The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-02-22

their retainers were to be considered,
put the rights of the natives who had
preceded them. Be it remembered that
this was not virgin country, like the
western American prairie, to which
the patriarchs went The Canaanite
and Peruzzite We're in the land.
Magnanimous, which means great
minded" is the adjective that describ-
ed Abraham. He saw things from a
lofty altitude. He was big enough to
be generous and to love peace. Being
the man that he was, he could not
stoop to pettiness. So he proposed to
his nephew that as the whole land was
before them, Lot should choose what
he pleased. This was Lots c1ance to
prove himself a big man. He should
have replied that he was the younger
and Abraham the older: he was the
follower and Abraham the leader; and
that Abraham should choose and he
then would take what was left. But
Lot was not that sort of man. He did
not realize what was fitting. and in
pettiness and smallness and selfish
ness he chose what seemed the best
for himself. He did not realize that
while this decision might favor him
in estate, it marked him as mean in
soul; and the only riches are soul
riches. Better be a great man with
a small portion than small man with
a great portion.
Tenting Toward Sodom.
One of the most fertile spots in all
the world is that deepest rift in earth S
surface known as the Jordan Valley,
the river pours into the Dead Sea-
Viewed from the heights from which
the patriarch saw it. it is garden
spot fair to the eye. The stately date
palms. the rustling banana trees, the
orange groves, the groves of sweet
lemons-no traveller who has ever car
ried Jericho sweet lemons in his sad
dle-bagS can forget them-make the
visit a delight to the eye To the right
ShimmerS the Dead Sea, giving no indi
cation to the eye of its deadness; and
yonder rise the peaks of PiSgah, from
which Moses looked westward toward
the land where Abraham and Lot
were pasturing their sheep. At the
time of which we study there were
great cities in the Jericho plain, even
as in the later Greek and Roman days,
ruins of which have since been eX-
cavated and may now be seen by any
traveller.
Lot chose this garden spot. Shame
lessly greedy, he wanted the best for
himself. He preferred to escape the
cold winds of the uplands. The tropi-
cal fruits of the valley allured him,
and then, too, he had an eye on the
cities of the plain. Was their reputa-
ton shameful, even more sodden than
that of Egypt, from which the travel
ers had escaped? Lot closed his eyes
to this and pitched his tent hard by
Sodom. 1t was easy to see which way
his mind inclined No life can front
toward sin without soon residing in
sin; even as Lot is found, subsequent
~ in the story, as inhabitant OF Sodom.
Only the fidelity and magnanimity of
the uncle whom he used so shabbily
saved him later from the fate of So
dom.
AS for Abraham, it must have been
a relief to him to have his selfish,
guileful and squabbling nephew out of
the way. He was content with the
harder place on the heights. He had
the fields, and he had more leisure for
meditation. When Lot went, the Lord
came and there was given 10 Abra-
ham a new vision, and new promise
concerning the land that was to be his
and his chiIdren's forever.