New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-19
ASKED TO STOP PARSIFAL.
DIR. BURRELL TO MAYOR.
Bishop Burgess Denounces Music
Drama-Boys Fool Detectives.

For the adherents and enemies Of 'Parsifal."
yesterday was another day of moment The
Rev. DR.. David j. Burreu. pastor of the Marble
Collegiate Church. in a pamphlet entitled
&" "ParsifaT: RemonstranCe,' appealed TO
Mayor Low to revoke the license permitting the
production of "ParsifaT' at the Metropolitan
Opera House on Christmas Eve. At the noon
service at St. Pauls Chapel Bishop Burgess,
recovered from his recent slight Illness de-
nounced "Parsifal" as false in its teachings to
every page of the Gospel" In the afternoon the
forty Calvary Church choir boys sang at the
illustrated lecture on "Parsifar' by Mrs. Helen
Rhodes at the New L~ceum Theatre. the at
tempts Of detectives 10 reach them behind the
scenes being futile.
Bishop Burgess began ny saying there we're
two ways in which the advent of the infant
Jesus could be received by the world-either as
the Eternal Son of God an ideal. of
whom the manger and the Virgin Mother were
only myths and beautiful surroundings of
Christmas. To those who looked on Jesus as an
ideal only, His claim of sonship to God was
only a figure of speech and true only as true of
all men.
ITO such" he said the life of Jesus has no
sacredness. Strauss, the great German whose
teachings shocked Europe I'm 1885. preached that
lesson and such is doubtless the belief of the
great genius whose drama it Is proposed TO give
in this city on Christmas. 1t written by
one who sees in Jesus only the man. To him
there is no irreverence in his work; nothing
basphemous in the devices which connect his
legends with the Son of Mary. the feast of the
Grail the reproduction of the Eucharist. the
singing of the Sacred Word and the picture of
the harot and at last her baptism.
"All these things cause no shock 10 the man
who looks on Jesus as one of the ideals of hu-
tI,o,
countless in New-York. attend according to their
taste Against them 1 utter no protest. But to
those who believe something else. who believe
the Son of Mary IS the Saviour and God the
play becomes abhorrent There are some of us
who take the Holy Communion the greatest
act of love and alteration human being is capa-
BILE Of who hope when the night of death ap-
proaches to hear the priest say those sacred
words. and do not want TO see the representa-
tior of that scene on the boards of the Metro
politan Opera House or to hear those conseCrated
words sung by painted actors on a painted
stage If you say to me The music is inspir-
ing I reply that this is not the first time art
has appeared tempter. Sacrilege cannot
be regarded as beautiful if it be artistic.
Men have told 1 going outside the
province of the pulpit in speaking of this thing.
1 have made the life of Jesus my chief study
for thirty years. and I know what say when 1
tell YOU that drama is false in its teachings to
every page of the Gospel"
DIR. BURRELLs "REMONsTRANCE."
In his "remonstrance' DR.. Burrel. after be-
ginning with this statement, 1T is generally
conceded that Richard Wagner meant to ex-
press his vague religious views in 'Parsifal'.
which is an attempt to combine the story of
Jesus with the Arthurian legend of the Holy
Grail His inclination toward Buddhism is seen
in the reincarnation of the incestuous wife of
Herod as Kundry and in the grouping of events
peculiar to the life and passion of Jesus in the
romantic story of his hero" quotes from parts
of the music drama which he believes sustain
his contention. He then continues:
In behalf of mutitudes Of earnest earnest people I ap-
license permitting this play, On the holidays Of
proeiaim. 'Procul Proeu abeste profani,' lest
there should be. any undue trifinS with sacred
of our city to make his Influence felt in the
OPERA with his associates in the conduct and
pEbetber It is wise thus to antagonize the Chris
tian sentiment of the community.
friends who officially associated in the public
mind With the 81 G ornP SGPPors 0g 'ns
as to the Messiahship of Jesus, and we would fain
PaEs So suth derence Of opinion Should justify
this stage OF the worId history. any alienation
neisbRors But it wise for them. in the interest
Of peace ana good feeling, 10 lend themselves either
bv silence or active support to the dramatizaton
Of events connected win the tragedy Of Calvary?
7 anneal also to public opinion This Is a Chris
! ,isn country If ali England stirred indig-
nStion when Cromwell stabbed his horses in ST.
paIiTe C'atbrdraI is there occasion for PATRIOTS
protest against this grim display of symbols assO-
risted with Christs life and doctrine, which our
faws GfidSsu and iurisprudene are founded?
And finally make bold 20 srPe5al PIE to Christian
| HIetronoitan Opera. They nave il in their power
either 10 prevent this sacrilegious performance or
~ signal failure or H.
We are living IN irTeyerent times Men take
boIebtIessiv profanc His name. deny the sanctions
/ ~ His Word and desecrate His holy day. Where
| obau ,ha line he drawn? At the blood Here let
| the halt be called man may go TO the theatre
! to witness dramatic reproduction or the scenes
| sing her last tender words for the entertainment
stHs audience az amusement seekers but let no
| SLrts,,sn stoop so low 70 iend himself 10 an
onarstie nresentation Of Chrsts farewell interview
! Continued third page.