 The speakers of Hallmark Reading Cards bring you Opal Lee Berriman's Pioneer Preacher, starring Charles Bickford on the Hallmark Playhouse. Chosen by one of the world's best-known authors, the distinguished novelist, Mr. James Hilton. Ladies and gentlemen, this is James Hilton. Tonight on our Hallmark Playhouse, we present our dramatization of a story by Opal Lee Berriman called Pioneer Preacher. Ms. Berriman's own father was a Pioneer Preacher, so that she brings to her story a wealth of personal reminiscence as well as a warm understanding of her subject. For the Reverend George Berriman was a pioneer and a preacher. He gave to the building of the West the strength of his hands, his heart, and his faith. There were many pioneer preachers in those days, true missionaries who gave their lives all the more truly by living them. And for our starting role tonight, we are indeed fortunate to have that distinguished Hollywood actor, Mr. Charles Bickford. And now a word about Hallmark Cards from Frank Goss before we begin the first act of Pioneer Preacher. At Easter, as on every important event in the lives of your friends and loved ones, there is a Hallmark card to say just what you want to say, the way you want to say it. And the Hallmark on the back will carry an extra meaning for Easter Day, for it says, you cared enough to send the very best. Now Hallmark Playhouse presenting openly Berriman's Pioneer Preacher, starring Charles Bickford. I couldn't begin to write or tell the full story of his life because his story is the story of all the towns he ever lived in, all the people he ever knew, and all their prayers as well as his own. So I'm going to try and let you see my father as I remember him in 1905 when I was eight years old. In October of that year, father and mother and I were on our way to a little town in Texas called La Mesa. It was a hot afternoon and father and I were singing. Mother had fallen asleep beside us. He and those days, for for one thing... Hello, Opal. We may not be the best singers in the world, but by golly, what we like and ability, we make up an enthusiasm. Don't we? I guess so. Of course we do. You know, Opal, I'll wager all your little girlfriends would like to be in your shoes right now. What do they see when they look out their windows? Streets, houses, the same things they've seen every day of their lives. But you're looking at something they've never even seen, the desert. Guns, shadow, color, cliffs, ravines, cacti, mesquites. What's that? That's a coyote. I don't like it. Sure you do. You know what he's saying, Opal? He's saying, I've seen things today. I've seen men on horseback riding west across the desert. I've seen cattle moving west. I've seen civilization go forward one whole day. I've seen sunrise and sunset. I've seen the Baptist minister and his wife and little girl on the way to La Mesa. Yes, sir. By now, every other coyote within here short knows all about us. Look up yonder. That's La Mesa. Unless I'm very much mistaken. Bigger than you'd think. It has 49 residents. Well, there it is, our new congregation. That first Sunday, and their almost grown son, Tom. Sheriff Lubeck, Judge Cawthaston's wife, a wealthy rancher from just outside of town, Brother Fallon. It was an auspicious occasion. It certainly does the body good to hear a sermon again. Thank you, Sister Craddock. This is my son, Tom. He's going east to medical school next week. How do you do, sir? How do you do? I hope you'll come back here to practice when you graduate. I certainly hope to, Brother Bearman. Good to have you with us, Brother Bearman. Thank you, Brother Craddock. Fine boy I have here. He certainly is. I don't blame you for being proud of him. Well, Father Bearman, it is good to have a man of God with us. Let me know if I can be of service to you. Thank you, Brother Fallon. Good day, Father. You're not his father. Why did you let Brother Fallon call you that? Opal Brother Fallon is a Roman Catholic. It's his form of address for a minister of his faith and to note's respect. I consider it a great honor to have him address me in that manner. Oh! Brother Bearman! I brought you before you left the church. I am Brother Dissie, another worker in the field. How do you do, sir? Are you a Baptist preacher, Brother Dissie? No, not exactly. At least I'm not licensed or ordained. But I go about from town to town trying to do the Lord's work as I see it. I thought I'd drop in on you and your good wife for lunch and dinner and perhaps the night. Tomorrow I'll be on my way to another town. Where? Come along, Brother Dissie. What we have, we shall be happy to share with you. Coffee, Brother Dissie? No thanks. Yes, I've been making a lot of plans for this town. It's been without a resident pastor for so long. I hope you won't have any difficulty handling any of the people. They get used to one man, you know. Well, I can only try, Brother Dissie. George, I need some more water. Would you