The farmer and mechanic., 1915-05-04
WHEN KINGS son AND KINGS
RIVAL LOVED.
The International Sunday School Les
son for May 3 is ''The Friendship of
David and JOnathan."-I Sam. Ch.
20
BY William r. Ellis.

tne glowing love Of David and jon
athan. These two pulsing spirits that
become one in noble passion, left
fhis mortal sphere long, long ago
before ever Greece had risen to pow
er. or Persia had begun her world
ronquests, or Alexander the Great
Rad dreamed his imperial dreams or
,ome had come into existence. 1t
,<aS twenty-five hundred years before
ever America was known to exist.
Nations. cities, institutions and great
men have risen and fallen and been
forgotten in these three thousand
years; but the love of these two
Young men is still a living force in
tne world
consider the wonder of it: twenty
I'VE million persons of all ages, con-.
diriOnS and races, scattered over the
whole earth. are today studying, and
being inspired by, the story of this
master friendship. Immeasurable is
the progeny of love that has been be-
sotten by this union Of true hearts.
Thus the world reveals, by the value
which it places upon single story Of
friendship. that it agrees with Rob-
err browning:
For life. with all it yields of joy or
woe,
ANd nope ana rear.
/, lust our chance o. the prize of
learning Love-
How love might be, hath been. in
deed, and is"
Young David was a shepherd-min-
strel-soldier. He had won victories.
over Goliath, over the PhiliStines. and
over the hearts of the people. But the
jealous heart of self-absorbed King
II fy,n Nf hi hot n
murder towards him. The ruddy
young hero had been obligei to flee
from one of Saul's fits Of madness
and had taken refuge with Samuel
the prophet. Wien the king followed
him thither, and fell under the srel
OF the man of God, David, doubtless
by Samuel's advice returned to Gil
beah and sought out his friend Jon
athan
Two Heroes Who Were Not Rivals.
Everybody honors a brave man
And the greatly brave are also mag
nanimous. Petty persons ccnnO
brook rival. but truly noble spirit
are above this feeling. Jonathan wa
hero; he had proved it by his bril-
liant exploit at Michmash. Davi
was hero; he had proved it by hi
battle with Goliath. The two valorou
young men as kindred spirits, warm
ed to each other. They made cove
nant of friendship for life and deatl
exchanging robes and perhaps bloc
also. after the usage of the time.
All, the chivalry and romance {
youth! Blessed are the days befol
calculating self-interest lays its thrO
tllnS clutch upon the nObler passion
"hen love appears to be as 1t
greater than thrones or praises
personal welfare. Only two your
TOD 60 ~nU
~ as David and Jonathan. The sag
OF the court, whose heart fires hs
burned out until they remained only
heap of cold, gray ashes. thought tn
alliance foolish and imprudent al
dangerous. They had lost their hig
est wisdom and vision, which pc
ceives that nothing else matters e
cept love and honor. The Germa
nave proyerb, 'If you love me, a
love You, that is all of life" Day
and Jonathan reached their height
thlS passion of friendship tina. W
great enough to consume the drOss
suspicion and envy and personal a
vantage. Their common love mea
more to both of them than the plf
dts of the people or the occupancy
the throne Of Israel
On the Plane of Possibility.
Great friendship is not possible
small spirits. Only high souls, ca
able of sacrifice and service, can KIN
friendship in it's truest aspects. HI
hearts, like the je of David and Jt
athan. answer to each other as de
unto deep. There is no plane
friendship like high service.
One who has looked widely 6
deeply upon life observes that
surest. sweetest friendships he
seen are among those e--gaged
some sphere which calls forth
noblest passions. So fellow soldi
who have shared the vicissitudes
war together, make steadfaSt frier
In the missionary circle friendship
its best is beautifully illustrated. 6
dent ties last through life, casting
sacred mantle of idealism over all