Evening star., 1924-04-12
EXPECT THOUSANDS
AT SUNRISE SERVICE
Protestant Churches to Join in
Easter Morning Rites on
Temple Heights.
WILBUR TO BE SPEAKER
Many Organizations Backing
Event, Which May Be Annual.
WILBUR TO BE SPEAKER

Thousands of Washingtonians will be
reached tomorrow with the churches
appeal to join in the first great union
Protestant Easter sunrise service to be
held at Temple Heights
From pulpit and Sunday school room,
through the air and by religious an
nouncement calculated to reach every
corner of the community, the call will go
out for worshippers to gather at am
on Easter morning to institute what is
hoped to be an annual occasion of deep
significance and spiritual power.
Behind the movement for this service
are leading laymen and religious lead
ers of the city. The official announce
ment to the organized religious bodies
of the city, which was sent out during
the week by the Washington Federation
of Churches, bears the names of some
of those sponsoring the occasion.
Thousands Are Expected.
They include: DR.. G. NJ. Diffenderfer,
president of the Federation of Churches !;
DIR. w. L. Darby. executive secretary of
the Federation of Churches; Gratz L.
Dunkum, general chairman. These lay
man leaders: John b. Larner, Henry c..
Davis, Andrew II. Phelps, DR.. A G..
Christie, James L. Lloyd, Coleman Jen-
nings, Theodore w. Noyes, w. w.
Everett, DIR. w. J. ShoWalter, Hugh A
Thrift, and these leaders of organiza-
tons: William Knowles Cooper, secre-
tary Y. NJ. e. A; Miss Hettie +. Ander-
son. secretary Y. W. c. A; Miss Ethel
Bagley, president Business WOman's
Council; f. H. DeGroot, superintendent
Emmanuel Baptisu Sunday school; Arthur
l.. Ward, superintendent Foundry NJ. L.
Sunday school; l.. H. Van F'oSsen, su-
perintendent Covenant Presbyterian Sun
day school; Edward L. Marthill, super
intendent First Baptist Sunday school !;
e. c, Toothman, president District Ep-
worth League; Robert Covell, president
Christian Endeavor Union; John V.
Ruthven, president B. Y. z. L.
Arrangements have been made for
the use of the chairs owned by the
MaSons, on occasions at Temple
Heights, SO that there will be accom-
modations for seating a large as
Sembly.
In addition, however, it is expected
that thousands more will gather for
the brief service, which it is empha-
sized will not last longer than forty
five minutes including the address,
music and prayers.
Secretary Wilbur to Speak.
Curtis D. Wilbur. secretary of the
Navy, will deliver the address of the
morning. Percy S. Foster, the popu-
lar director, will lead the singing of
appropriate Easter hymns. DR.. Darby
will preside.
The meeting is being held under
the auspices of such organizations as
the Washington Federation of church.
cs, the District Sunday School Council,
the Y. NJ. c. A, the Y. w. c. A, Chris
tian Endeayor Union, B. Y. p. u, and
Epworth Leagues. Masonic Lodges
and other fraternal organizations have
been invited to participate.
1T is not our purpose" said the
official announcement, ito interfere
with any other services planned for
this hour, but to have a general place
to which people can come who are
not expected elsewhere. OF course
the meeting is inter r-denominationai
and every one will be welcome" In
case of rain the services will be held
III the Covenant Presbyterian Church