Evening star., 1932-02-13


beautiful churches. What a
wonderful reputation to have acquired,
and what a worthy one to uphold
ANY city to have won such an en-
viable declaration proves that ma
jority of its population. who live there
and who have contributed so benefl-
Gently both to the building of and the
upkeep of these beautiful churches,
which have cost millions of dollars TO
construct. are of the cultured. refined
and Christian class. msny of whom are
deeply interested both in the progress
sion and Identification of our lovely
city, as well as being tireiess workers
for the advancement of Christianity
and the uplifting OF the whole human
race. Most of our churches are built
on large plots of ground. with well kept
lawns, and many have beautiful shrub
berry Many of them, also. are in
choice locations, and with their eN-
quisite architecture, both ancient and
modern, represent structures OF rare
magnificent grandeur
But in all their lofty sublimity there
is one great omission-What many may
consider of little Importance and nom
essential. but when viewed from all
angles, the enhanced beauty and the
benefit that may be derived from a
spiritual outlook. is beyond compare
son. 1t is the outside illumination of
these beautiful churches. Few are ever
lit up oftener than three times week
and then only for a few hours at a
time During these hours the outside
illumination generally consists of one
light in the vestibule, but that one
light. however. presents an entirely diff
ferent aspect to the passing public than
when in darkness they stand like giant
,11l,1 Inr I'll n oh 1yT
background Unless they happen to
be on we'll lighted thoroughfare, they
are dark and spooky looking, and if 1t
is late in the evening. one walks with a
very feetlng foot as he passes them by.
Moving pictures theaters. dance
halls, sport clubs. and many stores and
business enterprises illuminate their
places at night whether closed or open.
with many lights. We are drawn to
these pleasures. stores and enterprises
in daytime through the lure of their
lights at night. When we walk out of
an evening. we stop look and admire
As We pass the many brilliantly lllu-
minated places but when We come to a
church We hustle by It's too dark ano
spooky looking to linger nigh. In these
times of vice and crime We need lights
and plenty Of them. Easter is fast ap-
preaching, the season of fasting and
prayer: churches have special services,
and the whole world seems to take part
in its beautiful and sacred music, and
why? Because none of us has forgot
ten the story of the Three Wise Men
who followed the bright star that shone
In the East until they came to the little
city OF Nazareth and there beheld new
born babe, whom they worshiped. whom
the world for two thousand years has
received and recognized as the Savior
of mankind. and it still remembers the
agony of Gethsemane. the darkness
that fell upon the earth when bleed
ing Christ hung from that cross of
Calvary, and then, the story continues,
that three days after an angel ap-
peared. rolled the stone from the Sepul-
cher and He who was cruclfied and
buried arose and aScended into Heaven.
Heaven reloiced, angels and archangels
sang and a. Sin-stalned world was Of
fered redemption. Now, then, if We re-
celVe and accept this Christ as the
Savior of mankind. can not We pro-
claim that recognition by burning at
least one light from darkness until
dawn? If thousands of lights can burn
every night for the progression of COM
mercial and social interests, surely every
church could honor God by burning at
lCoS1 oliC lISllC uul illS lllt llOulS VI
darkness. One star on every church
would be very appropriate, as it was
the star in the East that guided the
Wise Men to the Redeemer of mankind
Christ does not ask us to build churches
to stand half the time as monuments
and tombStones to His memory Ho
died but He arose and still lives. He
asks that We show our lights. that
they may guide all who choose TO enter
in. Just now we appear more like the
foolish virgins-the bridegroom would
never find the door of some of our
churches if he came at midnight, much
less the bride.
Together with Easter approaching,
there has been every kind of prepara-
ton to beautify our lovely CITY, also for
the Bicentennial; and what could pre-
sent more beautiful appearance to
visitors than to have light burning on
every one of these magnificent churches.
The father of this land of freedom
would surely acquieSce if he were here.
Some of the churches perhaps would
prefer the cross, Others some other en-
blem: it would make no difference, so 1t
vas a light. The cost is very, very
small, as the light is not for commercial
display but for the progression of pure
Christian advancement Added to the
declaration that Washington is the
city of beautiful churches. it would be
then the city where the church lights
burn. ! hope all clergymen and all
people who are interested in Chris
tianlty will cooperate with this move