be kind enough to step outside of the pump and get it for me? Of course I will. I'll go with you, Father. That was an elegant repass, Sister Better. Now that a preacher in his family must all be diplomats. But he is no real preacher. He is no dain. Well, I do think he should have credentials. But he's still a man of God. And we must respect him as such. I can't stand him another minute. He thinks he's going to tell you how to conduct yourself in this town, how to conduct your church, and... Oh, no, Mother. Don't let yourself get all riled up. Oh, I'm sure I don't know why you didn't take the position at the seminary when they offered it to you. Why, you had to decide to come out of this God-presacred spot. I was needed here. Now, let's all get back into Brother Dissie and turn the other cheek, shall we? Look, Father, someone's coming. Reverend Berryman? Yes. I am Dr. Nasib Mesropian. I have just arrived in town tonight. I hope to practice it. How do you do, Dr. Mesropian? This is my wife, my daughter, Opal. How do you do, Doctor? I am going to be one of your congregations, Brother Berryman. I am a member of the Armenian Baptist Church. I am happy to hear it. The church can always use another member. And the town can certainly use a doctor. We had to fight greed, suspicion. It is smallpox, all right. Too isolated in good time, I think. Uh, may I see the pepper tied around that brick, please? Yes. We don't want any foreigners treating our women. Get out of town before we ride you out on the road. Well, evidently, I have friends here. Pay no attention to it. I have a girl's hands to the side of the bed. If her hands are free, she will not be able to keep from scratching and she will ruin her face. Smallpox is a terrible thing to have strike in a village this size. If it spreads... I have sent for a vaccine. If the mothers will allow me to vaccinate their children and be vaccinated themselves, it need not spread. They'll let you vaccinate. Don't worry. You have more faith than diarrhea. Dr. Mesropian, medicine is your profession. Faith is mine. Tell me that Rose Mahoney has a smallpox and that you're going to nurse her. I've had the smallpox. But Opal hasn't? Oh, surely you're not going to risk bringing it home. Let someone else do it. How can I ask someone else to do a thing that I would not be willing to do myself? Mother, I can't believe I'm hearing you correctly. I'm sorry. But when I think of Opal, I... Dr. Mesropian is coming over to vaccinate her tonight. I've been going to every house I could today begging people to let Dr. Mesropian vaccinate them. And what did they say? Most of them agreed. A few objected. Brother Craddock said he didn't believe in vaccination. Judge Pothouse said he didn't think it was necessary. But I believe they'll come around. We'll show you this. Oh, another note. Print it in crayon. What does it say? This is a white man's town. Unless you get out of your own free will, you'll go out with a coat of tar and feathers. Oh, isn't that terrible? Dr. Mesropian, I think I know the instigator of this thing. And I've already taken some steps in the matter. I'm reasonably sure that within a week we'll have the answer to the whole affair. If you'll just bear with me that long. I think I know the man myself, but I see no reason to subject my profession to such indignities. There are civilized communities in which one may work in peace. Dr. Mesropian, my profession is also one of dignity. But I am willing to abandon that dignity whenever necessary in order to establish the rights of a free man to live and work honorably in a free land. The man we seek is a case for a physician as well as a preacher. It is often more difficult to heal a diseased mind than to repair the body. But the benefits will reach on to generations yet to come. You must stay doubted. Well, Reverend, you have never let me down, and I shall not let you down if I can help you. Thank you. I can assure you that the majority of the people do want you here. Very quickly, who's in back of this? And the first thing I'm going to do is to have a talk with the congregation tomorrow. I would like to say just a word to you. You and I are but a handful of Christian Americans in a small town in Texas. We are American not because of the color of our skin or the nature of our religion. Our fathers, who came from almost every land in the universe, chose this land to prove to the world a mighty precept. They were entitled to certain inalienable rights. Among those rights, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, doctrine across a doubting world. And said to that world, we will show you that democracy can work. America shall be a stronghold for free men and a hope for enslaved men. My friends, 49 residents. How can democracy succeed among the many if we let it fail here among the few? How can religion succeed among the many if we let it fail here among the few? To remind us with greenery and flowers that we too