Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-03-16

was presenteu 70 an Aumlrlng auoleHCc'
The II tribes paraded to the tunes Of
Marching Through Georgia" and "God
Save the Queen" The pastor says the
performance is all right and will be re-
peated next year.
JERSEY CITY, March 15-The last per-
formance of the Grand Scripture Carnival
for the benefit OF the salary Of the Rev. Jor-
dan Christmas, of Bethel African Methodist
Episcopal Church, in this city, was given
in Excelsior Hall, in Communipaw avenue,
tonight At the first performance the
children of the IL tribes of Israel had q
broom drill; the second night the camp OF
the Israelites in the wilderness was dis
played. In the hall last night the II tents
OF the IL tribes were set, and ladies who rep
resented Israelites sat in them. Father
Abraham, Mother Sarah, and little Isaac
sat in a tent in the rear of the hall.
At the other end was the altar on which
Isaac was to be slain. A drum corps from
the Bethel Sunday school was stationed at
the street door 10 attract the people, and
brass band was seated between the tents of
the tribe of Reuben and the tribe of Levi.
By $50 o'clock a hundred persons were
present, and the Rev. Mr. Christmas rang a
bell and said the performance would begin.
7 The center of the hall was cleared.
THE TWELVE TRIBES.
The twelve tribes filed out of their tents
and, headed by Father Abraham, Mother
Sarah and Isaac, who carried an armful of
kindling wood, they marched around the
hall while the German band played March
ing Through Georgia." They had marched
around three times when Mr.. Christmas
rang the bell again, and there was halt
Mrs Christmas, who represented the tribe
of Zebulon, carrying baby in her arms,
| Joined the ranks. Mr.. Christmas said:
''The occasion is q aolemn one, children.
We are here to offer little Isaac as a sacri-
fee. We are going to see the Lord hold
Abraham's hand and then see the Lamb Of
fered. Then we shall do as the Bible di-
rects, and will sit down and, with our hats
and coats on, eat that lamb even as they did.
Tomorrow night we will have another
whatis-it here. don't know what you will
call it. 1t is Solomon's temple, in all its
glory, with his wives and the Queen of
Sheba. 1t will be covered with gold.
don't know what it will be. am going to
make the temple tomorrow, and will cover
it with gold, and Solomon will sit at this
end and the Queen of Sheba at that, and the
Queen will visit Solomon, and it will cost
you 15 cents to see it and get cup of tea or
coffee. Come one, come all l?'
The II tribes stood still while Mr.. Christ
mas was speaking. Little Isaac looked tired
and dropped piece OF wood. Forward,
march to the sacrifice, said Mr.. Christmas,
and the tribes started. Mr.. Samuel Kellogg,
who owns barber shop, stood behind
Abraham's tent with his hand on a stop
cock to turn off the gas
LIGHTS TURNED DOWN.
At signal from Mr.. Christmas he turned
down the gas. The 12 tribes crowded
around the altar and Father Abraham took
the wood from Isaac's arms and laid it on
the other. Isaac, who was in night dress,
climbed up on the altar himself and lay
down. The audience was on the tiptoe of
expectancy, and Mr.. Christmas had to say:
''Children, keep quiet or you can't hear
what 1 say behind the altar" Then there
was silence again. Abraham's hand was
raised. He held very large butcher knife
directly over Isaac's heart Mother Sarah
turned trife pale and looked nervous.
Just then pile of blue powder was set
on fire in corner, and the light threw a
halo around the altar. Abraham still held
the knife. The silence was intense. Sud-
denly it was broken by Mr.. Christmas, who
was behind q curtain:
"Abrahaml Abraham! Stay thy hand"
he said.
Then turning to Mr.. Kellogg he directed
him to turn down the lights.
Mr.. Kellogg had been so much interested
in the dramatic scene that his hand had
slipped and the gas had suddenly Lit up the
room. The lights went down again at once,
and the voice of Mr.. Christmas was again
heard, together with shufling sound on
the floor.
'"Turn and see what the Lord has pro-
vided." Mr.. Christmas then gave the order,
"Let go the lights, Mr.. Kellogg" The
lights sprang up. The blue fire died out,
and little Isaac climbed down from the
altar. Abraham laid down his knife and
turned around. In front of him on table
he saw roasted lamb and a box of bread.
A LITTLE SPEECH.
The II tribes looked on in wonder
and then began singing, "See the Bride
Save the Queen" Mr.. Christmas rang a
bell and all the tribes sat down on the floor,
while Abraham carved the lamb with the
butcher knife which he had prepared for
Isaac and began making sandwiches The
tribes were first fed, and then the audience,
Mr.. Christmas stamped his foot for order
and said:
Brethren and sisters, this may be my
last pastoral year here, as we'll as my first;
but this is the first time since our ancestors
died, the first time in the history of the
world, that any attempt has been made to
show the people how things were done 1889
years ago and more. This is the first and
only true representation of the sacrifice of
Isaac ever given, and it is all my own. No
matter whether Mr.. Christmas or Mr.
Thanksgiving or Mr.. New Year or Mr..
Fourth of July is your pastor, don't
neglect to give this entertainment
every year for the benefit of the
pastors salary. Right here in this same
hall, too. We don't care what people say.
This entertainment is not saerilegious It
is for good cause, and now, before 1 stop
talking. want to tell you that if you want
to see Solomon in gold palace in all his
glory come here tomorrow night. There
will, be ice cream and coffee, all for Is
cents"
The entertainment was closed by the
singing of the Doxology by the II tribes
led by Abraham. Isaac had gone to sleep
by this time, and Sarah carried him home.
THE PRII0E BIakely Hall in to