Evening star., 1933-04-10
CATHEDRAL RITES
HONOR AIR VICTIMS
Bishop Freeman Praises
Heroic Spirit of Akron's
Officers and Men.

The officers and men of the ill-fated
U. S. S. Akron were commemorated yes
terday afternoon at one of the most
deeply impressive services ever held at
Washington Cathedral.
A congregation representing all classes
and all faiths filled the great choir from
wall to wall while the Right Rev. James
E. Freeman, Bishop of Washington,
praised God for heroic spirits, brave
In the face of sudden death, and bade
them farewell in the traditional Ian
guage Of the church.
Navy People Arrive.
An hour before the service began the
roads of the Cathedral close were filled
with Navy people arriving from near
and far. Admirals, junior officers. wom-
en- in somber mourning for their own
and others lost, and little children,
wide-eyed with wonder at the pageant
of it-all filed through the transept
doors to chairs in the main body OF
the unfinished sanctuary, where the
altar crosses were hung with crepe
and the air was filled with the whis-
pered music Of dirges, slowly and softly
played.
Scores yet were entering when the
professional hymn began. Faith OF
Our Fathers, Living STILL" 1t came roll
ing up from the crypt stairway as more
than a hundred singing boys and men
followed the golden cross of AbySsinia,
draped in black and borne by pacing
crucifer, through the north transept,
down the center aisle and to their stalls
on either side of the holy table. After
them marched the clergy, old priests
and young. in flowing robes OF white.
Those in line included Rev. DR.. James
H. Taylor, pastor of Central Presby-
terian Church; Rev. Herman Ebert.
Rev. George B. Kinkead, Canon Joseph
Fletcher, Canon John w. Gummere,
Rev. Mr.. Albert H. Lucas, the Very
Rev. G. G. F. Bratenahl, dean of Wash
ington Cathedral, and others. Rev. DR..
G. Freeland Peter, chancellor of the
Cathedral, was master OF ceremonies.
Bishop Freeman, obedient to custom,
shepherded the flock to their places
and was the last to take his seat under
the soaring arches of the choir walls
Canon Wolyen Reads.
The 1iturgical portions of the service
were read by Canon Raymond L..
Wolven, the bishops chaplain, his voice
rising high and clear over the silent
throng assembled before him. The
sentences of Scripture" began with the
words, IT am the resurrection and the
life, saith the Lord" The choir sang
the twenty-third psalm, "The Lord is
my Shepherd
Capt. Sydney K. Evans, chief Of the
Chaplains Division Of the Navy. read
the selected lessons, opening with the
phrase, I'VE know that all things work
together for the good Of them that
love God" and closing with, And God
shall wipe away all tears from their
eyes"
The hymn, Flight the Good Fight"
was followed by the recital Of the
apostles creed, the Lords prayer, and
the collects and prayers for the oc-
casion. Canon Wolven petitioned
especially for the lost and for those who
mourn their fate with grateful love.
The choir sang the hymn, Jesus,
Lover of My Soul" and at its conclu-
sion Bishop Freeman, entering the pull
pit, summoned the congregation to
stand In silence "for q moment" In
homage to the dead. He then offered a
special prayer, and Taps" was sounded
by Earl Miller, cornetist of the Navy
Band.
In his sermon. the bishop spoke Of
the solemn accident OF the Akron dis
aster having occurred at the season
when the Christian world is thinking
particularly of the life and crucifxion
of the Savior. He discussed the mys-
terry of death and the need for unfalter-
ing faith in an hour Of grief. With
reference to the Navy, he said: I'm
the economy of the Republic, it occu-
pies conspicuous place as part, and
an essential part, Of our family life.
Recognized or unrecognized, its off,
GERS and men constitute an element
that is both picturesque and singularly
appealing. Hence, whether in peace or
war. the Navy belongs to US. 1t is a
constituent element in our national
household and lays claim to our deep
est affection and highest praise. 1t Is
because of this fact that we stand
today in reverent and deepened sorrow
as We contemplate the tragic happen
ing. The men We mourn were our sons
and brothers, flesh of our flesh, bone of
our bone, the faithful and loyal defend
ers of American ideals. Their names and
persons may have been unknown to
most OF us; nevertheless, they were
committed to q service that concerns
us all. They were the guardians of
those interests that are nearest and
dearest to us. In their service they
symbolized the high attainments OF
fidelity and courage. Obedience to the
call OF duty was their watchword. The
sea and the air were the elements in
which their calling had its sphere. At
all times and under all circumstances
they were wont to respond, and respond
gladly, to the call Of duty. As ex-
emplars OF fidelity to q cause these
loyal sons occupied place that was
unchallenged and unchallengable.
AS we contemplate again this latest
misfortune, We are thrilled by the quick
and ready response of the men as they
heard the ominous command, stand by
Tor crash. Knowing full we'll what
such an order implied, there would be
no lack OF obedience, no evidence of
faltering. They had been trained to
stand ready, and stand ready they
would, come what might. The scene
of that midnight struggle with the
elements may not have the glamor and
high color that distinguish the in
tense action of great conflict, but it
lacks nothing OF those fine qualities
that inhere in men who are never found
wanting in the hour when peril and
crisis impend. Mourn as we will over
this calamitous happening, we must
recognize in 1t new chapter that
dlscloses the utter fidelity and heroism
that Is ever typical of the men of the
United States Navy"
Navy Hymn Follows.
The final prayers were followed by
the singing of the Navy hymn, Eternal
Father, Strong to Save" The recess
sional was THE Son of God Goes
Forth of War"
The preludes and postludes Of the