New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-11-08
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
THE PASSION PLAY.

LETTER PROM THE REV. W. J. SMITH, SECRETARY or
THE MINISTERIAL UNION or AN Francisco
A SPECTACLE WHICH EVEN THAT cosMoPoLrrAN
CRY WOULD NOT TOLERATE -F0RBIDDTN TWICE
BY THE BOARD or sUPERyIsOEs-A SUGGESTION
FOR NEW YORK.
To the EdttOr Of The Tribune
SIR: | have before me the announcement vi
the early departure our city OF Manager MaSuo'
james O'Neu and Henry Widmcr to assist in the prep
araions for the production OF the Passion F'P a.
Bootn's Theatre. have read with pleasure youT manly
the and religious feelings OF the pes"
pie of so-alled Christian laaf, and YOU VIII alo"
space Will give you the voice OK the Pdchc as w
tered bY cosmopolitan san Francisco. when Ike at
tempt was made here.
During the Lenteu OF 1879 IN the paDcrS under
the lead Of "amusemen and irlDg among the tleair-
cal bills crossed with sham blood. the ANNOUNCEMENT
that Sa.mi MCrse wOald produce 1t tue q anu Ojeli
House. as a spectacular drama, TIE P-taipA Oh oH
Lord" with all the accessories aud aIpGfteHihcc' OF '
stage lie would i't the veil upon scenes INTO w"icI
"angels desired 10 look bat wore not able For one
dollar per head would trampe under foot the ooon 81
the cruciea ana present 20 prueuJ gaze OF an IN
h,,ovcd throug the strange Gcc p holy mysees OF "u
religion. such a shock 10 the moral s'ia'D'''''7 VI
every true man and raised such storm oil con
d-mnauon from every denomination ana AIT tue '''''
class Of people that the attention Of the authorities was
called I'D he matter az once. committee o. t"r b''r
the withdrawal of the play from the boards bar "a1
d,tly refused Al the next meeting OF he board '"'
following order Was unanimously passed anu IN u"'
time became a law:
Section l. It saaH be unlawful for any person to
exu or tl par, a rXlY.linE IA any tlr -Ji or o'r'
ulr. wne:c money j. charged for adm tiance aN play
peIf5, nance sentiuou d5Q"{b.' or 'r',.ll7
display. the he aId death VI J'fu, thtiS,' W l 5
or performance, representation calculated OF 'cnUlS
to prof'ne or degrade reii=,on, .,,, r-oviocs NJ
Section = AIy per or violating tle pfoVll'41S , y.
tni- order shall BE- guilty II msdemean'i' a"d pu j.
ISL q 0y duc not cx,erfint 0l'VjVo OK ~. .i ,,
MOO exceeding 8ix months, or Dy both such LINZ az" i
prlsOnncut.
INA further attempt to continue the play, NJ James
O'Nell VINO rer.,n1.cI cur Eedeeuer, was ARE ted
;rcd and convicted Of violation OF the ordnance ana
sentenced 10 pay H.. o. $50 o. twenty-five Days ia-
resentment A, the last presentation part Il the staging
fell aud TWO of tle ctrcssr. we've faIy aured one o
,i Jas never fully recovered, ana has since sued inc
MANAGEMENT ior DAMAGES The cond~m nation OF IseS'
and pulpit and the p'ompi action Oh lhe '"'H'I e- d"
once prt stop to this outrage upon every sense % pro-
-ty aad IN, most sacred and LOy feelings OF every
Christian heart
wear -.4s.i away and The matter had been almost
G.r,.t.eY when Io aud behold. Mr. soimr Morse t-
I,rlaIte 10 whom there is very much guile indeed a.
uears before :lc new Board % supervisor ana ieliio
that body 20 remove thr stigma paced upon DIS il% Wy
tle prey ous Board, .hat Le n@It tax d. -A0'n q" ''
restriction wit.out Any precedent e. aoisAc' ~ p'o
rnii,n I5r amy oJh.r city 10 follow. IL cnI, 'c" u
the oriiuaacc "a an INVASION " evil iiaeriy." ana
nrt,rI tIr Board 20 rcne..it It was claimed tie "l''
Board acted hastily under thc excitement 9t 'e E''.
/ b,.. POW 20 year H.d passed away " con-" ~ ~
~. ,,I. ..y.i DR., ana con. The lepre,'I.1tl.rs OF
49, .i- ..ria. U4lpu SAN Francisco cJ'i.-r li .''
/ o.. o,.a- .ti .I NINA. rs ~ -i' g'5 t."-,-i
! r.,rl for us con Inu-d sdppr on VA 'e'.''
/ u..e elrn"-tne-. ana power tLAn U..'I', @,'
a- DO ,.. Board. as tine guardians 3D., .He u,' 90 ,
/ ..fv. .-t.Inui-y rn. used 90 Hi"" -H'i r. Ht,- 't
a ,h.t sacrcd TO- every ProtT9'.''j per '" a. ~,
a-.a oi yr.r' or morality. ,u' le. F..'' H.