The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-08-19
The Rev. Harvey Phillips, a
Returned Missionary
Scandaiizes Loyal Topeka Citi-
zens in a Sunday Sermon.
HAILED BEFORE MARSHAL
Charged With Calling National
Anthem "BOastful Song"
o. H. White of Topeka Also In
.volyed in Church Affair.

- CharacterlZlng the star SpdnSieo
Banner" as that ,boastful song we
usually sing" the Rev. Harvey Phil
lips, returned missionary from Egypt.
brought to a close the most eyentful
and sensational church services ever
held in Topeka. In fact the allega-
tions and accusations and differences
drawn during the sermon by the Rev
erend Doctor" Phillips SO scandaHzed
his auditors that the preacher was
landed on the carpet in the United
States marshaPs office today to show
cause why he should not be arrested,
tried and interned for treason and dis
loyal utteranceS.
The fact that Phillips called the
Star Spangled Banner" a "boastful
song was revealed to the marshaPs
office by DIR. Willis L. Goldsmith, asso-
ciate pastor of the Central Congrega-
tiona1 church, recently resigned to en- :
ter the Y. M. c. A. service overseas.
Goldsmith also asserted that Philhps's
sermon was not only "injudicious but
was very undiploma tic." Goldsmith
correlated a. statement already made
which accused Philips of saying "tha
Belgium is suffering a just retribution
for the wrongs she has committed "
Witnesses Are Called.
The e'investigation of Harvey Phillips
| is in charge of G. E. Barthell, special
agent of the department of justice as
signed to Topeka especially for this
case. c. C. jackson. acting United
States marshal in the absence of Otho
Wood, was playing an important part
in the investigation today of the
preachers utterances. A number OF
witnesses were called to the marshafs S
office today to give testimony as to
just what Phillips said in his Sunday
night sermon Barthell refused to
state whether a warrant would be. is
| sued for Phillips, tho he indicated that
the allegations made against the
preacher had been substantiated in
were in the congregation Sunday
| night.
One of the witnesses called In she
case waszO. H.. White, president of the
| Topeka Transfer & Storage company
| When White was questioned before he
| Barthell, White said that, I'm my
| opinion the sermon was splendid. and
| was justified. 1t was absolutely true :
| White declared repeatedly that he
| thought Phillips was right" White
even went SO far as to express agree
| nent with Philips's statement that
America is money mad"
| One other statement which White
made was that the sermon ought to
| be preached in every city IN the
world" Questioned as to his patriot
ism in approving of such statements
| Z liltlipS III Ills SctIloa ouft-
| day night, White asserted, heatedly.
81 am a true American and think II
1 right that we should be in this wal
| for Righteousness"
People Are Aroused.
| When White was shown a picture
| of Belgian children mutilated by the
| Huns and was asked if he thought
| that the German atrocities in a the
| stricken nation were justified, he
sidestepped and made the statement
that the mutilation of the Belgians
their enslavement, and sufferings
were in direct retribution for the
wrongs committed by the Belgians
under King Leopold on the ivor,
coast of the Congo region in Africa
4 White later stated that he, himself
did not believe in the mutilation OF
women and children. but again as
serted that ''it is the sins of tbs
| fathers visited on the children"
Telephone call after telephone cal
came into the marshars office today
asking what the department was do.
ing in the case of the preacher who
made the disloyal urterances at the
Sunday night union meeting. In ev.
cry case the inquirers were notified
that IAN investigation was then under
way in the office
large number of witnesses wer,
called at the investigation proceed
ings today but no definite information
could be obtained as to just what theii
Testimony was. Officials who were il
and out of the room where the inves
tigation was being held indicated tina
every accusation made agains
Preacher Phillips was being repeateiI
substantiated. BarthelI announced a
the close of the investigation that tn
evidence obtained this morning < woult
be referred to the United States dis
trict attorney for his decision as t,
whether a warrant would he issued n
not.
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