The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1896-03-23
MODERN DEVILS REVEALED
INTERESTING ADDRESS By REV. ".
n. DICkERMAN LAST NIGHT.

Modern Devil Is Unlike the OLD Fashioned
one-Tail and Horns Covered Up Under
Gentleman's Dress-A Church Going
Devil-Some of His Schemes-His Advice
to Various Persons.
Rev. w. II. Dlckerman, of the Church
of the Messiah, preached a most inter-
esting sermon last evening to a large
congregation on THE Modern Devil"
Mr.. Dickerman said in substance as
follows: EVIL is a perversion of some
thing good. If we turn good from it's
right channel of course something evil
results. 1t was at one time thought
that God was the maker of all good
things and that serpenrs and all evil
things emanated from the devil. This
to the modern scientific mind seems a
very childish view. That anyone can
believe in a personal devil seems in
conceivable. 1t is nevertheless surpris-
Ing how many now believe in this myth.
1t means that the universe is divided
the government of things. That mali
cious spirit succeeds in leading astray
q portion of the human family in spite
OF the divine power. We do not hear
so much about the devil from the pull
pit now as in former years. The de-
scription of satan was formerly that
he was like a roaring non roaming
about seeking whom he might devour.
In the language of the prayer meeting
of those days the devil often appeared.
Leaving that sort of devil we will
discuss the practical, matter of fact sort
of devil. His name is adroitly conceal
ed in references from the pulpit and he
is called the EVIL One" Power of
Darkness and by like Applications. 1t
seems that if people actually believe
in this devil they would describe him
more.
'"The NEUROLOGICAL devil has been
nearly banished from the earth. The
real devil is very different from our
fathers devil, who was afraid of a
church and the cross in the day time,
and skunk away from the Bible. His
tail and horns are all there at present,
but they are hidden in the dress of a
R6UII6lIlctIl HIS SdtdlliCdi mai up
pear in his face. He often presides at
public gatherings and is always on the
side of the majority, or pretends to be,
not because he likes the majority, but
because he likes power. He has deal
of cunning and great power of speech
He is we'll educated. He knows that
men are fond of pleasure in youth and
of power in old age, that most men can
be cheated and wheedled. He is cruel,
sly and has great skill in managing men
so as to suit his burdens to their Shout
ders. His religion is a church going
sort of religion, because this trick is
better than two of his old ones. He is
always in his pew and twists his mouth
into Sunday contortions. He knows the
Bible all through, and Is often a life
member of Bible society, He some
times writes book on religion and is
especially fond of a prayer meeting be-
cause he is gifted in prayer. He pays
a bountiful pew rent The ministers
think him pillar of the church, and
wonders why he is not a clergyman,
Z but concludes that he is not because he
can do more good in other walks of life.
This devil likes to have the preachers
speak against Universalists, infdels,
and others, but the minister must never
rebuke popular sin. He must observe
good form, must be careful not to Of
fend the rich or to be too familiar with
the poor lest he sacrifice the dignity of
his office. This devil is pleased if the
minister wears kid gloves, and patent
leather shoes. Our church going devil
has greater regard for reputation than
for character. He has no belief in God
or man, and is all the worse because
he seems to have He says there is no
law higher than that of the land.
"Our Yankee devil loves the gold dol
lar He whispers to young men, get
money; get it anyway you can. If youl
hair is parted in the middle you will be
respected. He tells the high school girl
that responsibility is to be her morality
and with all her getting, to get man
with love, if possible, but with revenue
anyway, even if the man is a moral and
physical wreck, and that her name shall
be written-in his bank book.
"Our devil meets the politician and
tells him that public opinion is better
than that Of the Father, that salary is
the principal thing and salvation is q
whim; that a crown is better than q
cross. Our modern devil is nothing, il
not fashionable. What would he dc
without feathers and paint and
flounces? He puts on sweet smile
which makes his muscles ache
This is our modern devil not one
who slips along by moonlight, but ir
broad daylight and tells you that poll
cy is the best honesty, that pleasure is
better than the well being Of your fel.
low men, that what is is right The
modern devil is the worst devil; earthly
sensuous, devilish."