Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-09-19
endships That
Are Worth Forming
Sermon by
REV. FLOYD w. TONIIIINS.
!, Proverbs xvii. q. q, o, 10, Ii,
IL, 10.

|e friends OF Jesus Christ then
privilege indeed great.
Ie human and yet endowed with
emotions which come from our
pm by God. we have the power
e within us. 1t shows itself in
ection OF a child for his mother.
r child grows older discrimina-
pines to him and he has IL spc-
nection for some people and
|hinSs. which at first seems more
5ioicc. but which is really found
Pm some unseen Judgment which
instinct. AS wisdom increases
II develops into reason, and the
:an tell why he loves one per-
one thing better than another.
dice then becomes IA matter de-
g largely upon himself. He can
his friends and he can be r.
to others. Right here comes
teal period OF life when one Is
p err: and right here enters
essing of Christianity. which
us how 10 make and keep
Hhips which shall endure.
TIANITY TEACHES
LOVE FOR ALL MEN
stianity teaches US. first of all.
Re should love all men and that
puld hate no man. II does not
that all men should be our
I, but II banishcs bitterness and
and strife. only the man who
affection. born OF divinely Gre
BROTHERHOOD. for all humanity can
be a friend or have and hold
Friendships. We have hero Il
which ought TO help US. Truo
nip cannot exist between those
selfish, prejudiccd. narrow in
sympathies or critical TO un-
rs In their judgments. love
end and he loves me because.
e Master. we both love all men.
rs to help them. This great fact
never be forgotten. When ~o
1t our friendships arc bound to
weak and selfish, and soon or
e. Will fail.
8ldship demands a desire TO help.
tell when | love man not by
ne can be TO ne or DO for me.
what I can be to him and do
p; and nc. !. he is n true friend,
we an equal desire TO serve me
PIKE me happy. II Is n kind Of
reciprocity, only IL is FREQ from
ison which often invades COM
4 ec!procity. for true friendship
hoping for nothing in return"
OF SERVICE
MAKES FRIENDSHIP DIVINE
this spirit of service that makes
hlp "A divine thing partaking OF
ture OF Christ. Indeed. the Gle
pr sacrifice, often unknown and
cc!ated. is essential In true
hip. The friend does not adver-
sacrihces-!n fact. because of
e he is hardly conscious of them.
ks forward to the great day OF
ion when they Will all be known.
e he longs TO have the depth Of
8endship realized. but he never
of them here. Hence. heaven has
association with friendship. Not
I'LL there be "a knitting up OF
friendships" there. but there
a glorious knowledge of what
Is done, silently and brarely, in
Us Of earthly association. The
lend always looks forward to n
&r sphere when mutual under
g will bring perfect Joy.
e can be no friendship where
S no loyalty. The friend be-
II his friend and will listen to no
les. He Will stand by even when
8ers have lief; the man alone. He
lieve in him though the whole
accuse and condemn And this
what is called the blindness Of
Pr love is not blind-it sees far
Than the lovelcss can see; hut il
depth OF understanding which
beneath the surface and compre-
he heart OF things and the spirit
who. though stormtCssed and OPP
is full OF longings and unreal
eals.
WHEN FRIEND GOES
RONG, FRIENDSHIP REMAINS
even when the friend goes
p and Is in error, the man who
I'm has no condemnation but is
drawn nearer by his brothers
kd seeks TO restore him. Oh, how
such friendship. and how Christ
hen 1t is experienced! 1t can
amy amount OF disappointment
apprehension. for II is sustained
pure which is ready
e excuses and which longs to
&eepest friendships come. think.
irer years, when one has laid
his impractical and unrealiz-
hny of his early desires and has
trength In giving. 1t is not pes
u but rather splendid optimism.
man does not look any more for
alton or love or understanding
elf or his work, but rests in the
dye that he is trying TO do right
rows all his energy into seeking
fare OF others. He does not look
nds, but when they come he well
hem With all the enthusiasm Of
4, and hastens to make them tho
u OF his dearest affection.
Tried man of sixty told me that
&eved he loved his wife after
Hears Of married life more than
. d her in his youthful years. be-
be and his wife had both grown
o mystery of mutual forbear-
nd had learned the happiness Of
helpfulness. And 1t is so with
ationships between friend and
Experience teaches that hu-
is imperfect. but 1t also teaches
hen the heart keeps right" there
idden bond which cannot be
deeper than the eyes OF man
\, impossible to be expressed in
but made of gold which can
be broken nor furnished by
fls and falls and sorrows.
Friendship Idealizes the Friend.
true friendship idealize?" Do
my friend finer and nobler than
ly is through my love for him?
there is only one answcr-yes.
- idealize-not idolize-my friend
! see what / want him to be
my longing for my own perfec-
bd, believe. that some day he
all, and more, that / wish him
The only caution is that we
- ot let the ideal be destroyed by
larry expressions of failure. Even
ust not lose sight OF the ideal
ong TO be, because of my faults
L., Y