Evening star., 1950-04-10
Easter Rites Attract
Crowds 10 Church
And Sunrise Services
By Cospor Nonnes

By Cospor Names
Churches throughout the city
were crowded yesterday with wor-
shippers who observed Easter with
hymns of joy and triumph.
Cool weather, sharp wind
and q bright sun greeted church
goers who filled the churches
within metropolitan Washington
and nearby Maryland and Vir-
ginia. Many of the churches held
two, and some of them three,
services to accommodate the
throngs desiring to worship on
Easter Sunday.
Earlier in the morning, thou
sands of District and nearby
residents braved a 26-degree tenn
perature, which seemed colder
because Of the sharp wind, at nu-
merous sunrise services. Gloves
and overcoats were general dress
for most people attending outdoor
sunrise services. Blankets helped
worshipers huddled together at
tain measure of warmth.
Love Over Force"
Largest crowd to attend a sun
rise service was at Fort Lincoln
Cemetery, where police estimated
$4,000 persons braved the cold
This was the second largest crowd
to attend these services, the ninth
one sponsored by the Organized
Bible Class Association Of Wash
ington. A crowd of $4,000 attended
the 1916 service.
The triumphant theme of
Christ is risen" keynote d
speeches and hymns in the serv-
ices! At National City Christian
Church. the Rev. DR.. ]. Warren
Hastings, pastor. declared Christ's S
resurrection was clear-cut vic
tory for Righteousness over evil
and sordid scheming. It was a
victefy OF love over force. It was
. victory of truth over falsehood.
1t was victory for the ways of
God over against the ways of
Satan"
The Rev. John r. McClelland,
minister OF Christ Congregational
Church. said yesterday the JOY of
Easter stems from the conviction
"the spirit of the risen Christ is
still present. Our faith is fulfilled
In that Christ gives us at Easter
. belief in life eternal"
To Share With Him.
The Catholic Church rejoices at
Easter because "she can point out
to her children the real goal of
life and the true meaning of sue
cess" the Rev. Thomas j. Harte
of Catholic University, declared
at st. Patrick's Church yesterday
And what is that goal? 1t is to
stand one day before the risen
Christ to share with him forever
the joys of Easter. the happiness
of the Resurrection by which He
opened wide for us the gates of
heaven"
The Rev. Kelvin Conley of St.
Paul's Monastery. Pittsburgh. yes
terday told worshipers at Immac-
ulate Conception Church leach
mystery in the life of Our Lord
springs from a two-fold principle
the honor and glory of God the
Father, and the general welfare
of man."
During the sunrise service at
Fort Lincoln Cemetery the cold
and sharp wind drove many from
the hilltop to the comparative
warmth of their nearby parked
cars. Police clocked 1929 cars
parked on the cemeterys winding
roadway.
Reveille was sounded by Fran
els D. Stevens. U. s. N, at Sal
am. as the bright red sun edged
it's way over a distant ridge. An
American flag was then run up Oh
a flag pole. The Navy band then
played the national anthem, 1t
Comdr. Charles Brendler con-
Quoting.
Congressman Reads Scripture.
Representative Elliott, Demo-
crat. Of Alabama gave the Scrip
ture reading. The prayer was Of
fered by the Rev. DR.. Ralph D
Smith. Washington West District
superintendent. The Methodist
Church. DR.. Page .Etchison, Bible
Association president, gave the
invocation and Navy Chaplain
Paul G. Linaweaver the benedic-
ton. Howard M. Stackhouse, gen.
eral chairman for the service
presided.
A total of 5000 persons at.
tended the Goth consecutive Easter
sunrise service sponsored by the
Grand Encampment of knights
Templar of the U. S. A., in Airing
ton National Cemetery yesterday
The colorful observance wa!
opened by procession of Knight.
Templar, carrying swords at theil
shoulders, marching into the am
phitheatre as the United States
Marine Band played Onward
Christian Soldiers" When seated
the white plumed hats some
knights wore formed a cross
framed by white border, agains;
= field of dark colored hats.
Man a Moral Being,
Worshipers here not only filled
the stone seats in the amphi-
theatre but stood in the aisles be-
tween the colonnades that form a
seu1i-circle before the platform
Jesus proclaimed man to be q
PorA being. capable Of infinite