Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-03-08
Church Services
Place Emphasis
On Se|f-DeniaI
Catholics Make No
Essential Changes in
Rules for Lent

With Ash Wednesday. the Begin
ming of Lent, only two days OIL.
churches stressed at services yes
terday the theme of Christendom
holy season.
The lenten season beginning day
after tomorrow will end with Easter
on April 25-the latest the spiritual
feast day has fallen for 20 years.
Catholic and Protestant churches
brought out, in sermon, music and
prayer, the depletion of Lent as a
season of penitence and spiritual
revaluation.
Lenten regulations for the Arch
diocese Of Baltimore and Washing
ton were read in all Catholic
churches. There is no essential
change in the rules for civilians.
despite the stringencies Of war ra-
tioning. Working people and their
families are to abstain from meat
on Ash Wednesday, on Holy Satur-
day and on all Fridays. Others also
are to observe the fast from meat
on wednesdays. In special cases.
pastors pointed out, dispensations
may be obtained excusing parishon- \
ers from observing these regula-
tions.
Rationing Effect Apparent.
1T strikes us as coincidental."
said the Rev. John j. Reilly, director
OF the National Shrine of the Inn
maculate Conception at Catholic
University, that Lent this year
comes at time when the full effects
OF rationing are making themselves
apparent. Rationing is nothing
more than Notwithstanding
ton imposed upon disqualification
Tor the most part taken in good
grace by most Americans. For 1000
years the church has stressed the
need of self-denial. Very few words
are wasted about its necessity now:
most of the talk centers around the
methods TO be employed.
Perhaps this year the church
WILL see Lent observed as Lent has
never been observed before, for war
Is grim professor and makes men
do what the church has never fully
done. This rationing imposed upon
us should be good, both for your
body and for your soul. It should
do your heart good, too, for deep
down in our heart of hearts we
| know that this is all a part of the
supreme effort to preserve our coun-
try and what our country stands for.
Accept it then in the spirit of love
Tor the land that has been good to
us all and let it overlap into your
self denial for the love of Christ.
who has been good to us besides"
City-wide Training Conference.
A lenten evangelistic enterprise
sponsored by the Washington Fed
GRAFTON of Churches, Our CAPITAL
for Christ" called city-wide train
ing conference OF Protestant laymen
to the First Baptist Church, Six
teenth and o streets a. W. The Rev.
DR.. Jesse M. Bader, director of the
evangelism department of the Fed
eral Council of Churches of Christ
in America, was the principal
speaker.
The local federation, representing
more than ITO churches and mis-
sions, will sponsor weekly lenten
services to be held each Thursday
| from $50 to 6 pm. at Epiphany
Episcopal Church, 1917 G street
NV. The church itself will hold
the usual noon lenten services daily,
with noted religious leaders from
various sections of the country in
vited to officiate The Rev. DR.,
Charles w. Steerin. rector of EDi-
rhany, will conduct the o--aning
service on Ash Wednesday. The Rev.
Or. j. Warren Hastings, pastor of
the National City Christian Church,
will be the opening speaker for the
federation program Thursday eve
ming.
Three Churches Unveil Flags.
Service flags for members in the
armed forces were unveiled yester-
day at three cnurche-Foundry
Methodist, Kendall Baptist and CO.
lumbia Heights Christian.
Southeastern Washington Profess
tant churches, belonging to the
Southeast Interchurch Council, will
hold daily services, except on Satur-
days and Sundays, at the Penn
Theater from noon to 1890 o'clock.
Chevy Chase congregations will
meet at pm. Thursday at sue
cessive community churches, with
the opening meeting this week at
| Chevy Chase Baptist Church.
Members of upper Sixteenth street
churches will hold union services at,
different churches each Wednesday /.
at 8 pm. The opening service will .
take place at the Sixth Presbyterian
Church. The Rev. DR.. Harry w.
Burgan, pastor of Hamline Method
ist Church, will preach.