The Newtown bee., 1894-05-18
ARE YOU ALIVE?

\ .. W
 ed that above all things else it ought to be helpful life. lately wrote. at the time of our Easter service, to a lady friend in New Haven, asking if she could give us some hints as to children's pieces and exercises, knowing her to be very fond of children and to be planning constantly for their entertainment. Certainly, shall be glad to aid you," this lady wrote back, ''for mutual help- fulness is one of the cardinal points in my creed" I have thought good deal about that, and 1 have just about come to the conclusion that helpfulness is the very pith and essence of the gospel. Ap- ply the test and see if there is anything be brought under this head. Jesus came from Heaven to earth, why? To help sinners out of their helpfulness into way of safety. Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to take His place when He was gone, why? To help men realize ther need of pardon and to help them, when converted, on the road to a better life. The Bible was written and it's precious truths gathered into compact form, why :? To help us understand ourselves and know what God would have us do.
 If helpfulness, then, be such a chief quality, we seek it in our friends. There are burdens to be carried, we need friends to help us bear them there are hard bat ties to be fought, we need friends to stand by our side; there are sharp turn ings and twistings in the road, we need friends to direct the way. There are times in every one's life when he finds his own resources utterly insufficient. "Oh, I'm so glad you dropped in," we sometimes say, as some loved friend un- expectedly drops in upon us, II was just feeling so lonely; I assure you l was finding my own thoughts very poor com pany indeed; and l was
 HEARTILY WISHING
 that some one would come in to cheer me up-I believe God sent you to me just at this time."
 Helpfulness is not all confined to deed s of charity, to that which one can actual ly pass over to another ;never think that. 1 well remember the first sermon preach ed. It was ip a small town in this state |; it was hot day; the arrangement of the pulpit was of the most awkward sort, Ca difficulty that was no small thing, 1 as- sure yOu,t overcome) the audience-to help me out-crowded as far as possible into the last five rows of seats and left a yawning chasm of dreariness, across which 1 had to throw some line of con- nection. We'll, did the best I could, but it was an awful struggle, and, when l finished, voice whispered within me, "You've failed.'' The benediction pro- nounced, I sat for moment in the pulpit dreading to meet any one. A kindly old | gentleman q learned afterwards that he was retired minister; he took in the situation and knew what was needed) made his way to the front and, shaking hands heartily, said: ''Thank you for that sermon, it helped me-" How much it helped him has since been a question
 with me, but his kind words wonderfully helped me, and 10 my dying day I'll
 never forget them. If it were not for just that sort of help which we receive l from our friends, half of mankind would
 wish to quit the struggle and at once abondon duty's path.
 We all need friends with attractive
 power. Our friends should be to us like l magnets, binding us to them by con- stant, irresistible force and holding us in
 the grip of closest affection. With the
 true friend our friendship should be al-
 ways growing stronger, ,sweeter, ,tenderer.
 Perfect friendship is reached when there | 10 elh dOSChCC ol all uiSbI uSb, uO 1uThtu z
 of suspicious thought, and, what is more,
 no feeling that any ill-will could possibly come. True friends unbosom themselves
 to each other, wrap themselves up in
 each others intimacy, cover whatever 1 faults or blemishes of character may be
 observed with the beautiful covering of charity just as ''tired eyelids cover tired
 eyes"
 But here is just where earth's imper- feetions most strongly are asserted,
 where it is shown that
 THERE'S NOTHING TRUE BUT HEAVEN J The more intimate friends become, the more sincere and true the friendship. Alack that is not always so. Too often friendship is like some fair gem; at some distance it appears wholly clear and lus- I trous; examine it more closely and de- fects and flaws are seen. Too often, with continued acquaintance, a friend proves l not nearly so true, so noble, so pure as when first known. Too often the charm | and attractiveness of the first blush of friendship wear away. 1t is often too sadly true that no man is hero to his l own valet;" that every man has his price, as the French motto goes and that put l it weakens under the strain.
 But friends we need, there's is no doubt of that; we need them to reveal to | ourselves what we are, and that we may receive their help and be attracted into purer life; and if they fail us, what are we to do? Well, that is the ioy of the Christian minister's service; again and again his earthly illustrations fail, but this failure only leads the way straight to Christ. What are we to do? Do? Take Christ as our friend. He will open the doors of our own being to us, show us what we are in anticipation of the greater selves we may be; He will prove the very friend we need, help in life's enraptured moments, help amid the thick shades of gloom; and His attract ing power will draw us to Him fettered with the sweet bonds of His all-encom- passing love.
 And let me speak of Chrfst's wonder ful fitness to be your friend. Why, it does not matter who you are, rich, poor, learned, ignorant, of high station, of no station, of any creed, of no creed. Some men talk about miracles recorded in the gospel history at if they were all the miracles which belong to Christianity. They are the most Insignificant of the miracles Christianity itself fs a far great Ter miracle to-day, the grain of mustard seed growing till its branches shall o'er- lnurk,ad fff st<7 h6x,.x, ia n VI v.o r,1x