Evening star., 1953-03-29
The Week in Religion
More Reyerent Observance
OF Good Friday Gains Booking

00HI9 D0&NUt9
for q more reverent Observance
OF Good Friday.
The Washington Committee
for the Three Hours Observance,
a joint Protestant and Roman
Catholic group, asked the Presi-
dent to authorize administrators
to release Government employees
who wish to attend Good Friday
services, and also see that as
many military personnel as pos
sible have the privilege.
Marks 25th Year.
In Philadelphia, the Citizens
Good Friday Observance Com
mittee is marking its 25th year
Of Catholic Protestant co-opera-
ton. The committee has been
especially successful in achieving
the closing of neighborhood
movies. tayerns, and small stores,
at least for the three-hour period.
Financed by volunteer contri-
buttons. the committee sends out
thousands of letters to- stores
and buSinessmen's associations
urging their support. It also
distributes window cards and
posters. some announcing the
three-hour closing and others
bearing the legend "Observe
Good Friday Reverently."
Some $4,000 placards are be-
ing distributed in Philadelphia
this year. In addition, 5000 car
cards have been prepared for
trolleys, buses and trains and 80
outdoor advertising firms have
offered their commercial bill
boards.
Several large Philadelphia Of
flee buildings annually cooper
ate by displaying lights in the
form Of crosses on Holy Thursday
and Good Friday nights. A large
illuminated cross shines forth
from the public square. Purple
banners with white crosses wave
atop the 547-foot tower Of City
Hall.
Proclamations Issued.
The Mayor Of Philadelphia and
the Governor Of Pennsylvania
also issue proclamations.
In Buffalo, where the move
lnent is in its ninth year, Pro-
testant and Roman Catholic Of
11cials say the number of firms
closing for the Passion hours has
doubled in the past few years.
Besides distributing thousands of
posters to stores for window dis
play, the Buffalo committee has
prepared more than 10000 auto
windshield stickers to advertise
the observance.
Large signs. donated by a bill
board company, have been stra-
logically placed on streets and
highways. The signs show a gold
cross against a white panel
shaped like a stained glass win
dow
A feature Of the Indianapolis
committees Good Friday plans
Is q poster contest in all public
and parochial schools on results
that would occur If the whole
city were reverent on Good Fri
day"
TV and Radio Used.
Television and radio also are
being utilized.
The Buffalo group will partici-
pate In q television round table
on "How the Community Can
Observe Good Friday"
In Toledo, Ohio. a new feature
Will be q Good Friday television
program. Two members Of the
city's 10-man Joint Good Friday
committee will participate.
Movies Aid Campaign.
Also new In Toledo will be the
showing Of movies at the tradi-
tional youth and adult services
from noon to 8 pm. in two down.
town theaters.
In several cities, public IL
braries, schools and colleges are
exhibiting special Lenten litera-
ture. A Toledo Lutheran church
Is conducting a series Of midweek
services based on famous art
treasures In the Toledo Museum
Of Art.
In Chicago, banks, county,
State and civic offices, as well
as many places Of business, will
be closed all day on Good Friday.
Although Chicago does not
have q Joint Good Friday COM
mittee. church leaders Of many
denominations have particularly
asked taverns, cocktail lounges
and other drinking places to close
during the 8 hours.