The St. Louis Republic., 1904-12-12
SAYS EVIL REIGNS IN
HIGH PLACES IN ST. LOUIS,
Reverend Columbus Polk GoOdson
Compares City With babylon ana
Warns Against Its Fate.

God in the Tragedy of the World 9
Greatest City was the subject of a ser
mon preached yesterday morning by the
Reverend Columbus Polk Goodson at the
Kings Highway Cumberland Presbyte-
rian Church. He took for his text: For
the nation and kingdom that will not
serve thee shall perish" Qsa. TX, 12) Alas!
alas! that great city, Babylon; that
mighty city, For in one hour is
so great riches come to naught." Rev.
xviii. 10-1T0
The golden city hath ceased: the broad
walls are broken, the brsZen gates
burned God hath swept it with the bosom
of destruction. and the glory of kingdoms,
the beauty of the Chaldees' excellency, is
become as when God overthrew Sodom
and Gomorroh.'
Mr.. Goodson said. in part: Recent dis
ceveries of Doctor Hilprecht. including
the great library Of the temple Of Of NIppur.
nings of this city some 5000 or 1900 years
before the Christian era. and trace every
date and succession to the then reigning
monarchs.
Babylon was the largest city of the
ancient or modern world. 1t was twice
the size Of London. Within its vast walls
that reached height of $50 feet and were
s. feet wide, according to historians. was
incosed an area of 200 square miles.
Twenty-Five magnificent parallel boule-
wards. $50 feet wide and is miles long.
were intersected by. as many Similar ones
were built beautiful homes, three and four
stories high. Towers and temples and
hanging gardens were among @ me ,;,s SeVe. en-
which have never been adorned the city.
IKE shrine which crowned the temple
was adorned with golden lions, ~, silver
long and Is feet wide made OF solid gold:
and human statue twelve cubits high. OF
solid gold. One palace inclosed seven
miles. - -, A., ,,,,,d-
ings and the literatures. customs ana
manners startle our modern civilization
The walls and buildings were of burnt
and enameled bricks. upon all of which
glyphics of the customs of the people.
The city was the pride of the, world.
Howl ye, for the day of the Lord Is
at at ti,e hsns aimshts It shai dsa fSne xii H. s.
.If it was beautiful and rich city. 1t
was wicked city: Historians tel tel, us: the ti1,,
most wicked Of antiquity: 1t rose d sSsldy
" obtained: with power. came pride and
arrogance, ard these resulted in luxury
and sensuality.. All the vices We're prac,
that there was no word In the ancient
Hebrew language to mark the corruption
and iniquity of the people. Along with
wealth. prosperitSS S anu NO. commererai nrn, ;cs prog
What peril!-if riches increase and men de-
cay: if merchants have bought the wages
of silver in exchange for the souls of men
il goods are sold. but those goods are
stained with the blood of women; if In
the factories men are broken in spirit, and
women suicide. The greatess of any ma
tion, city or individual is threatened
whenever the head gees in advance of the
conscience. and men emphasize culture
rather than morality. Solomon was never
SO wicked as when he was wise. What
shall it profit man. II he gain the whole
world and lose his own soul?'
"The religion of Babylon was idolatrous
The worship was to gods OF gold and sill.
yer, brass, wood and stone. The irrever-
ence and pride became an Oftense to God.