Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-12-09

many of you realize that you have
solemn duty to perform in the world
and realizing 1t. perform that duty?
That your mission in life is to make
mankind brighter, and better and hap
pier? To accomplish this, you need not
walk around looking pious and solemn
as IL the care of ages were upon you
but you can accomplish the result by
simply being friendly. Did it ever
strike you how hard it appears for
some people to be friendly? l have
met some men who upon first acquaint-
ance, seemed to have every heart
string out of tune, and every sound
that came therefrom discordant and
out of harmony with light and life.
But when 1 applied friendships tuning
fork and with n warm grasp or sheev
ing word loOsened a string here and
frightened one there, natures grand old
cremona rang out in perfect harmony
and l found out that the strings were
alright, but the tuner had failed to do
his duty not in the instrument but in
the performer. Take this one thought
home with you, my brothers. and that
is. every man is really and truly your
friend to whom you are honestly and
sincerely friendly. What q mothers
conduct streaming toward you is but
the reflex of your feeling for him.
Mans besetting sin is selfishness and
we are always expecting more from
others than we are willing to concede
LncHl. Livery person Has IL ClulIn upon
your kind offices, the high. the low, the
rich, the poor. Is there suffering in
the land? True Pythianism tells us TO
alleviate that suffering. Sorrow Is the
magnet that attracts friendship and
adversely the crucible In which friend
is tried. True Pythianism is nothing
in the world but true friendship and
friendship is the foundation stone upon
which should be erected the temple OF
life. You don't have to take life hard
nor look pious. nor wise. nor sad. "iIe
who sits and looks upon the palpitat
ing world. and feels his heart swell
in him large enough to hold all men
within it, he is near. His great Gre
ator's standard, though he dwells. out
side the pale of churches. and knows
not. a fast day from n feast day or n
line. of scripture even. What God
ness that ignores all littleness, forms.
or loves or crecds, and clasps all
earth and heaven in it's embrace.
Is there to-day prone and pros
trate form despised and forsakcn by
the modern pharasees? True Pythian-
ism tells us to lift him up, bind his
wounds and administer to his needs
Are there any hungry, starving poor
in our land? True PythianiSm tells us
to clothe the naked and feed the hun
cry. Are there any lonely and for
saken travelling through this vale of
tears? True Pythianism tells us to fly
to them and with cheering words and
kindly administrations WOO back the
disappearing smile. the rosy check
Are there any sick and suffering around
us? True Pythianism tells us to visit
them. wait upon them cheer them.
Are there any widows ana orphans In
our midst? True Pythiarism tells us
to garner their tears as precious jewels
for those tears will open for us the
gates of paradise. In short. true Pyth-
ianspn. says to each one OF us; be thou
the rainbow to the storm, the evening
sun that smiles the clouds away" And
let me say to you. my brothers, that
the more closely we follow her teach
ings the more nearly will We approach
true happiness. We Will avoid anger
and dissension and forget all else save
that we are children of common
mother. a beautiful story comes to us
from the trying days of the civil war.
Make every home In every place, a
happy one
The world one big family with one
home, sweet home.