New-York tribune., 1917-04-09
Flags Are Mingled with
Flowers in Church
Decorations
National Airs Sung
Ministers Beseech Divine Aid
to Speed War of Right
eousnesS

War sermons and prayer for VIC
tory Of the Allied arms took precedence
over carols in New York churches yes
terday. and the American coIors inter
twined with flowers. formed the back
ground Of the color scheme Of Easter
decorations. Whether from patriotism
or piety. or a combination OF the two
the largest attendances within the
memories Of the oldest ushers were re-
ported.
Music was limited mostly to the DID,
familiar anthems and hymns and
America" was sung IN many Of the
churches. In some the choirs were led
by standard bearers carrying the stars
and Stripes. Unlike other years. no
huge gifts o. money were reported.
most Of the offerings being for war re-
lief purposes. in accordance with an
appeal of the Federal Council Of the
Churches of Christ in America.
At the Cathedral Of St. John the
Divine the choir stalls. pulpit steps and
even the distant chapels surrounding
the sanctuary were filled TO capacity
and hundreds were turned away. SO
great were the throngs at 81. Patrick
Cathedral. on Fifth Avenue, the Fifth
Avenue BAPTIST Church. old Trinity
Church. the Collegiate Church Of St
Nicholas. St. Bartholomew. on Madi-
son Avenue. the Broadway Tabernacle
and Carnegie Hall, where the Free
Synagogue worships. that the doors
had 20 be closed for the safety Of the
congregations.
Wants Son 10 Fight
The Rev. Dr. Charles A. Eaton. pas
tor Of the Madison Avenue Baptist
Church. expressed the hope that this
war would end war for all time.
My son is only fifteen" he said. but
If the war lasts until he is eighteen he
will 20 70 the front. | want 10 have
some one in my family strike one blow
a. the black dream Of tyranny that
has haunted the race since the dawn
Of time
Hundreds OF former parishioners,
many Of whom came from other cities.
iammed every seat and available stand
ing room IN Trinity Church until the
choir, clergy and standard bearer
waving Old Glory aloft had difficulty
in passing down the aisles in process
sional. The Rev. Dr.. William !. Man
ming pictured the war a one between
righteousness and unrighteousness.
1T is deeply Significant he said.
That :he final step committing Us as
a nation 20 share in this world con-
fiict was taken on Good Friday. the
day on which the one great sacrifice
was offered for the world
Many members OF the 23d and l3tn
regiments and the lst Cavalry were
given godspeed at the Bedford Pres
byterian Church. In Brooklyn, by the
Rev. Dr. :. Edward Young.
"War is always a long road ne
said. "but the way to shorten 1t Is TO
fight with the utmost Of our might
fight beside the Allies on every bat
tIefeld. and never think OF quitting
until the Hohenzollerns and Haps.
burgs and all their ilk are hurled
from power
Pray for Army and Navy
At Grace Methodist Eplscopa
Church. in 1O4th Street, the Rev. Or
Christian f. Reisner made an appeal
TO keep our purpose on the high leeye'
set by President wilson's speech. The
Rev. DR.. Charles II. Parkhurst, in the
Madison Square Presbyterian church
denounced the ruling powers OF Ger
many and Austria with vigor that
would have made the Kaiser Hneom-
fortable had he heard it. Prayers for
our army and navy and those Of the
Allied nations were offered by the ke['
nv Jobn Henry Jowett. i'm the Fifth
Avenue Presbyterian Church; the Rev.
DR.. Cornelius Woelfkin. in the Fifth
Avenue Baptist Church. where John D.
Rockefeller, jr.. attended; the kev. pr
Robert Watson, IN the Second Pres6y-
tcrian Church. and Bishop Burch, who,
N the absence Of Bishop Greer, delly-
cred the sermon at the Cathedral of st.
John the Divine.
Ia contracted while reviewing the