The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1904-06-24
|WHAT is TRUE FRIENDSHIP?
Memorial Delivered to the knights of Pytas By
William e. Evans.

rev. Villa
Rev. w. E. Evans, in delivering the
annual memorial sermon at the exer-
cises held Sunday evening by the Knights
of Pythias, in the Welsh C. NJ. church,
said in part: -
"This society is not foreign plant
transplanted into American soil, but a
true American institution, and today is
not only of national but of much wider
Importance. 1t is a comparatively young
society, in the prime of life and full of
vigor, being forty years old this very
year. It was founded in Washington
in the year, 1864, and very appro-
pirate order to be founded at the close
of the great civil war, inasmuch as its
expressed object is "peace on earth and
good will towards men" and to dissent
nate the great and. beautiful princi-
ples-friendship, charity and benevolence.
"Its growth has been gradual and
healthy and today it has on its rolls
and within its shadowy fold something
like ten thousand members in the state
of Minnesota alone.
"The Mankato lodge was instituted
May Is, 1886, with about twenty five
charter members. Today it has one
hundred and sixty members.
"Now it is my intention to dwell on
the principles for which the society
stands. Maybe, shall dwell merely
with the first tonight, for if take too
many heads to one sermon, I might fall
into the double error of having an un.
symmetrical body, or if I take enough
time to adjust this, something worse
might happen. I might have you al
sleeping before the end and wishing
yourselves somewhere else more com
Portable for the night.
Friendship! What beautiful word
and what beautiful thoughts it implies
It's letters are pearls and its accentua
ton is melody.
| Friendship, what is it? I shall no
refer you to any dictionary for defni
ton of the word. I shall rather direc
you on another road. If you look to thu
second volume of christian Ethics" BY
Martensen, one of the profoundest think
ers of the nineteenth century, you will
find the definition, friendship is un
ion between individuals for mutual hell
and strength, union not founded Oh
respect alone but chiefly an sympathy. 1
is not, however, limited, like the love O
the husband for the wife, to single in
dividual. A man may fifty have severa
friends. But genuine friendship is al
ways mutual personal appreciation,
mutual relation of trust and faithful
ness, in which one depends upon another
and is fully certain of his devotion AM
attachment of his interest and readiness
to afford personal assistance p
"The gradual growth of humanity i
this respect is very true to nature, slow
But, bear in mind, men are growing
Mankind are long arriving at their ful
vigor, either of body or of mind. Feeba
and helpless at their birth, their parents
from natural affection which God ha
implanted in their breasts, nurse an
watch over them in their infancy, an
rear them with fond expectation throug
the successive stages of childhood an
youth. In this manner a bond of unio
is formed between parents and children
brothers and sisters, and those of til
same family and blood. Nature dictate
to parents to educate and provide fe
their children. And filial affectio
prompts children to honor and respet
their parents, and when they descend il
to the vale of years, to make their o
age easy and comfortable. The domest
circles, thus begun, gradually expan
and form other circles which expand
their turn, till they spread themselv'
over the whole mass of the communit
Tie ties which bind us together as v
depart from the center, become weak
. and weaker, till they give way to tho
:, of sympathy, benevolence and friendshi
. Thus has our benevolent Creator,
connecting us with one another by mai
= endearing ties, made ample provision f
, our frailty and weakness. The ties
, friendship are still stronger than tho
! of kindred and of blood. This rel
II ton, founded on similarity of laws, Sc
). timents and pursuits, and strengthen
by an interchange of gosd offices,
comes frequently so strong that nothi
t. on earth can dissolve it. And what d
10 tinguishes it from many of the other
st lations by which we are connected,
n that it is voluntary. 1t is the spontal
n. Gus union of souls. 1t grows with c
er growth, and strengthens with {
ne strength. 1t is the sweetener of life a
is the cement of society. 1t is refuge
ne the afflicted, and balm to the woul
,g ed spirit.
lie "In enumerating the relations of
ciety, Moses, the great law giver