The Cairo bulletin., 1910-08-02
THE PASSION PLAY.
THRILLING DEScRlPTioN OF
o5ERAMERGAU'S DRAMA BY
REV. THOMPSON.
Laree Audience Heard Second Install
ment Of Lecture Last Night
Will Go on Lecture
Tour,

plasterers, painters and other work.
men services were held Sunday even
ing at Stafford hall. This was not
generally known and a number of per.
sons desiring to hear the second half
of Rev. Frank Thompson's lecture on
the passion play, called at the church
and finding it in darkness supposed the
lecture and services had been post
poned Arrangements have been made
whereby the building will he pushed
to early completion.
The lecture of Rev, Thompson was
a treat to all those who heard it and
is highly spoken of. sf
Rev. Thompson will give up his
charge in Cairo soon and will make
tour through the country delivering
his lecture. Following is a brief
synopsis of the address Sunday night:
Briefly the speaker recapitulated
the story of the origin and growth of
the commemoratioh at Oberamergau
and began the lecture with the ninth
act Christ Before the High Priest.
where He was questioned concerning
the things He had been preaching and
the triumphial entry into jerusalem
TO which Christ made no reply; but
when the High Priest said xIs adMre'
thee by the living God tell me II thou
are the Christ" Quickly he responded
II am" In paroxismic fury the priest
cried fish ma vata" (Blasphemyl.
Christ was then bound and beaten.
An old purple robe put on him, reed
thrust between his wrists and a crown
of thorns upon his brow
The acts following were Peters
Denial and Grief" and Judas dispair
and Suicide"
Then the speaker most graphically
described the Judgment Hall and
Christ before PLATE. Next came the
description of Jesus bearing the cross
up the Hill of Calvary. Christ fell
under its weight and like cruel
monster it crushed him into the earth.
The act in which The crucifxion was
described was received with breath
less silence and tear-filled eyes were
seen throughout the audience. Nails
in his hands, spikes through his feet
and a spear cut in his side accom-
plished the death of young Hebrew
martyr.
TWO weeks before | witnessed the
passion play" said the speaker.
stood where 10000 young Hebrew
martyrs were crucified by order OF
the inhuman Titus For them the
long drawn out days OF death for them
the poignieneY of mental anguish and
sting of physical pain; but their sac
riflce did not save their names from
oblivion nor their synagogue from de-
struction; then why should this young
mans passion be the worlds most
thrilling drama? Because His life
spans the abyss between time and
eternity; the finite and the infinite;
because myraids of fierce heather
who formerly worshiped cruel ances-
trial gods are now hearing and believ,
ing his message of salvation; because
other kingdoms have sunken into void
and oblivion and the inscription which
history put upon them time is surely
iblterating. but the kingdom which
He established upon principles of love
and truth shall stand forever. Today
his sceptre is swaying DER lands
where Romans never trod; His words
repeated by tongues unknown on the
day OF Pentecost
"The last and concentrating act
was in the Garden of Aramathea, day
is breaking, birds are singing, flowers
are blooming; Roman soldiers are
vigilenf1y guarding the tomb. when
suddenly an awful sound is heard
faint but fearful. Did you hear it?
cries one; Ye Gods the earth Is split
ting cries another; Jove have mercy
cries third. From the throne came
"a bright shining angel and rolled
away the sepulcher. In radiant white
the CHRIST APPEARS. Soldiers fall to
the earth in terror. Louder and loud
er swells the Resurrection Anthem
from the threats of hundreds of peo-
Pile. The scene changes. The cur
tains part and there in the midst of
his adoring disciples the ascending
Christ is seen That face once bead.
ed with blood now wears smile of
glory; those hands once pierced by
cruel nails now hold seeptre of uni
verSal righteousness ami that brow
once encircled with thorns now bears
heavens diadem OF unendng royalty.
Clouds envelop the ascending form.
The anthem ceases and the Passion
Play is ended"