Morning appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1877-1906, 1880-10-31
THE PASSION PLAY.

The production of the Passion Play in New
York by Mr.. Abby, Manager Of Booths
Theater, appears to be beset with numerous
difficulties. He finds it hard to overcome a
strong public sentiment upon the subject.
and many of the newspapers take decided
grounds against what they consider to be the
proclamation of sacred memery. 1t is also
denounced as a cold blooded money making
scheme connected for tho sole purpose of en-
riching the exchequer of the management.
1t is rather curious that religious people look
with such disfavor upon anything which
smacks of monetary surroundings. The
Catholics exact tribute from all available
sources to support the servants of the church;
tho Episcopalians demand toll on the high
monthly pew rents from saints and sinners
alike with methodical exactness. The Meth
odists indulge In periodical festivals wherein
The pockets Of the worldly are assessed in a
Presbyterians send their tunnels and cross.
cuts into the purses of tho solvent sinner by
means of the seductive pound cake at a bit a
slice and strawberries at two bits for the half
dozen. All the denominations mentioned
make semi-annual raids upon the commercial
community by means OF dances, raffles, con-
certs, amatuer theatricals, etc, and stow
away the proceeds without the slightest
qualms of conscience regarding the source of
revenue. The instant, however, that man
Of the world attempts to make any money out
of the church the clamer of clerical disap-
proval goes up. Mr. Abby, however, has
silenced this cry by announcing that he will
devote the entire proceeds of the Passion
Play to the poor of New York City. He will
run the play two months and give the receipts
to charity, deducting the actual running e1-
psnses. Mr.. Abby has for years past run a
very lucrative business at Booths theatsr,
and his monthly gains in good seasons run
from FIVE to ten thousand dollars All Of ,lis
he will devote to charity in order to show the
public that the Passion Play is grand pro-
ductioA Of the human brain and calculated to
elevate and eRasbIe tho minds of all who Wit
ness it. The clergy can no longer oppose the
production of the piece, for by SO deing they
will place themselves in the light Of endeavor-
ing to take sustenance and warmth from the
starving and shiverins poor. The play, as
written, was 6rst submitted to Archbishop
Alamany, of San Francisco, for his approval,
the author agreeing to eliminate any obiec-
tionable passage. The Archbishop pro-
the play as elevated and grand, betA
in language and sentiment, and Only erased
two lines, and those purely upon doctrinal
grounds The church has for years preached
against the depreciation of the drama, and
now that decided attempt is irade to ele-
vate it, the religious press raise their voices
against it, and make the puerile point that
the actor who personates Christ is lone jim
my ONeil.' Instead of applying nicknames
to Mr.. James O'Neil, who is recognized as
gentleman and an actor of the frst-class, il
would be no more than fair to treat him with
the respect due a man capable Of personating
so elevated role, and net belittle his really
effort We believe that the
time will come when the unreasonable preiu-
dice existing against the play will vanish from
the minds of thinking people, and it will
become one of the great sources of rev.
enue in New York from which the helping
hand of charity may draw at will.