Evening star., 1941-04-14
Worshipers Throng
Districts Churches
For Easter Services
$4,000 Seek Admission to
Arlington Amphitheoter
Which Has Scots for 5000

Inviting weather, the public's de-
sire to commemorate fittingly the
Resurrection and perhaps the
thought that the world needs pray
ers today more than ever before, all
served to bring out Washington s
worshipers in thousands yesterday
From sunrise to sunset and after
practically all the city's churches
and special shrines had their capac-
tiles tested.
Arlington Amphitheaters 5000
seats proved inadequate fcI an over
flow crowd estimated as high as
$4,000 that sought admission to the
18th annual Easter sunrise services
of the Knights Templar. The
banked benches were full long be-
fore the Marine Band summoned
late-comers with Onward Christian
Soldiers" and the amphitheater was
still attracting stragglers when the
strains of Lead Kindly Light" and
the echoes of Taps" signaled the
finale.
President Attends Services.
Out -towners and home -towners
converged on Arlington behind Mrs.
Franklin D. Roosevelt, Vice Presi-
dent Wallace and generous
sprinkling of other notables. The
somber black and white plumes of
the host knights mingled with the
multicolored spring finery of their
guests.
The underlying theme of all the
sermons was Christ has risen from
the dead-Halleluiah!" Over the
hallowed slopes of Arlington rolled
a hymn that began THE day of
Resurrection" and ended For Christ
the Lord hath risen, our Joy that
hath no end"
After a welcome by Eugene E.
Thompson, past grand commander
of the District of Columbia, the as
semblage at the amphitheater was
led in prayer by the Rev. Ze Barney
T. Phillips, chaplain of the Senate
and grand prelate of the Grand
Commandery of knights Templar of
the District.
Recites Apostles Greed.
The Rev. James Shera Mont
gomery, chaplain of the House and
grand prelate emeritus of the Dis
trict grand commandery, then re-
cited the Apostles Greed, during
which the knights barred and in
verted their swords. After DR..
Montgomery's prayer the Rev. John
c. Palmer, grand chaplain Of the
Grand Lodge of r. A. A. M. of the
District, read verses from st. John.
Although the stage was crowded
with dignitaries from nearly a dozen
States, introductions were limited
to Harry Gilmore Pollard, grand
master of the Grand Encampment
Of knights Templar of the United
States, under whose auspices the
services were held.
The sermon was preached by the
Right Rev. Adna Wright Leonard,
Bishop of the Washington area of
the Methodist Church, Bishop
Leonard's message was directed
principally to those who have
demanded proof or demonstration
of the resurrection of our Lord"
They, he said, deny the resurrec-
ton unless proof or demonstration
Is furnished"
Resurrection Not Demonstrable.
Since geology is not an exact
science, nor is practical economy,
their propositions cannot be DEM
onstrated or proved. History is
not demonstrable because contrary
fact is often conceivable in its field.
The resurrection of our Lord is not
demonstrable since it is conceivable
that He might have risen at some
other time, in some other way, or
not at all. Here is where the deniers
of the supernatural have invented
their many fanciful theories"
The Intellectually honest inquirer
who diScerns between things that
differ, Bishop Leonard said, will
perceive that philosophical, theo-
logical, and historical truths are
not susceptible of demonstration by
the same methods employed on
mathematical and material facts.
History cannot be verified in that
sense. To verify is to repeat, and
history never repeats itself. In the
very nature of the case, theological
and historical truths must depend
for their support upon moral GER
tainty
Who can produce demonstrative
proof that Caesar fell at the hands
of Brutus and his fellow con-
spirators? Solon the great Athenian
lawgiver and patriot is known chiefly
through the writings of Diogenes
and Plutarch. But Diogenes lived
700 and Plutarch 300 years after
Solon. The evidence that is cumu-
lative cannot be regarded as in
sufficient because it lacks full dem
onstration. There are conditions
and circumstances that at times may
be more convincing than direct
testimony"
Christ" said Bishop Leonard in
conclusion, "has risen from the
dead-Halleluiah!"
1000 Attend Service.
More than 1000 persons attended
sunrise service at Fort Lincoln
Cemetery at 5:34 am. The Rev.
Robert l.. Whittenberg, chaplain of
the cemetery, delivered a sermon on
"The Dawn of New Day"
"The darkness of the age in which
Christ died could not hold Him
down" the preacher said, "and in
spite of the present darkness and
the worlds bewilderment there shall
arise hope and assurance of a new
civilization and a life eternal"
Cathedral Services.
Preaching to more than 5000 in
two services at the Washington Ca
thedral, the Right Rev. James E.
Freeman, Bishop of Washington,
proclaimed "the triumph of life
over death is the only hope of man
in this darkening world" Bishop
Freeman called Easter the greatest
day in the whole history of the hu-
man race" holding It's promise of
life eternal in the vision of a risen
Christ.