The daily morning journal and courier., 1906-09-17
GRAYS ATTEND CHURCH.
REV. DIR. PHILLIPS PREACHES
 POWERFUL SERMON


 His Theme the Story of David and the
 PhilIstIne-Entreats Them Rather to
 be a David With a Sling and Faith
 Than That of a Goliath With Sword
 and spear--sermOn Was Listened Too
 by Large Congregation.
 5 The Rev. pr. Phillips yesterday morning preached the annual sermon to the New Haven Grays at the Church of the Redeemer. There was large con gregation present as well as full mus ter of the members of the Grays pr. Phillips chose as his text I. Samuel MAS from which he preached pow erful and interesting sermon. After re- ferring to the story of the text and the meeting of David and Goliath, he went on to say:
 The Philistine is in evidence every wherein the congress and the state assemblies, in politics, in society, even in the church-and everywhere he is intoning the same credo: believe in power; I believe in combinations; l be- Iieve in money; believe in swords, and spears and 5avelins, and, though you listen never so closely, you sell dom hear, even in faintest whisper, that other confession which expresses the faith which has made the world the good world 1t is-the faith that is an- swerable for civic progress, and ethical advancement, and the development of the individual and society The faith which makes the difference between America and Central Africa: believe in God; I believe In spiritual culture; believe in divinized mankind.
 And that Philistine credo is a denial of God and of man. David told this Goliath the truth about himself, and all other men of his kidney: You have defled the God of the armies of Israel not the armies, not Israel, God!-be- cause you trust in swords and jave- lins." That is the essential blasphemy of Phihstinism always, it relies on swords and spears and javelins; it be- lieves that a big man with big spear big at the mouth, big at the pocket, big in material assets--is all that's needed for victory. And so it Is inf1del regarding the value and power of all the higher forces of life.
 Philistinism is virulent contagious disease, 1t seizes every class and spreads with marvellous rapfdity among men of every pursuit All who are af- flicted by 1t become fanatical worship pers of the means. They believe in ma terial power, but have no place for the divine in their scheme of life. They believe in money, but not in character. They believe in guns but not in the men behind the gun; in battles, but not in the God of battles.
 The young men of the time are es- pecially liable to this contagion, as they hear the shouts of Goliath and see the shining of his armor, and notice how the armies stand mute and cowed watching his maneuvers. They are hypnotized and seduced and say: "Here is power! This Is the road to victory!" That philosophy colors their theory of life, directs their ambitions, and fixes their aims. To get power easily, to get rich quick; to have, to enjoy to rule are the purposes that meet radiant response in their souls. And the means on which they rely are material The faith of the fireside is cast aside as effete and effeminate, in its place the faith of Wall street and the Goliath of the modern financial world Is accepted as alone sufficient to this strenuous time. What can I get?" not What can be?" is the question that occupies the mind. To live In the largest way, to store the mind, to cultivate all the powers of manhood and energy with full head and heart and soul Is not a problem deemed worthy of attention. Of what use is all that unless one emerges with full pockets and reputation for smartness and success?
 I iterate this thought because I want to put 1t before you in such a way that you will have healthy mans contempt for this vulgar, unworthy phiMstinism and determine that you will come to the life's problems in the spirit of this Dayid@n the name of the Lord of fUOSLSs COIg US " WCAL tSCdAObJ tllClC is a God of the armies of Israel; faith in Him is the finally triumphant force among men and his power and favor make men and nations permanently great. That is old fashioned doctrine 1t Is not the doctrine of the modern millionaire, nor the modern corporation. No people on earth has less business with philistinism than the American people! What gave the makers of the republic their power? What has made the nation great? This old-fashioned faith in God, this trust is higher forces. This following of higher aims, and through all our record the men of America, high-minded, great-hearted, pure living, self-sacrlficing, with eyes on the father and the mater, have been the forces on which we have relied and which have gained for us the strength and prosperity in which we glory.
 --=Ss-