Evening star., 1947-11-27
Thanksgiving
Services Fill
Churches Here

Trumons at Baptist
Services; St. Potrieks
Moss Draws Notobles
Traditional Thanks giving
weather, both sunny and crisply
cold, marked the holiday today
as church services throughout
the city attracted Washington
residents, including President
Truman, Mrs. Truman and their
daughter Margaret. -
The President and his family
attended the morning services at
the First Baptist Church. eight
blocks from the White House. No
other engagements were ON the
Presidents holiday calendar. At Z
o'clock tonight, the family and
few friends will have their turkey
dinner at the White House.
At st. Patrick's Catholic Church,
a Pan American mass drew dis
tinguished guests and q large
assemblage.
Many Latin American diplomats,
members of Congress and officials
of the Federal and District Govern
ments turned out to hear a sermon
by the Rt. Rev. Msgr. Fulton j.
Sheen of Catholic University. Pom
tihcating at the mass was the Most
Rev. Amleto Giovanni Cicognani,
Apostolic Delegate to the United
States.
Joining in the Thanksgiving serv-
ice at the First Baptist Church, the
Truman family heard the minister
bespeak spirit of gratitude to God
even in days Of adversely.
The pew Immediately in front Of
that occupied by the presidential
family had been closed. but when
the service started President Tru-
man instructed one of the Secret
Service men to have it opened to
accommodate some of those stand
ing in,the rear OF the church.
Diplomat Sits in Pew.
Then the Truman family moved
over further and made an extra
place in their own pew in which
William Jennings Price, veteran
diplomat, sat.
On day when Baptist Churches
everywhere are participating in
81 100000 campaign for world re-
lief, the Rev. Edward H. Pruden
told his congregation: ...-,
"One could be rather pessimis-
tic about the world today if he
chose to do so, but there is SO
much for which to be thankful
that pessimism doesn't have a
chance. Our material world has
been largely shattered, but the
spirit of man is still capable OF
entering into cooperative rela-
tionship with Almighty God to
build that better world for which,
We Hope and pray. God is stili
in his heaven and one day, through
us and our corporation, he, will
make all things right with the
world. ~. .5
The Truman family reached the
church just before the service
started at 10 o'clock and were vel
coined by DR.. Pruden and escorted
to their pews in the middle Of the
crowded structure.
Takes Text From Psalms.
DR.. Pruden took his text from the
Psalms of David, who, as he said,
in the midst of personal and ma
tional crises, was able to say, I will
bless the Lord at all times; His
praise shall continually be in my
Mouth"
Describing this as declaration
of spiritual policy" the minister as
serted IAN attitude of perpetual
thanksgiving Is both mentally health
full and physically wholesome"
The only reference to the presence
of the First Family came near the
close of DR.. Pruden's sermon when
he told Of a colloqy with q taxi
driver who brought him to the
church today. -
Explaining that the driver In
philosophical vein had commented
on the emptiness of the streets this
morning, DR.. Pruden said that he
added, however, that "the Devil has
been up all night" and voiced his
belief that "the Lord didn't intend
the Devil to run the world; He in
tended 1t to be run by Christian
people"
That's what I've been telling
them" Dr. Pruden said he responded.
Are you a preacher" the driver
asked. s......
Message for President.
eyes" the minister answered. IT
am, and I'm going to preach to the
President Of the United States to-
day"
We'll, I hope you won't forget to
tell him what I've just said," the
driver admonished.
80 DR.. Pruden continued, "in
deepest sincerity, I believe that the
President of the United States with
fSee THANKSGIVING, Page A-2)