Evening star., 1943-03-11
Downtown Churches
Attract Worshipers
For Lenten Services
Rev. c. w. Sheerin
Fees 1t Good Time
To End Black Markets

The lenten season, traditional
period Of religious fasting and medi-
tation, opened yesterday with the
suggestion from at least one Wash
ingtOn clergyman that the 40 days
be used to end BLACK markets and
chiseling.r
All over the District, Christians of
every denomination observed Ash
"wednesday by attending church
services. Many persons took time
out during the day to worship at
downtown churches. The need for
greater attention to spiritual needs
during the war was reiterated by
most preachers.
Pastor Issues Warning.
The eXhortation to abandon. black
market practices and to discourage
the philosophy that says we must
enjoy ourselves now or we never
will came from the Rev. Dr. Charles
w. Sheerin, rector Of the Church of
the Epiphany.
The idea Of Lent" DR.. Sheerin
told the congregation gathered for
the beginning of the 40-day holy
lenten season. is to redirect the aim
Of the individual from a chief inter-
est and concern in self to a concern
in God.
The chief error Of man is to set
up an idol in place OF God, just as
school child is tempted to think
in terms of vacations and receSseS.
~
pride, economic. status or social posi-
ton
Warns Against Fear
Warning. against becoming fearful
of the sacrifices of war, DR.. Sheerin
said that, setting up of these idols is
reflected in BLACK markets and
chiseling and a sort Of tatalistic phi
losophy that says We must enjoy
ourselves now CT we never will"
I'VE get fearful. of our security" ="
he said and this becomes our chief
treasure when war calls on us to
sacrifice.
Religion lis the only thing that
can change this point Of view and
while we must be secular in the
sense that all of us must live in a
world Of reality, the Christian re-
igion calls on us to keep our face
I, and see the light, at least.
"A return to religion is the only
thing that can give US the vitality to
win the war and win the peace"
DR.. gSheerin announced that the
church has furnished room where
! communicates may eat box lunches
and in addition, the church will run
a cafeteria for the benefit of lenten
churchgcerS.
The sermon today and tomorrow
will be read by the Rev. Vincent c.
Franks, rector Of St. Paul's Church,
Richmond, Va.
At the Washington Cathedral,
Worshippers heard plea that the
current Lenten season be more than
Just another Lent to us" The
/ sermon was delivered by the Rev.
w. Curtis Draper. acting canon
/ precentOr.
Msgr. Sheen Sermon.
In these times Of stress he said,
when we are looking for wisdom
and advice from the church, the
church says again, as it did in that
first century: Prepare ourselves for
God"
The Right Rev. MSgr. Fulton
Sheen delivered a sermon last night
on peaceful Thoughts in Wartime"
at s.. Gabriel'S Catholic Church on
Grant circle NV.
At the Sixth Presbyterian Church,
Dr.. Harry w. Burgan, who is pastor
Of Hamline Methodist Church,
opened a series of Wednesday night
Lenten services:
The Rev. L. Ralph Tabor. new
pastor Of the Luther Place Memorial
Church on Thomas Circle NV. de-
liVcred his first sermon at the
church last night MI Tabor was
formerly pastor of Baltimores Third
lutheran Church. Formal inStalla-
ticn Of the new pastor will take
place at pm. Sunday.
A COMMUNICATIVE Lenten pro-
gram will be held at the Penn
Theaterr $50 Pennsylvania avenue
Sc, at noon today when the Rev.
Edward Gabler. rector of Christ
Episcopal Church, Navy Yard Par
ish delivers an address. These
special services began yesterday
with a sermon by DR.. Bernard
Braskamp, pastor Of Gunton-
Temple Memorial Presbyterian
! Church.