Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1923-12-27
Famous Passion Play
Characters Visit U. S.
CHRISTIANS OF oBERAMMERGAU
AWE-STRUCK AT CONDITIONS
IN GLITTERING NEW YORK
By JOHN THOMAS WILSON

In 1880, a great pestilence fell upon
the land of Baravia. Plague, poverty,
hunger and death was at every hand.
Finally the people turned to God and
asked that they might be relieved
and their suffering was relieved,
In the little village of Oberammer-
gau, which still stands near Munich,
the people were very grateful. They
gathered together and in 1888 a
pledge was made and an oath taken
to always worship God who had de-
livered them.
Then was conceived the idea to es
tablish a rite which would never let
the people of Oberammergau forget.
1t was decided to re-enact the life of
Jesus, the Christ, once every ten
years for three hundred years It was
called 1.-THE Passion Play" That
pledge will have been fulfilled ten
years hence-19S3
oped influences which have been
worldwide in effect. 1t has made the
people of that village devout, studious
and Christian. 1t has made their vii
lage known in every land. 1t has
caused thousands to journey across
continents and seas to witness the
great production-and thousands have
lived better lives as result thereof.
CHARTERED today in New York is
a little band of potters and wood car
vers- pilgrims to our land of promise
from Oberammergau. They have
come to sell their wares-all money
therefrom to go toward relieving the
now starving women and children of
their little valley When they have
completed their task, visiting about
IL cities in the u S. they will return
to their work benches in the quaint
crooked streets of idllically peaceful
Oberammergau.
christus, Peter
and Judas
Heading this band of craftsmen, is
Anton Lang, who three times in the
last thirty years has portrayed Chris
tus) in the great Passion Play. With
him is his brother Andrea Lang
(Peter). and Guido Mayr (Judas).
Others who portray lesser characters
are also in the party.
This is the first time any member
of the company except Anton Lang
has been out of Oberammergau. Be
fore the party left for America they
were gathered in the simple quaint
dining room Of Anton Lang, the
Christ player. Many of the people did
not want their great players to go
out into an unknown world, where
their minds might be distracted from
the pure idyllic Christian lives they
lead. For be it known that every boy
born in Oberammergau at his earliest
age is imbued and inspired with the
idea to live and think that he may
mould his character and be selected
to one day portray the Christus in the
Passion Play.
The money for this expedition was
advanced by an American relief So
ciety. George Gordon Battle is chair
man of the committee which financed
the trip. Said Anton Lang (Christus)
We are here to save the little
children of our village, We are serv-
ing HIM who said Suffer Little Chill
dren to come unto me- Under no con
ditions will we present The Passion
Play in America or outside of Ober-
ammergau, We don't come here with
the idea of getting rich. All we ask
in return for our wares is sufficient
to alleviate the suffering at home.
Considerable money has been adyanc-
ed to us by kind Americans All of