Evening star., 1945-04-02
Thousands Join
In nSunriseRites
Marking Easter
u Truman Takes Part
In Services Held
At Arlington


stood in the aisles and spaces be-
hind the boxes ringing the semi
circle and overhowed 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 a 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 c. Pal
mer. grand chaplain Of the Grand
Lodge, F. A, A. NJ, 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
were under the direction of the Rev
Cliff johnson, pastor of the West
minister Presbyterian Church. and
DR.. 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 well 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
47OO 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
Tomb of the Unknown Civil War
dead sponsored by the Daughters OF
Union Veterans of the Civil War
Maj. Gen. Amos A. Fries, U. S. A.
retired, gave the address. =
The Grand Commandery Of Col
ored Knights Templar OF the Dis
trict held an Easter service at 1:3C
pm. yesterday at the Tomb of the
Unknown Soldier. Isaac s. Mason
grand commander Of the John w
Freeman Commandery, spoke. The
seryiceS were concluded bv the plac-