should... and the sending of greeting cards is part of our preparation. For Easter is a time when we want to remember friends and loved ones. And if you're like most of us, I think you'll want the very finest Hallmark cards. If you think this sounds a little prejudiced on my part, just try this. Ask your friends what name they think ought to send the very best. This is so many times. I know they'll quickly answer Hallmark cards. Even a glance at Hallmark Easter cards will tell you why that Hallmark on the back has become such a distinguishing, simple of quality. And there are Hallmark Easter cards for everyone. For friends you want to remember, for loved ones, you'll want to take this occasion to convey the thoughts you have all year long but to seldom express. Cards with flowers bright as spring. Cards that express the deep spirits will joy of Easter. Clever cards to enchant the children and cards for them to send to others. Tomorrow stop at the friendly store where you buy Hallmark cards and see the beautiful collection of Hallmark Easter cards. You'll appreciate that Hallmark on the back, especially at Easter, to say, you cared enough to send the very best. And now here is the second act of Pioneer Preacher, starring Charles Bickford. Towns he ever lived in. All the people he ever knew. What did a Pioneer Preacher have to be in those days? Philosophers, psychologists, doctors, counselors, fighters. Thought you'd never get here and it was getting dark. I'm scared out of my wits that you'll get into trouble before this is over. They may kill you. That's exactly what they'll have to do before they get a chance to tar and feather Dr. Mesropian. Oh, Brother Dizzy was here. He says the Fallon girl is getting married and he's been asked to perform the ceremony. That's what he says. I can't believe that Mr. Fallon would do a thing like that. Mr. Fallon's in the East, Father. He isn't getting back until just before the wedding. Oh, I didn't know that. Kate wants Brother Dizzy. After all, it's her wedding. I heard the other day that Brother Dizzy's been out to the Fallons making a big fuss over Kate's aunt. He'll end up as the preacher in this town yet. He's been telling everyone that you haven't added any new members to the church since you've been married. Oh, Mother, getting upset won't help. I don't know how you managed to take everything so calmly, George Barrowman. Sit down and eat your dinner. What's this on the table? The letter from Tom Pratt. Why didn't you tell me it was here? I'll see you later. But George, your dinner... Put it on the back of the stove, Mother. This is more important. Do you know, Opal, there are times when it's not easy being a preacher's wife. I brought it from one part of it. He says, oh, that you have right in La Mesa. One of the nation's greatest doctors. I have just learned this from the American Medical Association and I have written to Dr. Mesropian, asking if he'll let me work with him when I come home. I hope you'll do everything you can to persuade him to agree to this. I hope someday I can become the kind of doctor he is. Brother Craddock, he's speaking of the man you wanted to tire and feather and run out of town. How is a man to know? Osbus was a foreigner. Lafayette was a foreigner. You yourself are not an Indian, are you? I sure am. Then you're a foreigner. Your father probably was English. And your mother, what was she? She was a half-breed. Oh, I see. So that's it. You thought you were inferior and you started all this row about Dr. Mesropian to hide your own sense of insecurity. You're not inferior, but no one is. This fear of yours is for your own making, your own thinking. What do you think I should do, Brother Berryman? Apologize to the doctor? I certainly do. Think when he learns that I'm the cause of... Brother Craddock, I think Dr. Mesropian knows. He wouldn't be the fine doctor he is if he weren't a good judge of human nature as well. He is also a fine enough man, I am sure, to forgive you. I'll go and see him right away, Brother Berryman. I'm... I'm ashamed. It's not to me that sometimes he almost had to be a saint. Mother refused to go to see Brother Fallon's daughter married by Brother Disney. But father went and he took me with him. I'll never forget that wedding. Let's sit down in these two seats. Everyone's here, aren't they? At least everyone but Brother Fallon. I guess he isn't going to get married. Evidently not. I asked Miss Kate why she was letting Brother Disney marry her and she said it was her answer arranged and that she would much rather have had you. Sacred war is over, my daughter. You didn't know that I'd been asked to conduct this wedding? You are so incorrectly, Brother Disney. Brother Fallon. If there wasn't a Catholic priest in this part of the country, he'd have father and no one. Oh, I'm so glad. Well, I have some news, too. A dozen of the cowboys were by and they're joining the church. So you have enlarged the church