Evening star., 1946-04-20
Worshipers Throng
Good Friday Services
In Capital Churches

Worshipers observed Good Fri
day yesterday by thronging into
Protestant and Catholic Churches
of the District from noon to pm
to commemorate Christ's Crucifixion
and to mediate upon His last words
on the Cross.
Workers in Government and busi-
ness swelled the crowds attending
the church services. There was
a constant coming and going in
the churches as persons unable to
attend during the whole period
came for part of the worship.
In the bright sunshine at Franklin
Park, Worshipers with barred heads
stood in a semi-circle before the i'm
provised pulpit, listening to the Rev.
Charles A. Hart, professor of philos-
ophy at Catholic University, eX-
plain the last words of Christ. The
service, held under the auspices of
the Washington Catholic Evidence
Guild, was the 18th annual OBJ
servance to be conducted outdoors.
1t consisted Of meditation on the
Passion of Christ, stations of the
cross representing the IA tradi-
tlonal points in the journey of
Christ to Calvary and the Seven
Last Words of Our Lord. The
service included hymns sung by
choir OF Dumbarton College students.
Community Services.
Community services sponsored by
| the WASHINGTON Federation of
Churches were held at Covenant
First Presbyterian Church, Con-
necticut avenue and Eighteenth
street NV. Interpretation of the
Seven Last Words of Christ were
given by the Rev. Thomas M. Steen.
| director.
Defense Commission of the
Churches, part of the Washington
Federation of Churches; Dr.. j. M.
Brody, interim minister at Gov
enant-First Presbyterian Church:
the Rev. James Lundquist, assistant
minister of the host church: the
Rev. George Schnabel, pastor of
Albright Evangelical Church and
president of the federation: the Rev,
Francis McPeek, director of the De-
partment of Social Welfare of the
federation, and the Rev. A. j. Nc
Cartney, former pastor of the host
church.
Those taking part in Methodist
services at Mount Vernon Place
Methodist Church were the Rev
Thomas B. Ehlers, minister of
Forestville Church. Charles w.
Flint, Methodist Bishop of Wash
lngton; the Rev. DR.. Frederick B.
Harris, pastor of Foundry Church:
the Rev. Ralph D. Smith and the
Rev. Horace E. Cromer. Methodist
Isuperintendents of Washington: the
Rev. Jacob S. Payton of the Chris
tlan Advocate, the Rev Frederick E.
Reissig, executive secretary of the
Washington Federation of Churches
the Rev. G. Custer Cromwell, min
lister of Lewis Memorial Church: DR..
Paul F.. Douglass, president of Amer
ican University, and the Rev. John
w. Rustin, pastor of the host church.
Crowds Forced to Wait.
The Rev. DR.. Charles w. Sheerin,
rector of the Church of the Epip-
hany, conducted the services at the
church. Crowds were so large at
times during the three hours that
people were waiting in the parish
building for an opportunity to enter
the church.
A similar condition prevailed at
st. Patrick's Catholic Church, where
worshipers waited on the steps out
side the church for others to leave
so they could enter. Msgr. John j.
Russell, rector of the church, de-
livered the sermon, and the Rev. E.
Robert Arthur, assistant at st. Pa
tricks Church, gave the prayers.
A crowded auditorium heard the
Rev. Michael V. Farren, C.M., dean
of st. Joseph's College, Princeton,
N. j., speak at Immaculate Concep-
tion Church. Prayers Rre said by
the Rev Joseph E. GedA, pastor of
the church and secretary of the
Three Hours Observance of Good
H.