The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1901-05-07
NEAR TO
SODOM


the pastor. Rev. W. NJ Klncaid. spok,
Go young men upon pitching ones TEN
Toward sodom," or lessons from tse sto.
~ Of Lot. taking for his text Gen. 1872
And Lot pitched his tent toward Sod.
ON"
Among all the stories OF Genesis non,
T. better deserving our moral considera.
ton than the history OF Lot His story
may be described as an eptome of hu-
man life. Just as evolution asserts that
IN the structure of man every form of
created life is represented, so II may be
said that every man epitomises in him
self all the moral forces that make the
tragedy or the triumph OF life The
passing OF thousands of years makes alb
solutely no difference to the problem.
The story Of Lot Is as human, as real,
as vital as though IT happened yester-
day-indeed there is no day when IL is
not being reacted in human lives. Lot
was offered choice in life. and he chose
wrongly. with what n harvest of terrible
consequences We all know. To us also
there come hours of solemn choice when
a destiny hangs on the decision of an in
slant. Lot obeyed an inclination rather
than a principle. We also are under the
constant temptation to shape our con-
duct by the lower rather than by the
higher dictates of our nature
This is the real significance OF the sto-
ry of Lot, and surely for the young who
have the making or the unmaking of
their lives in their hands there can be
no story more deserving OF careful study.
Let us see If we cannot put it in the
setting of our modern life.
And first what is there in Lot himself
to explain his fatal choice? The first
thing we need to remember that the ex-
PLANTATION of the foolish acts of man new
e. lies in their circumstances, but In
themselves. We forget this. We are al
ways trying to put the blame of our fol-
ly upon circumstance, or fate, or envi-
forgetting that men are the
architects of their circumstances. that
fate is only the shadow of character, and
environment the mould of habit. We
must look deeper for the determining
motive of human action. and We find it
ir what is called principle. We see in
daily life that the great difference be-
tween men is the possession or the lack
of principle. And this was the great diff
ference between Abraham and Lot.
Lot pitched his tent toward Sodom and
the action explains the man. And this
choice of Lot is being continually re-
peated Men will enter on forms of bus
mess which they know to be full OF NOR
al risk simply because they can make
money faster In them. They will pitch
their tents near any Sodom where bank
accounts grow larger as souls grow
smaller.
Better crust OF bread and a good
conscience than all the gold of all the
world If smeared by the slime of Sod
'm. The first, the last and indeed the
,nly duty Of any man is to do right You
l,,,,
10 man or community ever bought evil
1t a cheap rate.
Again, the choice of Lot implies a lax
ty of virtue in himself. There was
in the very atmosphere of the
ertile. sun-saturated plain of Sodom
which a man of robust virtue should
nave dreaded. 1t Is a matter of obser-
'ation upon which the world is agreed,
hat where nature is most bountiful,
ran Is morally the weakest. The per-
ect climate means the most imperfect
men. 1t is where man has to battle most
trenuously with nature that manhood Is
loblest. In the languorous air OF the
ropic. the moral sense is quickly dulled
o great moral evils, and man is most
Tile. most impotent for good, more thor
ughly the slave of his animal passions.
Behold the Sodom at our own doors.
t has soft winds and perilous fragrance,
nd fatal beauty. 1t is the realm of
assion, of desire, of impurity. And 1
ee those on every side who leave the
unny hills of life where the air is clear
nd sweet and pure and go down to it's
atal plains.
/ know not whether any such are list
ming to me tonight, but do know there
5 door opening into Sodom from every
fe. do know that the road to Sodom |
5 a well-beaten road, all too easily |
iscovered. Men do not take it at a |
ound they approach it by easy stages. |
hey begin by harboring the unclean |
bought which poisons the imagination. |
hey pitch their tent toward Sodom. |
hey look with callous compliance upon
- corruption. The vehement abhor- !
ence OF vice that every pure man feels |
oes out of theS. They tolerate sin;
hey inspect 1t. p3liate it-excuse. They |
We on good-natured terms with it; they
o everything but abhor 1t. And even II |
ley never enter Sodom. Is this nothing? |
las the unclean thought no penalty, as |
ell as the unclean act? You cannot |
andle pitch and not be defiled. You can
OF pitch your tent toward Sodom with
ut loss of moral purity, with a GER
ain deterioration of character. Some |
ne may say. Surely 1t is possible to live
the near neighborhood of Sodom and |
OF share its SIM" That is not the point |
I all. 1t is the duty of the true man |
OF to see how far he can reconcile him. |
IF to evil, but how best he can destroy |
, 1t was compromise with sin that !
llned Lot We can easily trace the |
ages OF his fall, We hear him argu-
Is with himself as men still argue. that
will be much better for his worldly
lterests to live n little nearer Sodom.
nd II need in no wise mean that he will
ecome as the Sodomites. He thinks he
m maintain the simplicity OF n patri-
rch, but that is impossible. Men still
link that they can live In the suburbs
sin and go no further. II is equally
npossible.
The retributlon that overlook Lot was
Witt inevitable and tragic. His home
lined, his possessions swept away, his
ife overwhelmed In the fiery hail and
olcanic ashes OF great upheaval-a
Dor, broken, pitiable old man, Ne fees
the hills which he should never have
H.
| ask you 90 remember that the daily
'trlhuiions ~ impurity that happen
round us are no less terrible, The man
An Inspector ID ia town. inquiring