Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1923-08-17
FRIENDSHIP AS AN AID TO
SUCCESSFUL SUNDAY
SCHOOL WORK.
Address Delivered by Eugene H. Munich
at S. S. Convention, White Chapel
Church Datrick No PamalHc

at S. S. Convention, White Chapel
Church, DERRICK, Va, Powells
Fort Valley, Sunday, July 10Th
| might tell you how and what Web
ster defines as friendship but do not
think it necessary as we all can tell or
observe the acts of friendship when
they are transmitted from one to
another, if we have no education at
lall. Bacon said : There is little
Friendship in the World" So what a
noble opportunity to cultivate and teach
| friendshiprin our Sunday Schools to the
Iyoung as well as to the older people,
for surely many of the older people
need this noble quality as much or
more than the young people.
/ Friendship is the greatest function
of life, it is the most sublime word
found in any language. wouldrather
have the friendship of my friends than
the cattle on a thousand hills or the
wealth of the world. For what is
wealth without friends ? 1t is friend
ship that holds society together and
insures the orderly progress and de-
velopment of the human race. Blot
out friendship and progress will cease,
our industrial, educational and religi-
Gus institutions will begin torecede, the
wheels of industry will cease to turn,
ignorance and superstition will take the
place of education and infidelity the
place of religion. Destroy friendship
and you will soon destroy the accom-
pllshments of centuries, civilization
will stop and will march back to bar
barism, ah yes, sympathetic friendship
is the greatest attribute to the human
soul.
Friendship in our Sunday Schools
pure, unsul!ied, unselfish and true,
offers the greatest happiness of exist
ence. 1t is the mysterious cement of
the soul, sweetener of life and solder of
society Upon its firm and enduring
foundations the peace and happiness of
our Sunday Schools depend. Without
friendship society and humanity would
be multiplied myriad of warning, jar
ring discordant elements each selfishlyl
seeking to destroy the other, with his|
hand continually raised against hisI
neighbor and his heart ever hardened
against him. He therefore, who by|
his aims, practices and associations
tends to cultivate and maintain the
sweetest and sincerest friendships
among Gods creatures is surely conf
tHbutlng to that which ought to most
IN working out Gods great purpose.
By the practice of friendship in our
Sunday School work we seek to under
stand the view point of those differing
from US, and hasten to meet them half
way, ready to sacrifice some of curl
privileges that peace and HARMONY
may prevail, never would there be
differences between churches and S. S.
if in the hearts of its members and
officers, little of the spirit of friend
ship would exist. There is nothing
this old world needs half so badly not
only in its churches and S. S. but in
the ordinary affairs of life. We should
exemplify that friendship in our daily
contact with the world that the world
may be made better and happier.
Death teaches us of the uncertainty
OF life and warns us to use a right each
precious hour. How can you use this
time any better than by the practice of
friendship in our Sunday Schools? Let
this friendship SO permeate our Sunday
Schools that every member will be
happy and smiling, then watch your S.
5. grow, become stout and healthy, it
will no longer be small puny weak
ling, extend the glad hand of friend
ship to your neighhor in S. S. give him
cheering word and he will come back
to your S. S. and peace and harmony
will prevail in your neighborhood.
Soon would the bitterness and hate the
difference engendered by the fierce
strife OF life vanish into thin air if those
In high authority in the S. S. could be
able to grasp the great idea of univer-
sal friendship. Friendship is the most
| glorious thing in life. Men and women
may marry and not be friends, father
and son, mother and daughter may
live In the same house and not he
friends, people may live close together
In the same neighborhood meet often
and colnmingle freely together and not
be friends. Friendship means service,
each one is ready and willing to pour
out his life for his friends. The great
friendships of the worlds history stand
out like beacon lights in sea of dark
ness and hatred.
| 1t was said of David and Jonathon
that their friendship was so close that
the soul of one was knit into the soul
OF the other and David in his grief
lover the loss of his friend Jonathon
says Il am distressed for thee, my
brother, Jonathon thy love to me was
wonderful passing the love of women"
Friendship is the most beautiful
flower in the garden of humanity, its
fragrance sheds a sweetness over life's
trough way.
Would it not be better to give this
flower to the living members of the
) 5. while they still live than to wait
till they are dead, for surely the post
mortem kindness does not cheer the
troubled spirits. and flowers on the
coffin cast no fragrance over life's
WEARY way. Browning said of friend
fship: "Hand grasps hand, eye lights
Ieye in good friendship, and great
hearts expand and grow one in the
sense of this worlds life. You are my
friend. What thing friendship is,
world without end.'
| Ii the keynote of friendship is SER
vice how can that service be better ex-
Ipressed than by aiding and working,
yes using it in our Sunday Schools.
| As S. S. official, teacher, or plain
1 nnnsI sf v-n,,