The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-03-31
The NewC of Selma.

1 Selma and Mobile, trains running only
 from Selma to Jackson and return, and l from Mobile to Jackson and return, and l all through traffic being handled by way l of Meridian and other points.
 Pen Pictures of the Passion Play. Rev B. F. Matrau, D. D., Rector of | St. Pauls Episcopal Church. last night completed his lectures on the Passion Play of Oberammergau, his sermon be- | ing upon the last acts which comprise the Crucif1xion, the Resurrection and the Dr. Matrau's lectures have been schol- | arly and of deep interest and each of them has been heard eagerly by large | congregation. Dr. Matrau witnessed the play when 1t was last presented in Ober- ammergau and also made a special study of 1t, and he has, therefore, been able 10 give to his hearers vivid description Of probably the greatest drama known to man.,
 pr. Matrau began last evening with what he called the great climax of the play, the Cruciixion scene. The great choir enters upon the stage from right , and left and forms a line along the pro scenium one hundred and fifty feet long! The choristers are dressed in deepest black and as the orchestra plays the ''Miserere'' they sing of the death of the Saviour. Ere they have ceased to sing. the au- dience hears behind the curtain the noise of heavy hammering and over all comes that the awful do pm is now at hand. And as the curtain rses the scene of the Cru cifixion is presented. To the right and 1 to the left stands low cross upon
 the center lies another and a larger cross, and upon this the soldiers and the executioners are engaged in mailing Christ.
 | nails are driven, and the inscription or | dered by Pontius Pilate is nailed above His head. The cross is raised amidst the
 reioicings of Capiaphas, An1as and oth-
 scription, Jesus of Nazabeth. King of | the Jews" they are angered and would seek to have the inscription removed save that they fear the Roman Governor. The stage is crowded with spectat DTS. The holy women of Bethany, the Holy ! Mother, Mary Magdalene St. John and | others of the followers of Christ are | therr with His enemies.
 This scene, Dr. Matrau said, Is the most | impressive and the most affecting of the play, and the audience is moved to tears | by it. Its calm chastity and beauty are beyond description.
 Suddenly a storm arises. Amidst the derisive scoffings of the Jewish rabble | the first breath of the tempest Is felt
 the sky Is oveespread with clouds and
 the sullen roar Of , thunder srd is heard: eaao:
  | upon the soldiers who are casting lots for His garments and upon the Jews who mock Him.
 Christ spake, asking the Fathers for giveness for His enemies. For they know not what they do," and speaks with | the dying thieves. His words anger An mas and Caiaphas and other priests; but
 1t is too late, for Christ is dying. His
 head is bowed and after a few words
 with His mother and St. John, the final
 anguish comes and then death. And then the storm which has been
 threatening bursts upon the city with all | the sky is livid with lightnings and aw-
 ful with the hoarse mutterings of thun.
 der, the graves give forth their dead. and
 all is in darkness. The people and the
 soldiers ars frightened and when the
 news is brought that the veil of the tenn pie has been rent even the priests shud- der with terror.
 The soldiers break the bones of the
 thieves who fall from the crosses and
 they pierce the side of Christ with a | spear. By consent of Pilate, the body of
 Christ Is taken by Joseph of Arimathea
 and given burial, and protesting against
 this, the Jews hasten away in their fear. Joseph assisted by Nicodemus. lowers | His body from the cross and, wrapping
 garden, where 1t is placed. and where it | is watched by the sol1lers sent for the
 purpose by request of the high priest.
 who feared 1t might be stolen away by l tHe lIlSClpleS.
 The next act is the concluding one | After a chant by the chorus the curtain
 rises upon the Garden. The time is early l dawn upon the third day since the Cru | cifixion. The soldiers are watching the | tomb when suddenly there is an earth | quake and a fearful storm, and the great
 stone in front of the sepulchre falls away.
 and Christ, radiant in white. rises from
 the dead and appears at the mouth of | the tomb. The soldiers prostrate them
 selves in fear and Jesus comes from
 the tomb and walking down a path of | the Garden disappears from view. | Frightened and not knowing what to do the soldiers hasten away to inform
 the Pharisees or what has happened. And | the curtain falls.
 | The next and closing scene of the play
 is opened with a beautiful song of tri-
 umph and rejoicing by the chorus again | clad in gorgeous robes. mourning hay | ing been laid aside, and as the curtain | rises the tableau of the Ascension Is pre- | sented. Christ, clad in white and holding | a palm leaf in His hand, is with the Apos- | ties and His Mother and as He blesses | them for the last time He rises slowly
 and joining a great company of Angels | is lost to view, the curtain falling as the
 choir sings a magnificent paeon of joy | and victory.