Norwich bulletin., 1916-12-25
PUTNAM
Holy Night Drama Presented at Pom. fret For Fifth Consecutive Year Death of Rev. John R. Stubbert, 78 Pastor Emeritus of Baptist Church.

l fret For Fifth Consecutive Year-I Death of Rev. John R. Stubbert, 78, 1 Pastor Emeritus of Baptist Church. For the fifth consecutive year the | citizens of Pomfret Saturday night | presented their Holy Night drama | dealing with the nativity of Christ. As l far as possible those taking part from | year to year have been the same, but | on account of the sacred topic dealt | with in the drama the names of those | I taking part have never been made pub l | lie. The presentation of the pantomime l began soon after the establishment of 1 | and it is within the hall of the associa- l | tion that the drama is given. l The churches of Pomfret, regardless l of denomination, are in perfect accord l and unity of interest in paying this | reverential tribute to the circumstance ! es surrounding to the birth of the Sa- 1 your. l People of all nationalities and in all stations of life participate. Boys from I the farms are trained for shepherds. Working girls become angelic hosts. The three wise men are of as many ! different nationalities. The retinues l of the Magi are composed of school i boys. An Italian laborer has enact ed the role of Joseph and young Irish girl that of Mary.
 From Bible illustrations and reli- g1ous paintings the costumes have been correctly designed and made. The choirS and instrumentalists of the town churches prepare programme of
 music adapted for the presentation.
 Much of it from classical composers,
 including Hayden and Handel.
 On the stage in the barn-Iike struc-
 ture of the hall the three scenes are
 set-the Annunciation, the shepherds
 with their fiocks and the three wise men and the stable with it's manager. l Preceding the drama there is sing 1 ing in which first soloists and then all present take part. Such familiar airs as. While Shephards Watched Their Flocks by Night" "Once in Royal Da- vid's City" Tt Came Upon the Mid-
 night Clear and ''The Little Town of
 Bethlehem are heard:
 Then, while the hall was lighted only by candles, the Gospel of the Ma tivity was read. The audience, which crowded the hall to the doors sat in
 reVerent silence. The story of the An \ nunciation, of the birth In the manager and of the visit of the wise men, as so
 majestical1y told in St. Luke and St.
 Mathew, seemed to touch every heart As prelude to the first scene voice behind the scenes, supported by $ a humming voice. sings the old Ger
 man hymn, Silent Night" Then is seen Mary kneeling in pray
 CT. while the angel sweeps out from l the shadows with a lily in upraised
 
 words:
 Hail. thou that art highly favored
 the Lord is with thee; blessed are : thou among women"
 The face Of Mary is filled with won der At sight of the angel she is at , first bewildered. heightened. The mes l sage sinks into her heart. With arms
 crossed on her breast, head bowed,
 she makes submission.
 l Behold the handmaid of the Lord: I | mo Ijr7cr fn word.''
 1 The curtain falls as the angel de- e parts. The audience is greatly affect ' ed and some are sobbing.
 | The scene changes to an open field
 gloom everywhere, except for the dim ! 1 1ght Of lantern here or there " Shepherds are seen. lying on the Q ground, their slaves beside them and a 2 faithful dog among them. In the dis t l tance their hocks are seen at rest A radiance, drawing nearer from a dis
 tance, illuminates the scene The
 shepherds are afraid. voice cheers | them with it's glorious message: Fear not, for behold I bring von good tidings of great joy, which shall De to all people; for unto yo uis born l. this day in the City of David. a Sa | v1our which is Christ the Lord.'
 In the distance the Heavenly Hosts e gather, and the angelic choir sings the d glad tidings: Glory to God in the = highest and on earth peace, good will n toward men,"
 = The light is gone. The shepherds
 confer together-they hasten toward
 Inc angelic host, toward Bethlehem to z the manager over which Mar and Jo- , seph watch with such loving rever- ence. The shepherds steal in, over
 awed, fall on their knees. worship and = depart
 The wise men come and pay their D homage to the Divine occupant of the l. manager Kings and princes and rich
 men come with their offerings. There e IS, before the manager, a pageant of the }. worlds might and power, which seems [. to fade into Ettleness in the radiance = from the manger-b bed
 t Thus ends the simple, direct and = reverential action of the Nativity as = given by the villagers of Pomfret. h So by common consent, the Christ s mas festival performance of this dra- ;, naatic story of the Nativity has been n established in Ponfret as the Passion
 Play has been established in that other
 obscure village, Oberammergrau, in the IBavarian Alps. .-.