Sunday School Lesson: Lure Of The City Was Strong, Even When Lot Chose Sodom DR. WILLIAM T. ELLIS and EARL L. DOUGLASS Much of today Is wrapped up in the long-ago yesterday of Abra ham and Lot. We find the same dispute over territory; the ghastly consequences of wrong decisions; the brotherly attitude of one party to a dispute; and the lure of city life to a countryman. Abraham and his nephew Lot had settled in Canaan. As their possessions increased, so did fric tion between their interests and their herdsmen. The time came for an apportionment of territory. Wise and generous old Abraham bade Lot take his choice. By all the usages of the Orient, Lot should have deferred to his elder relative. But Lot was bad mannered and selfish and unstable. So. Instead of saying, ‘‘After you, Uncle Abraham. You choose first,” he looked covetously at the lush green valley of the Jordan, with great cities near at hand and said, “This for me; you may have the bare uplands.” Abraham was a spacious, toler ant character, rather Inclined to have peace at any price. He thought more of family loyalty than of his own advantage. So he bade Lot follow his desires. We find a key to Abraham's mo tives in his return from his un fortunate sojourn in Egypt, where he had resorted to a cowardly lie, calling his wife, the beautiful Sar ah, his sister, to save his own life. His shame and repentance for this sin are easily Imagined; for this is the one blot against his godly character. Pull of remorse and re pentance. he left Egypt, and Jour neyed up to his first altar at Bethel, to renew relations with the God of a 8econd Chance. Thence forth his life would be guided by the will of Jehovah, the merciful. This wandering, wicked world of our needs to make pilgrimage to Bethel. A return to old time relig ion will do more for this muddled era than all of the schemes of statesmen. Things will get right when men get right with Ood. It was a converted and consecrated Abraham who was made ready to deal with presumptuous Lot. What wonderful things would happen to our world were 8talin suddenly to return to the Scrip tural teachings he once learned as a theological student; and Church ill were to take his Prayer Book as his guide, and Truman were to stand utterly for the faith of his youth as a Bapitst! The simpli cities of religion would solve the complexities of statesmanship. Our Lesson has advanced geo Itckiig, Biriiig, Perspiring Feet c« k ur *nw;t to4*irrmi original bottk of Moon* § Emerald Oil. Don't worry—thU powerful penetrating oil brings euckl mm and comfort th»t you 11 r*m be able to fo about your work ■ bam and without that almost unbearable “TS tonight—fr««lr; It 4om Mt »t*in—w t«i*nomic»r Monty b»rll if not Mtitficd. Good drugfiatt evtrjrwhert. Kendall 8pangler Drug Co , Paul Webb and Son, Cleveland Drug Co. graphically from Mesopotamia to Canaan and Egypt, henceforth to be the man scene of the Bible Story. The Oarden of Eden region, with its great cities and empires, is no longer central. Henceforth the little strip of hilly country, with few fat valleys, that lies east of the Jordan, is to be the middle scene of God's dealings with the Chosen People. There the Messiah was to come. The Jordan Valley, which Lot chose, is the deepest rift in the earth’s surface — 1300 feet below sea level, and of tropical richness. The Sunday School Lesion for July 22 is, "Abraham’s Practice of Brotherhood” >— Genesis 13-15. The Dead Sea. now being utilized by Great Britain as a source of immeasurable mineral riches, was bordered by luxurious and sinful cities. A French archaeologist has identified the site of Sodom and Gomorrah as on the northeastern shore of the Dead Sea. Dr. Mel vin Kyle contended for a sub merged site at the lower end of the lake. By the western shore are famous mineral springs, the healing properties of which have been used from remotest antiquity. THE CITY MOOD Lot, a life-long dweller in tents, felt the alure of the cities. He liked the idea of going to town for his shopping. At first he only pitched his tent toward Sodom. Later he decided to leave tents and all they stood for and move into the city. Gradually, he made acquaintance with the bright lights. If thpre had been night clubs in Sodom, he would have made the round' of them. His was not a deep ture. The glitter and so phistlei'.tion of city life appealed to him. While his Uncle Abraham sat under the stars, communing with God. Lot lounged in the wine i shops of Sodom. Easy was the next step Lot moved his family into the city — with tragic consequences. Only the intercession of Abraham saved him from destruction when Jehovah poured out His wrath upon the citadel of sin. Tills old. old choice between city j and country confronts myriads of returning soldiers. Pleasures in numerable, and quick prizes, await the young man in the city. But in the country, human roots strike deep, and character grows strong. Independence is there, and simple neighborly fellowship, and habits of worship and health for the family. To be close to the soil means, for most men. to be close to-God. Not all cities are as Sodom and not all rural communities are paradise. But the Lot who became entangled in a city's ways and : fate would have been a different man had he abode by his flocks in the fields. He missed life's gold in grasping at its tinsel. Production of dairy farm machin i y and equipment in 1944 had a value of $36,000,000 compared with $23,000,000 in 1943. and $22,000,000 in i 1941. dollar’s worth we’ve seen this year! Aropoplin Is the name— Arrow’« newest tie! It comes in smart solid colors, trim stripes, and right-tho’-royal plaids. It’s easy-knotting. Has the special Arrow lining that does the job, resis wrinkles too. Aropoplin comes in 100% rajron; rayon and aralac mixture; and rayon and wool See It today! Only $1. A. V. Wray & 6 Sons IN PACIFIC — Lawrence Oliver, formerly with the advertising de partment of The Star, is now serving aboard a ship for the fleet in the Pacific where he was re cently promoted to the rank of yeoman, third class. He does clerical work in the ship’s office. REVIVAL ENDS AT KADESH Daily Vacation Bible School On; Peelers In From Portsmouth BELWOOD — Revival services were held at Kadesh church last week. Rev. J. 8. Gibbs of Shelby did the preaching. There were 12 additions to the church, Daily Vacation Bible school is being conducted this week at Ka desh church and the attendance is good. Mrs. Latham Wilson, Miss Doris Martin, Mrs. Everette Lutz, Mrs. Walter Dixon and Miss Bernice McMurry are the instruc tors. Mr. and Mrs. L. G. Bowen and son of Baltimore, Md., are visiting Mr. and Mrs. Noah Hubbard this week. Mrs. Burgin Brown and daugh ter, Lydia, are spending this week with Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Brown at Flay. Robert Hubbard of TJ. S. navy, is visiting his wife and daughter and his parents, Mr. and Mrs | Noah Hubbard. i Mr. and Mrs. Randolph Peeler I and son, Charles, returned home I Saturday from Portsmouth, Va., where they had been visiting their son. Warrant Officer Stough Peel er and Mrs, Peeler. Mrs. Ada Gold and Betty, and Mr .and Mrs. Horace Price and children spent Sunday afternoon with Mr. and Mrs. Roland Price and family of Lawndale. Sunday dinner guests of Mrs. J. W. Brackett and Jewel, were Mr. and Mrs. Everette Lutz and son, Jake, Misses Bernice McMurry, ! Ellen Peeler and Bob McMurry. Mr. and Mrs. Evans Grigg and children, David and Elizabeth, of Sharon community, visited Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Hoyle Sunday. Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Powell and Jack, Mr. and Mrs. Wilbur Lutz and children, Jo Ellen and Sylvia, spent Sunday with their parents, Mr. and Mrs. Andy Elmore at Ca sar. Mr. and Mrs. Adjer Goodman of Raleigh, spent the week-end with Mr. Goodman's mother, Mrs. Lou Childress. Miss Catherine Stamey of Cher ryville, spent last week with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Sta mey. Lt.