Evening star., 1946-04-21
Easter Visitors
To D. +. Exceed
Prewar Records
Thousands Expected
At Sunrise Services
In All Sections

Thousands of worshipers will
gather for sunrise services at
Arlington National Cemetery
and Fort Lincoln Cemetery and
in churches throughout the city
today as the world celebrates
its first peace time Easter il.
nearly a decade.
With daybreak, crowds of Wash
ingtonians-their numbers swelled
by the greatest influx of visitors
since prewar days-will welcome
the coming of Easter at outdoor
services.
For the services and for the
traditional Easter parading that
follows, the Weather Bureau fore
casts fair and cool weather.
Marked Throughout World.
Throughout the Christian world,
millions of men and women freed
at last from the yoke of oppressors
and intolerance will sing hymns of
praise to the risen Christ.
The celebration comes to the
Russians for the first time since
the revolution. Churchmen ex-
pected perhaps 100000 worshipers
to throng the churches of Moscow
to witness the age-old Russian
Easter ritual, banished for more
than 20 years.
In Jerusalem, the coinciding East
ern and Western feasts-falling on
the same date for the first time since
l943 because of the differences in
calendars-filled churches to over
flowing. Armed Arab legionnaires,
however, mingled among the wor-
shippers, watchful for any signs of
violence as result of the recent
riots.
In Japan, American and japanese
Christians stood side by side at sun
rise services in Tokyo's Meili Sta
dium. Radio Tokyo broadcast
Roman Catholic services at which
Archbishop Paul Marella, Apostolic
delegate to Japan, and Tokyos Arch
bishop Peter Tatsuo Dol presided.
1t was the first peacetime Easter for
japanese Christians since the Sino-
japanese war began.
German Priests Celebrate.
Free from the shadow of Hitler,s
Gestapo, German priests and min
listers prepared to preach to the
faithful.
Throughout America, men who
last greeted Easter on the battle-
nelds OF Europe and the Pacific will
stand beside their families in
churches and outdoor amphiteaters.
In New York, an Easter sunrise
service sponsored by the Protestant
council OF New York City will be
held in a 5S-passenger plane flying
10000 feet over the city. The broad
cast service will include the voices
OF Is choristers.
Churches throughout the District
are prepared to handle record crowds
with many churches conducting two
or three services during the day.
13 Sunrise Services Here,
Thirteen sunrise services here will
open the day celebrated by all Chris
tlsnity as commemorating the re-
surrection of Christ.
The 18th annual sunrise service
at the Arlington Cemetery amphi-
theater-a traditional part of Wash
lngton's observance will attract
cabinet officers, members of Congress
and much of official Washington.
The Rev. DR.. G. Bromley OMAN,
Methodist bishop for the New York
area and president of the Federal
Council of Churches of Christ in
America. will preach. The services
are sponsored by the Grand En-
campment of Knights Templar of
the United States.
Earliest service of the day is the
one at Fort Lincoln Cemetery, which
will start at 5:23 a.m.-the moment
OF sunrise. The service is sponsored
by the Organized Bible Glass AS
sociation and will be addressed bv
the Rev. DR.. Walter w. Van Kirk,
executive secretary of the Depart
ment of International Justice and
Good Will, Federal Council of
Churches of Christ in America.
A daybreak service also will be
held by the Seat Pleasant churches
(See FASTER page AL