New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-07-24

future 70 Oberammergau with its surroundings, Its
peopIc and It's theatre Uhoueh IL is hardly correct to
can IL theare) could be tIansplanted here so as to
enable our people TO witness the Passion Play Just rs
IS given there there might be to favor
the transportation. But II 1t should be given here IL
I wrsd be much in the nature of spectacular SNOW
The spectacle would drive from the minds OF those VINO
saw # the thoughts Of religion and DEVOTION ana IL
would be much out Of place. think the people Vi
! Oberammercau have themselves appreciated that
Every one who has been at Oberammergau is familiar
with the story that when they have been asked to
bring the Passion Play TO other points they have SAID
that they might go II they could take the Kofel with
them The Kofel, as yen know IS the high summit
which rises over their village, and seems to them to
point TO the heaven whence they have received the
favors for which they give their play sign OF
gratitude. l believe that this is the general senti-
mcnt Of our people The topic is too sacred to form
| the subject OF spectacular performance
| In discussing the chances Of the Oberammergau
| peoples coming Chicago at all, Bishop Mcdonnell
said that they would not do without the approval
OF their PASTOR and their pastor would not be likely
to grant this without investigating and carefully con-
sidcrtng the conditions under which the play would
be presented In America. and tho probable results III
the pnn should meet the decided dlsapproval OF the
Church. the Press and the people Of this country arti-
clcs from the American papers showing this to be tue
case would no doubt be copied In the Munich papers
and the fact would Thus become known by the Obcr-
ammcrgau people. lie thought that they might be
persuaded 70 come hero by the representation mat
Americans anxious TO 500 their play. and that
some good could be accomplished by Il, but he had
met Herr Lang. The borougllmn Of the village and
the manager and Of tho chief actors Of the play
and knew him to be an able and sensible man and
did not believe that he would be induced to make
such an arrangement wi hout due consideration.
The Rev DR.. Lyman Abbott, pastor OF
rymou'h Church. Brooklyn. and editor OF "The
Cbf -ian IN on" said that ne should be glad 10 be
cha, Mort
vent the performance Of the Passion Play in Chicago
and authorized ~ the expression Of his opinion the
Use u the following quotation from recent Issue
Of his paper
Tho Passion Play Of Obcrammcrgau. it is announced
f. probably to be given in Chicago during the Worlds
Fair According 70 the report Of the Chicago Inter
ocean, an omphitlco'.r Is % 10 'acctcd, With cauvas
roof large enough scat rom 600 20 10000 pop'e:
emery VIII represent tho mountains which notlfe ma
| furnished a. the background II Obcrnmmcrcau; Josef
Mailer 10 the water % represent the Christ
and other, fran Obcranmccau will take Other principal
| parts. 1.-The play VIII not be- a spectacle, but moral
lesson illustrated" This "a the promise but venture
| 10 sav that which neither money nor real can
rn0i The difference between tho painted noun
ns NJ Chicago and tho rrl mountains Of obe1mnergnu
vii not DO greater than the difference between the com
mcrcai spirit ~ the loc. and The religious spirit OF
The other II VIII De easy 20 iulDst the actors. but
not tho audiences and the latter determine the spirit
OF Performance ono light well attempt 70 tnn-lo''
| he soiomn solitude nnd stiffness q Bovarian valley
| "a
ntfoduc" The spirit 81 the real Oberanmegnh mo
plsssur,s.oklng rush Of tho Worries Far Tho pro-
feet has reached" IS fal. that stag" u advancement
whore but the nal word remains 70 b" said to m'ke 10
eGoctuaI This is from tho pcop" Of u" United
states. II serious objection is raised tho id"" Will Of
cour-c be sbandoncd" We trust that thl, serious OBJ
lection VIII p" ta-'d in mos; vigorous and emphat
protest. To tum the CrucnNo0 nD a Spectacle 70 add
TO attractions II the Worlds Fair would BE- pro>t
tuition u .1crcd Of history q puFpo~c'
I amusement and money-uaklng. IN spit" q III" b'st
with tho conductors might make 20 prevent that
| result 1t hs reader vino las IN I0mum &
Bailey. "shov" the spectacle Of Columbus imagine the
CfucaNon rcprsntcd with anaogou, scenery and bor"
analogous audience and IN sim.a- e'morheF'i And
nothing could prevent the audience and N" atmosphere
| rom being Of curiosity and pleasufc-,eehns.
