Evening star., 1955-01-05
Leaders Attend
Rites Marking
Congress Start
Eisenhower, Nixon
Heur Minister Ask
For Gods Guidance
By cospor Names

President Eisenhower and
Vice President Nixon this morn
ing attended the annual service
marking the opening Of Con-
gress at the National Presby.
terian Church. Connecticut ave-
nue. and N street NV.
Others attending the service.
held at the church each year.
included Secretary Of Defense
and Mrs. Wilson. Secretary Of
Interior Mckay. Postmaster
General Summerfield and Attor-
ney General Brownell.
The President heard Or. Ed
ward L. r. Elson. minister of the
church. pray that God grant the
Nations Chief Executive health
Of body. serenity of soul. sound
ness of Judgment, sanctified
stewardship Of office and . con-
slant and confident faith in
Thee"
Asks Lofty Patriotism
The pastor also told the
crowded church that he hoped
the Lord would visit our cities,
towns and countryside with D
new and lofty patriotism and
with pure religion"
DR.. Elson also prayed that God
protect us from enemies with
out. and weakness and unworthi-
ness within. Enable US to trust
one another and to fear only
Thee. Make us equal to our
high trust, reverent in the use
of freedom. just in the exercise
Of power and generous In the
protection Of the weak"
Prayers were also said for the
incoming Congress, asking that
its members prosper in "all their
consultations" and that "aIl
things may be so ordered and
settled by their endeavors. upon
the best and sureSt foundations,
that peace and happiness. truth
and justice, virtue and piety,
may be established among US.
Prays for Freeing Of Flyers.
Other prayers were uttered for
world peace, for strength and
character. and for the success
Of the emissary of the United
Nations on his special mission
to negotiate for the deliverarace
Of men from captivity"
Secretary General Hammar
skiold of the United Nations ID
now on his way to China in an
effort to free American flyers
now being held by that courl-
try.
Secretary Of State Dulles and
Secretary of the Army Stevens
were among the elders of the
church to serve communion.
Others included Senator Martin,
Republican, of Pennsylvania and
Senator Stennis, Democrat, OF
Mississippi.
Four representatives also aid
ed In serving communion. They
were Representatives Simpson.
Republican. Of Pennsylvania,
Fountain. Democrat. Of North
Carolina: Burnside. Democrat.
Of West Virginia and Beaner.
Republican, Of Indiana.
These taking part in the serv-
ice included DR.. Ralph Waldo
Lloyd. moderator of the Presby-
terian Church, u. s. A.; Dr..
Wade H., Boggs. sr. moderator
of the Presbyterian Church.
U. s.. and DR.. George A. Long,
president of Pittsburgh xeniA
Theological Seminary OF the
United Presbyterian Church.
Clark Attends.
Among the other distinguished
worshipers were Supreme Court
Justice Clark, Presidential As
sistant Sherman Adams, For.
eign Operations Administrator
Harold Stassen, and FBI Direc-
tor ]. Edgar Hoover.
After the service, Gen. Eisen-
hover was escorted to the door
by DR.. Elson and the moderators
Of the two national Presbyterian
church bodies.
The President seemed in espe-
cially good spirits as he shook
hands with DR.. Elson and the
others accompanying him. He
then left Immediately for the
White House.
Vice President Nixon also was
greeted by DR.. Elson as he left
the church and they posed, with
others far rthnfnOra nhern