Evening star., 1954-04-19
u. Of Md. 10 Fill Devout Throngs
Dr.. BUds Post Cram Churches
Before Primary For Easter Rites
Sermons Underscore
Faith in Christ's
Message to World

CnurcheS OF the Washing ton
area were crowded yesterday as
Protestant and Catholic wor-
shippers gathered to pay homage
to the risen Christ.
Men, women and children took
advantage of near perfect day
to attend church in their best
Easter finery.
Nearly all the Protestant
churches held two services, and
some had three. Even the early
worship meetings were unusually
well attended, and many of the
later services had numerous
standees.
Catholic churches were also
crowded for Easter Sunday
masses. AS evidence Of the joy
of Easter. each church was deco
rated with lilies and other spring
flowers, and the priests officiat-
ing at the masses wore white
veStmentS - the habiliment of
happiness.
Sermons Hail Victory.
Sermons in both Protestant
and Catholic churches hailed
the risen Christ and expressed
faith in His message for the
world.
TO many. Easter is just an
other day in history" DR.. Al
bert P. Shirley, pastor of Mount
Vernon Place Methodist Church,
said. ITO Christians, Easter is
an experience in the here and
now with the ever-present liv-
ing Christ"
Bishop Dun'S Message.
The Right Rev. Angus Dun,
Episcopal Bishop of Washington,
told worshipers at Washington
Cathedral that "We cherish In
this cathedral the record of One
who walked this same island of
earthly life in which is our
pilgrimage. He found it fair,
and bitter too"
But for Him, the bishop con-
'tinued, this earthly life was
no lonely island of f1eeting hopes,
of loves and companionships, of
obediences and moral struggles
and dedications, surrounded by
a gray sea of meaningless death.
For Him the beyond that sur
rounds the here-and-now was
inhabited. 1t was the dwelling
place of Him that inhabiteth
eternity, whose name is Holy"
Bishop Dun asserted that
Christ always lived in "a Pres
ence that overarched the hori-
IONS of our earthly sight. When
men rejected Him, He still knew
Himself accepted. +. When to-
day failed to fulfill the hopes of
yesterday, He was upheld by
hope, sure that beyond today
the overruling Presence He
trusted would be faithful"
Proof of Power.
The Very Rev. Msgr. Philip NJ
Hannah. chancellor of the
Catholic Washington Archdio-
ceSe. declared at St. Patrick's
Catholic Church that "the lesson
of Easter is that of absolute con-
! fldence in Christ. For Christ's
impossible victory over death, in
the midst of seemingly utter de-
feat, was simply dramatic
proof OF His doctrine and power" I"
Msgr. Hannah told the wor-
shippers that "the fear and un-
certainty that exist today is Just
as unfounded as the despair
among the followers of Christ
on the first Easter.
mo doubt each one of us may
have a problem that he con-
siders too heavy or too complex
for solution. Many who have
no personal problems worry
about the hydrogen bomb. -.
II the hydrogen bomb makes us
conscious of the frailty of mortal
life and the possibility of death
let us use it to our spiritual ad-
vantage. If fear brings spiritual
maturity, let us mature. But let
us not ignore the victory of the
Resurrection, let us not despair
as those who will not believe in
Christ"
Solemn Mass.
The Most Rev. Patrick A..
O'Boyle, Catholic Archbishop of
Washington, celebrated a solemn
pontificial mass of Thanksgiving
at st. Matthew'S Cathedral yes
terday to an overflow congre-
cation.
THE Christ hope has a two
fold emphasis" DR.. George M.
Docherty. minister of New York
Avenue Presbyterian Church, de,
clared yesterday. "One, this
world of matter, of material pos
sessions, the body itself, is not
the real worlc. We are citizens
OF heaven. and our true possess
slonS cannot be oestroyed.
Second, the Resurrection
brings victory through banish-
ment of fear. ano the gift OF
power over life and death. Flock
ing to church, doing good deeds.
does not bring TINS victory The
belief in Jesus Christ as Lord of
life and death-this is the vic
tory"
DR.. j. Warren Hastings, min
lister of National City Christian
Church. told his congregation
that IF Christ be not risen. your
faith is in vain. The empty tomb
gives warrant to His words. Had
L