New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-12-18
THE PASSION PLAY.
ITS PRODUCTION STRONGLY OPPOSED.
INTERVIEWS WITH PROMINENT MINISTERS OF Val"

FOR DRAMATIC REPRESENTATION
The forthcoming production OF the Passion 10y
is the subject of much comment among the c'eisN
and people of the various denominatiorsih ''s 0'S
Tho NAV is now IN rehearsal and will be produced
in building on Twenty-thrd ST., reconsructeu ioi
the purpose, about Christmas, under inc direc'io'
of the author number of leading clergVihen' u
whom the subject was preached by TRIBUNE re-
porter. have condemned the undertaking IN tle
strongest termA There Is no great divergence III
the views taken The performance is chiefly op
posed on the ground that it treats OF subject wicn
is held sacred by Christians of every denomination
and respected by all classes. The claim that has
been made that the play would be countenanced by
the Catholic clergy denied by them lhey oppose
il as strongly as those of other denominations
Some of the clorgymen whose OPINIONS were
solicited denounce the proposed performance as d
| catch penny show
at will ONLY be productive Of evil, SAID the
Rev. Dr. John Hail. of the Fifth Avenu" PresON"-
RIO, Church "Iu former DAYS the Passion was
produced with good intentions to make the iacts OF
Christianity real to ignorant and Hi crate people
But think that II has degenerated In THESE Gays w
a spectacle for mixed crowd AT hrst IL was
gratutous means of instruction and not means o.
making money. This gave II an entirely dlHereh
character All those who value Christian truth and
Important element in civilization arc apt 10 as
courage the pro iucion OF the Passion on any stage
The claim that this is going to De SET up az d
means of enlightenment has no force wha,eVeI'
Those people who would 90 10 soc the spec'ace hIe
not USUALLY of the class that are looking Tor reg
ious instruction. If there is anv evidence OF
larye body of people in this city willing 10 ne III
sfrucfed In glous truth. there Is not clergyman
of any denomination VIII" onId not oe
ling to go and preach to them III .ne ea The
Passion Play produced at q erammereau, u Is a
very important question whe'hor. as produced
there has promo Ell the INTEL gence anu virtue ol
the people have heard of person, who upper
sonatcd the leading characters ~ Their representa-
ton as conducting themselves IN such q manner ~
not TO command respect put I" III iniiu i""-
"What class of people, in your opinion will be
attracted by itr' o,;e.d h,
this performance are the same those who del ut
in seeing life imperllcd. The shooting Oh IN
during an exhibition given TO graIitv TIM taste
The greater the extent to which TINS ieeilhg grat-
led the stTO ger this unnatural craving w ne
come | believe tina the old miracle paws when
were designed to brguile the heather into tristan
WAYS by giving Significance to old Liam
usages as 4 rule resulted perh ips IN some good"
"Will the fact hat 1t IS proposed TO pro nee tins
play III building prepared Tor the purpose, and
with amateur performers remove some OF Tue ODJcc-
nous to the performance v
This isa shallow preience on the part or those
who are to engage in production. 1t Is Claimed
that the pay Will b, presen ed III proper Hli'
but IS malttToi very grave donor IN my NM nha
if intel igent and sincere peopl. can DC touhu WIG
viii suppose that they are advancing truth a3d
morals by lmpersonatlng Chrlst ana deplcuhg tue
sacred scenes of the Passion"
WHAT TIRE REV. DIR. VINCENT THINKS.
The Rev. Dr. Vincent, of the Church of the Gov
onant. said: 81 do not believe that such repre-
seniafious which are a relic OF the old mystery OF
miracle plays, were ever necessary to illustrate
Christian truth The early teachers OF Christianity
in dealing with ignorant and sinpe people were
content wi h the New Testament methods and sue
ceeded by means of these. do not think
that miracle plays were ever nee 'ssary to
illustrate Christian truth. Christian methods
change. but so as 70 cash with
thristian principles The principles of reverence
for sacrc facts are inherent Chris .Ianlty
ad obligatory upon all methods. Tne actual
Oh racttr If tn ID miracle plays was mixed, APP
peang TO the mirth well as 10 the re eience of
the people. Now, Ii such exhibiuOns were ever
necessary OF legitimate, they are SO no longersNone
OF the conditions which might be urg a tor their
former product ,ou any longer exist. hfstian los
sons are SPIRAL abroad. and are Open IN Their
SIM plrst forms 10 the poorest anu most ignorant III
is moth lux to the poi That the piay may nave
originated at OberImmergau IN trde deyOtl IN, and
may have been pTonnrd with tie best intention
and the most solemn reverence. the conditions
even then have ch'ngcd. 1t Is no longer confined
t. the simple people OF the mountali e. ana merely
an exurcSsun D. Their dcvOti II, but II has become
an exhibition for tourists d source of gain 10
the village. SO the original condIlOns no longer
exist"
Would you object TO this performance if 1t were
given III the right spirit -
n" should strongly object 10 il were | satisfied
that it was prompted ny the sev resi- religi us
motive. object to It all the more strongly because
it is proposed 10 introduce 1t here a. an exhlOllnn
IL is TO he tut upon the stage because
II will draw, and is prostitu ion OF the
sublImest facts of Christian history 10 the puT-
unSs of non lar enter afnment It i mex pre- sibly
sho, King and in frself IL gTOssest sdcr 90 10
sOcate the incidents OF The life and work OF Chrst
with the scncs Of fhratre Whatever may b.
said in defence OF the thcgtrlt usages and asso-
cations have no natural afhmtles with tHe Incl
dents of The Passion. pass no jul gnent upon the
character of those who sustain tue parts. saou d
object to It, moreover, If 1t were played hy COM
paiy of saints The hOugnt of the mt rehcarsa.s
and reproductions night after night OF the Passion
is simply horrible. ~
WHAT DO You tbink the eHccJ VIII DC upon Ihe
1t viii without doubt be demorallzing"
What Will its effect be upon Christian senti-
ment I"
alt can in no degree deepen the Christian senti-
ment in true Christian hearts
~ hat do you think its effect will be upon tho
|. at will certainly vugarize Christian history to
them protes, aga,hst the production OF this per
torrance the name OF decrncY and religion an
OUTRAGE upon the Christian public"
THE PLAY AN ANACHRoNIsM.
"In the first place this play will be an anachro-
nism" said the Rev. DR.. Potter of Grace Church.
" The Passion Play belongs to an age when IT was
necessary TO teach by of speciaccs. There is
| no need of such method being employed now. 1t
is just rs unnecessary it is to teach intelligent
people by means of pictures or obj"c teach
children 1t has been UNSUITABLE, perhaps at ODER
ammergau and other places where the miracle
PLAYS are produced in some form but the time has
come when even these should be- dispensed wit L.
hen tue play is produced in Bavaria people swarm
there in such nmbrs that II is Necessary tn
press trans and they go merely to view IL as spec
tacle in qualification OF their chi ,sity l do not
believe II could be made instructive As have
SAID there is no need IN time of such
me, hods being employed. Besides those who un-
derake this pr Ornance are not aOe to guarantee
it proper repr sentatIOn. Tney may co trOl he
Will not Dc able to con ro he spectators. I'll use