THE PASSION PLAY

New Zealand Tablet, 8 September 1910, Page 1461

THE PASSION PLAY

AN ANGLICAN BISHOP'S IMPRESSIONS The following communication from the Anglican Bishop of Southwell appears in a recent issue of the Southwell Diocesan Magazine : It is only a few days since I stood on a hill overlooking the little village of Ober-Ammergau, nestling quietly under the mountains far away from the busy, restless life of commercial England. Far above us on the highest peak stood a cross, and in that cross lay the key to the riddle as to why we were there, and not only we but thousands of others. Even as we stood there came in by every road and railway a multitude of eager travellerspeasants on foot or in cartscarriages, cars, trains, all full. The stream will flow all through the summer, gathering from every country a wonderful crowd. But why are they coming? What was there to see? And, having seen, what sends them away with an impression such as they never receives? before? They have come to see the representation of the Passion and Death of Christ made by a village of simple folk, the carvers and workmen of Ober-Ammergau. Of the representation in its intense beauty and chastity I cannot speak here. For eight hours the audience of four thousand were held in silence as tne old, old story was unfolded, but for us that story has now had a new light thrown upon it, and we grasp somewhat better the meaning of the Passion. Only now would I refer to another aspect of the Passion Spiel, viz., its effect upon the people themselves. Immediately on arrival one is aware of a gracious atmosphere. The porters, luggage carriers, the little children, the women, are all full of courtesy and gentleness. A spirit is manifest which is most attractive. If you ask from whence comes this, then you must first look up again at the cross above the village, and then go to the parish church, and from there to the theatre. You are in the midst of a population which from birth has grown up with an intense longing to play their part in the Passion Spiel. The little long-haired boy who is carrying your bag you will see again at 5 a.m., in the parish church very busy as an acolyte, but you will see him at eight o'clock in the play in the tableau or in active scene. The faces of many of these children are very beautiful. Their fathers and mothers have themselves been absorbed with interest, and their interest is written on the faces of the children. Along with all this there is no sign of pride or conceit. Simplicity reigns and reigns in the face of praise and adulation which is poured out upon them. The one wish of the whole community seems to be to constrain you to understand better, and so to love more the Master Who died for us. If I speak to any who are hoping to visit Ober-Am-mergau, I would say, spend at least two days in the village before the Sunday; see the people in their ordinary life, kneel amongst them in their parish church, and then go to their Passion Spiel. You will see a whole village to whom the Life of Christ is a daily reality, and you will come back to the task which lies before you refreshed, and you will face the conflicts and controversies of our own time and place with renewed confidence in the power of the Cross and of the Risen Lord.