Evening star., 1950-04-07
Good Friday
Continued From First Page)

= SAAA L A ct oSSI
Year pilgrims knelt in St. Peter
Basilica, the worlds largest church
In addition to the throngs In
st. Peters. thousands of pilgrims
and the people of Rome crowded
the nearly 500 other churches OF
the city. This was especially true
Of the three other basilicas-St
Mary Major, st. Paul Outside the
Walls and St. John Lateran.
In all OF them, as prescribed
for this day of grief in the his
tory OF the church. black vest
ments were worn. The affairs were
bare. Sacred images and pictures
were covered with deep purple
cloth of mourning.
Continue to Flock In.
Pilgrims continued to arrive by
bus and train, especially from
France. Switzerland and Ger
many. according to Associated
Press dispatches. Other thou
sands from Europe and from
North and South America already
had reached the city.
The Central Committee for the
Holy Year estimated that foreign
visitors and Italian pilgrims from
outside Rome may exceed 100, 900
for the Easter services.
Later today. for the third and
final time of Holy Week, the
"Tenebrae" - darkness - service
was to be held in St. Peters and
most Of the other churches. This
is symbolic of the death OF Christ.
At nightfall there will be torch
light professions of the Way of
the Cross. One by Italian Catho-
lie Action youth will begin at the
Arch of Titus near the Colosseum
and wind along the Palatine Hill
that overlooks the ruins OF the
Forum. At about the same time
French Catholic youth will hold q
torchlight procession and Way of
the Cross in the Colosseum.
About $4,000 will take part.
There were special prayers ut
tered by many today. In Phila-
delphia parishioners of the Sacred
Heart Catholic Church planned to
dedicate their prayers tonight to
the hope that Russia will accept
Christianity and compliance with
reason"
The Right Rev. Henry Knox
Sheriff.. presiding bishop of the
Protestant Episcopal Church in
the United States, said in an an
nual Holy Week message that
Christians should find in Christ's
death the "redeeming and con-
quering love of God which brings
the gift of hope"
Churches Here Crowded.
Remembering the "heroism and
self-sacrifice Of calvary" he said,
Christians will view our dis
traught and fearful world with
open eyes and. in conservation to
the will of God, strive to do some
thing about it."
In Washington thousands OF
worshipers crowded churches fol
Good Friday services beginning al
noon and. in many instances, ex.
tending to 3 o'clock.
At most churches a different
minister was to speak on eacf
of the seven last words uttered
by Christ.
Speakers at National Presby-
terian Church. Eighteenth street
and Connecticut avenue NV.
were to be the Rt. Rev. Angus
Dun, Bishop of Washington: the
Rev. DR.. Carl r. Simon of Keller
Memorial Lutheran Church; the
Rev. Harry w. Rankin Of River
Road United Presbyterian Church:
the Rev. DR.. Graham G. Lacy of
Central Presbyterian Church; the
Rev. George M. Docherty of New
York Avenue Presbyterian Church:
the Rev. DR.. r. Paul Schearrer of
Takoma Park PRESBYTERIAN
Church, and the Rev. Ralph K.
Merker, General Presbyter of the
Washington City Presbytery.
washington area Lutheran
ministers who we're to speak at a
three-hour service in Luther
Place Memorial Church, Thomas
Circle NV. were the Rev. DR.
Gould Wickey. the Rev. Robert
Van Deusen. the Rev. DR.. Law
renee Fookemer. the Rev. Donald
F. Bautz, the Rev. William
Sprenkel and the Rev. DR.. L.
Ralph Tabor. In addition, David
Brown of the Luther Seminary
st. Paul, Mimi. spoke.
Rev. Conley to Preach.
The Rev. Kelvin Conley OF St.
Paul's Monastery. Pittsburgh, Pa,
was to be the preacher at the
three-hour service In the Catholic
Church Of the Immaculate Con-
ception, Eighth and N streets
NV.
The Rev. DR.. John Knox OF
the Union Theological Seminary
New York. was to preach at the
three-hour service in Washington
Cathedral.
Numerous denominational, CON-
munity and individual church
services were TO be held com
memorating Christ's agony on the
cross. Both Catholic and Prot
estant services were scheduled al
armed forces and Government
places during the day.
Chairman of the Three Hours
Observance Of Good Friday Com
mittee was the Rev. ]. Warren
Hastings. pastor of National City
Christian Church. Co-chairmen
weer the Most Rev. Patrick A
O'Boyle, Catholic Archbishop o1
Washington: the Rt. Rev. Angus
Dun. Episcopal Bishop of Wash