Evening star., 1949-05-30
President Due Back
AT Desk Today After
ayAnnapoIis visi|
bY The kssociotsd Press

bY The kssoeioied Press
President Truman was due back
at his White House Job this aft
ernoon after q weekend cruise
on the Potomac River and Chesa-
peake Bay. -
He interrupted his cruise yes
terday to attend church services
ut the Naval Academy in Annap-
oils. Mr.. Truman and his party
listened with the 1949 gradual
ing class to the baccalaureate ad-
dress opening June Week at the
Academy.
BY direct order Of the COM
mander in chief, White House
newsmen went along. too. AS Mr..
Truman came ashore from the
presidential yacht Williamsburg
and found reporters waiting. he
told them:
Every single one of you has
to go to church"
They trailed behind him as he
strode briskly up the hill to the
big chapel, where Comdr. Roy E.
Bishop of Blackstone. Va, senior
Academy chaplain, delivered the
baccalaureate address for the
graduating class of 791 sprucely
uniformed middies.
Attends Services.
The chaplain told the class that
believing in people and kindness
to people are essential character
istics of those who would build a
better world"
The President attended the serv-
ices In the chapel which houses the
tomb of John Paul Jones. AS the
graduating class marched in to the
strains of Onward Christian Sol
diers," MIR. Truman stood stiff1y at
attention beside Rear Admiral
James Holloway. jr.. Academy
superintendent.
The President returned to the
Williamsburg Immediately after
the services to resume his cruise.
Chief Justice Vinson joined the
presidential party Saturday. John
r. Steelman, assistant to the
President. Joined it in Annapolis
yesterday. Admiral William D.
Leahy, the Presidents former
chief of staff, also was aboard.
Mr.. Truman was accompanied
to the services by Clark M. Cliff
ford, his special counsel; Rear
Admiral Robert l.. Dennison, ma
val aide; Presidential Secretary
William D. Hassett; Eben Ayers.
assistant press secretary; Federal
District Judge Richmond Keech
of Washington and George
Schoeneman, Internal Revenue
commissioner.
Mr.. Truman wore light sum-
mer suit despite a chill breeze
which belied the bright sunshine.
He also wore his familiar buff
colored campaign hat and tan
and White shoes. Because it was
Sunday, the usual 21-gun salute
was omitted when the President
arrived, but a detail Of Marines
stood guard as the presidential
party walked through the throngs
of midshipmen's parents, friends
and sweethearts to the chapel.
More than 1,700 relatives and
girl friends of the midshipmen
packed the pews and stood at the
rear Of the great dorned chapel.
Several hundred others lined the
brick walk of the Academy yard
during the houR-long service.
Navy Prayer Read.
The traditional Navy prayer for
the midshipmen was read by As
sistant Chaplain Cyril Best. 1t
went, in part:
Preserve them from the dan
gers of the sea and the violence
of the enemy; that they may be
o safeguard unto the United States
Of America, and a security for such
as pass on the. seas upon their
lawful occasions"
Another prayer was said for the
President and all those in civil
authority.
The non-sectarian service. based
on the Episcopal book of prayer.
started with the Lords Prayer
and ended with a military -four
ish. As the brigade flag was
dipped before the altar, the mid
shipments choir sang two verses
Of Navy Blue and Gold" One
stanza of "The Star Spangled
Banner" was sung Then the ma
tional colors were dipped.
Following the service. the Pres
ident stood on the chapel steps.
He shook hands with Midshipman
Dennis c. Stanfill of Shelbyville,
Tenn. the acting commander Of
the brigade, while the brigade