Evening star., 1948-12-26
Washington Cathedral
Service Is Sponsored
By Church Federation

The emptiness of victories Of vio-
lence" was cited yesterday by the
Right Rev. Angus Dun, Bishop OF
Washington, in sermon which de-
clared that only love can be the
final victor in any struggle.
The Episcopal leader addressed
an overflow congregation united in
the candle-lighted Washington Ca
thedral under auspices of the Wash
ington Federation of Churches at
a special morning service that
marked the observance OF Christmas.
Elsewhere in Washington, Cath
olic and Protestant communicates
joined in prayers for peace and
good will on earth" al midnight
masses and carol services.
Taking part in the services at
Washington Cathedral were the
Very Rev. John w. Suter. dean OF
the cathedral; the Rev. Edward l..
R. Elson. pastor of National Presby-
terian Church; and the Rev. E. B.
Willingham, pastor of National Bap-
tiSt Church.
For Catholics, masses that began
at midnight and continued through
the morning brought out thousands
of the devout to st. Matthews Ca
thedral.
There the Most Rev. Patrick A.
OBoyle, Archbishop of Washington,
was celebrant at Friday midnight
mass. The Right Rev. John K. Cart
wright, rector of st. Matthews,
stressed the spiritual values Of
Christmas.
Sharp, clear weather with its un-
fulfilled early threat Of snow brought
out unusually large congregations
during the morning and evening
carol services. At a number of
churches the radio carried music
and sermons to Shut-ins and stay
at-homes. The Washington Ca
thedral service was broadcast by
WWDC.
In his sermon. Bishop Dun de-
clared: THE world needs the COM
pulsions of law and even the vio-
lence of power. but the victories of
violence are always unfulflled The
only final victories are those of
love-"
He chose to speak from what he
characterized as "a strange Christ
mas text" one that came not
from the Christmas stories, he re-
minded, but from a passage in
which st. Paul was speaking of the
preaching OF Christ crucified.'
The text was: Because the fool
ishness Of God is wiser than men:
and the weakness of God is stronger
than men"
Bishop Dun defended his choice
of it las a word of God to us on
this Christmas morning =" for,
he reminded. 'the lovely Christmas
stories are surely a revelation Of
the foolishness of God and the
weakness of God"
The birth OF the Christ child was
attended by chorus of angel voices,
Bishop Dun said, but most of the
world did not know it.
THAT first Christmas broadcast
must have had a poor Hooper
rating for when the Christ appeared
in His manhood among men He
came as one who had no reputa-
ton"
At St. Matthews Cathedral.
Monsgr. Cartwright warned that the
spiritual values of Christmas must
not be forgotten in the midst Of
festivities and outward celebration.
The real purpose of Christmas,
he said, is to call us to be grateful
to our Lord for His spiritual gifts
and His coming to the world to lift
our souls.
Christmas libation services were
observed at noon yesterday by i've
communicates of Knights Templar
In the District. The observation was
part Of the Nation wide event di-
rected by John Temple Rice, most
eminent grand master of the grand
encampment of Knights Templar
Of the United States.
Washington and Columbia COM
manderies met separately in the
Masonic Temple. The Rev. Edgar
w. Beckett of the Hyattsville Meth
odist Church addressed the former,
and DR.. Horace E. Cromer of Nc
Kendree Methodist Church was
guest preacher of the Columbia
commandery.
Brightwood and DeMolay COM
manderies met jointly in Stanshllry
Temple, Georgia and Missouri ave-
nues NV. They heard the Rev
Frank K. Brasington Of the Silver
Spring Baptist Church.
The Potomac commandery held
its observance in Masonic Hall, 1910
Wisconsin avenue NV.