The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1892-10-14
TRUE FRIENDSHIP.
Its Conditions and Characteristics Ex-
planned by Rev. j. ID. Gold.


Rev. J D. Gold spoke 10 fine au-
dience last Sunday morning on the
text "a man lhat hath friends must
show himself friendly; and there is u
friend that sticketh closer than a
brothern-PrOV 1924. He began by
saying that frie ndship was one of the
most beautiful attributes of humani-
ty, and SO long as pure friendship
remained humanity would te sale.
History is full of touching illustra-
tions OF this divine element in man
kind. David and Jonathan, Christ
and John, Paul and Timothy. Da-
mon AID Pythias, Wellington and
Blucher are fitting examples OF the
holy and eternal devotion of friend
to friend. A man who is friendless
as greatly to be pitied. The man who
does not care what good people think
of him is beyond redemption. 1t
should be our highest earthly ambi-
tiOn to be so true, pure and lovely
| that every good man will feel drawn
toward US. True friendship depends
on few natural causes, aud when
these are present friendship is the
Necessary result. Mutusl trust may be
said to be the foundation stone of the
house of friendship. The Bible very
properly asks: allow can two walk
together except they be ag' eed ::''
When distrust and jealousy take
the place If mutual faith friendship
must cease. This is why We must
believe or trust in Christ before we
can enter into cOmpaniOnship with
| him and have the uplifting help OF
his divine as OciatiOn. C-mpaniOn-
ship is impossible without mutua-
confidence between the companions.
Mutual kuOwledgs is also very nee
essary. The longer you know II good
man the more intense becomes your
| friendship for him. To know Christ
is to love him. aud this is true of any
good person. If your friend canno'
stand the test If the most Intimate
| xnO y ledge of his character then he
is unfit for true compani"nship and
| lasting friendship. Mutuai tastr-
are prime necessity OF true frieI d.
ship. Companion, hip is inconceiV-
able where tbs is wanting. When
one hates what the other loves
when their tastes and feelings run
| in opposite dire ecliOns-friendshlp
cannot exist. To be Christ's friend
and companion we NUT love what
he loves and hate wLat he ha eS
A true friend is unchangeable-he
sticketh closer than brother. h.
is not all honey to you one day and
all dirt the n-Xt. He sticks to- you
| i'll spite OF reverses in your business
or social misfortuues. A friend
ship that is not eternal is not worth
anything. God c!ings TO US, not only
when we are worthiiy serving him,
but v hen we make a slip ana fall ne
tries to help Us up sgain. True
friendship always does this. When
al! O: hers fed JOhu st, cd manfuily
by the cross. The way to test your
| friends is to let some financial or su-
cial calamity overtake you. a friend
is always ready TO sacrifice for US.
He is ready 10 forgive if we in some
way o1fehd him. He lovingly points
ou! our " eak ne-ses and short com
iugs The trie'd Of an army p'i1t-
out tie "e,k llaces iu its Ire # de
fense Friend hip is u si.fritual
cuttty, b"gTn on arth and Perfccte''
in hca, Ell. The church is simply IL
r, ligions r emdly soc ely and heaven
is AN ete,na! reunion OF rarted
frieuhs Snow yOar elves friendly