Norwich bulletin., 1922-10-21
READS IMPRESSIVE PAPEB
 70 ONT" ps1sFox P,

The first meeting of the season of the Wouan's Federation and parish house department of Park Congregational church was held on Friday afternoon vth a very large attendance of members and invited guests --- -----.- -.---- =
 Mrs. Henry T. Arnold presided and led the devotional exercises. following which she announced the names of the nomtnat- ing committee: Mrs O. l.. Johnson, chair man; Mrs. Frank H. P1illen, Mrs. James A. Bidwell +
 Announcement was made that ;250 was cleared at the sale of the missions depart ment on last Friday. SO s556 has been sent to headquarters, and the apportion- ment for the year. had been more than raised.
 Mrs. Albert Van waEeaen presided dur ing the program for the parish house department, and the report was read by Mrs. John Blackma<. O.. .s.
 As an introduction to the subject of the afternoon, Mrs. Arthur E. Story sang irn- pressivefy The Gross, which placed the audience in a receptive mood for the paper on the Passion Play at Oberammer- gau by Mrs. Alfred \. H. Vaughn.
 In her introduction, Mrs. Vaughn i'm pressed her hearers with the deep; solemn ity and religious significance of the per formance by saying, ins part. Ito me it was the greatest sermon ever preached. Never before, think, had L sef<.d.. not really sensed, the fact that Chrlst died for me personally. and that in so doing He suffered like any human man. -.-l- In the evolution of the Passion Play the. early religious and historical plays have a part. dating back to 1874, when one was performed In the streets of | Munich. as ...- .-= II | For mn rao~r Do in 50 different localities in Bavaria, and during Destilence in oberammergau. in | 1883. VOW was made that If God spared them they would perform every ten years. as a memorial. the tragedy o, i the Passion of His Son"
 The text has been revised several times but that of 1850 Is still used.
 l Three years before the production o. ! the play the people are assembled and the details are arranged by the parish priest and town council. with the burger. meister as chairman. There are e5 speak
 ing roles, the performers for which ar,
 chosen by secret ballot. and age, look,
 and character are considered No mar
 ried women or new residents are allowed
 to act.
 | one-third of the proceeds must be de l voted to charity and village improvement
 and until 1850 the actors received no re
 numeration, but 10 years ago the princi
 pal characters received S375 each, practi cally a whole years pay.
 During the year of the Passion Play m
 amusements are allowed and a truly Len
 ten season prepares them for the grea
 religious performance.
 To the 5000 weekly visitors and F, ,ooC
 if three performances are given. tn
 actors are known only by the names 0
 their characters. Mir. and Mrs Waugh
 were lodged In the home of Nathanle who was understudy for the part c
 Christus, and cousin of Anton Lang. On the morning of the play the VI
 lagers are called to prayers and mass 2 the people to the performance. vnic
 commences promptly at a. m
 The play is composed of three art, with F acts and es scenes. besides 2 tableaux which link the Old and Ne , Testaments.
 An orchestra of 50 instruments, hSdde
 from view. reduces the music, write more than 100 years ago. which inte-pre,
 the solemnity, of the scenes of the Pa, . sion. In graphic word pictures Mrs. VaSrh carried her hearers from the scene of u 5 first tableau, The Punishment of Ada and Eve from the Garden of Eden. ar the Alteration of the CrusS though q scenes depicting the life of the Chris
 from the parting at Bethany until q supreme sacrifice had been aoconplishe : Through .the descriptions one could te = the profouhd effect upon the andienc e and realisation that the. relirious st h nificance is. sery real to the people . Oberammergsp,s for after the last pc
 formance of tfe play the dismissal com 0 from the church and they go out in sile, : prayer. A fitting close was the beautif - solo by Mrs Story. There is Green H r Far Away.
 S Announcement was made of a Ee h together social on Friday evening and e lecture by Dr. F. S. Bunnell at [, | r parish house meeting in November. l. During the social hour opportunity VI
 given to see pictures of OberammerE: l. and to enjoy. afternoon tea which VI ,- served by a committee of which MI n Robert Smith was chairman