The theocrat. [volume] (Zion City [i.e. Zion], Ill.) 1914-1949, 1919-06-21

The wonderful Pageant given by the Zion
Educational Institutions in Shiloh Taber
nacle, on last Thursday evening, June II,
at the General Closing Exercises of Zion
Schools, was typical of the fact that God
has had people in all periods of the worlds
history who stood fearlessly for His pre-
cepts with singleness of purpose which
nothing could sway and Whom He led and
preserved in marvellous ways through the
instrumentality of a chosen leader.
Noah, with a clear vision of the approach
ing cataclysm, prepared the Ark of Safety
while some jeered and others pursued their
daily tasks, utterly obliYious of the times in
which they were living.
Abraham, at the age of ninety-nine re-
ceived the covenant of promise with the pro-
vision that he walk perfectly before God.
Jacob received the promise in dream
that his seed should be as the dust of the
EARTH that his offspring should spread
abroad to the West and to the East, to the
North and to the South, and through him
should all the families of the earth be
blessed.
Joseph was preserved when sold into
Egypt the Angel of the Lord appeared unto
Moses in the burning bush; Joshua was
chosen as the leader of Israel.
Through all the days of the judges and
kings, God had His prophets and servants,
although few in number at times who
refused to defle themselves and go after
other gods.
Later, in the days of captivity, Daniel
and the three Hebrew captives were deliver
ed, Nehemiah rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem,
and Esther saved her people from exterm1r-
alton.
AS foretold in prophecy, centuries before
Christ was born into the world as the De
liverer of His people, was rejected and
crucihed
lust before the destruction of Jerusalem,
in 20 AID, the Christians escaped to the lit
tie city of Pella.
AS the End of the Age approached, Zion
came upon the panorama of the centuries
under the leadership of a man who fearless
" proclaimed his message in the spirit and
power of Elijah, presaging the Second Com
ing of Christ, much as John the Baptist cried
in the wilderness in preparation for His
First Coming.
In the same year in which Zion was or
oanized in Chicago, the Jewish Zionist
movement for the retaining of Palestine
and the rebuilding of the Temple at Jeru-
salem was formed-two events, the s1gnl-
ficance of which the world fails to grasp.
The symbolic pageant on last Thursday
night was of great educational value in the
study of the Scriptures, not only to the aud
ience but to the children taking part-nearly
1000 in number 1t gave a vivid impression
of the biblical events portrayed, which never
can be erased.
AS Vice President Darnns expressed it in
a few remarks at the close, the Bible is the
most interesting book of all, the most need
ed book for those confronted with great
world problems and the most cherished for
the instruction of children.
He added: "The evidence of this has been
given tonight by this historical development
of Israel and the Church by the children OF
Zion Schools. This has been made possible
because the Bible has been given its proper
place in the school curriculum and the teach
ers and children have manifested great in
terest in rendering the sacred events de-
picted."
Every part of the program was original,
being composed and arranged by the prin-
cipal and various teachers. 1t was found,
after considerable investigation, that no ex-
ercises used in schools and colleges else
where would be adequate or suitable ana
that Zion Schools must have something on
far higher plane. The program breathed
the spirit of Zion throughout, the various
svmbolisms giving one a clearer vision OF
the Bible as a whole, covering a sweep OF
thousands of years.
Very few people can form any conception
of the vast amount of detail work required
in planning and arranging program of this
kind. Aside from the drill work. an amaz-
ing variety of costumes were used, repre-
senting the Oriental garments of the differ
ent nationalities connected with the history
of Israel.
1t will be impossible for us to describe the
various scenes as they appeared to the aud
ience, as the brightly colored costumes, most
of which were true counterparts of the gar
ments worn in the various stages of history
outlined were great aid in their presen-
tation Neither can we convey an adequate
idea of the animated way in which the pupils
entered into the spirit of the occasion.
However, a review may serve to bring out
the principal lessons intended.