Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-09-22
THE BAvARIAN PASSION PLAY.

Interesting Sermon on the Subject by a
Pitt.burg Pa.tor Who Witnessed IL.
There was a large congregation at the
Point Breeze Presbyterian Church last
night to hear the pastor, Rev. Dewitt n.
Benham, discourse on the announced SUBJ
ject of the passion Play at Oberammer-
gau." DR.. Benham witnessed one OF the
representations when in Bavaria this sum-
mer. His sermon on the subject last even
ing was necessarily in large part narrative.
1t gave very vivid account of the history
of the Passion Play, and was intended to il
lustrate and emphasize the growth in eff
cheney of cotemporaneous methods of re-
ligious teaching as contrasted with the harsh
realism of the period of what were known as
miracle, morality and Passion plays.
The adaptation of the form of the Greek
drama, during the Middle Ages in Europe,
as one OF the means of spreading among the
unlettered multitude a knowledge of the
events and incidents of Scripture was de-
scribed, as also similar efforts by the art of
painting. When the Roman empire fell at
the hands of the rude hosts of Northern and
Western Europe, the agency of literature
and logic which had been potent in
teaching scholars, philosophers and states
men of Rome and Greece the gospel
of Christianity were supplemented by
calling into requisition the skill of the
painter and of the dramatist. These
received their instruction from the theolo-
gans as to how they were to present the mar
rative of the Scriptures to the common peo-
pie, many of whom were as yet unacquainted
with written language. Oberammergau pre-
sents the only survival of the passion
Play" As now given, it began there in
1886. A pestilence had the previous year
caused great loss Of life, when the inhabi-
tants made a vow to revive the Passion
Play" as it had been represented centuries
before. The tradition is that the prayers
were heard and the seourge ceased in the.
village. At intervals of ten wears ever since
the representation has been given.
DR.. Benham gave minute account OF the
scene of this remarkable religious drama,
ofthe beauty of the mountain village far re-
moved from the ordinary activities of COM
mercial life, and of the simplicity of the
people. The great numbers of pilgrims who
attend, he said, were inspired by religious
and reverential motives. They prepared
themselves by religious devotions for the
occasion. But there was besides an enormous
crowd of mere sight-seers, drawn only by
curiosity. Not the slightest evidence was
presented by these, as class, that the
spectacle at Oberammergau produced among
them any beneficial effect. While making
due allowance for the motives which led to
the Passion Play" in the earlier times,
the speaker could only regard it
in its later atmosphere and surroundings
as a proclamation. The personation of the
Savior and of the holy persons of Scripture
by the peasants. even though the acting was
good, so entirely eliminated the spiritual
influences, was SO entirely physical, as to be
the reverse of uplifting to those who had
formed higher conceptions Of the sacred
story from the inspired narrative of the
Bible.
The discourse concluded with an express
sion of belief that the Passion Play at
Oberammergau will not long survive under
the conditions of these later days, and with
the argument that it is contemplation of the
divine graces of Christ, such as no human
actors can portray, which influences and
elevates man. rather solely representation
of the physical suffering.