The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1917-03-23
COMMUNICATION
0FRIENDSHIPv

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Dear Sir-During few days of en-
forced idleness we spent our time
mostly in reading and in this manner
became acquainted (for the first time)
with Thoreau's Essay on Friendship
and we thoroughly enjoyed this little
book, not alone for the beautiful
I thoughts contained therein, but from
| the fact that 1t Is one of few books
that treats upon this subject alone.
We have heard at one time or an
other some great orator, or possibly
preacher mention the word in his
remarks, with perhaps pathetic little
story to illustrate its meaning, but
how very, very seldom do we hear one
choose Friendship" for his theme and
stick to It clear to the end and how
very few of us realize the true mean
| ing of the word after all
In our everyday walks through the
busy whirl of life we meet and greet
hundreds of people whom we call
friends, but they prove to be only pass
ing acquaintances, here today and
gone tomorrow. One may pass away
to be missed for the time being, but
new face arises to take his place and
the other is soon forgotten.
Turning back the pages of time near
ly 1000 years, we are brought face to
face with the greatest friend man ever
| had and it is here we find the origin of
those beautiful words Greater love
hath no man than this, that He lay
down His life, not for one friend but
for all mankind"
There are hundreds of men in this
city bound by ties of friendship, found
ed on story that is sweeter to man
than is a golden ray OF sunlight to n
half-blown rose. We have been carried
back time and time again to the an
cient day when Knighthood was in
flower and we have witnessed those
grand old scenes, re-enacted in such
realistic manner that our hearts have
been thrilled to the very core. We have
seen men face the cruelest kind of
test and come out victorious and our
souls have been filled with such a
sweet spirit of brotherly love, that we
would clasp hands and vow eternal
| friendship then and there. But anoth-
| er day dawns and, in the hustle and
hustle of our work-a-day world, the no
| II hi, -, ,lntr
ed back, while our minds are occupied
with other less worthy thoughts,
which gradually overcome ones finer
sensbilities, until finally the noble
deeds we have witnessed, the manly
resolves we have made are retained
only in a small portion of ones men,
ory.
The real cause for this is nothing
more or less than pure selfishness, or
in other words it is simply the inhu-
manity of man to man.
There are number of institutions
cooperating to overcome this great
evil, namely-all of our city churches,
the Y. M. G. A. (where men meet and
greet each other on equal footing, re-
gardless of position or station) and
the Brotherhood Bible classes connect
ed with the churches. The writer of
this article happened to be president
of the M. p. mems class and we can
truthfully state that Friendship" is
the watchword of this class. To all
men that enter its doors, there is ex-
tended the right hand of fellowship
with a welcome that comes directly
from the heart. In fact, strangers in
the city, visitors and new members are
always desired, kindly received and
courteously treated.
Respectfully yours,
ARTHUR ]. MATTHEW'S.