The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1910-05-18
"1he Passion Play
at 0berammergau'

pauer Read by Prof. Jules G. Huguelet to
The Members Of the Ladies Ph'lhar'
monic Club, May z, 1910.
Having been asked by your most worthy
and honored President to read paper oii
the Passion Play soon to be enacteu d.
Oherammergau in the kingdom OF baVa-
ria, Germany, which takes place every ueil
wears, kindly allow me to preface my re-
marks by asking your indulgence OF my
shortcomings insomuch as the most OF tllle
paper is a clipping taken from the London
Daily Mail 1t is certainly we'll "ritteh'
and whoever wrote it must either nave
witnessed the last production in 1900 or IS
at present on the ground floor observing
the extensive preparations in every oeIail.
Before reading same would like to call
your attention to a sermon or lecture
heard in Charleston at the Church OF the
Holv Communion, delivered by Archdeacon
Penney R. Webber, D. D., then Dean OF the
Eniscopal Cathedral of Milwaukee, WIS,
and now Bishop Of Wisconsin. he hau
inst returned from Europe in 1901 or l9oz,
fresh from Oberammergau, where lie nau
pon6 TO witness the production, having
heen sent there by his Church and diocese
to prepare himself for a .lecturing tour
thru this country and Porto Rico. he
held ten days mission at the Churcn Oh
the Moly Communion, where l was then
orpanist for fifeeen years, and when 1t was
annoanced that Dr. Webber would preach
on the Passion Play at Oberammergau, the
seating capacity Of this large church was
taxed ito its. utmost, with standlng room
only on the outside. Our choir Oh ht1y
voices in vestments had prepared speclai
muslc of his own selection, including Bach 8
Passion Music, Spohr's "Crucihaloh'
Gaws "H.1y City," Gounods "Reaemp-
ton" and Lovely Appear" Handlers hal-
lelujah Chorus" and as q voluntary or
opening piece, after the professional,
Hymn ride on, Ride on In Majesty, }" with
the choir, Bishop and priests in procession.
Oar baritone soloist, DR.. Randall Stoney,
sang Faure's palms" with telling effect.
DR.. Vebber then announced his text and
went on to- depict in the most graphlc
manner with all the eloquence OF an orator.
Christs entrance into Jerusalem on an ass
ON Palm Sunday morning, His pathway
being strewR with palm branches and now
ers. and the multitude shouting "Hosanna
Hail to the King Of the Jews" etc. he
then pictured with burning eloquence his
trial and conviction before PLATE, His last
supper with His disciples on Holy Thurs
day night, His Crucifixion on Good Friday
bis resurrection on Easter Sunday and His
ascension forty days afterwards. 1t was
grand effort, replete with bursts OF elo-
quenee as he painted his word pictures
never to be forgotten down the ages, ana
perhaps the grandest sermon ever
preached in Charleston, with the excep-
ton, perhaps, of Moody's great sermon In
1895 when he preached before 5000 at the
Auditorium. DR.. Webber held an audience
Of $500 spellbonnd for over two hours In
cluding excerpts from the oratorio music,
which had been interspersed all thru the
sermon. He Was considered at the time
one Of the greatest orators Of the Protes-
tant Episcopal Church.
It took that vast congregation one SOLID
hour to disperse after that magnificent
discourse, everybody waiting to shake
hands with the Doctor, which almost ex-
hausted him. After the ordeal he compli-
mented me and the choir highly, which
made me feel two feet taller, besides Offer
inp to take me to Milwaukee to become
his organist II the church would release
me, which they would not consent to just
at that time.
remember two other great sermons he
preached during the Mission. One was.
glitch your wagon to star. and let that
star be Jesus Christ" the choir singing,
~The heavens are telling" from Haydn's
Creation" and the other was, Moses In
Egypt" the choir again singing "Bow
down thine ear. o Lord" by Roseini. OF
course both OF these sermons were equally
fine and attracted immense congregations
both day and night.
Two very strange and unfortunate CO.
incidences happened after he left Charles
ton to lecture in Porto Rico. Our two best
soloists. DeLisle Motto and DR.. Randall
stoney were both killed in trolley car aecl-
dents. Poor Motto lost his life on Sulli-
vans Island, returning from visit to some
young ladies, and attempting to board two
moving cars he fell between and was
crushed to death; and DR.. Stoney, who
had located in San Francisco, CAL, after
marrying q millionaire's daughter 0ust
three months afterwards) was called out to
see q patient and was killed In trolley
collision or smash-up. What sad blow 1t
was to our choir, who loved him and his
beautiful voice-unquestionably the finest
baritone in South Carolina then, and none
his equal since. His voice won for him his
education at the Porter Military Academy,
tho Madioal College of Charleston, q post