Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1883-03-07
THE PASSION PLAY.


"A Glimpse 0C Ato Be0ut10S anu at HIS AutnOr.
A writer in the San who could not be-
lieve that there could be any profanity or
sacrilege in an exhibition which had re-
ceived the endorsement of the good Cathc-
lie prelate in San Francisco, Archbishop
Alemany, and of such ardently religious
PRIESTS as the Jesuit fathers there" went
to the recent dress rehearsal of Salmi
Morse's "Passion Play" in New York,
and thus describes what he saw:
As far as the performance went it was
very beautiful, solemn and impressive.
The drop curtain was chiefly occupied
with the angels who sang to the shep-
herds, while the low and sweet music
issuing from beneath the stage, was evi.
IDENTIFY meant to represent their song of
"Glory be to God in the highest and on
earth peace and good will to men," Ga
the lett corner was the cross. from which
hung bell in the act of striking an hour
as though to signify nomentous hour in
the history of humanity. When the cur
tain rose the stage was filled with crowd
of performers in Oriental costumes, priests,
Levites, Persians, Msdes and Jews, the
high priest in the centre, assembled in a
court of the temple. The architec-
ture was magnifcent-Grecian with
the exception of some large Jew
ish gilded spiral columns. No cost
nor labor has been spared in making
everything as faithful representation as
possible of the originals, both in scenery
and costume. The temple of that period
was Grecian, having been built by Herod,
and, being the fifth temple since the
original one of Solomon and Hiram Abiff
four Instructions having preceded that OF
the Romans under Titus. After a beauti
full hymn by chorus of Jewish women on
the left, the ark of the covenant, large
gilt Golfer, surmounted by two kueeling
angels facing each other, was brought in
by Levites. The high priest intoned, in
slow recitative, some oversees from the
scroll of the law, with responses by tho
chorus of Levites of Amep," given with
great solemnity. It was here that the
modern costumes of the stage manager,
Mr.. Morse, his counsel, Mr. Howe, and
Cant. Williams appeared on the stage, con.
trasting strangely with all the rest that
filled it.
Who Morse Is.
In long interview with Mr.. Morse the
same writer learned that he made his
money keeping large hotel in Melbourne
Australia, and has spent s150, 900 of it get
ging the "Pass;on Play ready for pre-
sentation. He says he has studied deeply
and travelled widely, grudging no expense
to enable him to reproduce everything il
fac simile, so far az It was bumanly pos
sible after all the centuries that
have elapsed. He said F" My parents were
Jews, though I should should scarcely
now be recognized as one certainly nos
in religious belief. When first went to
Jerusalem I was an in6del, as much SO as
Ingersoll but there, when my feet trod
over all the ground where His had trodden
and awakened the same echoes that His
had awakened, I came to understand Him
and to realize His spirit, and what His
life and death had been, and was an in
| fidel no more. It seemed to come upon
me almost like flash and with an over.
powering force. And now, when all
I want is to preach Jesus in way to
make men feel and see him as no pulpit
does or can do, I am crucified by those
who claim to be His ministers"
Mr.. Morse, who is somewhat eccentric,
as we'll as enthusiastic, lives in his thea
tire, cooks frugally on gas stove, but in
his bed chamber the room tesmed almost
lighted up by few articles, Of which the
chief was down bed cover of the richest
maroon eatin, lined with similar
buff satin. In the two upper cor
ners of it were his initials, 8. and
NJ, eight inches long, embroidered in
gold, while in the centre, occupying about
IA inches square, was his coat If arms,
magnidceutly embroidered, or rather en-