Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1944-03-27

norwegian kloydHy
Attend Opening Of
Center Here
7 Roosevelt Sends Letter
OF Good Wishes to Rites
!: Attended BY 1000
(, The Grown Prince and Princess OF
Norway and their children joined
church and political notables and
more than, 1000 spectators yesterday
Ut dedication ceremonies marking
the opening of the Warrington
Lutheran Service Center at ,73e
jackson place N.M President Roose-
velt sent = letter Of good wishes.
The exercises were held on q
raised platform at the entrance to
the house on the west side Of Lafay-
cite Park. Before the ceremonies
spectators were entertained by q
Navy School band.
The Norwegian royal family, who
had come to the dedication from
their present home at Pook's Hill
on Rockville pike, included Crown
Prince Olaf and Crown Princess
Martha and their children, Ragn-
hid, -; Astrid, IL, and Horald, 7.
1t. Col. N. r. Ostgaard, aide de
camp; P. Wedel Karlsberg, master OF
the household, and Mrs. Ragni Ost-
gard, lady In waiting, accompanied
them.
President Sends Letter.
President Rooseyelt,s letter, which
was read by DR.. Gerhard Z. Lenski,
Of the Washington Luth-
eran Ministerial Association, said:
Il Ike to think Of the Lutheran
Service Center which you are open
ing on March n in the building OF
the National Lutheran Council 1T
1855 jackson place NV. rs typical of
the fine work being done in innum-
cradle communities by all Lutheran
groups in the country.
Prom Colonial times through
every phase Of our history, members
OF this great religious body have
borne eloquent witness to the fer
vent faith that has ever moved
them to place everything at the
service Of God and country.
The work which the Lutherans
are doing today through service
canteens In all parts OF the country
Is in keeping with this fine tradi-
ton. May God bless and prosper
It,"
Many Messages Received.
Messages Of good wishes from the
Washington Federation Of Churches
sent by Coleman Jennings, chairman
OF the Defense Compission Of the
Federation; the Army-Navy Com
mission Of the Missouri Synod, sent
by DR.. Paul l.. Dannenfeldt, chair
man., and the National Lutheran
Council, sent by N. M. Ylyisaker
head OF the Service Commission
were. also read, =,
Dr.. Ralph H. Long, executive
secretary Of the National Lutheran
Council, said In q brief speech that
the dedication brought up the aues-
ton OF why . Lutheran Service
Center" There were four answers,
he said. First, we believe Christi
Anity isof the utmost Importance
since tAea finest parts Of our civiliI
z ton have grown out of It.. Since
thA church Is. q splritual mother, IL
= Its duty u help the sons and
daughters vflo need help under new
conditions. The center, next, aims
TO aid those whose lives have been
dislocated by the war by providing
them q way in which to fight lone
lineS, temptations and dangers
growing out Of changed conditions.
the Lutherans believe this
center will contribute to the well
fare Of the Nation by bolstering the
morale Of service men and women
and BY allaying the anxieties Of
parents who wonder what their
children are doing for enjoyment in
moments OF leave from duty"
DR.. Sauer Speaks.
DR.. o. A. Sauer. secretary of the
Army and Navy Commission of the
Missouri; Synod, declared the Joint
operation Of the 20, Service Centers
sponsored by the National Lutheran
Council and the Synod has been
conducted through an Investment
Of more than 1880 900. ut is" he
added, "a worthwhile Investment
which will bring returns in the way
Of goodwill good morale and Chris
tian loyalty" .,.-
Capt. Stanton w. Salisbury, acting
director Of the Navy Chaplains' d.
viAon,' and Chaplain George F.
Rixey. deputy chief Of Army chap
lains, brought greetings from the
armed services. ~
Inc INTRODUCTION WAS given by DR.
Lensk and the invocation was made
BY Dr.. Ralph Tabor, pastor Of the
Luther Place Memorial Lutheran
Church. DR.. P. O. Bersell, president
Of the National Lutheran Council,
formally opened the ceremonies
while the Rev. N. Everett Hedeen,
service pastor Of the WASHINGTON
Lutheran Service Center, gave the
benediction. -
The Service Center was open tt
visitors after the ceremonies. The
which Theodore Roosevelt,
had once used as q temporary White
House has been renovated. The
main floor has three large rooms
opening into one another with 3
raised platform ut the rear Of the
last room. Easy chairs, writing
desks, tables and rugs make this 8
comfortable lounginR section which
can be quickly changed into good
sized dance floor. The downstairs
has q small canteen, game rooms
and showers and restrooms fol-
men. The second floor, in addition
to of1ces for the staff, has a small
chapel in the room Quentin Roose-
welt once occupied. The two uppe,