The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-09-08

am NltNNNl Noiho - bfib. We
need, then. TO change our dead beliefs
into "a living, operative faith which
works by love anc purifies the heart
and .he life. We need to live our be
licls like honest men; to bind, as by
links Of steel. every conviction to lis
execution. and be not merely believers
OF the word. but be doers'of the word
Ptisburg Christian Adcocats
THE LIMITS or HELPFULNESS.
Friendship Is not only one of the
greatest delights and resources in life.
but it offers some of the finest opportu-
mites which fall to the lot Of men. No
man can-feel poor OF entirely bereft so
long as be has faithful friends; no man
can feel that ne has made failure Of
lle so long as he is able to attach
strong, high-minded men and women
% himself. But friendship. ike all
tnc other good gifts Of life, ought to be
accepted rather for what one can put
into d. than for what one can get out Of
d.. There are times when we must lean
heavily ON our friends; when we can
10 nothing for them and they can do
much for us. But the normal attitude
of every man toward his friends ought
90 be that of giving rather than of get
ting. of serving rather than of being
served. IL is of the first importance
that The service we render cur friends
shall be intelligent; not simply a blind
attempt TO help in ways which are es-
s.ntally ulbcipful. II Is often said
that nothing requires so much wisdom
as The b,stowal u money; it might be
added that few things require greater
tact and Judgment than the rendering
0i the services Of friendship.
( really noble friendship, one which
realizes the higher ideals Of the rela-
ton, must b. open eyed; love may
sometimes be blind. friendship ought
never lose its sight. Our friendship is
really helpful to others, not when 1t
consists in making things easy for them.
gratifying their desires and yielding to
their hum0is, bu. when it develops the
/ best that is in them; when it puts them
ON their mettle. makes their weaknesses
clear. and spurs them to the acquire
meut "a the strength that overcomes.
Our friends" said Emerson with
characteristic insight, are those
who make ms Do what we can" Our
real friend is not the man or woman
who smoothes over our difficulties.
+ throws cloak over our failings. stands
between Us and the penalties which oar
mistakes baye biough. upon US, bat the
man or woman who makes Us under
stand ourselves aul helps us TO better
things. /. is great mistake to be fet-
tered bv che weaknesses Of cur friends
Itoa accept their limitations as our own
.aud by yielding TO their moods and mar
|roUness. 10 circumscribe our own life
T SO healthy nature is willing to allow
another to take toward il the relation OF
a PARASITE: "a healthy nature demand.
health in others .it is willing to bear any
amount of burdens fol- others, to put
its strength u tine place Of another
weakness: but it is never willing that
another should come SO to rely upon il
that the life Of that other is dwarfec
|ard enfeeblcd. A sell-respectiug friend
SHIN demands that there shall be equity
be ween the TWO who are bound by it
dat each shall give as we'll as receive
and that each shall furnish part Of the
capilal of the mutual Investment. /
our friends press too closely upon oul
individuality. OF privacy, or our work
.itis the part Of friendship to repeal The
Intrusion. There are certain limits be
vond which even friendship cannot go
when il does it has become morbid an'
unhealthy. and is debitiating alike &
him who leans and to him who sup
ports.
That which true friendship loug
for and strives o. achieve is the growth
OF power and freedom in another. Il
win no. hesitate to give pain because il
must be based on truth. Drawn upoi
sometines for self-pity. it Will mo-
shrink from the sting which arouse
energy ana dignity. 1t will have too
much respect for another to permit II
that other any decline from the dignity
'ofatruc personality. from tine indepen
lence which belongs TO real cnarac
ter. IL will not permit itself to D'
malethe tool OF another 5 weakness tn
slave of au0ther's humOr: IL Will reso
luteIv hold it's own. The truest hospi
Itai,tv sometimes consists in locking TIN
door and the truest friendship some
times involves absolute unresp2nsiVe
ness to am appeal that ought never L
have been made. IL you wish to ser'
your friend, help him 80 be sell-sup
morning. but do not let him become de
pendent upon you. Sting him. If nece'
ssry. into the consciogsness Of his ow
Weakness, even if 1t cost his goodwill
rhe surrender Of a friendship for sue
reason may sometimes be the nishes
evidence of its purity and nobility
Christian Union.
NOT the great things, but the HUI
- Things of ones doing in life give til
,rne indications OF character. In tn
doing Of great things full energy is sun
moned AID special care Is en-
cried thus ahording the be-
5 possible opportunity for the on
, .t... If unnatural and unhabitut