The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-10-11

cities. He had chosen Sodom and |
Gomorrah: and with them he must
suffer as well as sport. There had
been great battle of kings. four
against five, and it had ragged over
the Jordan plain and into the moun-
tains Of the south. The archaeologists
have been busy about those names.
and they identify Amraphel with Ham,
murabi, the king of Babylon whose
code of laws Is one of the momentous
discoveries of modern times. He and
his confederates had invaded the do
main of the rich Jordan cities, and at
ter much fighting had looted them.
Among the captives was Lot, with
his household. Doubtless Lot, had
pleaded that he was only visitor in
the city, and in general, slackerwise,
had tried to escape the penalty Of his
associations. This unexpected raid"
caught Lot, who really deserved no
immunity from the fate of the city in
which he lived, and he was carried off
captive.
Standing by q Friend.
This fighting. ranged over the re-
gion that has of late figured largely
in the daily papers in connection with
General Allenby's great victories over
the Turks. Were ever maps Of the
Holy Land so popular as today? The
daily paper is making real and present
this territory which is so interviewer
|
called THE Fifth Gospel"
When tho tidings came to the tent
Of Abraham-and news travels swiftly
in the east-the patriarch did not say,
after the method of some moderns.
well. II Is none of my business. I am
safe and untouched by this great bat
tie of city kings" Nor yet did he cyni-
cally and self-righteously proclaim to
his household, There, I told you sol
Lot has made his bed, and he will have
to lie in it. wash my hands of him."
We commend the example of
Abraham to those people in our day
who point to the plumbers of Rus
let them all stew in their own Juice.
1t is not the real dessert of per-
son in trouble, but his need, that
| constrains us to aid him. II we de-
| manded perfection of all our allies in
| this war. we should have to ADAM
don them every one-and they US!
There is a great lesson OF broad
minded tolerance and fidelity in the
example of Abraham, which all of US
need to learn in this war. We are
| going to stand by all those who have
claims upon U.S. regardless Of any
ham reached that noble attitude
which is best characterized by the
| Scripture, God is kind to the evil
| and the unthankful."
Lot was in trouble, sore and des-
perate trouble. That was enough. 1t
gave him claim upon all the powers
| of his kinsman and friend. When one
bound to US by ties of blood or
affection is in need. then is no time
for philosophizing or advice-giving or
| blame-apportioning: it is a time for
action, quick, unreserved, hearty.
loyal action. Abraham was that sort
| of friend. He at once mustered his
little force of trained men. number
ing only three hundred and eighteen,
and pursued hot foot after the retir-
ing Babylonians. By strategy and
| surprise, he came upon the detach-
ment carrying off Lot, and smote
them, and put them to rout, recover
ing the booty they had borne away
1t was a clean-cut victory for loyalty
and righteousness. That Lot did no,
/ ton: this part OF the story Is of Abra-
hams conduct and character. He
carried back the recovered prisoners
and loot, and refused all reward for
himself; he was no mercenary, but q
friend. f
These are the days when, as a ma.
ton and as Individuals. we need tc
sit at the feet of Abraham, the fight
ing friend. When subtle and insid.
fous forces are seeking to separate oul
allies one from another, or to cas-
suspicious glances upon their loyalt,
| ohu eAAiS' oio ~ A1SHiy eIiNiAitics
into occasions Of difference, it is goot
to look back at Abraham and learr
how to show militant. constancy. The
enemies of our friends are also oul
foes.
Soldiers in France have learned
what fidelity to a comrade means
They practice the Abraham virtue
Not for an instant does a soldier hest
. tate to risk his life for friend. H,
gladly goes over. the top, or returns
to the zone Of fire, to rescue a com
panien. Let us hope that this sam,
quality will be enhanced in civil life
and that we may all learn how to de
fend, actively and with risk to our
selves, if need be, the good reput,
and welfare of friend who Is unde
' attack. It is not without significanc,
: that royal-hearted Abraham won tn,
title, THE Friend of God" For h,
was the sort of friend that even Cox