The opinion expressed BY the Rev. Dr. W. r.
huntington rector Of Grace Church, Is brief but quite
TO tho point. II IS Inns: AZ wEcrr beyond the
| limits Of tie Ob"lammcrsau valley, the Passion Play
IS both anachron,m and an offence. The proposal
10 transport 1t to Chicago SUBURB ~ the qualification
II tie lazy and tho curious ought 80 BE- met. as IL
| undoubtedly VIII BE-. hy the iusant and unragglns
epp.uon = All WIG rh"r IA spark OF Ie'.r'ne" for
picturesque tradition. h,uns damae" 10 the Simple"
hearted prtf of The too hclc peasants, ahd uhl1h
riy.n ty iec K.T br lame, " XIX - - john.
Methodist Episcopal tlur,h. under siN heads ls
fun,N,: First. ! don't believe That the peasant.
who hav" tak'q part IA n, play can be- .e'urd 10
com" to America ~ Civ" The pay theatrical per
mann, MAXIM and he Frn"i,, ,1.rrriary s~'ond
doubt whether ~" Chnrch authoritlc, would permit
IT'S members q transform what on The past has been
considered rel gious ceremony to mere th'a'ri' al
eI-r'ac Third doubt whether the United state,
Government or a." Illinois state authorities would
permit n spectacle. FOURTH n permitted. I'm my
Judgment the ,ul,ported performance woald d.
moralfr The simple minded peasant, MT only. bat
would d'molallc the spectators. r1hh. It would
breed ricyercnro Tor sacred thus-. ana ircvercnoc
produces ,I'r"sc -u which need. ENCOURAGEMENT
In land where license b, 100 oitn conloundei VITA
NOfflNc or
in th" commemorauon Of IN" results ~ Cluubu,> Dis
Tho Rev. Dr r. Winchester Donald. rector Of The
Church II the Ascension. answered III" request for
facts or event, for the sole object Of making money
can DO me spectators no good. \, tlis Is only u
matter oi business instead ~ spiritual good. II VIII
result In spiritual harm. This country Is suffering "a
prc-"Gt from tendency 10 turn awful things into
ridlcna ana 10 maxi" the church Of God place for
having good time The living Of mi, play In !
Tho material for n I"it h,nrtcd rnt~rtnnmcnf nm
my judgment the Church 81 Icsi, Christ IS In consii
primary objects to interpret mans Of and
10 dc'oopc his spirit 81 sacrifice. There may have
beneficial influence. bat that time !, now past"
Dr Donald added tlat he doubted whether the
feet simplicity and reverence even AT Obernmmcrglu
on account Of no s?rll Of money mailing which had
the pn, In 1871 and again In loo that tho loss In these
desirable respect, between the two representation,
Another strong protest against the Importation Of
The Passion Play was mads by the Roy. Dr. Henry
II strongly opposed to the plan. ! have never
seen tho Passion Pay mt Obcrammcrgau. but know |
what II means. Taking the play away from itS en- |
vronncnt would be- like taking anything beautiful |
from It's prOpc! and natural surroundings and putting
Il where tho surroundings would be contrary to |
lis nature II would be- Inappropriate ana uniting |
Just a, 1t would be Inappropriate 10 plant a In |
stable. E"lcoVS subjects particularly should be |
ispL IN their own environments. We Catholics |
should De very much shocked 10 a travcsty OF
mass I'm Il theatre To take the raS-Ion Play ava, |
from Obcrammcrglu. whore the whole aimos plerc OF
tho place /, religious and where tho object of its |
re- | purely
pat IL a show or Il circus ordinary play I'm |
"a proiinc theatre, amid prOflnc surroundings would |
be Ia shock the religion, feelings of the people.
pcclay Of Catholics. II would be- to bring holy |
thing, into contempt. do not think that any good !