Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-21
THE PASSION PLAY.
Graphic Description and Representa-
ton of Great Religious Drama.

Graphic Description and Representa-
ton of Great Religious Drnma.
Some years ago-that is to say, before the
marvellous inventions Of Edison and Jen.
kins. which have made photographs living
ard m owing things and projected them ir
life size upon the canvas-this country was
greatly agitated in all religious circles by
the proposition of certain persons to re.
produce in the United States the famous
passion play of Ober-Ammergau and Other
still prevail This agitation ended in the
Withdrawal of the play and the incident
closed. Then. when the new order of things
arose, agents of the cinematograph wen,
10 the forests of Bohemia, and there. after
many months of persuasion. they succeed.
ed in securing a reproduction on canvas OF
The passion play of the peasants. Simple
and beautiful. and fervid, this drama oil
Christ, the greatest the world has ever
known or can know, is now given to us
in the new world as nearly living as 1t is
possible to be. This was tie play at the
Columbia Theater last night, which Tor
TWO hours held the large audience i'll a
cattedral-like stiffness which was most
impressive. Tine pictures began with views
in and about the little Bohemian village,
thence to the Passion Spielhaus, and the
play began with 4 series of tableaux from
the creation to the birth of Christ These
were followed by the passion play proper
depicting scenes in the life of Christ, clos.
ing with the Crucifixion, burial and resur-
rection. Throughout the solemn and sacred
story the interest of the audience was held
and the effect was heightened by the music
of the organ, played by Jno. r. Clemens.
The lecture by Professor Ernest Lacy set
forth fully whatever Vas lacking in the pic
lures. OF these pictures. mechanically. ii
may be said that most of them are as near
ly perfection as has vet been attained in
this department or departure of photogra-
ply. Some are not so good, but they mere
ly accentuate the excellence of the most of
them. There are forty-four views in all.
Among those present were Rev. B. L.
Whitman, president of Columbian Univer-
sity; Rev. ]. 3. Perry. Rev. James A. Har-
old Rev. Henry Reed, Rev. Stanley Bit
he.mer, Rev. DR.. Stuart, Rev. George F.
Dudley, Rev. A. Homrighaus, Rev. G. Fa-
cius, Rev. Paul A. Mcneil Rev. Nelson
Falls, Rev. A. F. Anderson, Rev. William
H. Nelson, Rev. Frederick D. Power Rev.
Kemper Bocock, Rev. James w. Clark
Rev. John F. Linscott. Rev. ]. T. Grove
Rev. Edward B. Bagby, Rev. H. r. Nay
lor. Rev. W E. Parson. Rev. Henry ].
Shandelle, ST.; Rev. NJ. Ross Ffshburn,
WEIGH, 81; Rev. ]. E. A. Doermann. Rev
Charles Alvin Smith, Rev. Paul Griffith
Rev. ]. NJ. E. Mckee, Rev. s. NJ. Newman,
Rev. Alexander Kent, Rev. T. c. Easton,
Rev. Howard Wilbur Ennis. Rev. A. Thorn
as G. Apple. Rev. V. F. 3. Schmidt, Rev.
Frank Sewall. Rev. G. Q. Bacchus. Rev.
Edward Warren, Rev. c. C. Morhart Pro-
fessor Cleveland Able, Nathaniel T. Taylor
president of Carroll Institute; Mr.. Edward
A. Mosely Mr.. Milton E. Smith, DR.. D. G.
Davie. Mr.. F. H. BrIstow. Mr.. John B.
Larner, Mr.. N. H. Shea. Mr.. Henry E.
Davis, Mr.. l.. Cabell Williamson, and a
large number Of the members of the lega-
tons and embassies. including Chin Pom
Ye, his family and attaches.