Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-10-10
ColorfuI Procession of Clergy,
Choir and Laymen Lends
ImpreSSiveneSS to Scene
on Mount st. AIban.
WORLD GROWING BETTER,
COOLIDGE TELLS THRONG
America Must Give Proof at Home
of Religious Sincerity, He Adds.
Bishop Anderson Appeals for
Highest Spiritual Leadership by
Church in Keynote Sermon.

With approximately $4,000 rev.
erent voices repeating in unison
the ancient prayers of Christian
faith, an address of greeting and
confidence from the President of
the United States, and a fervent
appeal for application of the
evangel of Jesus in the affairs of
the world, the forty-ninth trien-
nial general convention of the
Protestant Episcopal Church
started this morning in the hedged
ampithedter of the Cathedral
Close on Mount st. Alban.
All the colorful dignity of one
of the Oldest of Christian churches
attended the great gathering on
the gently Sloping hillside in the
bright Autumn sunlight under the
great oaks with foliage delicately
tinted with the pinkS and browns
of October.
The speaking was proceeded by long
procession of robed clergy and delegates
with the vested choir in the lead, while
a gowned band played the familiar
hymns of the church, such as Holy,
Holy, Holy" and Onward Christian
Soldiers" Following the choir came
the visiting clergy. the diocesan clergy,
lay members and presbyters of the
National Council, with the 100 bishops
at the end Last came the presiding
bishop, Rt. Rev. John Gardner Murray;
the Bishop of Washington, and the
convention preacher, Bishop Charles P.
Anderson of Chicago.
President Is Greeted.
Immediately after the procession the
President and Mrs. Coolidge were es-
corted down ehe aisle, while the chimes
of the Little Sanctuary played amer
ica.'' and greeted by the presiding
bishou and the Bishop of Washington
The opening prayer was reclted py
ut Rev, Thomas CaSady, Bishop OF
Oklahoma. Immediately after which ne
led the multitude III repeating the
general confession. So,
we have erred and strayed from
THY ways like lost sheep-We nave lsle
undone those things which we ougne @
to have done-and we have none GLione 1,o
tt,;,,gs which we ought not TO have
dome But, Thou, Q Lord, nave nioAoS
1lnon us miserable offenders
The confession arose from the mass
of ,1nturned faces like gentle WHO VINO
,r,st1ino the leaves which carpeteo the
+orert f1oor around the amphltneaVer.
1Then bishop Casady repeated the age
old formula of absolutlon lot IhoSe NM NM
have confessed and repented, enolng
in the Lords Prayer
Response by Congregation.
THE congregation then chanted tne
..o,9ita--..O come. let us sing unto the
7 ford''-after which Bishop CaSaoy reao
tha fortv-sixth Psalm, with its message
of confidence. God is our nope anu
Strength" he read. "A very present neip
in trouble. Therefore will we not ieaI,
though the earth be moved ana the nlllS
ha carried into the midst of the sea-
rThe first lesson was then read by the
secretary of the House of Bishops, Rev.
Dr Charles L. Pardee. For this was Sc
iected the hymn Of praise from tne
eleventh chapter of the Prophet 1Salah.
rDav bv day we magnify Thee. Inc
rich voice of the speaker floated over
the heads of the multitude ana was ioSV
amid the towering cathedral walls
Second Lesson Is Read.
The second lesson was read by Rev.
DIR. Carroll NJ Davis, secretary OF tIie
House of DelegateS-the tllrteeL.a.t1L
chapter of the First Corinthians, with
its sublime keynote: And now aoloetn
Faith. Hope and CnarlJy, puG Ch0 eAS
est of these is Charity
Following this reading the congrega-
tion repeated in unison the Nlcene
Greed. led by the Right Rev. John L; Il;
Dallas. Bishop of New Hampshire, an
present renewing their affirmation OF
belief in the ancient and uncnangeo
creed of the church before the actuai
start of the convention.
Bishop Freeman than INTRODUCED
President Coolidge.
Need of Religion Stressed.
In his address to the convention
President Coolidge proclaimed rehglon
10 be necessary for the continuation
of the American Government ana the
maintenance Of those liberties ana
privileges which are characteristic OF
American life.
I'VE cannot remind ourselves toe
bften." he said, that the right to be
free, the support of our principles OF
Justice. our obligation to each other
\ in our domestic affairs, and our duty
to humanity abroad, the confidence III
each other necessary to support ouI
social and economic relations and
fsnauy the fabric of our Government it.
kgif all rest on religion.
IF the bonds of our religious con-
kictions become looSened, the guarantees
which have been erected for the pro-
section of life and liberty and all the
vast body of rights that lie between are
gone"
The present convention and othel
similar organizations were taken BY
Mr.. Coolidge as evidence that "tht
major forces of the world are actively
and energetically engaged in promoting
the spiritual advancement of humanity.
Movement Steadily Advancing.
"When." he continued we remem
her further that this movement is stead
Jlv advancing through the years
we realize that it provides a complete
and devastating answer to the indif-
ferent. the cynic and the pessimist. W.
cannot doubt that the world is growing
better"
This conviction should not blind tn
country to ''the enormous work tina
vet remains to be performed and tn
long distance that must still be Travelled
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