The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-05-08
(BY WILLIAM t. ELLIs.)

t (BY WILLIAM T. ELLIS.)
IL
An ancient fire that has warmed
cold hearts through thirty centuries
is the glowing love OF David and
Jonathan. These two pulsing spirits
that became one in a noble passion,
left this mortal sphere long, long
ago-before ever Greece had risen to
power, or Persia had begun her world
conQuests, or Alexander the Great had
dreamed his imperial dreams, or
Rome had come into existence. 1t
was twenty-five hundred years before
ever America was known to exist Ma
lions, cities, institutions and great men
have risen and fallen and been for
gotten in these three thousand years;
but the love of these two young men
is still living force in the world.
Consider the wonder of it; twenty
five million persons of all ages, con
ditions and races, scattered over the
whole earth, are today studying, and
being inspired by, the story of this
master friendship. Unreasonable is
the progeny of love that has been be-
gotten 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
ert Browning.
"For life. with all it yields of joy or woe,
Is just our chance O. the prize of learning
How love might be, hath been. indeed,
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
Saul was Sull of bitterness, hate and nd
young hero had been obliged to flee
from one Of SauPs fits of madness, and
had taken refuge with Samuel, the
prophet. When the king followed him
thither, and fell under the spell of
the man of God, David, doubtless by
SamuePs advice, returned to Gibeah
and sought out his friend Jonathan.
Two Heroes Who Were Not Rivals.
i Everybody honors a brave man.
unanimous. Petty persons cannot
brook rival, but truly noble spirits
are above this feeling. Jonathan was
a hero: he had proved it by his bril-
liant exploit at Michmash. David was
a hero: he had proved it by his battle
with Goliath The two valorous young
men, as kindred spirits, warmed to
each other: They made a covenant
changing robes and perhaps blood
also, after the usage of the time.
All, the chivalry and romance of
youth Blessed are the days before
calculating self-interest lays it's throt-
tie clutch upon the nobler passions;
when love appears to be as it is, great
or than thrones or praises or personal
welfare. Only two young men could
have covenanted so royalty as David
and Jonathan. The sageS of the court,
whose heart fires had burned out until
they remained only a heap of cold,
gray ashes, thought this alliance fool
ish and imprudent and dangerous.
They had lost their highest wisdom
and vision, which perceives that moth
ing else matters except love and
honor. The Germans have a proverb,
IF you love me, and I love you, that
is all of life" David and Jonathan
reached their height in this passion
to consume the dross of suspicion
and envy and personal advantage.
Their common love meant more to
both of them than the plaudits of the
people or the occupancy of the throne
of Israel. 20
On the Plane of Possibility.
Great friendship is not possible to
small spirits. Only high souls, capa-
BILE of sacrifice and service, can know
friendship in it's truest aspects. Hero
hearts. like those of David and iona
than, answer to each other as deep
unto deep. There is no plane for
friendship like high service.
One who has looked widely and
deeply upon life observes that the.
surest, sweetest friendships he has
seen are among those engaged in some
sphere which calls forth the noblest
passions. So fellow soldiers who have
shared the vicissitudes of war togeth-
err. make steadfast friends. In the
missionary circle friendship at its best
is beautifully illustrated. Student ties
last through life, casting the sacred
mantle of idealism over all the later
years. The friendships made in Chris
tian service are sweet and exalted and
abiding.
A man who had attended a brilliant
banquet of famous persons in New
York was confiding to friend that,
after all, it had been a superficial and
unsatisfactory association, lacking ap-
parently, in all its parts the unity of,
say, the vital fellowship of Christians
at a nidweek prayer meeting The
other mans eyes glist ened, for he had
of late been upborne in the strong
arms of the Christian brotherhood,
and with deep feeling he cried. 81 tell
you. there is nothing like it in all the
worldt'' The reality of Christian fell
1owship is prize of life which salts
flies after earth's guadier baubles have
disappointed. 1t was as fellow disci-
pies of Jehovah that David and Jona-
than were united in Him. The great
err Love enveloped and Sanctified and
sustained their lesser love. The seal
of their souls compact was, Jehovah
shall be between me and thee. and
between my seed and thy seed, for
ever"
A Kings Too-Ready Spear.
In the absence of King Saul, the
two friends agreed that upon his re-
turn, Jonathan would ascertain the
real sentiments of the king toward
David, determining whether the lat
ter was to be permanently a fugitive
from the court. Noble son that he
was, Jonathan could not believe that
his father designed evil to his friend.
The test agreed upon was that David
should absent himself from a formal
ceremonial: the kings, words would
then reveal his purpose.
Hard beyond most mems endurance
was the test which Jonathan, had to
Fnr he nhniRa
between father and friend. Some
times one is called upon to renounce