New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-04-25

MAYOR GIIROY DECIDES THAT THE
PIECE Is SACRILEGIOUS.
THE RosENFELDs INTEND TO PRODUCE II ~
THE FIFTH AVENUE THEATRE-oNb Of
THE CHARACTERS REPRESENTS JESUS
CHRIST A VICTORY FOX

CHRIST - \ NHlOfNi rDiN
MIR GERRY
Navor Gilrov Yesterday after listening to arsu-
,nents on both sides and hearing part or the
play "Hanne,e' impressively read By one OF
,be actresses who are to appear In It. de-
ci1e1 70 refuse permit to Alice Pierce, the
voung girl who was to take the principal part
Miss Pierce is less than sixteen years Old ana ~
bridge r. Gerry. president Of the society ior '"e
Prevention OF Cruelty 10 Children. objected 10 her
acting on the ground that the play was m
pious and that its effect upon delicate and
sensitive child OF her age would be to undermine
and ultimately destroy her reverence for religion.
The Mayor sustained Mr. Gerry's view of the case.
There were present before the Mayor yesterday
President Gerry. the managers OF the Firh Ave-
nue. Theatre where 1t IS intended TO produce the
play; Samuel Untermeyer. their attorney Gerhard
Uauptrnann the playwright; Miss Maude Banks
who recited her part, in which she represents '"e
apparton Of Hanre.es mother
one Of Mr. Gerry's strongest objections to the
nav was the appearance Of the Saviour but before
the hearing began he informed that all direct
references 10 Christ had been expunged Mr.. Ger
~ read extracts from the amended manuscript ana
showed that there was still character In the per-
Torrance obviously meant for Jesus ChrIsI ne
said among other things:
The Christian religion Is part OF the funda-
mental law OF this country. To rdicule or mock
that religion Is forbidden by the Criminal Code !
am aware that such plays are permitted IN CONT
mental Europe. but In this country no pay can De
ru. Oh the stage for money which deals az taIs
play does with the truths OF the Christian religion
should object in the same way n the pay treated
of the truths Of the Hebrew religion, or the religion
Of any other element IN our community IN the
familiar way in which this play deals with the
Christian religion"
The Mayor said that his authority did not ex-
tend to the prevention OF the presentation OF the
..Fifk Oh
Icing 10 the issuance OF permit for the appear,
ance Of Alice Pierce. Nevertheless the play was OF
sacri.eglous character, he coniended ana the emo
nightly taught % take part In b.asphemy III order
,ir nfernlevrr counsel tor the Rosrnfelds. intro
ducei Miss Banks who said that her feelings IN APP
rcvcr~ntlal ana that Alice's feelings were the same
Il protest. she sad as an actress against l'e 'ea
otn'f peop.e. ae'. - We - rshearsals must
Increase reverence FOR spiritual th,nss g., ,.,,ch
she IA 10 appear Mr. UnterWaye argued IN FAVOR
o( the Issuance OF the permit that great moral
lessons could be taught In the theatre we'll as in
in religious Austria without any criticism ana also
IN Germany Mr. GoTTy an 9PP4s hat me Of Millions
" people just "a we'll qualified as he to judge Us
~ th. drama and sheer the opinions OF others.
Mr. Gerry denied doing any snecring i am not
born ana raised in this country. Every American
citizen has night - raise his voice against Sae''
lego and blasphemy'
permit be- ISSUED Tor one night 50 that the pubic
might Judge II the merits OF the play was objected
~ bv Mr. Gerry. Theodor Rosenfeld. one Of the
theatre managers. eNcitedy presented his views
The Mayor promptly announced ms DECISION. ne
SAIL Il have 10 objection - the production OF
plays which lnculcate religious principles. and
have DO power As a censor 70 forbid the production
az a particular play anyway. ! am an admrer ~
the drama myself and / believe Ia liberality toward
the stage There is. however. no doubt whatever
that the character known The Stranger IN this
r,'. 0f
am constrained 10 believe that II this child has any
sens Of reverence left IL would destroy 1t for her
Q, appear 10 such "A play. The decent sense Of the
comm unity | believe. VIII be shocked and outraged
by the appearance on the American stage or
character representing JesuS-whOsc name has been
mentioned So frequently here-and | am compelled
disapprOve OF Il. | refuse 10 grant the applica-
ton"
II is the purpose OF the managers 10 produce the
play with some other Hannee than Miss Pierce. a
girl over sixteen years Old. TheOdOr ROsenfed said
that the first performance would probably take
place next Monday evening.