These words were written by John Oxenham in England, but not intended to be hymn lyrics. They were actually the culminating script for a significant missionary pageant in 1908 London called “The Pageant of Darkness and Light”. The purpose of that pageant was to emphasize that Christians should love and help all people. This pageant was an extravagant production. It had many actors divided into the four corners of the room, prepared to present their dramatic scenes from the north, south, east, and west.
The north story took place in a Native American settlement on the northwest coast. It tells of the beloved daughter of the tribe’s chief, who suddenly and mysteriously disappeared and was never found.
The south story featured the famous physician and missionary, David Livingstone. He gave his life to working in an African village where he created a church and helped take care of the people…but he also had to deal daily with vicious slave traders.
The east story is hard to comprehend because it took place about 112 years ago in India. Its beginning focus was on a young girl, but then the story moves forward to a point when that same girl had become a young widow who was facing a traditional death on the funeral pyre of her husband. A missionary stepped up and saved her life.
The west story took place in Hawaii. An island leader was about to sacrifice two victims in order to appease a legendary goddess, a sacrifice of the day which islanders believed would keep volcanos from erupting. But…yet another missionary intervened, saving those two lives. In all these episodes a missionary or other Christian intervened, resolving the dramatic tension and proclaiming the gospel.
At the end of the pageant, “In Christ There is no East or West” was sung by a quartet as a quiet bridge leading to the final processional of all the actors coming together. The pageant then concluded with the entire audience singing, “All People that on Earth Do Dwell”, followed by shouts of “We Are One”. The standard being conveyed was that being a Christian means to care for and be of service to all.
In Christ shall true hearts everywhere their high communion find; his service is the golden cord, close binding humankind.