The Monticellonian., 1895-05-03

days III all the history or Israel All Israel had rallied to the standard of the king to rescue their fatherland from an invading foe. David. the shepherd boy, with the sunshine oflife upon his locks, the bushes of youth upon his cheeks, hastened to Israel's tented fields, bear ing fatherly greetings to his soldier brothers. Hearing tho taunts of Go Hath, the boy becomes man; his gal lant soul burns within him, patriotic heroism seizes his soul, his heart Is armed with faith in God, his hand is directed by divine wisdom, the fatal stone speeds to the mark, and Israel Is free; the valleys ring with his praise, the noun tains echo the shouts of vic tory, and Jonathan's heart flows out to David in q deep, deathlcss love.
 There are friendships as fragile as the flowers that the wintry frosts paint upon our windows: that a whispered breath may wreck forever. Here is friendship that Is as lasting as the hoary hills of Galilee. Heir-apparent to the throne of Israel, Jonathan re- ioiced in auother's honor and hailed with intense delight the rising of a sun that eclipsed forever his own star of destiny. The rawlings of distempered king, the malignity of a cruel jealous hatred but cement the closer the heart of Jonathan to David. The last meet ing they had on earth, amid times that try mems souls, they replighted their undying friendship, saying, "fhe Lord be between me and thee and between my seed and thy seed forever"
 Tender as q woman, and yet as true as steel, oyerfowing with generous kindness, utterly devoid of selfishness, trusting as he was trusted, with heart reflecting David's as water reflects our own image, Jonathan was the paragon and perfect pattern of friend David never forgets Jonathan. His memory was precious and like the mellow rays of the setting sun, it falls tenderly yet sadly on his heart How touchingly beautiful is the literary monument, in words of epitaph that David, standing on the spot that had been crimsoned with the blood of his friend, ereets on the pages of sacred story. How through these words can we go into the very temple of David's soul and find friend ships altar draped with the gloom of death:
 'The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places: how are the mighty fallen!
 "Iell it not in Gath, publish 1t not in the streets Of Askelon; lest the daughters Of the Phiistincs rejoice lest tho daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.
 "Ye mountains of Gillboa let there bo no dew, neither let there bs rain, upon you, nor fields of offerings: for there tho shield of the mighty Is viieiy cast away the shield of Saul, as though he had not been anointed with oil
 From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan turned not back and sword of Saul returned not empty.
 Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleas ant in their livei and in their death they were not divided they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions.
 "Ye daughters Of Israel, weep over Saul who clothed you in scarlet, with other delights. who put on ornaments of gold upon your ap- parel
 How arc the mighty fallen iu tho midst of the battle Jonathan, thou vast slain in thine high places.
 q am distressed for thee, my brother Jona- than: very pleasant hast thou been unto mo: thy love to me was wonderful passing the love of women.
 How are the mighty fallen, and the weap- ons Of war pershed"
 David ascends the throne, amid the ptduetibS oI lH duIiiFiHR HuSL, tlc llOt of his country, the pleasant child of God. Seated, surrounded by royalty, he remem bers Jonathan and the first question propounded to his court is: "Is there any yet left of the house of Saul that 1 may show him kindness for Jonathan's sake"
 This, in brief, is odd-fellowship; friendship in it's purity of character, in the objects of it's devotion, in the bene- ficiaries of it's benevolence. Truly, God has blessed it, else the worldwide spread of its benefactions would not have become benediction to mankind amid the blessings of heaven.
 Yet, l would say to all, that there is a religious side to our meeting and to our principles. The friendship of Jesus for a believer in His name far trans cends all. Jesus Is the best, truest, kindest, sweetest friend man ever knew or had. His friendship, His love is everlasting Let our souls be knit together as was Jonathan and David's, and when our meetings and associa- tions here have ended, amid the glories of the eternal throne; amid the glad welcome of angelic hosts, we may l<neel before Him who is noble and grand