Evening star., 1944-06-06
Thousands Jam
Churches Here
AT D-Day Rites

Roosevelt to Lead
Nation in Prayer
On Air at 10 PM.
Many churches throughout Wash
ington and the Nation today were
dedicating special prayer services
to the men now landing in France.
The spontaneous D-day observance
will be climaxed at 10 o'clock to-
night, when President Roosevelt
leads the country in a broadcast Of
a prayer which he composed last
night while early reports of the
cross Channel movement were
reaching the White House.
Parents, sisters, wives, sweet
hearts and friends of the troops
overseas thronged the city's
churches during the day, each with
a special prayer to offer for some
loved one believed to be sharing the
perils Of the great attack.
Symbolic of the universal scope
OF the observance, leaders Of three
great religious faiths were to join
in q special broadcast at $3.50 pm.
today over Station WMAL under
auspices Of the Committee of Re-
ligiouS Life of the District.
Speakers will be the Right Rev.
Angus Dun, Bishop of Washing
ton; Norman Gerstenfeld OF the
Hebrew Congregation
and the Rev. DR.. Edmund A.
Walsh, S. j.. vice president OF
Georgetown University.
Services Started Early.
The services began as early a
1880 am. Early worshipers in
cluded Federal workers on their
way to wartime jobs and q sprin-
king Of uniformed men-soldiers,
sailors and marines.
The throngs were Every calm"
but visibly impressed by the grav-
Ity Of the day and hour.
Services were to continue hourly
1T the National Cathedral. The
irst was a joint observance in the
Chapel of st. Joseph OF Arima-
thea on the first anniversary Of
the death of the late Bishop James
9. Freeman.
The special prayer Of the pre-
'iding bishop of the Episcopal
Church of the United States was
,art Of the observances. Bishop
DUN will speak at the services at i
o'clock this afternoon and 8 o'clock
Hourly services began at 8 q m. at
he Church of the Covenant. IN
ormed In advance that the church
would be open on D-day, many
members of the congregation came
arly for individual prayer.
MSgT. Edward L. Buckey an
lounced that st. Matthews Ca
hedral on Rhode Island avenue will
old services at 8 o'clock tonight
nth prayers, . sermon and benedic-
lon. Services and prayers win Be
bseryed at 7:45 o'clock tonight. at
y. Stephens Catholic Church.
Wenty-nfth street and Pennsyl-
ania avenue NV.
Special Prayers Tonixht.
Special prayers viii be said at q
''clock tonight ut the Grace Episco-
'al Church. the Rev. Meade Bolton
AacBryde announced. The pastor
u Chevy Chase PRESBYTERIAN
the Rev. ]. Hillman Hol-
ster. said members of the commu-
lity were invited to join the congre-
cation in prayer at his church at 8
I'm.
Chimes were played throughout
he day at the New York Avenue
Presbyterian Church. At the Church
II the Epiphany, chimes rang out at
noon for a special service. Special
'ervices were held at the First Con-
yregational Church this morning.
A brief prayer meeting for the
success of the invasion was sched-
lied for 1890 pm. in the lobby of
he Commerce Department Building
Under auspices of the Maritime
Commission.
Churches Open In Nearby Areas.
Many churches were open TODAY
n Alexandra, Silver Spring, Hyatts-
Vile, Bethesda and other nearby
Invasion day, proclaimed Inject
Ing day" in Virginia by Gov. Dar-
den, was being observed in Alex
andria In accordance with a recent
proclamation by Mayor William T.
wilkins.
In addition to individual church
services throughout the day in
there will be brief pub
lie ceremonies at 8 pm. on the
steps Of the George Washington
National Masonic Memorial.
Col. Alva j. Breasted, Army chap
lain, will speak. Prayers will be
led by the Rev. Fred v. Poag, pas.
tor Of the Second PRESBYTERIAN
Church, DR.. Hugo Schiff, rabbi
OF Temple Bethel, and the Rev.
J. H. Lowell, pastor Of the Roberts
Chapel Methodist Church.
The singing of the national an
them and of hymns by the audience
will be led by Mrs. A. A. Garthof
choir director of the Second Pres
byterian Church.
Mrs. Dudley Lee, chairman of
Civilian War Services, has arranged
the services in cooperation with
the Rev. Mr.. Poag and Sidney Well
a member of Post "A, American
Legion.
Special HyattsvilIe Services.
All five Protestant churches in
Hyattsville will be open today and
Will have special services this
evening. The Catholic church at
Hyattsville, st. Jerome's Church
Will have a special service at 7:3O
pm. tomorrow.
Protestant churches are First
Baptist, First preshvtariap Ma