The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1894-02-22
AS DAMON and PYqHIAS.
An Eloquent Sermon 90 Friendship"
10 the Knights Of Pythias.
SPECIAL EPISCOPAL CHURCH SERVICE.
Rev. Daniel q. macRtnnsn,s Ear.
nest Presentation OF the virtue OF
Pure ana True Friendship - The
Notable Example Of Da mon.

city, held spe,.ial service last Sunday
evening in behalf OF the order OF the
Knights Of Pyth'as, Of which there is a
strong and active organization in North
Yakima. The eloquent young rector's
popularity among secret orders Is well
known, and the announcement that this
special servire would direct attention 10
the beauty and purity Of the lives Of Da.
mon and Pythias as exemplars OF true
aud holy friendship, caused the little
stone church to be packed with INTEREST," ed
listeners to an eloquent and earnest lee
ture on the theme Of Friendship" The
ext was found in Proverbs l7:47, The
rector said:
Friendship is a strong aud habituai in
rlnation in two persons to promote the
good and happiness Of each other.
Cicero saws: Friendship improves
happiness, and abstes misery, by the
doubling Of our JOY, and the dividing Of
our grief" Hersritus saith well in his
eniymas, DRY light is ever the beat !"
and certain it Is that the light man
receiveth by counsel from another is
brighter and purer than that which
"omeih from his own understanding and
Judgment which is ever infused and
drenched in his affections and customs
81 there liz as much difference between the
council that friend giveth and that
man giveth himself, as there is between
the counsel OF friend and of a flatterer ;
for there is no fstterer, as in mans
Self and there is no such remedy against
hattery Of mans self as the liberty OF
4 friend.
A friend shares your SORROWS and
makes it but moiety, but he swells your
Joy end makes it double. For as two
channels divide the river, and lessen into
rivulets, and make 1t fordable, and apt
TO drink up at the first revels OF syrian
star, So two torches do not divide, but in.
crease the flame, and though my tears
ARE the sooner dried up when they run on
my friends cheeks in the burrows OF com.
passion; yet when NV fame kindled his
lamp we unite the plories, and make
them radient, like the golden candle
sticks that burn before the throne of
God.
The friendship Of most men is like
some plants in the water, which have
broad leaves on the surface OF the water,
hut scarce any root at all cold within,
hot without, full of expression, empty Of
intentions, speak loud and do little; like
drums and trumpets and ensigns in
battle, which make a noise and show,
and act nothing, mere pretense and COM
plment, that can bow handsomely and
promise emphaiically, and speak plausi
bly,, and forget all. Int true, real,
active friend whose words are the win
dows Of his heart; such a friend is rare.
When Socrates was building hin self
a home at Athens, being asked by one
that observed the lttleness Of the design.
why man So eminent would not have
an abode more suitable to his dignity. he
replied that he should think himself
sufficiently accommodated II he could see
that narrow babiiaiiJn filed with real
friends. Such was the opinion of this
great master Of human life, concerning
the unfreqnency Of such as might deserve
the name of friendship. that among the
mnltitudes whom vanity or curiosity,
civility or vPneraiion. crowded about
him, he did not expect that very spacious
apartment would he necessary to contain
all that should regard him with sincere
kindness. or adhere to him with steady
fidelity.
So many qualities are indeed requisite
to the possibility OF friendship, and SO
many accidents must occur to its rise
and its continuance.
False friendship is like the ivy. DECAYS
and ruins the wall it embraces. hut true
friendship gives new life and animation
to the objects it supports.
THE friendship Of Damon and Pythias
shines thron III the mists OF centuries, n
glowing tribute OF the humanity of the
heart. 1t was made the sweet song Of
ancient Greece, and is imortalizsd in
the permanence of the order of the
knights Of Pythins.
Damon, senator Of Syracuse, had in
rurred the displeasure Of Dionvsius, and
was under sentence OF death. Many
delighted TO honor him when he wore
the robes Of office; now he has but one
friend in all Syracuse; the companion
Of his brighter. better days. Py,hias
was true; and knowing Damon's love
OF home, he begged tie tyrant to grant
his friend respite. that he might see
bis wife and child before he died.
A hero of many battles. stranger to
the art OF speech, his love for Damon in
spired most eloquent appeal. "As thou
art husband and father, hear me !
Let Damon 20 and see his wife and child
before he dies. For four hours respite
him; put me in chains; plunge me into |
his dungeon, as a pledge for his return. |
Do this-but this-and 80 may the Gods |
build up thy greatness as
high as their own heavens"
The fervor of this strange request |
touched the heart Of Dionysius. 1t was
10 him mystery. He had lived for self
alone; he had sacrificed his friends, HE
hono-. his home, upon the altar OF q
ambition for place and for
power. To him friendship was
Ambitions ladder,
whereto the climber upward turns his
face;
But when he once attains the upmost