Evening star., 1953-04-03
Record Crowds
Fiji Churches
AT 3-Hour Rites
Worshipers Line up
Four-Abreust in
Downtown Areu

Record crowds turned out for,
the three-hour Good Friday
services at churches throughout
the Washington metropolitan
area today.
At many of the downtown
churches men and women, the
latter in pre-Easter Sunday
f1nery, began entering the houses
Of worship as early as an hour
before services were scheduled.
BY IL noon. Epiphany Epis-
copal Church. 1917 G street
NV; st. Patrick's Catholic
Church, Tenth and G streets
NV. and other business area
churches were filled and crowds
were lining up outside. At
Epiphany Church the line
stretched four abreast from the
church, in the middle of thu
block, to Thirteenth street.
Crowds came and went during
the three-hour service, as those
outside patiently waited their
turn to take the places of those
leaving.
Crowds Exceed Last Year.
Predictions by the Rev. Joseph
E. Gedra, executive secretary Of
the Three Hours Observance of
Good Friday Committee, that
this years crowds worshiping to-
day would exceed those of 1862.
appeared almost certain of full
f1llment.
A record number of churches.
127, were observing the three
hours of Christ's agony on the
cross with services from noon
to 3 pm, according to DR..
Charles w. Lowry, chairman Of
the Three Hours Observance of
Good Friday Committee, and the
Rev. Joseph E. Gedra, executive
secretary of the committee.
Father Gedra also predicted
that worshippers will surpass the
100000 who attended last year.
Thousands of visitors were ex.
pected to swell the number Of
Worshipers attending services at.
Washington Cathedral. The
Very Rev. Francis B. Sayre,
jr., Cathedral dean, was in
charge. He was assisted by the
Rev. Charles w. F. Smith, pro-
fessor at the Episcopal Theolog-
ical Seminary, Cambridge. Mass.
st. Matthew'S Catholic Cathe-
dral, 1725 Rhode Island avenue
NV, also was expected to at.
tract numerous out-cf-town visi-
tors to its three-hour service to-
day. Another Catholic church
that traditionally draws a large
attendance is st. Patrick'S
Church, Tenth and G streets
NV.
Seven Last Words.
Most Protestant services are
built around "The Seven Last
Words" Christ uttered on the
cross.
Catholics will mark the day
with the centuries-old custom Of
fasting and penance. The two
principal observances in most
Catholic churches will be the
mass Of the pre-sanctified and
the three hours agony.
Downtown churches holding
Good Friday services included
Epiphany Episcopal. 1917 q
street NV; New York Avenue
Presbyterian. 1913 NeY York
avenue NV; Calvary Baptist,
Eighth and H streets NV, and
Luther Place Memorial, Thomas
Circle.
Disciples of Christ Churches
of Metropolitan Washington
joined in a combined service at
National City Christian Church,
Thomas Circle. Seven Disciples
ministers will take part.
Joint Services Set
Numerous Protestant Churches
joined for community services
today. At Memorial Evangelical
U. B. Church, North Capitol and
r streets. lexington Presbyter-
ian, st. Peters Lutheran and
Rhode Island Avenue Methodist
Churches combined with the
host church for the three-hours
worship.
Police Chief Robert v. Murray
has issued orders to the force to
give special consideration to
those worshipers parking in re.
stricted areas during the three.
hour period.
Numerous buildings through.
out the city last night had
crosses Of light displayed COM
memorating Maundy Thursday
and Good Friday.