The Worthington advance., 1883-05-17
THE PASSION PLAY.


The Mayor OF New York, some weeks
since, refused a license to Salmi Morse
to present the Passion Play. Mr.. Morse
went on with his preparations and has
presented the play several times. not.
withstanding the interference of the
authorities. What a disgrace it is to
the American name that one of the
nobltst spectacular dramas ever pre-.
sented, must lie suppressed at the in.
stance of bigoted clergy. ''Gath,' -
in a recent letter says of the play:
saw at the Passion Play last night
William Brown, formerly of Youngs.
town, Ohio, looking for i seat. This
morning Browns publishing partner,
Nathan Morse, killed himself, aud it
was sent all over town that Salmi Morse
llad done 50. His play was again stop
ped last night. Salmi is a tall, fatherly,
small minded persecution he has met
can not he made religious by law. Op.
can go anmolested; but a representation
of the example of Christ is called bias.
phemy. Christ was steadily called a
blasphrmer for getting on the plat form
and saying I've was Gods son. Morse
said last night that there was nothing
left for him but crucifixion with his
Master. Hence it was believed awhile
to-day that he was dead.
And what is the "Passion Play:':
Simply il representation Of the leading
Incidents in the life Of Christ, a play
which has been presented in ali Christ
ian nations for centuries. The one by
Mr.. Morse, we understand is an im-
provemeut upon the famous Ober. Am
morgan play which has been presented
regularly fer SO MANY years and has
drawn people from AL parts Of the
wr:il to witness it.
And why DO the New York bgots
Object? First, because the clergy want
Il monopoly of that business. They want
to d. all the acting and strutting and
dwelling , pom the passion Of Christ.
They an the churches ont Of which
t., j get their living want Il monopoly Of
C,::is1. They are coininy millions of
m'.,ey oUt Of it and tary Ito not want
an Infringement Of the holy and sacred
patell1 Which they claim. Secondly
there are scores Of f. o. churchpeo; IL VIII.
have certain ''sacred" feelings wkicl
they claim will be ''slc cke,l' if the play
is presented Indeed! are these fools
compelled t, go and witness the play
Can t they 20 - their minister anG
have their feelings "shocked' 10y a por
trayal OF the ayo"ies Of the passion
There are tens OF thousands who desire
to see the play, and WHY should they b'
deprived Of the privilege because few
fools object who do not want to see it:
The Catholic Bishop of San Francisco
commended the play and encourage:
his people to witness it. The methot
of teaching the scriptures and impress
ing their lessons upon the people du
hing the middle ages in England was b!
the old Miracle plays ont of which tI,'
great English drama grew.
| It was reserved for the metropolis O.
America, in the full light of the 1871
century, to display such bigotry ant
slavish yielding to the religious fla
natics, as would have shamed any Eu
ropear city of the Dark Ages.
New York is nndoubtly the Paradise
Of sinners and fools. 1t is the head
quarters of the Tweeds, the Comstocks
the Benedicts, and of the religious big
OTIS and ignoramii Of tie country.
is the most bisoted, the most under th
influence of the priesthood, especial.
the more savage Protestant priests, o
any city OF the continent.
Chicago is more worthy to be ca],et
the metropolis of America. We hop
Mr.. Morse will bring his play to Chi
cago and have it presented there.