Why art thou cast down, O my soul? O my God, my soul is cast down within me: Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterfalls: All thy waves and thy billows are gone over me. Yet Jehovah will command his lovingkindness in the daytime; And in the night his song shall be with me, Even a prayer unto the God of my life. I will say unto God my rock, Why hast thou forgotten me? Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God; for I shall yet praise him, Who is the help of my countenance, and my God. Judge me, O God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation: O deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man. For thou art the God of my strength; why hast thou cast me off? Why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy? Oh send out thy light and thy truth; let them lead me: Let them bring me unto thy holy hill, And to thy tabernacles. Then will I go unto the altar of God, Unto God my exceeding joy; And upon the harp will I praise thee, O God, my God. Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God; for I shall yet praise him, Who is the help of my countenance, and my God. READER (behind scene): When the last confident tones had died away there was silence on the hilltop for a time. The sunset glow "The help of my countenance I thank thee, sweet singer, for thine own confiding trust whic made it possible for God to send that song to thee. And I thank thee, O thou God of our fathers, that thou has revealed unto us in exile this wonderful truth, that even here w may find and worship thee, and that, hoping in thee, we believ thou wilt some day lead us "Unto thy holy hill In gladness and joy With the multitude keeping holy day. Amen." X MISSIONARY MATERIAL 1. THE CHALLENGE OF THE VOICE STEWARDSHIP IN PAGEANTRY Solo, or Quartet, illustrated by pantomime by five girls, in white costumes. FROM AGE TO AGE THEY GATHER (By F. L. Hosmer, tune, “ Battle Hymn of the Republic.") From age to age they gather, all the brave of heart and strong, In the strife of truth with error, of the right against the wrong; I can see their gleaming banner, I can hear their triumph song, The truth is marching on! REFRAIN . 1 3 The truth is marching on. 4 "In this sign we conquer"-'tis the symbol of our faith; Made holy by the might of love triumphant over death; "He finds his life who loseth it," 5 forevermore it saith; The right is marching on! "-Refrain. The earth is circling onward out of shadow into light; 8 The stars & keep watch above our way, however dark the night; For every martyr's stripe there glows a bar of morning bright; And Love is marching on!-Refrain. 9 1 Girls enter, Cross-bearer leading, form in semicircle in center of platform, timing march so as to be in position by time stanza is ended. 2 Look upward, expressing joy. Cross-bearer lifts cross high, all gather about it, gazing at it. 4 Lift arms in gesture of triumph. 5 Head and eyes downward. Heads lifted-expression of confidence. Move hands in widening circles. 8 Look up. Hands high above heads, wide apart. stewards of the manifold grace of God. For the overseer must be blameless as God's steward. Render the account of thy stewardship. (Enter, during VOICE, the SPIRIT OF THE DENOMINATION, young woman in white, with blue girdle and scarf, carrying staff as though on pilgrimage. She listens earnestly to the VOICE.) THE SPIRIT OF THE DENOMINATION: I have heard a Voice, a it were the Voice of God, and it bringeth unto me a great challenge "As each hath received a gift "-yea, all that I am, and all that have as the Spirit of the great Denomination of Baptists, have received. Naught is of my own making; it is all from the hand of God, a gift of his wonderful grace. "Ministering it "—ah, that soundeth indeed like unto the word of him who said, "The Son of man came not to be ministered unto but to minister." "As good stewards"-blameless-as God's steward. "Render the account of thy stewardship." I must need remember that all my time, my talents, my money, yea, my very life itself, is mine only as God's steward. Far and wide my Baptist host are scattered, in city and villag and town, throughout a vast continent stretcheth the bands of ou fellowship. I represent millions of Baptists, and the Voice hat] 10 Cross-bearer steps to front, others form V, with cross at apex. Cross high. 11 Arms outstretched to cross. 12 Arms spread out to indicate world. 13 All kneel, arms stretched toward cross. 14 Arms raised, heads thrown back, attitude of prayer. All join in refrain-marchin off as they sing, cross leading. called us stewards. Are we "blameless stewards"? I wonder! How can I be a steward in very truth? Who can help me? (Enter, from left, young woman in long, flowing white gown, carrying a large hour-glass. She represents THE STEWARDSHIP OF TIME.) THE STEWARD OF TIME (to THE SPIRIT OF THE DENOMINATION): The Steward of Time am I— God's generous gift to thee. Thy moments and hours and days, He gives abundant and free. (Holding up hour-glass, watches falling sands in silence a moment.) The sands are steadily falling— Oh, Spirit of Christ's own followers, So use it that light of thy Saviour Then fill all the fleeting moments Like the choirs of heaven above. (Steps to back of platform and remains standing during rest of scene. Enter, from right, young woman in college cap and gown, holding diploma in her hand. She represents THE STEWARDSHIP OF TALENTS.) THE STEWARD OF TALENTS: Oh, Spirit of the Baptists, at the command of the Master of men am I come to thee. I am the Steward of Talents. There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are diversities of ministrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of workings, but the same God, who worketh all things in all, |