Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-12-17
TALMAGE
SERMON
By Rev.
FRANK DE WITT TALMACE, DID,,
Pastor Of Jefferson Park Presby.
terrain Church. Chicago

Chicago. Dec. Ia this sermon the
preacher defines the qualities of friend
ship and points out the test whereby
we may distinguish the true from the
false. The text is III John, IA, Greet
the friends by name
Etymology Is the historian of Ian
guage 1t is the huge wardrobe in
which are hung mp the verbal gar
ments, ancient and modern. with which
Thought has been and is accustomed to
clothc herself. II is the international
and interracal laboratory in which
one alphabet is seen to more or less
extent to he in harmony with all other
alphabets, the same as the study of
biology proves that the physical struc-
lures OF all living creatures, both ami
NAL and vegetable, have been evolved
primarily from the same plan. Thus
we find that rs social styles in dress
change 20 the verbal garments for one
thought are sometimes discarded, and
new thoughts are found to be wearing
the castoff verbal clothes of other
thoughts
The ancient word barbarian" had
an entirely different significance from
its meaning in the present day. When
say TO you, "He is barbarian" you
Immediately picture savage, brutal
cannibal. black skinned roamer Of the
African forest or Malay murderer
who would as willingly cut out your
hoo ,..rl, l..
crooked beak into the vitals of n dove
or a helpless fawn But when Paul
wrote in his epistle to the Romans. II
am a debtor both TO the Greeks and to
the barbarians," he meant he WAS a
debtor to those who were not living
under Caesars jurisdiction He used
the word barbarian in the same sense
as the Chinese now use it. Among
the Chinese" writes the photographer.
'one who IS not n Chinaman, and es-
pecially n European or an American. Is
commonly spoken Of as a western bar
barian." The ancient word wit" was
originally derived from the old Saxon
very "witan." which meant ito know"
In ancient language "a wit meant "a
erudite man. The modern word wit
signifies q humorous entertainer, a
funny" man. The ancient word
heather" meant one who lived outside
the intellectual cities The modern
word heather" is now applied to a
person ignorant OF the gospel The
Spanish word "cabalero originally
back The modern word "caballero''
means "a gentleman" The Spanish
word "peon" originally meant zone
who goes on foot The modern word
'peon" means "a peasant" Now, the
simple fact Is, in modern Spain many
q gentleman goes on foot and many a
peasant rides
Meaning of "Friend."
Thus We also find that :hc word
friends" Of my text has an entirely
different meaning from what the casual
reader might at first suppose. The
modern word friend" in popular dis
course means an acquaintance, one
with whom We can socially pass q
pleasant hour one who is upon oul
calling list one who invites us to his
home as we may invite him to our
daughters wedding party for his com
pany. But in ancient times the Bib
lical word friend" had deeper, no
lier meaning. It meant one who in the
truest and purcst sense had his life
wrapped up in our life AS John Yves
ley gave the definition. ut meant one
who was bound to us by self sacrifice
and the blood relation of the atonine
cross 1t meant a Christian brother
The mod - definition of the WORD
friend is as different from the Bib
Heal as Il wolf travelling around IL
Sleeps clothing is ut heart different
from n lamb The friendship Of mos
men in these days wrote John Spen
GER is like some plants in the water
which have broad leaves on the surface
of the water, but scarce any root a.
oil; like drums and trumpets and en-
signs in battle, which make q noise nc
show, but act nothing" Therefore
o man and woman. in this sermon
would try to describe for you who are
your true friends and also show yoJ
whether you are true friends TO others
From among the scores and hundred,
of your Appropriateness ! would single
out few noble spirits whose love yot
ought TO cultivate and whose affections
you should treasure in the holy of no
! lies Of your most innermost heart.
The Divine Friend.
! The true friend, in the first place, II
| always the one who loves the Lord hi
God with all his heart and soul an(
, mind before he tries to love his brothe
. as himself. He is the one who would
{ translate into his own life In spritua
T. sense the oft quoted advice which Pc
, lonius gave to his departing son La
ertes. ITO thine own self be true, anC
II must follow as the night the da!
thou csnst not then be false to an,
! man" He is as brave and noble In hi
q rea ton TO his Divine Friend, first o
I all as was the late Christian gentle
! man, senator and secretary OF state
Hamilton Fish. one night he was din
ing out with senatorial colleague VIII
3. made an irreverent remark In reference
TO Jesus Christ. At first Mr.. Fish look
ed surprised and then panied at tn
e blasphemous aughter OF his politica
= associate. Then he turned and quic'l !.
| hut ArypIy Sai1 NSpnator Won IuIIS