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Show Welcome the Easter Morn (ijCT pytiHE Easter services at Hol-? Hol-? v lywood, Calif., are held in k a large amphitheater called 6y S3 the Hollywood Bowl. Here esyUi each year a huge altar Is erected and a union service held that is attended by upward of 40,000 persons. Not many years ago a huge rock altar and a great white cross were erected on the topmost tip of Mount Helix, not far from San Diego. In the heart of the residential district dis-trict of San Francisco there rises a conical shaped hill that in the early days of the city was called Lone mountain. moun-tain. It bore this name until the death, some years ago, of Prof. George Davidson, a noted geographer and scientist, when it was renamed Mount Davidson in his honor. When the custom of holding Easter sunrise services serv-ices spread to San Francisco, this low mountain was selected and on Its crest , a huge white electrically lighted cross was erected. The original cross stood for several years until it was accidentally acci-dentally burned. The burned cross has since been replaced re-placed by an even larger one, whose white silhouette Is one of the points of Interest about the city. Standing as It does on its hill unobscured by either trees or buildings, it may be seen from many sections of the city. It stands out in bold relief against the intense blue of the sparkling California Cali-fornia sky. Easter services also are held at Auburn, Au-burn, in northern California. Here another huge cross has been erected on Aeolia heights, overlooking the canyon can-yon of the American river, one of the great gorges of the Sierra foothills. Many thousands come to these services serv-ices from all the surrounding country. For some years services have been held In Bldwell park at Chico. Here there is no hilltop that may be crowned with a cross and hence the services are held in Bidwell park, Just on the outskirts of the city. One of the impressive services in northern California is held near Marys-ville, Marys-ville, when the devout journey toward the Sutter buttes, where a cross has been erected in the pass near the South butte. A natural amphitheater is provided here for the many who come for miles to be present Other services are held on Mount Lowe, at Easter Rock, at Rodondo beach, at Pacific Palisades, at Santa Monica, at the huge white pylon surmounted sur-mounted by a cross at Glendale and at Eagle rock, all In Southern California. It Is estimated that the Easter sunrise sun-rise services throughout the state are attended by approximately 300,000 persons per-sons annually. The services in the southern part of the state, naturally, have the largest attendance, for there It has been an annual event much longer than In the northern section. Also, more such services are held there than in the north. Many of those from nearby who attend at-tend these services begin to come as early as midnight. Many who come from a distance are on the road the day and evening before. Roads leading lead-ing to the top of these "Mounts of the j Cross" are usually crowded with machines ma-chines and with pedestrians during most of the night before Easter morn- lng. Motorists usually leave their cars parked at the foot of the mount. From there they Join those who make the remainder re-mainder of the Journey on foot While the services vary in some degree de-gree at each of the places where they are held, the generally accepted program pro-gram begins with a chorus of trumpeters trum-peters exactly at sunrise. This is usually followed by a hymn in which the huge congregation of the devout join. Then comes a variety of sacred orchestral selections, followed by a silent prayer and a prayer led by soma noted divine. Usually there also Is an address by some orator of note and a short sermon by a minister or priest selected for the occasion. The singing of selections by children chil-dren and other orchestral selections usually closes the service. |
