The Omaha guide., 1937-12-18
Rocky Road TO
Jerusalem Big Hit
By ]. WESTBRoOK MCPHERSON
Special Correspondent

Inc hockv tNo@u 70 JNIdsdieih'
q pageant presented Under the
direction of Mrs. Pauline DALEY,
evangelist of Kansas City, Mo-,
december 8, at st. John A. NE.
church was acclaimed the finest
that omahans have witnessed in
many years.
Impressive personages portray
ed the principal characters of
king Solomon" Moss Webb;
Queen of Sheba,' Mrs. Mamie
Gaskin; "St. Peter C. B. Fred
ricks; and Moses C. B. Kitchen.
Picturesque is the word for the
scenes in which a cast of eighty
persons of local amateur and pro-
f~essional talent presented q color
full array of personalities, quaint
costumes and golden harps support
ed by the striking background of
a stage set with props of glitter
ing gold ard silver.
A large audience was moved 10
a mild state of alarm when the
atmosphere that smacked of rever-
ence and awe which reigned su.
preme was threatened by the evil
caprices and wild gesticulatiors of
tantalizing Satan himself in the
person OF Mr.. Willie Chapman, as
he invaded the realms of the king
dom" of the saved seeking re-
cruits for a life of sin. A feeling
of relief swept over the spectators
when the provincial gates of hell''
failed to "prevail against the ma
jestic golden gates which defiant
iy protected the lambs of the fold.
The pewer and the glory showed
its might when a weary, travelling
convert, Mr.. L. S. McPerson, whose
way was impetuouly logged by
the satanical influence of the de-
vii, overcame the temptations of
the pitfalls of the wayside and
passed through the gates of the
great beyond singing 81 Am a
Soldier of the Cross"
A second w~ayfarer, in the per-
son of Mrs. Adverta Randall. was
less fortunate. The choir piteously
sang Too Late, Too Late" as the
vavfarer. tedecked with jewels.
clad in an ultra modern party
dress. and intoxicated with the spi-
Il Of the devil, staggered up to
the golden gates. the glorias of the
other side. of which she was never
to know. Pangs of pain pierced the
hearts of the spectators as the re
ioicinp devils. Chapman and Floyd
Collins, carried her pleading fran
tically, to suffer the wages of sin.
Special mention should be made
of the vocals of Mrs. Pearl Gibson,
Mrs. Webb and again of Mrs. Venus
Stearns who in song, to%uchingly
human, sought the guidance of the
angels whose help reached the
promised land" which was pitched
into the throes of rejoicing to the
tune of Give Me that Old Time
Religion"
Miss Ada Lee Walker captured
her audience when she revealed an
ahiiity for dramatization hat few
if any suspected her of possessing,
and Miss Ruth Redd, dramatic stu
dent at Omaha U. with babe in
arms surprising the beauty of the
famous Italian painters.
Sentiment reached it's climax
amid the pleas of the poor widow,
Mrs. Gussie Mcpherson, clad in
rags and begging aims of the flint
hearted Mr.. Rich man, Mr.. Lawren
ce Parker. The poor widow" de-
picted the struggle of providing for
her two small children and at thu
same time trying to resist the tenn
ptations of the devils.
Mirth al rampant throughout
the scene in which "Mr. Rich Man"
tried vainly to bride his way
through the gates.
Among other notables in the
cast were Misses Gussie Cotton and
Lois White, "hypocrites;' Mr.. Paul
Briggs, Singing ministers" Mrs.
Vincent, "Christion soldier;' Mrs.
Gertrude Lucas, reader; Delois
Jackson, Marion Webb and Mrs.
Hazel Walton.
Mrs. Daily, who has presented
this pagean many times, said on
interview: 81 think this was one of
the most successful presentations
ever. / enjoy working with the
people here and I hope to return
t. Omaha soon"