The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1910-12-01
FRIENDSHIP.
From the Baltimore SUM-

FRIENDSHIP.
From the Baltimore SUM-
The soul OF Jonathan was knit with the soul Of
David. Samuel, xviii, t.
1t is quite probable that Jonathan and
David were joined together in the "blood
covenant" This was very ancient and
honored rite among royal peoples. 1t was
entered into by the insertion of quill into
the arm, through which living blood was
drawn into the mouth and swallowed.
Each party in turn performed this act SOL
EMMY upon the other. This covenant made
those entering into it closer in heart than
brothers of the same family and made each
the guardian, protector and abettor of the
only his possessions but his very self to
the other, so that their identity was lost in
common life.
The existence of such custom teaches
us that great souls do not care to live alone
and that such as are compelled to live in
crowds seek out friend to whom they may
repair during crises of darkness and strug-
gle. No one can long strive for a high
place in an important calling without a
great and constant friend at his side, or, at
least, he must know that he has such one
in his own world.
The Greek heroes of old refused to 60 to
arms feeling themselves alone. The heroic
companions celebrated by Homer and
others seem to have had but one heart and
soul, with scarcely wish or an object
apart, and only to live, as they we're always
ready to die, for one another. No one has
ever been truly great without kinsman
whose life has passed beyond the threshold
of his own and found perfect welcome to
the inner courts of his heart. Shakespeare
wrote:
The friends thou hast and their adoption tried,
Grapple them to thy soul with hoops of steel.
If the question arises as to the nature of
the forces which drew Jonathan and David
together and knit their souls inseparately
as one, the answer is that all such unions
is heavenly mystery. Every sanctifying,
ennobling friendship has it's birth, its
growth and its destiny beyond the realm
of definition. Nature seems to seek her
own without conscious effort and utterly
refuses to submit to dictation and artificial
Establishments. Great souls alone are
capable of great attachment, and this at
tachment necessarily rests upon such char
acteristics as strength, purity, nobility,
courage, meekness, devotion, faithfulness,
reverence, modesty and obedience. Per-
sonal worth is the first essential to great
friendships.
When David's great courage and skill
showed themselves in resplendent victory
over Goliath, Jonathan's admiration kim
died, and ever after the closer he drew to
his friend the more he saw to admire and
love. David was musician, a couftier, a
great soldier; he was great in his faith
toward the Invisible, having sublime belief
in the glorious arm of the Lord. All these
were but the expression of his greathearted-
ness. Thus it was that his handsome per-
sonality and his engaging spirit won Jona-
than. But what was there in Jonathan to
attract David? Compared with David
Jonathan was lacking in masterfulness,
but he possessed the quality OF nature
which David most needed great soul, q
mighty heart. Jonathan was brave, pa
triotic, faithful, gentle and self sacrificing.
He, with his armor- bearer, captured the
memorable fortress of the Philistines; he
offered in crisis of the camp to die that
the people might live. That David might
appear before the King, Jonathan took off
his royal robes, his sword and his famous
bow and princely girdle and gave them to
David, saying:
Now We change arms and prove to either host
We guard the friendship Of the line we boast.
This is the law Of friendship. No true