The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-05-18
IMMORTALITY OF CITIES
ANCIENT sARDIs TYPE OF MANY
MODERN METROPOLIsEs.
The Rev. j. Cumming Smith Discusses
ForcfbIy Some Modern Social Prob
Iems-Way of Reform.

INSPIRATION yesterday at the 1dDeiHdSic
to preach on social problems of modern
great cities. He said:
"A young mans estimate of city lies
largely IN the opportunity IL offers MS
dawning ambitions in some practical dlrec-
tion- He has just embarked on his career
and he judges every environment by the
chance IL yields of promoting his imme-
date prosperity. A little later, when ne
has become the head of a growing home
and the question enters into his verdict OF
refinement OF a family? Is there likelihood
of fine affiliations in a social way? Has
it good schools? And then later on, when
the afternoon sun is sloping down and the
calm of mellow wisdom has settled on his
brow, the old man rises to the supreme
eternal standard of righteousness by which
to pass upon the merits of a city. So John
looked at the cities of Asia with their gid
ed splendors. Sardis, a voluptuous, gor-
geous city. was shattered by an earthquake
during the reign of Liberals and Is to-day
small village. Its bustling market mas
gone. History teaches us not TO gauge
city by the standard OF commercialism,
but by its power to contribute to the hlgner
life OF the world; thus Athens and Jerusa-
lem and Edinburgh are immortal, though
their streets become silent as the grave and
their palaces sink in ruins.
ANCIENT SARDIS.
"In the zenith OF it's glory Sardis boosted
Of its theaters and it's brisk commerce. Its
whirl Of gayeties. it's temple service with
accompanying pollutions, its fierce thirst
for games or gambling. its guilty seductions
carried captive young and old. The young
church felt the carnal contagion. One
scholar suggests that the reason why the
heather did not ravage or destroy the
church at Sardis was that it resembled so
closely a pagan church as to show no prac-
teal difference. The suggestion Is acute
TO say the least. Like does not fight like.
The church must be contrast or cypher
II must have a DISTINCTIVE Savior OF II null
lilies its mission. The early paganism
aimed at the spoliation and ruthless an
Inhalation of the new church simply because
the church rose TO higher flights, because
it's new God was loftier than the sensuous
god of Greece and its ideals were superior,
because the central figure of the new re-
ligion wore a lowly form and mounted TO
sacrifice and enjoined the same cross-bear-
ing upon His followers. Such truths cut
heathenism to the quick. 1t had theoretical
morality In abundance, and high class II
ed by few immortal masters in philoso-
ply and eloquence. but heathenism present
ed no Calvary. Talk as We Will very justly
about the points in common between racial
religions, there Is but one cross, one suf-
fering and assembled Savior.
Because We are not of the world even as
/ am not of the world, therefore the world
hateth YOU So far for the intrinsic differ
ence between the gospel and all creeds.
however many the exalted ethical sugges-
lions that must of course flower out tropi-
cally from our generic human nature mod
eled after the original infinite nature of
our God. The children under every sky
must borrow qualities from the one eternal
Father. Nevertheless Christ is unique and
solitary in pre-eminence. The modern temp
tation to leven up humanity while impugn-
ing or underfguring Christ results practi-
cally in lowering both Christ and humanity.
'Sardis was a metropolis of infinite al
lurement to the young Christian church.
By power of suction 1t drew the converts
into the vortex Of its carnivals and lust
The one exception was a class of strong
characters armed with steel plate and able
to defy the evil mesmerism of the situa-
ton. Such characters glorified that wicked
city. L have a few names in Sardis which
have not defiled their garments. They shall
walk with me in white God never leaves a
city without witnesses for Him. The piety
of Lot saved Sodom.
ALWAYS A DANIEL.
BE 1t Babylon sunk in the cesspool Of it's
unutterable abomination, there is Daniel;
be 1t any modern city. Rome or Vienna
London or Chicago, where the tides OF
immortality sweep in and carry the infec-
ton of poison wherever they ROLL be II
down In the reeking haunts of some OF
our own cities. where by day and by nigh,
can be seen things that drain all our faith
| and tempt the thought that God has rolled
up his garments and departed with a frown
from such abysms of sin: no matter how
frightful the drama of sin. no matter how
STEPPED and spotted with crime the alley
God has hearts in the vilest plague spots
as testimony to His name. They may be
| few. but few may be equal to an army
| The numerical minority may be a moral
majority. Men count noses and worship
bulk and bigness and numbers. God counts
souls and one soul may have the force OF
twenty. Paul was hundred-man power
hxy a IIr M a nd ~
| grace. The cry Is not for more of such
as we have, but for more of a better
brand. who excel in interior charm, who
obey ideals of comprising simplicity, who
| see hourly the unseen God. who are en-
| thusiastic and msnamed fanatics, who love
| the most unlovely for the sake of what
they can be and whose life carries re-
sistless attractiveness for good wherever
| you set them down.
1.-The simple lesson is that those helped
Lands the most who were most unlike
| Lands. The demand is for men superior
to their particular environment. In tbs
broad sense we are all the spawn and re-
suit of the universal environment with
God behind and through ii all. This is the
| pantheism of Paul on Mars hill: In Hin
| we live and move and have our being.
But In our modern and everyday use OF
| the term, a man should be more than g
match for his particular environment. A
| cautious, timorous. sucking Christian will
| in difficult situations cover and compro.
mise his principles. Such Christians may
reach heaven. out IL Will De an inferior
| heaven to correspond with their lack OF
| courage and originality. Such temporizne
| Christians are chamelious and II there
were none others there could be no spir.
| itual progress. However. as fact, In
Europe, through the ages, there rose tn,
| shining names OF dreamers, ecstatic seers
| original planners and daring executives
| who rose superior to the deadening con
ditions who saw God where common peo
pie only saw fog and who emancipated the
millions who were thralls to their environ
ment, who were afraid TO sound the not.
| of protest unless some matchless voice lee
| the way and smote the general evil anC
| then the timid millions echoed and re
echoed the fearless pioneer-such has beer
| Europe, such has been America. Such Il
| in last analysis the gains of all upward
| and ascending movement.
RIGHT KIND OF MEN
1.-The men who do not merge themselve.
in the surrounding mass of opinions moi
sell out their souls to popular beliefs, bu
who stand out distinctly and separated,
| and clear-cutly, as diamonds on a bed o.
gravel or a light in dark street or a:
/ a child's face of beauty in a throng o.
hard, coarse faces, these are the men whC
| lift the life around them, provided the,
| are sincere and are not. counting cheal
martyrdom by taking some glaring. ex
| ceptional position. Sincere men will agre.
| just as far and JUST as long as they car
| without any infringement of principle
| Society is full enough of self-seekins
| people who are cranky and turbulent anC
thorny disturbers OF the peace from IN,
| pure love OF friction and upsetting of tn,
established order of things and who ar,
rather fiattered by ridicule. These prickly
| offensive types are 10 be sharply distn