A PAGEANT OF MOTHERHOOD.

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume 30, Issue 12, 1 February 1940, Page 9

A PAGEANT OF MOTHERHOOD.

The Manger Scene With The Child Christ m Tableau

The Church Envoy gives an interesting report of a pageant of Motherhood presented by the branch of the Mothers' Union m the parish of Holy Cross, Dunedin. This pageant was original, the prologue m verse having "been written by one of the members and the epilogue by a daughter of the D;ocesan past president.. Well-known lullabies were sung by members of the Mothers' Union who stood at the iDack of the stage. After the announcement of the pageant the choir sang softly Schubert's "Cradle Song." While this was being sung an English mother dressed m a simple gown with a rose at her breast, walked down the centre of the hall to the stage and seated her-r self on a low stool by an old-fash-ioned cradle m the centre front of the stage. Gently she rocked the cradle and hummed softly. The choragus then spoke the prologue of the English mother. The choir sang "Golden Slumbers Kiss Your Eyes," an old English lullaby. The music changed and one of the "member sang part of "The Skye Boat Song." The Scottish mother appeared m her short tartan skirt and white "blouse, carrying heather and blue"bells. She walked down the length of the hall to the stage, the English mother giving place to her on the low stool by the cradle. The choragus then spoke a eulogy of Scottish motherhood, after which the Scottish mother sang unaccompanied ""Wee Willie Winkie." Again the music changed and the choir sang the second verse of "Sweet and Low." "All Thro' the Night." The Welsh mother then appeared and took her place by the cradle. After the speech by choragus, one of the members of the choir sang a verse of that beautiful Welsh air, "All Thro' the Night." In the same way came the Irish mother, the Maori mother, the Australian and Canadian mothers.

Some of the lullabies sung were "Danny Boy," "Hine, nine" (a Maori lullaby), " Curly-headed Baby," Brahms lullaby. One mother knitted, another had some sewing, one picked up scattered toys, and m each case choragus spoke a suitable prologue. . •, . After the Australian mother had appeared the curtain came down for a few minutes. When ' the curtain rose a tableau of the manger scene was set, the manger with the Christ child m the centre front. Immediately behind sat the Virgin mother wearing her soft blue hood, and behind her two children as angels. The mothers of the various countries were grouped round the Virgin mother, either standing or kneeling. The choragus — "But see— there comes from over all the earth A mighty company to greet you here, Servants of Christ who dwell m every land, Proud to uphold His banner m their homes." The choir then sang '"Hark, the Herald Angels Sing." The choragus — "From Her great . love and sweet • humility Gain inspiration for the years to be." While the last words were being said the mothers stretched out their hands towards the manger.