The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1880-11-26
AGAINST THE PASSION PLAY.
A Preacher Points the Objections TO a
Proposed Theatrical Representation.

A Preacher Points the Objections to q
| Proposed Theatrical Representation.
y New York Sun.]
The proposed production of the
ssPassion Play'' at Booths Treatre has
attracted the attention ofthe pulpit
Last evening the Rev. DR.. G. N. Sims,
of the SummerHeld Methodist church,
Brooklyn, preached a sermon denounc-
ing the play and the participants, the
actors aud the management. The play,
he said, was Can insult to the best
Christian sentiment of the land.n His
text was the twenty. eighth and twenty
ninth verses of the twenty-seventh
chapter of st. Matthew:
.sAud they stripped him and put on
him scarlet robe"
s.And when they had plated a crown
of thorns they put it upon his head,
and reed in his right hand ana they
bowed the knee before him and mock
ed him, saying, Hail, King of the
Jews ~
The reverend speaker thought it
lamentable that there should be any
attempt to personate stthe Holy Christ,
in whose name we offer our prayers day
and night" and this, too, con the
boards of the same theatre where the
echoes of the footsteps of the profigate
Bernhardt will have scarcely died
away" 1t was sad to contemplate the
spectacle of 3 professional player who,
personating Jesus Christ, would pass
the cup to twelve other players, repre-
senting the apostles, and say ssThis is
my blood, which is shed for YOU" A
simulated John would lean on the
breast of simulated Saviour, and the
inquiry of simulated treachery would
be whispered around the table: els it
I ?'' sIs it ?" This scene, SO sacred
to all Christians, was 10 be introduced
on the boards of a theatre as an amuse-
ment. The trial before Plate and
"that great triumph of the worlds
copes and faith, the ascension of the
risen Lord into heaven" were to be
represented.
The managers confessed that they
expected opposition and Indignation.
When it was presented in San Fran
cisco, eighteen months ago, the force
of public opinion compelled its with
drawal from the stage, and the city
authorities passed an ordinance max
ing its performance criminal offense,
and james O'Neill, who personated
Christ, was arrested and fined $50. A
new Board of Supervisors attempted to
rescind the ordinance, but was unable
to, and to-day the performance of this
play would be an unlawful act in San
Francisco. The managers had prepar-
ed the public here for its reception by
carefully prepared newspaper articles,
which dwelt upon its elevated charac-
ter, and declared that its influence
would not be immoral or irreIigious.
The public was assured that only
moral people would be permitted TO
take part in the play. Two hundred
men of the most exemplary character
We're advertised for to represent the
Jewish rabble and Roman soldiers,
who will not laugh or be noisy behind
the scenes, and who will cry ttcrucify
him cruelty ilimv' at % or so cents
a night.
Great pains will be taken to preserve
unusual order during the performan-
ces. No applause will be allowed; no
return checks will be given at the
door, and therefore the audience cam
not go out for drinks between the
acts. 1t is even suggested that while
the play continues the statue of Shakes
peare shall be removed from the front
of the building and the cross erected
in its place. Christians should object
to the scheme of making
in the markets of public
of the agony and atone
ment of the Lord Jesus Christ. What
would the public say of an attempt to
the assassination and death
of Abraham Lincoln for the amuse-
ment of an idle crowd? How any one
would shrink back in horror from Il
proposition to dramatize for public
the death struggles of his
own father or brother! Yet when the
Christ was to be caricatured on the
stage no voice had been raised up in
protest. DIR. Sims closed by appealing
to the great newspapers of the city, $50
potent in the formation of public opin-
ion, to denounce the play and its pro-
jectors.
Had REEN OUT OF TIE IlNIrEn