Gloucester County Democrat., 1904-05-05

absence He secured his escape from Saul $
plot. He helped him in his lonely exile,
enduring some personal inconvenience and
some sacrifice that he might be Of service to
! his friend True friendship does not ex-
press its interest over the telephone, but
/ nuts itself into the form Of actual and glsi-
| bic deeds, as when Peter took the lame
man at the Gate Beautiful by the hand
and lifted him up. Helpfulness belongs as
much to true friendship as elasticity does
/ to steel, as t0ughness does to the sturdy
oak. Its ruling desire is not to get but to
give not to be ministered unto but to
minister. like that Greatest and Best OF
| friends, whose life is protraitured for our
imitation and inspiration in this Book.
1t speaks the hopeful word, reaches out the
helping hand, puts shoulder under the
bnrden when it is too heavy, is ready to
use its oil and wine when there is a wound
that needs binding up, comes along with
its beast and puts one thereon and carries
him to the inn, who otherwise had lain
helpless by the wayside. The Samaritan
NOS only felt for the wounded man, which
is nothing but pity, and pity is OF little
practical value, if it stops with itself. The
Levite pitied he came and looked and was
sorry: pity is the story Of the Samitarian
with the wine and oil, and the ride to the
hosiery. and the provision OF the two
pence, left out Pity, as it has been said,
is not enough better than indifference to
benefit materially either the agent or
the recipient. Therefore, the Samaritan
not only felt pity for the unfortunate man,
he felt with him, he felt in him, which is
sympathy, which is the office Of true friend
ship.
Now these are some Of the thoughts to be
gathered up as we Craze around this great
theme Of friendship. 1t is more than a
mere sentiment It is not Just what is
meant when we declare of a man that he
has hosts of friends, or when we say IN our
formal introduction Of one: this is my friend.
Friendship, as it stands in the motto OF
this order. friendship joined with love and
truth, in our trio of symbolic links, IS
more than that. A friend, according to
the larger definition which is emplied in
the creed of this brotherhood is more than
neighbor or associate, whom we esteem,
and whose esteem we enjoy.
There is great deal Of friendship which
does not at all measure up to the signlti-
cance. which true Odd Fellowship must
read into it. ComrRdeship is not friend
ship il the truest sense. Yeu are not a
mans friend simply because you are on
social terms with him, or hold him IN
profound and intimate esteem. A great
deal passes for friendship that is only a
species of polite regard Friendship, as it
stands In our motto, is an honest feeling
set into practical motion. It is pity formu-
/ lated into deed. 1t is a man joined to his
fellow BY such mutual bond of interest
that the burden of the one becomes the
/ burden of the other, and the need Of the
one becomes the coveted opportunity OF the
other. for the introduction of his helpful
service. Friendship is but pretense or a
failure unless it be valued primarily as an
opportunity for practical ministry. Only
he whose chief desire in his friendship is
to be a friend in unselfsh serving, even
at the expense Of his personal comfort if
need be, knows what it is to be true
/ friend, or can experience the truest Joy OF a
noble and ennobling friendship
You may call that high ground, but God
expects us to live on high ground, and the
world expects us to live on high ground,
and if the things we put into our creeds,
whether they be christian creeds or lodge
creeds, do not bulk large in practice, we
had better take them out Of our creeds and
put into their places something less ideal.
i An Imperfect creed well praetised, is better
than perfect one that we glorify in print
and rilify in practice A low ideal attained
is Of more practical value than high one,
i which zoe know very well, and other people
know very well, we do not reach. a prin-
Eciple lived up to us far lordlier than a
principle inscribed in gold, and worn on
the lapel OF the coat a London chemist,
whose hair was conspicuous for being alb
lsent, was standing in the door Of his shop,
when Scotchman stopped and inquired if
he had any hair restorer. Yes, sir, was
the reply, step inside please, here is an
article I. can recommend testimonials are
4 many from men who have used it, it is
4 warranted to make the hair grow in "a
hours. sAweel,p ? said the Scotchmau,
e 1'e can giue the top oyer Olog head d tltb
nit IL, and IsEI be back IN the morn to see Al
you are telling the truth. People hear as
lexalting friendship as one great cardinal
Il principle of our Order, and they say: We
i will come back and see how the principle
pans out in practice, see whether those Odd
Fellows are really odder than other people
in their conception and administration and
3 friendship. Brothers, it is agrand word
that holds first place in this motto of ours,
4 q grand principle that it defines, and we
ought to aim to make it a grand reality in
our relations with our fellow men, for we
are found not to c0nfine our friendly offices
I'd the members of our lodge, or 20 The
brothers Of our order, but to bestow them
as we'll upon the man, mot Of our fellow
ship1 whom we meet along the highway Of
life in need of a lift. We are in this world
not to spend our efforts in cuItivaling and
nursing some deep and hidden thing called
virtue, but we are here, by Gods help and
a grace to cultivate, as recent writer on
ethics has said, faithfulness and helbfulness
IN our various relationships in life. If we
do that, our own yirtue and our own
character will take care Of themselves.
S. Thus much for the first of the symbolic
links, which are supposed to bind into
brotherly unity, the members Of this order.
The second is love. Indeed there can be
no friendship without love. All that
have said about the ministry Of friendship,
only becomes possible when love reigns il
the heart. The hand of the Samaritan