Evening star., 1945-04-02
Thousands Here Join
In Fourth War Year
Easter Services
Sunrise Worshipers jam
j. Arlington Amphitheoter;
Truman Places Wreath

y N''HSsOu VusPststuSotSss
Truman Places Wreath
Thousands Of Washingtonians ant
visitors gathered yesterday beneath
blue skies and bright sun in hal.
lowed places in the District to OBJ.
serve the fourth wartime Easte,
with services commemorating the
festival of the Resurrection.
More than 10000 persons attended
the 18th annual Easter sunrise serv.
ices at Arlington Cemetery. They
filed every seat In the amphitheater
stood In the aisles and spaces be.
hind the boxes ringing the semi
circle and overf1owed onto the lawns
surrounding the structure.
Vice President Truman Joined
the worshipers in the amphithe-
ater in the religious rites con-
Quoted under the auspices Of the
knights Templar. Grand Encamp-
ment. Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt
heard the services from box next
to the speakers platform. Many
prominent Government, armed forces
and city personages were present.
Admiral King Offers Prayer.
In his prayer at the services, Ad-
miral Ernest J. King, commander
In chief of the United States Fleet
and chief of naval operations, sup
plicated God to be especially with
those who even now are offering
their lives upon the altar of free
DOM"
Col. Alfred c. Oliver. jr., who re-
Gently was freed from the prison
camp at Cabanatuan in the Philip
pins. in his prayer gave thanks
to the Lord "for all those Thy
servants who have laid down their
lives in the service of our country
Col. Oliver, now at Walter Reed
Hospital, originated the knights
Templar sunrise services in 1927.
Easter was called the "Earth's
greatest day" by the Rev. DR.. Mar
tin Luther Enders, grand prelate,
Grand Commandery of Maryland,
in the mornings sermon. DR.. End
ers, pointing out six other climactic
days in the history of modern west
ern civilization, declared they are
all insignificant when you place
them beside the Resurrection of our
Divine Lord"
Others Participating.
The Rev. Frederick Brown Har-
ris. Senate chaplain and pastor OF
Foundry Methodist Church, gave
the opening prayer and the Rev.
James Shera Montgomery, House
chaplain, said the Apostles Greed.
Charles Noah Orr, grand master
Of the Grand Encampment, well
coined the worshipers to the serv-
ices. Others participating were Fred
E. Blood, Easter Sunrise Committee
chairman and Rev. DR.. John G. Pal
mer, grand chaplain of the Grand
Lodge, F. A. A. M, of the District Of
Columbia.
Following the services the knights
Templar lined up before the Tomb
of the Unknown Soldier and a
wreath was placed on the tomb by
Mr.. Truman, Admiral King and Mr..
Orr. Mrs. Roosevelt stood nearby as
the wreath was placed on the shrine.
Earlier the Vice President spoke
at sunrise services on Shooters Hill,
Alexandria, attended by approx
mately 5000 persons. The services
we're under the direction Of the Rev.
Cliff johnson, pastor of the West
minister Presbyterian Church, and
DIR. Francis McPeek, director Of the
department Of social welfare, Wash
ington Federation of Churches.
Music was furnished by the George
Washington High School Band, di-
rected by Philip H Lester.
At Jefferson Memorial.
Thousands Of young people heard
the Rev. DR.. Fred S. Buschmeyer,
pastor Of Mount Pleasant Congrega-
tional Church, declare at the third
annual Eastern dawn service at the
Jefferson Memorial Our world will
be we'll advised if it can keep the
answer of Eastern echoing in its
mind throughout the reconstruction
days ahead of u.s." The service was
sponsored by the Washington Fed
Grafton of Christian Youth under
the direction of Thomas M. Steen,
director of the Defense Commission
of the Washington Federation Of
Churches.
More than $4,000 persons attended
the fourth annual Easter sunrise
service, sponsored by the Organized
Bible Glass Association, at Fort Lin
coin Cemetery. Howard M. Stack
house. a vice president of the asso-
citation, served as general chairman
of the event.
The Rev. DR.. Carl C. Rasmussen,
professor of theology at Lutheran
Theological Seminary, Gettysburg,
Pa, delivered the sermon. Repre-
sentative John j. Sparkman, Demo-
crat, of Alabama read the Scripture
lesson. The invocation was given by
DR.. Page NICK. Etchison, president
Of the association and YMCA relig-
ious work director, and the benedic-
ton by the Rev. DR.. Warren D. Bow
man, pastor Of the Washington City
Church of the Brethren. A 150-voice
choir from the First Baptist Church,
directed by Harwood v. Hall, sang.
Bethesda Services.
Residents of Bethesda and Chevy
Chase assembled at the Bethesda
Chevy Chase Recreation Center,
47O0 Norwood drive, Chevy Chase,
Md, at sunrise to hear the Rev. Dr.
Ralph Della Smith, district superin-
tendent of the West Washington
district of the Methodist Church,
bring the Easter message.
Protestant services and Catholic
masses were said at Fort Myer yes
terday as the holy day was welcomed
in by worshipers at the post. Maj.
Gen. william r. Arnold, chief of
Army chaplains, said low mass at 8
am. at the post. Other armed serv-
ice stations also held services either
at sunrise or during the day.
Among the afternoon gatherings
was the 18th annual services at the