Evening star., 1941-12-25
Churchill Joins
Roosevelt in
Victory Prayer
Services at Foundry
Church Attract
Capacity Crowd
(TertS on Page Az
By JOHN &. HENRY.

BY JOHN L. HENRY.
President Roosevelt and Prime
Minister Churchill joined today in
a Christmas prayer for victory at
war in order that peace and good
will might once again visit the
world
the leaders Of these two great
allied nations attended interde-
nominational services being con-
Quoted at the Foundry Methodist
Church under auspices of the WASH
ington Federation of Churches. Mrs.
Roosevelt accompanied them and
long before the hour of the service
the church was filled to capacity.
Suited to the gravity of the times
and the solemn ewareness of these
two men of their deep responsible
ties to present and future genera
tions of free mankind, it was SIM
pie religious service.
Presiding was the Rev. Frederick
Brown Harris, minister of the
church, with the Christmas saluta-
ton being given by the Rev. DR..
Oscar p. Blackwelder, president of
the federation, and the sermon by
the Rev. DR.. Ze Barney Phillips,
chaplain of the Senate and dean Of
the Washington Cathedral.
Discussions Continue.
To Mr.. Roosevelt and his distin-
guished guest 1t was an humble in
terlude in a day that was being
divided between traditional Christ
mas observance and continuation
of their momentous discussions on
the joint course of the two Allied
nations at war.
President and Mrs. Roosevelt and
Mr.. Churchill arrived at the church
promptly at II o'clock and entered
the church through the Church
street entrance.
The presidential motorcade turned
into Church street from Seventeenth
street and as soon as the car had
stopped, Mr.. Churchill stepped out
/ into the street through the door on
the left side Of the car and turned
to help Mrs. Roosevelt alight.
The President got out through the
right door and went Immediately
into the church, while the Prime
Minister and Mrs. Roosevelt paused
briefly to pose smilingly for the Of
flclal newsreel photographer as
signed to cover the event for all
newsreels.
Walk Into Church.
Mr.. Churchill, wearing a dark blue
topcoat and carrying cane, turned
and made remark to Mrs. Roose-
welt after posing for the photog.
rapher, and then walked with her
into the church.
After the President and Mrs.
Roosevelt and Mr.. Churchill had
entered. other members of the
presidential party, including many
high Government and Army and
Navy officials, followed.
Vice President and Mrs Wallace
had arrived at the church about
10:45. entering through the south
entrance on Sixteenth street.
Shortly before that the doors Of
the main entrance had been closed,
leaving more than 400 persons
standing on the steps. All of these
had been given tickets. but they
were unable to get in to hear the
service after every seat and every
available inch of standing room had
been filled. They were required to
stand some distance away from
Church street. so only very few on
the outer fringe of the crowd were
able to get a glimpse of President
Roosevelt and Mr.. Churchill.
| Message to People.
This afternoon there was to be a
ceremonious exchange of holiday
gifts among the White House family
and the Christmas dinner will be
served tonight. Yesterday the Presi-
dent and the British Prime Minister
extended their messages to the peo-
pie of America at the colorful
Christmas tree-lighting ceremonies
on the south lawn of the White
House.
These, too, were messages plain in
words and deep in conviction.
Preparation of Hearts.
From the President came an ap-
peal for another preparation" by
this Nation beyond and beside the
preparation of weapons and mate
rials of war.
There is demand of us also the
preparation of our hearts; the arm
ing of our hearts. And when we
make ready our hearts for the labor
and the suffering and the ultimate
victory which lie ahead, then we
observe Christmas Day-with all its
memories and all its meaningless
we should"
Introducing Mr. Churchill as one
of the great leaders of the millions
of free peoples who are now joined
in conflict against the evil things"
the President heard the Briton
pledge to all those who we're listen
ing to his words throughout the
world that by the sacrifice and
daring" of today's fighting genera
ton the children of both the present
and the future shall be assured of
their inheritance and their right TO
live in a free and decent world"
| For this ideal, rather than for
greed, ambition, or lust for gain, the
nations opposing Hitlerism are now
at war.
Tomorrow the British Prime Min
lister will make another public ad-
dress, as q guest of the Senate.
| News of Bold Raid.
Throughout this holiday schedule
at the White House there were being
received the customary reports from
the fighting fronts.
Besides the ominous news from the
Philippines, there was the bold raid
ing of enemy submarines within