Evening star., 1953-04-06
Easter Services
Attended.
By65O,OOO.
Eisenhowers Eeud
Worshipers at Rites
In Fair Weather


Washington area sunrise and re-
gular church services yesterday
as worshippers celebrated the
miracle of Christ's Resurrection.
Estimates placed the number
of worShipers at nearly $50, 900
persons. DR.. Frederick E. Reis-
sig. executive secretary of the
Wa shington Federation of
Churches. said approximately
100000 ProtestantS worshiped in
District area churches.
A spokesman for the Catholic
archdiocese estimated that ap-
proximately 100000 attended
Catholic churches.
Sunrise services attracted
another $4,000 persons, reports
indicated.
EiSenhOwerS Attend.
Leading the throngs that filled
local churches to overflowing at
morning worship were the Ma
tion's First Citizen and First
Lady. President and Mrs. Eisen-
hover.
They attended the II am.
service at the National Presby.
terian Church, and the area
about Connecticut avenue and
Eighteenth street NV, was
Jammed with men, women and
children seeking to catch a
glimpse of the couple. One esti-
mate ran the outside crowd to
5000 persons who sought every
conceivable vantage point.
NOtables in Church.
Excitement within the church
preceding the entrance of Gen.
and Mrs. Eisenhower was re-
f1ected in whispers that per-
meated the auditorium and
craning of necks as they came
down the aisle to their pew,
Number AZ. seventh row from
the front. With them in the pew
were Mrs. John Eisenhower,
wife of their son; Mrs. John S.
Doud, mother of the First Lady,
and Mrs. Edward R. L. Elson,
wife of the minister of National
Church. Secretary of State and
Mrs. Dulles sat in a pew nearby.
Mrs. Eisenhower was dressed in
q black taffeta and wool suit,
white hat, white orchid, and a
Russian fox stole. The President
wore dark suit.
After outlining the story of the
Resurrection as Mary expert
enced it. DR.. Edward L. r. Elson
declared Jesus comes to us to-
day Just as He came to Mary.
1t is in our own personal expert,
enee that we know Him best. He
calls us by name. He numbers
us. Our Lord knows US. What
He was to her then, He may be
to you now"
Sharp Chill at Sunrise.
Worshipers at the earlier SUM-
rise services were greeted by
gray-banked clouds, thin shafts
of the rising sun piercing through
the overcast and sharp chill in
the air.
But those attending the 7
am. and later services were
more comfortable. A bright,
warming sun shone from a cloud
less blue sky, and the early chill
had disappeared.
More than 1000 persons JAM
med the 23d annual sunrise
service held by the Grand En-
campment, Knights Temple of
the U. S. A., in Arlington Gene
terry amphltheater. The crowd
overf1owed onto the lawns behind
the amphitheater after taking up
every bit of available space inside
it.
Sees Hope for World.
DR.. Elson told the gathering
there that ChriStS triumph over
mans four chief enemies" of
"Sin, sickness, error and death"
gave hope for the world today.
The traditional procession of
uniformed Knights Templar,
wearing black and white plumed
hats, into the auditorium added
a colorful splendor to the rites.
A cross of lilies was placed on
the Tomb of the Unknown Sol
dier following the service.
Women in bright Easter frocks
and flower-bedecked Easter bon
nets mingled with servicemen in
uniform at the formal gardens
of Walter Reed Army Medical
Center for the biggest sunrise
service ever held there. Officials
estimated that 1000 worshipers
filled the cup-like gardens be-
fore the main hospital.
The largest single crowd at
sunrise services reported was
10000 persons at National
Memorial Park, Falls Church,
Va. It heard the Rev. Glendale
Burton, minister of Wilson
Boulevard Christian Church.
Loss of Sense Of Eternal.
The Right Rev. Angus Dun,
Episcopal Bishop of Washington,
told worShipers at Washington
Cathedral that Easter cannot
= speak to those who have no
sense of the eternal Ono
mark of our time is that we
have so greatly lost the sense of
the eternal"
Wilbur La Roe, jr., Washing
ton attorney. spoke at a sunrise
service at the George Washing
ton Masonic National Memorial