The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1908-02-08
AMUSEMENT NOTES
The Passion Play.

The Passion Play is q sacred drama,
founded on the life Of Christ, as por-
tray6d III the New Testament. The first
Passion Play of which we have any
record was in the fourth century, A. D.,
among the Greeks, and was called Chris.
tos Paschon." All through the middle
ages, different dramas Of this nature
were portrayed, chiefly by religious or
ders. During the Crusades. many similar
PLAYS were given for the purpose of
stimulating the people 60 activity in
tho saving oil the Holy City from the
hands of the Saracens.
In 1868 the peasants in the village of
0bernmmergau, in Bavaria, Were visited
By a terrible plague which devastated
their country. On its cessation. the en-
tire population made a vow to perform
the passion play OF our Saviours every
tenth year, out of gratitude, and as a
means of religious Instruction. vow
which has ever since been faithfully
and regularly observed. The inhabi-
tants OF this secluded village have rare
union Of artistic ability and cultivation,
with perfect simplicity. Their familiar
ity with religious subjects il even be-
yond what is usual in the Alpine parts
Of Germany, and the spectacle is looked
on with the same feelings with which
it originated. What would appear else
whore as inipious is, to these peasants,
devout and edifying.
The inpersorator of Christ considers
his part an act OF worship He and all
the rest of the performers are selected
for their holy life, and are eonsecrated
10 their work with prayer and fasting.
In fact, it is the ambition OF every child
in the village 10 act part in this great
event OF life, and in order to do 50, they
must show BY their daily life that they
are worthy Of such an honor. Every
village girl has an ambition to portray
the part Of Mary the mother of jesus,
and they believe that in order 10 attain
this, they must not, even in thought,
do anything contrary to the virtuous
and pure character required for the part
of the mother Of the Saviour. Not to
be considered fit 10 take any part, how
ever small, in this grand play Is, IN
Oberammergau, considered to be a great
disgrace To take q part away from an
actor is a shame that can hardly be
borne, and it is on record that once
man to whom this happened sank into
melancholy, which became madness
The intention Of this company Is to
give TO the public in general as near
an exact reproduction of the famous
Passion Play las witnessed in Oberam-
melgau1 as possible, and we eonscien
iiously assert that there is nothing in
this grand performance that will be sac
religious or irreverent, or any pictures
presented offensive to any Christian Of
any denomination, but, instead, eontin
nal scenes and moving pictures illus
trating the fascinating Passion Play.
Every man. woman and child will not
only enjoy this grand performance, but |
viii be held spellbound at the sight Of |
the fascinating and sublime life-sizs
moving pictures Of our Saviour and the |
multitude. and the beautiful surround |
ing scenes.
Every parent and Sunday school teach
er should take advantage Of this OPP |
portuiIity to wildly impress upon the
children these scenes in the Christ life
impressions that can never be effaced /
while the lamp of this life holds out /
TO burn In no other way, short Of q
personal visit to the village Of Oberam
lnerrau, III Bavaria, at the time of this /
stupendous enactment can SO lasting
realization Of the cruciixion Of Christ I
be made. All Theatorium next week.