Norwich bulletin., 1917-11-03
Sunday Morning Talk
FRIENDSHIPS IN REPAIR.


 The. friends thou hast, and their Grapple them to thy soul with hoops But do not dull thy palm with en- tertainment =, Of each new-hatch'd, unfedg'd com rade.
 Alongside the celebrated advice of Poleniusj to Laertes- put the cool res alution of eDr. Johnson ito keep Friendships in constant repair.'' The old philosopher had realized that, as life advanced. one prop after another was being taken from him. The only way to make sure that certain prized friendships should, not fail was to His spiritual grappling hoops must be constantly renewed in strength.
 To some it may seem a profana- ship to regard it after this calculat- ing manner. If friends will not take care of themselves, we say, they can hardly be of the true order. We are friendship to the test of neglect, to see if it will endure. An attachment tr.at dwindles and dies on account of periods of separation and silence, It? is the doctrine of the survival of Hke Attest.
 Yet all this is dangerous reasoning. Friendship is no more a haphazard affair than anything else in the world that is fine and beautiful Behind ali artistic forms certain. mechanical principles are to be discerned. The heavenly art of. music, for instance, has a basis in physical forces and is to be explained by mathematics. Sirn+ iiarly, Friendship which seems only the spontaneous and Irresponsible at traction of one soul for another. is subject to law, It has a mechanics of it's own and will flourish only when it's laws are respected.
 A rich man once built church which was to be SO carefully con structed as* not to need a" dollars worth of repairs for full century; the hope was fulfilled, but certainly ITO such expectation need be cher fshed as regards our Friendships. In the spiritual houses men build ne glect surely means leaky roofs and lure will tumble in time. unless per iedically renewed and fortified, How many of the sons of men mourn the decay of human 5fel1owships that might have survived in strength and beauty. through, a little attention.
 Especially, as years advance, should such pains be taken. It Is probable that Dr. Johnson himself had found fr.sndship st essisr eona in Xeuth sa than ars n easily and lightly formed then. il, the very exuberance of our lives of certain associat tons Tail, others are ready to take their places It is hard. dence again, when hopes have often teen disappointed and trust betrayed. All the more reason there is for keeping in full vfgor that which is tried and true. s,s-
 Religion itself Is a sublime friend ship and is to be so regarded, It can only come to it's highest as estate through our conscious attention. To fe in harmony with God, to be open fellowship with Ham-this is re- hgion. It ought to go, without saving tfat such a relationship requires cui- tivation if it is to thrive. There is no will persist in spite of ene,s slor..
 Under the guise of friendship re- figien is made concrete and undr- standable- Dogma and theology. are ship with a person may be compre- friends" said sJesus to His disciples. Was loftier tile ever conferred on only can they merit the honor. Clouds may qarken the face of a And clouds me darken the sun: Rut there's Friendship without an
 end, And a Brightness never undone.
 Find 1t, my soul. if thou be wise. Follow. and find, and hold tue prize. The r prize or the kn1wlsdEs Of one: rellow. and hnd, and cisave to Him.s'1
 THE rARsoN.