membership. The cowboys are joining the church. They were here just a little while ago. My heart is full. My heart is full. Oh, Father, I just love it here in the nether. Don't you? Yes, I do, Opal. I do indeed. There's a letter on the table from the board. Oh. Well, I wonder what new instructions they have now. Brother Fallon said he was donating the money to build a church. Oh, how wonderful. And he says, Mother, would you be willing to pioneer another field? Oh, you don't mean that. The board is suggesting, as soon as we feel things can be safely left to another pastor who is on his way, that we go to Seminole. Seminole. They do say, however, that although they feel we are badly needed there, that if we do not wish to leave, the new pastor can go on and we can remain here. He's evidently quite young and inexperienced in the field, though, and Seminole would be awfully hard for him. Well, you know it's funny. Only the other day I was thinking that, well, I bet it would be nice to see what was going on a little farther west. After all, things have gotten pretty tame here. Sure they have. There'll be new adventures and new people to meet. Oh, I love you so. I love you so. I love you so. I know what it means to you. Believe me. I know. With as thou goest, I will go. Thy people shall be my people. And thy God my God. Remember? I shall remember as long as I live. Opal, you're only eight years old now. Almost nine. Yes, almost nine. But someday you look back to the days we lived out here, as we made our slow way west. And you'll be able to say, I helped homestead this land, helped conquer the wilderness. I pioneered for God and for country. Loaded all our worldly possessions into a wagon and started further west. And now I was nine. There was 1906. And even then I knew that there'd never been a man before sin cut from the same cloth as my father. Reverend George Barrowman. James Hilton will return in a moment. You know, Easter is a day when we like to exchange greetings with our friends and loved ones. Yet often we can't find just the words to express our feelings. In fact, if it weren't for hallmark cards, I'm sure many a message wouldn't be sent. But there are hallmark Easter cards that you'll feel were especially written for each person on your list. Cards that say just what you want to say, the way you want to say it. In addition to Easter cards for your mother, dad, wife, or husband, and all those dear to you, you'll find cards for every friend, whether near or far away. For example, imagine the pleasure a friend in a distant city would receive from this card. It's titled Across the Miles of Easter. And the greeting reads, A special Easter time hello. That's being sent to let you know that though we are apart today, you're thought of in the warmest way. And countless happy wishes too, go out across the miles to you. Not just when Easter time is here, but every day throughout the year. Why don't you stop in tomorrow at the friendly store where you buy hallmark cards and see the complete showing of hallmark Easter cards while the selection is still complete. Ask for hallmark cards, the kind that tells your friends you cared enough to send the very best. Here again is James Hilton. We're really happy to have you with us tonight, Charles Bigfoot. That was a great performance. It was a great story, Mr. Hilton. I don't know how you'd do it, but you managed to get stories for hallmark playhouse that are like hallmark cards. I mean, they have the same warmth and understanding and sincerity. Thank you. That's high praise indeed. Now won't you tell us about next week? I'll certainly be in your audience. Good. And I think you like our Easter story. It's the Arbutus Bonnet by Margaret E. Sangster, a charming and appealing love story, and our star will be Miss Anne Blythe. And now before I say goodnight, may I just remind you that more help is needed to carry on the important work of the Red Cross this year, to give disaster relief, to give needed services to our armed forces and veterans, to carry on the National Blood Program and other important community services. Your Red Cross needs your help to carry on its help. Our hallmark playhouse is every Thursday. Our director-producer is Bill Gay. The music was conducted by Lynn Murray, and our script tonight was adapted by Jean Holloway. Until next Thursday then, this is James Hilton saying goodnight. These are hallmark cards when you carry it up to send the very best. Charles Vickford will soon be seen in the Paramount picture, riding high, co-starring with Bing Crosby. This is Frank Goss saying goodnight to you all until next week at the same time, when James Hilton returns to present Anne Blythe in Margaret E. Sangster's The Arbutus Bonnet. And the week following, Charles Boyer and James Hilton's Appassionata, and in the weeks to come, a story known and loved by everyone, my sister Eileen on the hallmark playhouse. This is CBS, the Columbia Broadcast.