The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-09-01
READING FOR SUNDAY.
Beyond the Mist.

Beyond the Mist.
Beyond the mist are sunlitleagues of sea,
And towering peaks by lingering sunshine kissed,
Where heavens light doth shine e~ternally
Beyond the mist.
Could we but pierce the haze, could we but list
To some Tar voices from the shore, would we
Still in these dolorous waves Of doubt persist
Can we not see the stars above that bei
Is there not one to guide our bark, visit
Lost mariners upon LIES troubled sea.
Beyond the mist.
Bennett Beliman.
International sunday-School Lesson for
Sept. 8.
DAVID M JoNATHAN.-I Sam. Xxx, lib.
Golden Text.-There is a friend that sticketh
closer than a brother.-Prov xviii, "a.
HOME READINGS.
Mon.-David's enemy, Saul. IL Sam. xviii, Lie
Wed--David and Jonathan---...1 Sam. Xxx, 1-23
Thur.-Jonathan and Saul......1 Sam. Xxx, 24-34
F-t-Their covenant of friend
sat.-Their last m~eeting.-....i Sam. xiii. 1926
sun.-The friendship OF Jesus Nv. 9-27
From the death of Goliath, David be-
comes a prominent figure in Jewish history.
He won, at that time, the love of Jonathan,
the SON of Saul; and the story of their
the Bible. Jonathan loved David with a
love passing that of womann-(2 Sam.
i. 81 David manifested such splendid
qualities. In camp and field, hat he was
appointed to command the ~bodyguard of
the king Il Sam. xviii, 81. and lie soon be-
came the pride of the. nation. and tho spe-
cial glory of Judah, to which tribe he be-
longed. He gained the love of Michal, the
daughter of Saul and by the kings consent
they were married.
At the height of David's popularity, the
feelings of Saul began to change toward
MIN, and he began a cource OF persecution.
Saul could not bear to hear the brave
deeds of David praised, and, unfortunately.
the people stirred more deeply his anger
by singing. saul has slain his thousands.
but David his tens of Thousands Il Sam.
xviii, z, II: H. The various plots of Saul
failed. and David fed for his life. 1t was
during this time that the memorable incl
dent of the lesson occurred, which illus
trates the way that ''the soul of Jonathan
was knit to the soul of David" Il Sam.
xviii, 2l.l This friendship was a great
power In Davids life.
WHAT THE LESSON TEACHES.
New York Independent.
This friendship is one of the ~rarities of
history, sacred or profane. The romantic
side of a persons character is always at
tractive, and readers and students are
never tired of contemplating the love of
David for Jonathan-a mutual love sur
passing that OF m Yet such friend
HulDS lLC nOt III tutSt mcCu1llc-
al days, when mind and soul are mostly
alert to earn the dollar fsr bread and home.
Our men do not talk anC rhapsodize over
their friendships as is the custom among
Orientals. A grasp of the hand is often the
only outward sign of supreme trust. Our
poets sing of history rather than of the liv-
ing present. Yet perhaps there is no nobler
test to a mans character than such a friend
ship as the lesson speaks of. 1t must be
founded on the highest type of purity history
has revealed. 1t must be on rs lofty a plane
as that between Christ and John: The
maxim honor between thieves is all bosh.
There can be no honor where the motive is
base. There can be no love between I'M
moral persons. If this definition OF love be
accepted-.God is love-"
Ii Is too common for men to come to-
gether to do a little quiet tipping or card
playing; to tell questionable stories and
discuss the financial or political Crisis over
their cigars. and refer to these companions
as their friends Another kind of spurious
irindship is on a higher level. 1t is when
members of churches meet. whether min
,sters or iaynien, and condemn their nelSh-
Dors IN ecclesiastical language. because
they do not love God their way.
but friends should so elevate each
others manly tone that they radiate
an unconscious b~enevolence. just as the
lover who has been successful in a hard
won suit, feels as if he loved the whole
world and nature adored him. Friendship
Is the surest test of character. The more
unselflsh. the more successful the relation
will be. David was ready for Jonathan TO
kill him If he was unworthy of his friends