The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-12-15
CHURCH To GIVE
CHRISTMAS
PAGEANT
Play Written by DR.. Pierce,
Pastor, Opens Tomorrow
Night.

A !. Christmas pageant, When
Christ Was Born" written by DR..
Jason Noble Pierce, minister Of
the First Congregational Church,
Tenth and G streets northwest,
will be presented tonight and
each night this week, excepting
Saturday, at the church.
The pageant consists of seven
episodes arranged from the Bible.
These will be rendered by large
cast, historically costumed by Mil
Ter, of Philadelphia, and directed
by Washington artists, Estelle
Wentworth and Albert Parr The
music will be in charge Of Harry
Edward Mueller, organist Of the
church.
First Episode.
The first episode is entitled 1.-The
Annunciations to Zacharias and
Mary" The Annunciation to Zach
arias is made fifteen months be-
fore Christ was born, before the
altar of incense in the temple
The Annunciation to Mary is made
about half year later in her
home. The leading characters in
this episode are Gabriel, an angel,
played by Albert Parr; Zacharias,
a priest, father Of John the Bap-
tist, played by DR.. William e.
Chamberlin; and Mary. a virgin
betrothed to Joseph, played by
Estelle Wentworth.
The second episode. entitled "The
Magnificent" takes place a few days
later in the home of Zacharias
and Elizabeth. The principal char
acters in this episode are Elizabeth.
wife of Zacharias. played by Miss
Maude Francis; Ruth, neighbor,
PLAYED by Mrs. William E. Cham
berlin; and Mrs. Melville D. Lind
say. Hannah, another neighbor, is
played by Mrs. Robert Fl. Kempton:
and Zacharias and Mary again APP
pear in this episode.
The Arrival at the Inn episode
three, takes place the night before
Christ was born at the inn at
Bethlehem. Among the large cast
in this episode are ~Joab, keeper of
the inn, played by Fred A. Woods:
Joseph, a citizen. played, by Mel
vile d. Lindsay, and Mary.
Night in Stable.
Episode four, entitled Might at
the Stable takes place in the
stable of the inn at Bethlehem the
night that Christ was born.
Episode five, the most spectacular
of the play, entitled, Herod and
the Wise Men," takes place at the
palace of King Herod on Christmas
Day. Among the characters in this
group are Herod. played by Wal
ter w. Britt: Officer, played by
Arthur A. Werner; Prisoner, played
by Lawrence Gould: Melchior. the
first wise man, played by Paul
Starkweather: Gaspar. second wise
man, played by Harvey w. God
dard, and Baltasar, the third wise
man, played by Sam Houston.
On Christmas night, in the field
near Bethlehem, the sixth episode
occurs, Shepherds and the Angel
Song" while the closing episode,
the seventh, entitled 1.-THE Adora-
tion," takes place on Christmas
night when the shepherds behold
the Christ Child in the manger and
the wise men bring their gifts and
worship him.
Elaborate lighting effects will be
under the direction of Harold
Snyder. No expense has been
spared by the church to make the
pageant attractive.
Sunday morning at II o'clock DR..
Jason Noble Pierce will preach on
the subject Christ and the Cen
eurian." The Rev. Franklin I.
Winter will conduct the vesper serv-
ice at 4:45 o'clock. at which Harry
Edward Mueller will be assisted by
Miss Mabel 6. Duncan, cellist: Miss
Viola Abrams. harpist, and Charles