The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-04-17
GOOD FRIDAY
OF WAR DAYS
is RECALLED
Contrast of Quiet Worship,
Mad Enlistment Is
Brought Back.
CFrom The Living Church" April a.
1917. By Mrs.. sarah s. PrattJ

Trom The Living Church." April a.
1917. by Mrs. sarah 5. PrattJ
Nowhere in this broad land Of
ours, among the hundreds Of par
ishes which kept the solemn three
hour vigil Of Good Friday. was
there, probably. such a service. so
environed, as that held in Christ
Church, Indianapolis. on last Good
Friday.
Christ Church nestles-a little
Gothic gem-almOst at the foot Of
the great Soldiers Monument, said
to be the finest one in America. This
shaft occupies a great circular plaza
made beautiful by fountains, statues
and illuminants
And on this particular day it
was the SETTLING center of great
war activity. Up its many steps
climbed strangers, whole families
visiting the city TO see what was 60
ing on. They lifted their children
up TO read the inscriptions to the
fallen, to the loyal women of the
sixties: let them gaze on the scUlp-
tured form Of the great War Gov
ernor. Morton. and to put their
small and inquisitive hands in the
lannon's mouth.
at Was Symbolic Weather"
THE day was wonderful as to
weather-it was symbolic weather,
If there is such a thing. Although
the opening of April, the wind-the
fierce. keen, penetrating, vindictive
wind-was that of the month of
March. 1t was as if the mighty
Djinns howled War" among the
tops Of the skyscrapers and shrieked
in ominous roar and below through
street, avenue and open space.
1t whistled over the great Monu-
ment Place, grewSome, in a way,
and yet, joined with the brilliant
sunshine, a tremendous, forceful in
fluence compelling to action. 1t
twisted the flags on a thousand
STATS and twined them tightly; then,
with a mellow change of heart and
a f1utter of softness, unfurled them
until one could count every star.
Truly it was a wonderful day
and Joined to its wonder was the
wonder of Good Friday.
Recruiting Offices Around
Recruiting offices were all
around; places where one might
join the Army, the Navy, the Marine
Corps. Placards implored one to
join Battery E or Company A: win
dowS displayed the equipment of
the soldier boy even to the cot he
would sleep on.
boy Scouts, Funston ReServeS-a
company of lads founded by Mere
dith Nicholson, a churchman-Har-
rison's Reserves, Lawton Guards, all
organizations of young boys, were
ubiquitous. some parading in squads,
some in groups persuading the re-
luctant. some examining machine
guns, others gazing into the windows
of the Red Cross rooms where busy
and quiet women seWed on shirts,
tore bandages and counted comfort
kits.
AND IN the very midst OF 1t all
was Christ Church with it's corners
and goers. Going into its cool green
depths was like going into another
world. Outside was the very Spirit
of the Lord God of Battle; within,
the Peace of Christ and peace with
victory.
mo Semblance of Mourning"
There was no semblance of
mourning about the chancel; no
draped altar nor Shrouded Cross.
The sun shone penetratingly through
the stained windows on the flag in
its accustomed place opposite the
Cross, on the altar with its brasses.
and, above. on the pictured window
of Christ the Good Shepherd. The
rector sat by the prayer book and
gave the seven meditations. some Of
them warm from his own heart and
some of them the eloquent words of
others.
And 1t was strange how some of