Evening star., 1909-04-12
PRESIDENT ATTENDS ST. JOHNS
Temples Of Worship Crowded to
Their Capacities-Floral Decora-
tions and Special Music.

tlouS anu Spec1a1 MUSIC.
/ From sackcloth and ashes to the beauty
of delicate spring flowers and equally
delicate raiment, from sorrow and re-
pentance to joy and songs of triumph,
marked the evolution of Easter Sunday
from it's Lenten environments yesterday.
| In the great cathedrals as in the frame
chapels. in the homes of the poor as
in those of the aff1uent, there were happi-
ness and flowers1howers and happiness.
The somber was merged into the bright
and beautiful, and preacher and priest
told the story of the risen Christ to con-
gregations large and small.
The world over, the cross and the open
tomb were the object lessons and the
lily and the triumphant joy song the en-
blems of the Easter glorification. Even
the pagan in his idolatrous worship
paused to give thought to the day of
Christian emancipation.
In the National capital the day was
celebrated in its fullness. The President
of the United States was central figure
of the observance. Accompanied by Mrs.
Taft. he attended the impressive services
in ST. Johns Episcopal Church.
| In the congregations of churches of
other denominations were cabinet offic ers
and federal judges, senator's and repre-
sentatives.
| Decorations Of the Affairs.
| The decorations of the altars in Catholic
and Episcopal churches were in keeping
with the gladstone occasion. The chancels
were clothed in Easter lilies and beautiful
and fragrant buds of spring. There was
inspiration in every song and every SER
mon.
Easter has strong significance to the
Catholic Church. and the temples of that
| denomination were crowded to their ca
pacities with worshipers yesterday.
Solemn masses were chanted, by white.
| rObed priests from the very dawning of
Easter day till the vespers in the early
candlelight hours. Memories of Calvary
| and Gethsemane came in constant cur
rents CT sentiment and sorrow and joy.
/ The rites were imposing and the pro-
grams of music elaborate.
When the Easter procession filed
through the aisles of st. Patricks Church
the auditorium was crowded with the
/ faithful. All space was filled and many
worshipers stood in the aisles and vesti-
bule. Rev. Father Russell. the pastor,
1 sung high mass in the presence of Mgr.
Diomede Falconio. the apostolic delegate.
| Rev. Father James A. Burns. c. 8. c.,
rector of Holy Cross College. and the Rt.
| Rev. Mgr. Bonaventure Ceretti of the
papal delegation acted as deacons of
| honor at the throne of the delegate The
sermon was preached by the Rev. Thomas
| E. McGuigan. At the close of the mass
the papal benediction was bestowed by
Mgr. Falconio.
The Easter music at st. Patrick's was
| in charge of Armand Gumprecht, with
mixed choir of thirty-seven voices, and
the sanctuary choir of fifty men and boys.
under the leadership of Harry 7. Hall.
At st. Aloysius Church.
An illuminated cross and the mellow
light of many candles were features OF
the celebration at st. Aloysius Catholic
| Church, where the services were of un-
usual solemnity. Mass was celebrated by
Rev. w. F. Cannon, Sd, with Rev. Au-
gustus j. Duarte as deacon and Rev.
Daniel Cronin, S.J., of Georgetown Uni
Jversity, as subdeacon. Rev. Walter
Drum preached the sermon. st. Aloysus
sanctuary choir, which yesterday cele-
brated the anniversary of it's first choral
services in ST. Aloysius Church, sang the
music of the mass. j. Wise Burnes
and Francis Dougherty sustaining the
solo parts. Ernest Behm was at the or
gan.
| The services in the other Catholic
churches were equally impressive and the
congregations in every instance were
large.
! The congregation Of st. Johns Episco-
pal Church was surprised by the unex-
pected attendance of President. Taft at
the Easter services there yesterday morn
1 ing. In anticipation that he would attend
| services at All Souls Unitarian Church,
a large crowd had assembled in front of
that edifce. The President was accompa-
MED by Mrs. Taft and their three chill
ldren-Robert. Helen and Charles. The
| Easter sermon was by the rector Rev.
Roland Cotton Smith. When it became
known that Mr.. Taft and his family were
| at st. Johns a number of persons assem-
| bled about the building and waited until
the President came out. Mr.. and Mrs.
Taft and the children walked to the White
| House, accompanied by two secret serv-
ice men and followed at a respectful dis
tance by a throng Of men, women and
children.
Mrs Taft wore a pretty spring costume
| of wistaria, with a hat and coat to
match.
Canadian Visitor breaches
| Rev DR.. F. ]. B. Allnott. canon of Que
bee Cathedral and dean Of Bishops Uni
versity of Canada preached the sermon
| last night at the Church of the Ascen-
sion.
| Bishop Alfred Harding preached a spe-
| cial sermon on He Is Risen." at st.
Paurs Episcopal Church yesterday morn
ing. The congregation was large one.
| At the Church of the Epiphany an or
chestra united with the choir in render
| ing the Easter carols.
An Episcopal children's carol service
was held at ST. Adams at 4 o'clock yes
| terday afternoon. The sermon was by
| the Rector. Rev. G. c. F. Bratenahl
| Easter was observed in the Lutheran
churches Of the District yesterday The
sermon at the Luther Place Memorial
Church was by Rev. ]. G. Butler and
notable program of music was given.
| Madame Won Finkelstein Mountford of
Jerusalem, Palestine, occupied the pulpit
of the Metropolitan M. E. Church last
night DIR. Shannon, being called out of
the city to visit his aged mother, who Is
seriously ILL., Madame Won Finkelstein
gave the third lecture on the Life of
the Christ" especially upon the "Resur-
rection." The choir rendered appropriate
music, and the church was decorated with
a profusion of flowers and palms.
Metropolitan Baptist Church.
| Rev. John Compton Ball addressed large
congregation in the Metropolitan Baptist
Church, 9th and streets northeast, yes
terday on 1.-The Resurrection of Jesus
the Seal of Salvation.
/ An Easter entertainment was given
last evening in st. PauIs English Luz
| theran Church by the Sunday school schol-
arS. There was program OF songs