The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-05-30
PASSION PLAY IN MEXICO.
Christ, Represented by an Image,
JOinted to Do It's Part.
From the Mexican Herald.

From the Mexican Herald.
The version of the Passion Play, as
witnessed yesterday at Coyoacan, was
somewhat marred by the rain that came
on in the afternoon, which necessitated
che crucifxion being held inside the church
instead of on the artificial Calvary in the
churchyard, but the preliminary process
sion took place as usual in the open air
The character of this procession is well
known to all old-time residents of Mexico
An image of the Savior dressed in a
purple velvet robe, crowned with thorns.
and bearing His cross, is carried on a plat
form round the churchyard, surrounded
by Roman soldiers, Jewish priests and
crowds Of the faithful bearing lights.
On the same platform with the Savior are
the Cyrenian, part taken yesterday by
young boy, Cruz Rivas, dressed in Grim
son and white, and three little girls rep
resenting angels, dressed In white muslin
with silver gossamer wings. They held
handkerchiefs to one eye, as If grieving
over the sorrows of the Redeemer. while
with the other they calmly surveyed the
crowd. In front of the procession walked
two bands, the first performing the mo-
notonous music of the indigenous race.
consisting only of the beating of the drum
and the piping of the chirimia, the second
rendering modern selections in excellent
style. Only these selections were some
what incongruous, such as waItzes. pol
kas, etc.
During the procession the three falls
OF the Savior are represented 1t is a
tradition among Catholics that Jesus fell
three times under the heavy weight of
HIS cross on His way to Calvary, The
image is constructed with hinges, so as to
fall forward when desired. All this time
a sermon was being preached yes terdav
by Father Avila. At the times when the
images halted near the pulpit, which was
placed under an outrageous ash tree he
addressed the Savior or His mother. who
was dressed in purple, with the sword of
grief transfxing her breast, in the most
earnest and pathetic terms.
The churchyard of Coyoacan is well
shaded with trees, and the procession. as
Il wound under them, made, with the en-
tire setting, the venerable and weather
stained old church building and the mot
ley and picturesquely attired crowd. a
most effective and impressive spectacle.
the dresses of the Roman soldier were
or purple, green, scarlet and yellow, gem
erously bespangled, and they wore bur
nished helmets with enormous plumes of
the brightest colors. The white-bearded
Jewish priests wore their gorgeous vest
ments with horned mitres, and over the
procession waved flags of black, orange,
purple, white and vermillion. Yet coarse
as these components may be, taken
singly they made an effective scene taken
altogether.
Madame Calderon de la Barca. who saw
the Coyoacan Passion Play nfty-six years
no feaaa 4 Il
effects:
Everything looked gaudy when near.
but as the procession wound along under
the broken arches and through the green
lanes, and the music came fainter upon the
ear,and the beating of drums and the toll
ing of bells and the mounrful chant were
all blended into one faint and distant har-
mony, the effect was beautiful. / thought
Of the simple service OF the Scottish kirk.
and of the country people coming out after
a sermon, with their best Sunday kowns
on, and there serious, Intelligent faces.
discussing the merits OF their minister s
discourse; and wondered at the contrasts
In the same religion"
After the procession the people formed
In two long lines In front Of the pulpit.
and the crier, Manuel Rlvas, on horseback.
caroered backward and forward, thun-
dering forth the sentence against Christ.
At times his horse became unmanageable.
ana as IL started 70 bolt, his words were
almost lost In his efforts TO rein q In. The
people at this junoture made no attempt
TO ropress their hllarity.
Apolonio Rivas, the manager OF the rep
rcsentation and one OF the most subs tam
tlal residents OF Coyocan, kindly gave the
text Of the sentence to the Herald reprcsen-
tative. The following Is the transla lion
OF part: 81, Pontius PLATE, President
OF Lower Galilee, and Governor under the
Roman emperor do judge and sentence
Jesus OF Nazareth as a seditious man and
an enemy Of the mighty Emperor Tiberius
Caesar And / determine that his death
be on the cross fixed there with nails. in
the manner customary with criminals.
For gathering round him many men, both
rich and poor, he has not ceased TO provoke
tumults throughout the whole Of Judea
proclaiming Himself the Son OF God and
King OF Israel. and prophesylng the down
1all Of Jerusalem ana the destruction Of