Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1916-05-03
NOT HONOR To Be
MAYOR Of WICKED
CITY, SAYS SCOTT
Baptist Evangelist Uses Lot
for Stirring Sermon OH
"Influence."


the evangelist, delivered a stirring
sermon last night, to another large
J congregation at the First Baptist
'church, where he is conducting a
series of revival services, under the
board Of Nashville, Tenn.
1t was a familiar Bible lesson
which he SPEAKER portrayed. H
made it even clearer to his hearers, as
ne explained it, not in the language
of the Bible alone, but in even
simpler words. He told how the
herdsmen Of Abraham and his nephew
Lot. had quarreled. and how Abra-
ham had, in the spirit of self-sacrifice
and unselfishness, told Lot to select
what lands he chose, and Abraham
would take the remainder.
LOT pitched his tent toward Sodom'
quoted the speaker He chose the
richest lands of the valley of the
Jordan leaving the poorer lands for
Abraham. Material things, in his
selfish spirit, appealed to him. But
the Lord was with Abraham, and al
though his lands were poor. he pros
pered. Lot also prospered however,
but at the same time he lost his hold
upon himself and upon righteousness
and drifted into sin.
The speaker told vividly of the sins
of Sodom, and how the Lord finally
decided to destroy the city because Of
its wickedness. Abraham pleaded
,, with the Lord, to spare the city if so
righteous persons could be found
among the multitude Of it's inhabi-
tants. He continued to plead, and the
Lord granted the pleas, until finally
the Lord promised to spare the city
if ten righteous could be found. But
there were no. ten righteous persons
in the city. and it was doomed by the
wrath of God.
The prayer of Abraham. his influ-
ence as a good. just, righteous man,
prev allied to the extent however, that
a warning angel was sent by the
Lord, to warn Lot and his immediate
relatives, that they might flee the city
before it was destroyed. Lot was, in
d way righteous man, said the
Speaker, but he had condoned sin,
he had given away to material things,
he catered to the wicked element.
Lot Held Public Office.
~ oSOlI SCoICu IL was Alo OplAIOlI
that Lot was mayor Of Sodom, or
some other high officer of the city, the
opinion being formed by the language
in the Bible and the knowledge of con-
ditions and customs prevailing in that
time. The Bible made reference to
Lot as having "tarried at the gate" of
the city, and in those days, such was
the custom of the high officials, thus
seeking the favor of the populace, that
they might be retained in or returned
10 office.
1t is an honor to be the mayor Of
some cities. said DR.. Scott. but It Is
not an honor to be the mayor of
wicked city. To be the mayor of
wicked city, however, offers untold
possibilities and opportunities, not
only to the official who might work
out his own betterment and advance
ment to better plane Of life, but who
might bring about changed and better
conditions in the city.
DR.. Scott made the strong statement
that merely to join the church does
not save one from punishment for
sin, nor does it mean salvation for
one. But the Lord, he said, wants
all of his people, all Christians. with
in the church Those who are Chris
tans must be in the church and must
join with the church in fighting sin.
They must not like Lot. remain out
side, and condone or cater to sin.
Fight Sin, Not Individuals.
. In this connection, DR.. Scott stated
that he did not want any
one of his hearers to gain the i'm
preston that he is fighting any indi-
vidual. He made it plain that he is
fighting sin, whether it be within the
church or outside.
The warning angel sent by the Lord
TO Lot, had warned him that there
should be no looking back, when they
began their flight from the city. But
Lots wife looked back, said the
speaker, and she was turned into a
pillar of salt. She had CONQUERED in
her husbands actions in Sodon, she
lad aided and helped him in amass-
ng material wealth, and her woman's
1eart compelled her to turn for one
asst look at the property going up in
smoke and fire.
Mothers and fathers of the present
lay are making the same mistake,
aid the speaker, and he mentioned
hat when parents move into the cities
low, their first effort is to get their
daughters into society, that they
night become married and not be /,
old maids" This, said the speaker,
s foolish and wicked custom.
rather had the parents make an eff
ort to have their daughters follow
nore sedate paths. the paths of right
BUSINESS, and come into the church.
lie delivered some telling blows upon
in many scorching
entences. Most people have good in
entions and aim to be righteous, he
aid, but there is generally one sin,
'hich is strong enough to force them
O "look back"
DR.. Scott closed with his appeal
o the back sliders and to the nom
to come into the church,
nd to lead the right life, the life
+ a true Christian.
The music by Mr.. and Mrs. Blanken-
hin and the choir was again remark
bly, good, number of particular ex-