The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1910-12-18
Oberammergau And Its Passion Play
Pensacola

attracted the thousands d. strangers
who thronged it's streets aud climbed
the hills on that beautiful July even
ing. These things were admired but
only as setting for the chief attrac-
tion--the great play of the morrow.
From time fmmemorial tie stage
has been q powerful means of forming
public opinion and instructing the
people AS such it was used by the
all things intellectual, the Romans.
The early Christian church set its
face against it because. like the clas-
steal authors, it was essentially Pa
gan. When. however. Paganism had
ceased to be force in the world and
there was no danger to the people,
the church converted the stage to her
own purpose, the teaching Of Chris
tianity. In those days when books
were Transcribed, not printed, few
could afford to possess a book. The
church found the mystery play OF
great assistance in teaching to a rude
and unlettered people the truths of
Christianity. The play was usually
represented in the open air. A num-
Der of performances were grouped on
platform to represent some miracle
performed by Jesus Christ or scene
from the life of some saint, usually
the patron saint of the locality. The
tableau was explained by the preach
er. They are called both mystery and
miracle plays. At one time they were
very popular in England and were
used especially during Lent or on the
occasion Of what we would now call
a Mission. After the introduction OF
printing, those plays were not so ne
cessary and were gradually discontin-
ued. Abuses, too. had begun to creep
in by the Introduction of parts intend
ed to please and amuse the people
but little in keeping with the original
intention of the plays. Hence the
church withdrew her approval and
they fell into disuse and the Mystery
Play of the middle ages exists today
in only few isolated places.
Why the Play Continues.
The continuance of the Passion
Play in Oberammergau to the present
day is due to an extraordinary and
miraculous event, the truth Of which
is vouched for by contemporary cfron-
icles.
One of the consequences of the
thirty years war was a terrible pes
thence which swept over Southern
Germany Whole villages were
swept away by the plague. The peo-
pie of Oberammergau remained I'M
touched for q long time and enforced
"a strict quarantine against the other
villages. They would probably have
remained immune were it rot for one
Casper Scuchler who was working In
one OF the neighboring villages when
the plague broke out. He evaded the
guards and. returning to his wife and
children, brought the dread disease to
hitherto immune community. In one
month almost a hundred villagers
were dead. A meeting of the parish
was called to discuss the situation. IF
the plague continued in short time
there would not be enough living to
bury the dead. Sanitary precautions
had failed, curative measures we're
utterly useless. Tt was as men look
ing into the hollow sockets of death
that they met. In the hour of bitter
trial they turned to their God. They
cried aloud for mercy. They remem-
bered their sins that day; and, in
token OF their repentance promised
to represent in a play, every ten
years, the Passion and Death of Jesus
Christ. From that moment the plague
ceased. Those who were then sick
recovered and no more new cases
were reported. Then it was that the