New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-07-15
THE LUTHER PLAY AT GIESSEN.
NOTES AT THE. PERFORMANCE OF QUAINT
RELIGIOUS RAMA.

Frankfort on Main Juno is.
Tho little town of Gicssen is at tho present time
attracting people and notice to itself through It's Luther
play, which is being performed IN the FIRST EVanson
cal Church by students of the University and memocrs
of various Protestant denominations. 1t Is on INC
order Of the Obcrammcrgau plays and Is interesting
perhaps, more as expression of the German "e''-
geist- Of to-day than work of great literary ana
dramatic merit.
went from frankfort to Glcsscn for the purpose
OF being present at the first performance, whch TOOK
place on Sunday afternoon Arrived at GicsScn l
found the station crowded with non-uavcliDg puo-
lic-peasants in picturesque Hessan costume, soldiers
in extra Sunday shine and cleanliness and corps stu
dents, with their caps eyeglasses ana scars all on
the slant took seat in dwarf omnibus, which was
the only public conveyance to be seen The driver had
evidently received Instructions to collect passengers
from several trains before starting upon his five min
utcs drive to the church, for he showed no intention
of moving After fifteen minutes Of impatient en-
DURANGO l threatened TO leave tho vehicle, whcrupon
my man. rcadusting his official and looking up AT
heavily falling shower, replied good naturally; You
may get out If you wish 1t not that persuaded
you to get in.' The speech was worthy Yankee
sage-drivcr and almost served TO break the spell Oh
time and place that was upon nc.
For Glessen has the look Of an ancient If not by
gone place, with its narrow streets cggcobDc pave
mcnt, swinging signs ard irregular pcrspectlves' Inc
gable roofs Of the houses seem to be leaning across
the street whispering 10 one I" w PiS"e
into garrett secrets with their small cye-wndows.
Windows and doors are TO a building what eyes and
mouth are to the human facc-they seem TO indicate
the life and character which lie behind.
Upon alighting at the church | stopped to take a
look at its exterior which had the motilc gray appear
ancc OF old age Z" Is the church old p asked NO;
OH no: It was built as late the seventeenth cen
tury,n the reply, entered rcvcrenty the open
door. The interior plain, cold and orthodox IN
tone quite BETTING the Luther spirit which pervadcd
IT, On either side of the were galleries supported
by nutcd columns, which upon this occasion served
TO divide the upper seats into boxes. The altar had
been transformed into a stage and was hung with
plain red diaw-curtain and surmOunted with the I'M
pcrial crown and eagle. Below were broad stone
steps which served at certain points in the play to
unite the actors with the loOkcrs-on The audience
or rather the congregation, plainly clad and silent
Men and had that look of intelligent interest
which, among Germans of the educated class, means
free criticism combined with quick emotional sym
patty. \ voluntary was being played upon the
organ, and the music, with alternate strength and
sweetness, seemed TO be uniting the whole. 1t was
claspng of hands between church and stage. Bciorc
me in rows Protestant ssterhood, and as l
looked at their nuns dress and placid expression of
face, realized sharply the distinctions between re-
lgIon and theology The spirit Of selfconsccration
and self sacrifice which Is the basis of every church
order seems from a distance to make them all kin
The opening of the play represents Luther
as young monk seated at a table in his cell wrestling
with pcrplcxities and longing for reconciliation with
God. lie calls him the God of Vengeance and Anger,
and believes that through Adam all men damned.
A brother monk opening the Scriptures at the New
Testament points passages which prove that faith
and love, not fear, the true union between man
and his Maker This thought seems to lift Luther
out of his morbid brooding and TO give him courage
to believe in Gods love and forgiveness. Two Wit
tcnberg students enter, the in high spirits at hav
hf-
not being equal to his guilt, stlll carrying the burden
of bis msdccds. Luther suddenly 10 realize
the shamefulDcss of this traffic and declares that he
Will place OH the church doors of Wttcnbcrg pro
test against the further sale of indulgences. Ills
friends try to restrain him. but he declares regardless
consequences the time has when the mask
be from the face of religion and Gods work
interpreted Alright.
Next scene between Luthcr's friend. Meanc
thon, and German knight, who describes the burning
of the Papa bull and announces with enthusiasm his
own readiness and that of all German knighhood TO
free the Church from the yoke of Rome
The third act pictulc-for there arc no inter
missions and The whole is joined together by the sing
ing of old German choraIs by the choir-presenis
Luther before the Diet Worms The Emperor,
Charles ", is seated upon the throne, and around him
grouped a brilliant company OF princes and lords of
the realm. The accusation of heIesy is brought
against Luther, and he is called upon 10 the
prayer the monk stands erect and defends with eo-
Qucncc his position lie sets aside all offers OF personal
support from German knighhoOd and declares that
spiritual wrongs may be fought only with spiritual
weapons, and that 1t Is the sword Of the Lord alone
which can defend his holy cause. Tho climax IS
reached with Luthcr's well-known words Her stche
Ich, Ich kanD Dicht andcIs hcfe mir Colt. Amen -
e. Here i stand; / cannot do otherwise help me
God. Amen ~ Upon this occasion the dramatic
effect of the play was heightened by loud pcas Of
thunder, which seemed like "a verifying from above
of all eternal truths Charles V. listens I'm silence,
then prOnounces upon Luther the punishment of
communication and wthdraws with his court. Luther
staggers under the blow, but rallies while many
followers gather around him. Together they descend
the altar steps, and actors, choir and congregation
unite together in singing Fine feste Burg list
Colt" This, arstically considered, is the climax Of
the play. Luther's beautiful hymn, with its volume
of sound fills the church and srs the congregation
to its depths. Scarcely eye is dry.
The play ends with Luther no longer a monk, but
the head of happy family Wife and children gather
around him. Friends join the group and the
former speaks TO them OF the saccdness Of marriage
and its blessings. To peasant he hands the transa-
ton OF the Bible into German. lie IcprOvcs those
WHO would destroy the beauty Of churches by remind
ing them that art Is tho haDdmaid OF religion, and
the fanatic and the agitatOr against the fali
bnity of all human judgment.
The play throughout represents Luther, not
antiCathOlc, but as a humanitarian who would i'm
prove the world by improving individual lives. 1t
closes with a happy allusion to the United Germany
Of to-day, in which Catholic and Protestant may
worship peacefully side by side. The curtain falls,
MIN dankct ALE Gott' A u" united Fatherland7 was
as dear a dream to Luther as II is now proud fact
to every German OF to-day May the wisdom of rulers
lance bequeathed TO her by the two soldier Empcr-
ors who have passed away almost hand-in,hand AS
j write, the bells toDg the death of Frederick
Frederick the Goddard IL is truly united Germany
that is sOnOwiDg to-day.