Evening star., 1953-04-06

brought added thousands to
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. Refs
sig, executive secretary of the
w a 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.
Eisenh0wers 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, in
Guiding the base of the statue to
the Rev. John Witherspoon on an
island before the church. Wither-
spoon, first moderator of the
Presbyterian General Assembly,
was the only clergyman to sign
the Declaration of independence.
N0tables 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
a black taffeta and wool suit,
white hat. white orchid. and a
Russian fox stole. The President
wore a 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
ence 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."
"The Risen Lord comes not as
a dim figure in past history, not
as subject Of medieval theology,
not as an image in stained glass.
But very near-nearer than
father or mother, nearer than
sister or brother, nearer than
hands or feet. Then, in wonder
and unutterable joy. you say
'Rabboni'-'Master'-M Mas
teri"
Sharp Chill at Sunrise.
Worshipers at the earlier sun
rise services were greeted by
gray-banked clouds, thin shafts
of the rising sun piercing through
the overcast and a sharp chill in
the air. They wore coats and
carried blankets and huddled to-
gether for warmth in small
groups.
But those attending the Z
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 Easter
f1nery was worn and coats were
less in evidence.
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
overflowed 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 Christ'S trillnnh 0ver