The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1911-06-08
An Interesting Lecture.

day evening in the Presbyterian
church was thoroughly enjoyed by
all who heard it, Judging from the
remarks made during the week.
The weat' er was extremely hot
but in spite of this nearly every
seat was taken and, for the time
being, every listener forgot that
the weather was very uncomfort-
able. Prof. Schaeffer spent two
months travelling in Europe last
summer and, among all the great
and good things which he saw, he
claims the Passion Play was the
greatest and the best. In giving a
description of the play which is
given every ten years IN Oberam-
mergau in the province of Bavaria,
MIR. Schaeffer briefly pictured the
country, the village, the people
with their habits, Industries and
achievements, the building in
which the play is given, the pre-
paration for the play, and finally
an analysis of the play itself. The
Passion Play deals chiefly with the
last week of the life of Christ on
earth from the entrance into Jeru-
! salem on Palm Sunday to the re-
|surrection on Easter morning, add.
ing as q closing scene his ascen-
sion into heaven forty days later.
| Following are a few points of his
tory connected with the play which
Mr.. Schaeffer so kindly furnished
us.
Sacred plays were known among
the Jews, Greeks and Romans and
| we're considered in some cases as
forms of worship. These plays
gained in Importance until they
we're on the same footing with
Greek tragedy. Only a few of the
sacred dramas survived and gained
Importance but that of Oberam-
morgan was foremost. The origin
of this play dates back to the year
1893 when e plague devastated
many sections of Germany. In
their distress the people, in a con
gregational meeting, p%etitioned AL
mighty God to stay the plague for
which they pledged themselves to
commemorate the suffering of
Christ in dramatic form at fire.
quent intervals. Whether it is
looked upon as an answer TO their
prayers or otherwise, it is regarded
as a fact that the plague was stay
ID, and the people for centuries
aud generations have been true to
their VOWS and have given the play
until the present time. This play
Was fercely attacked by both the
State and Church but it came out
victorious. The text vas changed
several times, not so much with
the idea of changing the essenc of
1T as to eliminate the parts that
seemed overdrawn and nnneces-
sary.
The persons who are to take part
in the play are chosen by a com
miftee whose decision is final. No
married women are permitted to
iake part and all the players mus.
be unblamable and beyond re-
proach in character. II is evident
that this requisite has its whole
some influence on the young gener-
alton for il is the ambition OF
every young man to be worthy to
represent Christ or John or some
other important character, while
the girls have the ambition to be
worthy to represent Mary, the
mother of Jesus, or others of the
characters mentioned in the Cos
pels.
Financially this play was not q
success until 1900 and 1910. Exac!
net proceeds are not known BY
Mr.. Schaffer. Tbs money is dis.
posed Of in the following manner :
The players receive from $25 te
$500 for their services during the
season. a certain per cent flows
into the church treasury; the
itraaa1rv far hnnnvnlnnca Ia aler