Evening star., 1949-04-17
Christians Of World
Unite 10 Celebrate
Resurrection Story
BY the Assoeioted Press

BY the Asseeiotsd Press
Christians throughout the world
were united today in celebrating
the age-old story of the Resurrec-
ton.
Religious services to mark Easter
were scheduled for spectacular
outdoor settings, in the ancient
cathedrals of Europe and IN the
tiny churches of crossroad ham
lets.
Two hundred thousand persons
were expected to gather in the
Wichita Mountains near Lawton,
Okla. for what may be the largest
outdoor Easter service in the
United States.
Thousands will crowd into the
centurise old st. Peters Church In
Rome, Notre Dame in Paris and
st. Paul's in London.
Blessing of the Fire.
Celebration of the resurrection
began yesterday in St. Peters with
the ceremonial Blessing Of the Fire
In the entryway to the Basilica.
In Great Britain. Western Ger
many, Czechoslovakia and some
other countries the Easter week
end brought a four day holiday.
For all of Western Europe
Easter meant rejoicing over new
blooming prosperity stemming
from their own labor and from
the European Recovery Program.
The Voice of America plans a
full day of Easter broadcasts TO
countries In the Soviet Bloc IN
Eastern Europe. Religious mes
saees and music are to be Tea
tured. The principal broadcasts
to Russia itself are scheduled for
next week end, the climax OF
Holy Week in countries with Greek
orthodox traditions.
Impressive Outdoor Rites.
While the Lawton outdoor serv-
Ice seemed destined to be the
largest In the Nation, $1,000 prop
ably will be at Chicago's Soldier
Field: 10000 at Pasadena's Rose
Bowl; $4,000 at Miami's Orange
Bowl and $4,000 at the Hollywood
Bowl.
Innressive outdoor amphithea-
ters will be used for many cere-
monies. some of them with
tradition running back for years.
These include the south rim OF
the Grand Canyon of the Colorado
River in Arizona. the Garden OF
the Gods near Colorado Springs,
the park of the Red Rocks near
Denver, Mount Rubidoux in River
side County Calf; Hot Springs
Mountain in Arkansas, and Wood
land Sanctuary near Lake wales
In Florida. Some of these cere-
monies will be at dawn.
Shrine to War Dead.
At Rindge, N. H., an outdoor
altar made of stones from flyine
fields all over the world will be
used for Easter prayers. The site
is a shrine to Americas dead OF
World War II.
Atlantic City's Steel Pier will
be the scene of a sunrise service
and. at Westerly, r. l., Congre-
rational pastor will deliver MS
message from boat IN WilcexI
Memorial Park.
Colorful Moravian services In
winston-Salem N. c., long an at
traction for residents OF that sec
ton, again will draw thousands
of visitors.
New York will have an all
nations service in Central PARK.
The protestant Council expects
1000 at Radio City Music Hall Tor
it's 30th annual dawn service.
Prepared for Throngs.
ST. Thomas, St. Rartholomew's
and st. Patrick's. leading churcnes
in midtown area of the Metropolis.
all are prepared for their usual
Easter throngs.
Soon after noon. they will pour
out their worshipers to join the
other thousands who have come
IN Fifth avenue to show oil new
f,nery. to exhibit their gally-'
bedecked dogs or merely TO look.
There was more food and even
q few Easter eggs in Germany.
Women were looking forward 10
reyiyins the Easter parade in some
big European cities.
Traditional customs revived.
The long week end was well
coined In Britain. Scandinavians
went skiing. Italian priests once
again blessed individual homes
and shops with holy water. In
Portugal, gifts of sugared ALMONDS
were made again.
Hundreds of foreign tourists
watched professions, of silence
In cities and towns OF Spain Fri
day night. Many barefoot Catho-
lie penitents on hands and knees
followed touchlight professions
through the darkened streets.
The Allied airlift set new "a
hour record for ferrying supplies
. to blockaded Berlin by making
1898 flights In with 12,940.S tons
of food, coal and machinery.
Alexandria Rites Set