Evening star., 1945-04-16
Speakersof3 ;
Faiths Eu|ogize
Late President
Roosevelt Termed
Most Widely Mourned
Man in History

thousands yesterday afternoon 1r
Constitution Hall.
The late Chief Executive was
praised not only for his personal
courage in aff1iction, but for leading
his country through economic de-
preston and global war to the
verge of victory and promise OF
world peace. One speaker said he
was more widely mourned than
any man in the worlds history.
Under auspices of the Committee
on Religious Life in the Nations
Capital, the program was partici-
pated in by representatives of Cath
olic, Protestant and Jewish faiths
and by white and colored clergy
The crowd which filled the great
auditorium joined in singing
America" and the national an
them, and heard music by the
United States Navy Band and a
massed choir.
One of Americas Great Sons.
Rabbi Norman Gerstenfeld OF
Washington Hebrew Congregation,
the first speaker, called Mr.. Roose-
velt "one of Americas great sons. y
There is new gold star in every
home" declared the rabbi, and a
bowed head before every altar
80" He led his people across the
Red Sea of tragedy, in the black
night of suffering, towards the foot
of great covenant of Sinai, a
covenant of the Righteousness OF
the morrow for which he had la
bored through the years"
Rabbi Gerstenfeld bespoke sup
port. for the new President, "in
wholehearted dedication to the unit
ing of the nations beyond, our only
hope for the peace Of the morrow"
Symbol" Says DIR. Walsh.
The Rev. DR.. Edmund A. Walsh,
S. j., vice president of Georgetown
University, declared Mr.. Roosevelt
was mot only citizen of the world;
he was a living, dynamic symbol OF
the worlds best hopes"
"Undismayed by the physical af-
Fiction which might well have con-
demned a lesser spirit to obscurity
and disability" continued Father
Walsh, 'he conquered pain and
mastered the infirmity to a degree
that has proved a benediction to
thousands of similarly afflicted fell
low citizens and will continue to
ennoblc and fructify humanity for
generations to come"
Referring to the quiet change in
the presidency under our Constitu-
ton, DR.. Walsh declared "the Or
derly and unbroken transmission of
the symbols of authority in this
bereaved republic and reassertion
OF disciplined freedom and democ-
racy even amidst the carnage and
destruction of universal disorder is
an additional testament of faith and
resolve flashing good
cheer across the oceans from the
new world to the agonized peoples
of the old.'
DIR. Harris Speaks.
DR.. Frederick Brown Harris, min
lister of Foundry Methodist Church
and chaplain of the Senate, de-
clared more millions would mourn
Mr.. Roosevelt than any other man
in history, adding: More eulogies
will be uttered as halos to his men,
ory than have ever been woven be-
fore out of affection and apprecia-
ton for any leader of men who has
ever walked this earth"
Born to special privilege" con-
tinued DR.. Harris, land to move in
circles of the elite, he became the
sympathetic servant of all, the very
symbol of the hopes and yearnings
of little men and humble people"
But Franklin D. Roosevelt is not
dead" declared the speaker. He
hears the bells, he sees the flags of
victory. AS the massed forces of
freedom move with steady step to-
ward the bright new world, his soul
goes marching on"
Prayers were offered by the Rev
DR.. Frederick E. Reissig, executive
secretary of the Washington FEEDER
alton of Churches; the Right Rev.
John K. Cartwright of Immaculate
Conception Church, the Rev. Robert
w. Brooks of Interdenominational
Ministers Alliance, and the bene-
diction was pronounced by the Rev.
Seth R. Brooks, past president of
the Committee on Religious Life of
the Nations Capital. Presiding was
the Rev. DR.. Oscar F. Blackwelder,
president of the committee. The
chorus was conducted by Harwood
v. Hall.
Washington's churches dedicated
their services yesterday to the men,
ory of President Roosevelt.
From the most spacious to the
humblest edifice, worShipers prayed
for the repose Of the Presidents
soul ana for Americas welfare m
der its new leader. They sang the
hymns Mr.. Roosevelt was known to
have loved, and they heard their
pastors exton his great service to
his Nation and to the world.
Presidents Pew Draped in Black.
At st. Thomas Episcopal Church,
where the President was a regular
communicate. his pew was draped
in black and roped off with black
cloth. The hymns he had selected
on special occasions were sung.
The rector, the Rev. DR.. Harry
S. Wilkinson, preached on Christ
the Good Shepherd" He wove into
the sermon many personal rem
iniscences Of the President, illus
trating the lessons to be cleaned
from the text. Mr.. Roosevelt, the
rector pointed out, recognized the
leadership Of God constantly as he
went about his heavy tasks.
The visitors register of the
church, containing the first sigma
ture of Mr.. Roosevelt when he was
Assistant Secretary of the Navy un-
der the Wilson administration and
also bearing his mothers signature
and those of the Earl of Halifax
and Lady Halifax and of many
other notables, was displayed and
later laid away securely in the per-
manent archives of the church.
At Foundry Methodist Church a
black cross was placed in the pew
where the President and Prime