Evening star., 1944-04-10
Easter Services
In District
Attract 100000
Religious Leaders
Term Observance
Here Outstanding


Here Outstanding
Washington paused in the grim
task Of prosecuting the war to wor.
ship the risen Christ at Easter Sun.
rise and traditional morning serv.
ices throughout the District In what
religious leaders said was an out.
standing observance Of the Holy
Day.
DR.. Frederick E. Reissig, execu.
tive secretary Of the Washington
Federation Of Churches, estimated
that between 100000 and 100000
persons attended services during
the day throughout metropolitan
Washington.
Dawn services at Arlington Ma.
tional Cemetery, Fort Lincoln
Heights and the jefferson Memorial
drew overflow crowds of the devout.
st. Matthews Cathedral and st,
Patrick's Church were among the
Catholic churches to draw large
numbers Of worshipers.
The Arlington service brought
out more than 10000 persons who
filled every seat In the amphithea.
ter, stood in the circular aisle be-
hind the boxes, overflowed onto the
lawns behind the auditorium as far
back as the ships mast and massed
IN phalanx tightness at the bottom
OF the steps leading to- the Tomb Of
the Unknown Soldier.
All-Time Record Crowd.
Col. Charles G. Mortimer, oficer
in charge of Arlington National
Cemetery, said the crowd far. sur.
passed any previous gathering to
attend the services, which were
sponsored by the Grand Encamp.
ment Of Knights Templar Of the
United States Of America for the
18th consecutive year.
The high light of the services
was the placing of a cross of lilies
on the Tomb Of the Unknown Soldier
by Gen. George C. Marshall, Chief
OF, Staff of the United States Army.
He performed the. ceremony in place
Of Gen. John ]. Pershing, who
was unable to be present. Mrs.
Eleanor Roosevelt, who accompanied
Gen. Marshall as he walked down
the aisle formed by Templars with
inverted swords, stood in the front
line as the general went forward to
place the cross Of lilies on the Tomb.
The sermon was given by the
Right Rev. DR.. Oliver ]. Hart, Bishop
|of the Protestant Diocese of Penn
sylvania, with short prayer in
which he expressed the hope that
those who are Offering their lives
IN this war to secure freedom for
lall peoples may find strength and
support sud spiritual comfort in
the Divine Guidance" !.
The United Sta&es Marine Band
opened the services by playing On
ward Christian Soldiers" Charles
Noah Orr. grand master Of the
Knights TempIar. welcomed the
gathering. Following the opening
hymn Of Come Ye Faithful, Raise
the Strain Of Triumphant Glad
ness, the Rev. DR.. Frederick Brown
Harris, Senate chaplain, said the
opening and closing prayers. The
Rev. Dr.. James Shera Montgomery,
House chaplain, led the saying of
"The Apostles Creed" DR.. Hart
gave the benediction.
Defeat Of Evil Held Near.
The sunrise service at Fort Lin.
coin Heights, which was sponsored
by the Organized Bible Glass AS
sociation of Washington, attracted
thousands. The throng heard DR.,
Harry w. Burgan, pastor Of Ham,
line Methodist Church and president
of American University's Board Of
Trustees, declare that lin spite Of
all the apparent contradictions
evil is topping; defeat is sure.
Nothing in the end can withstand
the spiritual forces of the universe
led by the all-conquering captain
of mems souls-Christ the Lord"
The colors were raised by the
American Legion's National Guard
of Honor. The guard was led by
Capt. Gail T. Judd. Reveille was
blown by Bugler Frederick M. Borey.
More than 5000 persons attended
the sunrise service at the Jefferson
Memorial. Worshipers at this re-
ligious meeting. which was spon.
sored by the Washington Fedora
ton of Christian Youth, heard the
Rev. Ralph w. Loew, associate pas
tor of the Church of the Reforma-
ton, preach the sermon An all
youth chorus, directed by Warner
Lawson, dean of Howard University
School Of Music, sang
Worshipers at services at the
Washington Cathedral at II Am.
yesterday heard Canon Chancellor
Charles w. F. Smith declare,
"Christ's life was compressed into
the agony of the cross and the
power 50 developed overthrew the
power OF DEATH" A high light Of
the service was the participation in
it by the Right Rev. Cyril Forser
Garbett, Archbishop of York.
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