The Detroit times., 1910-11-22
Tells OF
PASSION PLAY
Rev, W. B. forbush Saw Famous
Presentation in 0berammsrgau--
Denies stories Of commercialism.

No married women sEe SVEN
part In the obsrammerseu Passion
Play, and many OF the girls OF the
Village put OF their MARRIAGES IN
/ definitely In the hope OF some day be
7 Ing allowed TO play tho role OF Mary,
mother OF Christ, in the great produc'
1 ton" said tho Rev, William Byron
/ Forbush, paStsr or the North Congrs'
gaticnsl church. In the oourse OF his
1 address on tho play before the
Baptist Ministers conferences IN tho
woodward-ave. Baptist church, Mon
day morning. The peasant girls OF
Obsrammersau regard the privilese
OF assuming the part OF the holy Vir-
gin az the greatest honor which could
be conferred on them"
Mr. Forbush gave comprehensive
description OF the play as seen by him
in Oberammergau last summer, anu
took particular pains TO defend the
Bavarian peasants, who give the sac
red production once every ten years,
against the charges OF commercialism
which have been made in certain
quarters since this years play ended
N October. He said that while there
might have been some overchargins
and over-selling OF seats, IL was I'M
doubtedly done by Germans and other
foreigners who rented the houses OF
the Oberammeragau villagers when
the latter went away for the summer
The play itself. Mir Forbush said
was carried ont in the most sacred
, manner possible. and il was his opin
ion that those who promted IL did not
have in mind any commercial adj
vantage from il in any shape or form
The village council controls the
production" said Mr. Forbush. and
when I ell YOU that the council has
refused 100000 for the privilege OF
allowing moving pictures to be taken
of the play. | am sure YOU will read
lily see that il is not the object OF the
village TO make money out OF the
production Yet. the village does pro
fit 10 a large extent by the play II
gets two-thirds OF the receipts and
This money Is used 10 maintain the VII
lage and some OF its chief institu-
;ious. a hospital and an arts and
crafts school. which We're built from
the proceeds OF former Passion
Plays. The children have good edu
? cational facilities and not penny is
raised by taxes for the maintenance
OF schools. The Passion Play funds
ray all the expenses. might say,
/ 100. that the village is one OF the
sweetest, cleanest 10 be found any
where"
In giving details OF the play. Mr.
Forbush said that the cheapest
seats were 80 cents and the dearest.
box. $40 The play begins at a. m.
( and lasts until 4 30 p. m. with inter
mission al noon. the speaker said. The
most impressive part, TO his MIND.
was the leayetaking OF Christ with
i his mother in the scene OF the last
supper. All the persons in the play
must be natives of Oberammergau.
MIR. Forbush said He also pointed
out thar the actors get little pay FOR
their services. in spite OF the fact that
! they give up all their time 10 the play
/ from May TO October. Anton Lang.
, who ESSAYS the role OF Christ, got
I $500 for his work in 1900. while the
| others realized much less. Anton
Lang, Mr. Forbush said, was proper
man for the role OF Christ. inasmuch
rs he leads a pure life and is ever
careful 10 act his part with all the
piety and reverence ii commands Ju-
das was the biggest character in the
play. Mr. Forbush thought.
II was The opinion OF the speaker
that the play has a Christianizing ef-
feet on the ma iority OF those who wit.
ness II. and he rejoiced that there
was presented such an opportunity
for Roman Catholics and Protestants
alike 10 ST. together and see from the
action before them that after all,
there was just one cross and one COS
pei for all
Reports from Oberainmergau state
that over 100. 400 people paid 10 see
the Passion Play this year, and that
the receipts will be over si,2a000o.
During the business meeting OF the
conference three new members we're
added TO the membership They
were the Rev. p C. Cameron. new
pastor Of the Bruce-aye Baptist
church. Windsor; the Rev w. p. Low
EFT. OF Detroit formerly OF Grand
Rapids Mich. and the Rev. G. G..
Morse. new pastor OF tho Scotten-ave.
Baptist church Mr. I.ovett IL not at
tached 70 any church Mr. Cameron
came TO Windsor recently from Owen
Sound He said. in the course OF
few remarks before the conference.
that the pastors OF Windsor had no
organization. and that he felt such
union was necessary IL the clergy
men were to be moral force in the
community In Owen Sound the
clergymen were organized and did
good work for the GAUGE OF local Oh