The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-03-08
CBy William T. EIlis.l

SUI lot ISs hC ADSeNA0
ton of Sodom" Gen. 10: 1-3, 1923.
(By William T. EIlis.1
The editor of a Coatesville daily paper
asked one out of town investigator
Immediately after the lynching which
has given that little town a world
wide infamy. to express his opinion of
the situation. The message the
visitor wrote was. There was no
man for the hour Two righteous or
brave men could have saved Coates
Vile and Pennsylvania this biting dis
grace. The salt of noble character is
essential to the life of any community.
Ten men could have saved even Sodom.
but put to the test the ten men were
lacking.
The days lesson is a study in the
saving power of goodness and the de-
stroying power of badness. A little
salt may leaven a large lump. The
most practical, effective form of citi-
zenship is for good men and good wom-
en- to bear loving, fearless. practical
testimony for the things that are true
and honorable and pure. Boards of
trade alone cannot make a city great
The final test is in the character of
its citizenship.
This testimony must be by works.
In the practical things of citizenship,
the Christian men must bear his share
of the community's burdens. To re-
main away from the voting booth in
order to attend prayer meeting is
poor citizenship and equally poor re-
ligion.
Tn the extreme issue. if the bad COM
n1unity cannot be reformer. then the
good people must flee from it in test1- |
Tnony for righteousness. even as the
best citizens are said to be leaving
certai in western city where ShameiesS
corruption rules.
The New Civic Loyalty.
In this day there is d new civic sense |
spreading throughout the continent. |
Boys and girls in school are taking the
old "Athenian oath" of loyalty. There
is no reason for Christian to be des-
pondent about the condition OF our
modern cities. The forces of righteous
ness which abound in almost every
large city are an inspiration to every
beholder. The multitudes OF men anu
women who in public service ana III
nrivate living are standing steadfastly
for the nobIest ideals are most De
Vond any mans counting.
This lesson upon old Sodom, however,
is a summons to renewed civic service
7, is call for clean personal life
and an active citizenship. 1t should De
the concern of every good man TO MAKE
his personality count for the Dest !
things In some of the many ways that
tho modern times afford he should eA-
ross himself in behalf of righteous
ness. -. 1o,,-r in
Sodom. there would have been at least
ton righteous men, anu III
Abraham's prayer the city Woulo nav
heen spared Lots religion meant SO
1ittIe that his own sons-in-laW mad not
nonfidence enough in it to leave the
city with him at his summons
An American in China.
.,ratar,,s plea for the cities OF the
.aeToed the acme of masnahl-
- and intercessiOn. until we cohie
- Christ pleading for the forgiveness"
If His slayers; and then TO ms apo
n o
tie Paul, who was Wllllns ~ oo1n
cI,rsed for his brethren's ana Com
oanions. sake. This great, self-tor-
++i,,, 1,assion of interceSslon Is Tie
mark of a noble spirit --.o, |
The capital of mi Ii PROV ny ~
china and the military center OF the
1-.ira ie the city of Pao Tlng-1u'
Inch during the Boxer outDredh'
Slaughtered a number of American
missionaries. One missionary reSlue i
of the city, DIR. Walter r. LoWIIe'
oi,once5 TO be away from home when
the Ere of fanaticism broke out ana
he was chosen to guide the punitive
expedition of the allied troops OF lne
powers The decree had gone Ioith
that as an example to the boAers end
citv of Pao Ting-fu should be razed
to the ground. Did DR.. Lowrle gloat
over this, and encourage the command
ers in their purpose? NOT SO. Day
after day he interceded for the city
that had destroyed his home and slain
~ friends BY his intercession Pao
rT,ipg-fu was spared; and when recent
Nv walked through the streets of that
CITY with DR.. Lowrle. found an
classes of people. from coolies TO hlgh
of1icjaIs having honor to him as the
man who hal saved their city. Pao
TTing-fu was spared Cor Walter Low
rie's sake
Lots family was saved from Sodom
for Lots sake Ihus IN All 1 DL me w
are bound up in families The World
last month witnessed how nation
could pour out it's gratitude to fam
i1v for one mans sake. Explorer
Scott's dear ones never went to the
frozen South but Scott did. and for
his sake the nation hohors ana cHer'Sh-
es them.
communities and with nations. Thus
turkey seems to have run her race
+n doom. So Nineveh and Babylon
filled up their cup of iniquity. and to-
day they are mere hills of dirt in
desert waste. So the governor OF
Pennsylvania i'll a message to the
charter of CoatesvilIe be revoked.
Sodom had nothing to redeem 1t. 1t
had reached the limit and must be
wiped out.
Doubtless trade was good in Sodom
and as the banks count prosperity it
was prosperous. But the final issues
for a community as for an individual,
are all moral and spiritual The mat
ter of supreme concern in all of life
IS the state of the spirit God does
care for the behavior of the world.
He does not look with indifference
upon the conduct of men, Thus we
read that the cry of them is waXen
great before the face of the Lord and
the Lord hath sent us to destroy it,"
a Word of Doom.
When Lot entreated his sons-in-law
70 flee with him, he seemed to them
as one that Knocked. Therein We read