw-filled box, over which a scarf is carefully thrown, while up the rickety step? of the little caravan go the shepherds to pay 'honour to the new king. A white-robed angel with gilt wings acts as master of the ceremonies. In the second part the proeascnonings Ptaud forth as the most memorable, or those scenets in which th>» greatest number take part. Here i^ jrenuine pageantry, for instance. «h*n a bishop conies forth U refound King's College (Cambridge), and thousands kn^el a^ he utters -the s-olemn words. The fragrance of inrense_i- heavy in the air, and the faint smoke of it pscendis above the glittering mitre.-, of the church dignitiries. the doth of of the nobles, and the white iob&= of the choristers. A.~* night falK the effect inei eases, for torch-bcirer.- stretch away au!os« the lawns, an-d cio>s<e < - p am in the limelight, with a v eiid background of shadowy trees and dim turret.. 1 -. And .still the 21 eat concept-ion is unfolded. . . . Whiteclad nun.s are ?een driven forth from their refuse. ATchbi.-hop Laud on hip way to the scaffold, and turmoil and i-tiife break loose ae> the seven bishop-- are brought to tiial. Then came the two great processions! The imprepsiventss of the funeral of Henry V and the p:lory of the coronation of Edward VI, when knights in chain armour jostle tlie motley populace, and beef-eaters make way for queens, and ecclesiastics bear high their crosse.-. and men-at-arms the brilliant bannsri Trumpets blare out to drown the chorus, to he again lost in the wild peal of joy-bells. The great area is massed with the thousands who have given of their leisure that Church history may be made vivid by illustration. This is pageantry in very truth. It is supreme in the finales, when group after group, purple and yellow and gold and crimson, children in green and blue and white, with the *-<"ir!et cro«s of St. George marking ihe full length of their

little frocks, and band after band of monks and nuns, marched amid the knights and citizens around the symbolic ship, with the red cross emblazoned on its sails, and the banners of the primates at the bows and in the stem. In the centre of this ship stands the martial figure of St. George in full armour, a drawn sword in his right hand, and the left controlling the tiller. He looks backward in sign that while the Church goes onward ever, she can look behind her across glorious centuries of achievement. Round her are the whole 5000 participants, and everywhere is there gorgeous colour, shining arms and gleaming gold. Incense-bearers swing their lamps to the 'ntoning of sonorous Latin and the blare of trumpets, which accord well with the past, made vivid by the multitude. Suddenly a dim jangle of bells brings back the twentieth century with a Tvsh — it is not real ! it is a pageant ! Those are the bells of electric cars. As quickly the thought passes, for the end' has come. Ancient and modern merge in a great song : Oh, God, out help in ages past! Then one grand. " AMEN 1"