tion - hence its ethic character. The patriotic element or character has been denied to brave Leonidas and his band of three hundred Spartans who perished at Thermopylæ, on the ground that they fell in obedience to a sentiment of duty to their laws to Spartan law-rather than in obedience to a sentiment of patriotism; but this objection is nothing is short-sighted criticism-for the law was made to voice the sentiment of patriotism. Obedience to the laws was only the immediate groundprinciple or corner-stone, of which obedience to the patriotic sentiment was the lower bed-rock.

The Abuse of the Sentiment of Patriotism: "As men, in proportion to their moral advancement, learn to enlarge the circle of their regards; as an exclusive affection for our relatives, our clan, or our country, is a sure mark of an unimproved mind; so is that narrow and unchristian feeling to be condemned which regards with jealousy the progress of foreign nations, and cares for no portion of the human race but that to which itself belongs.

The detestable encouragement so long given to national enmities -the low gratification felt by every people in extolling themselves above their neighbors should not be forgotten among the causes which have mainly obstructed the improvement of

mankind.

Exclusive patriotism should be cast off, together with the exclusive ascendancy of birth, as belonging to the follies and selfishness of our uncultivated nature."-Dr. Arnold.

Friendship is the mutual affection of two souls

that honor, admire, have confidence in and understand each other, so that the one enters into the joys and the sorrows of the other.

True friendship is compatible only with virtue-the love of good qualities. Not every man can be said to have a friend in the proper, the highest and best sense of friendship, and men have friends-held to be such--in various degrees of friendly relations; and so friendship affects not merely the individuals, but society at large.

Among the noted instances of friendship is commonly cited that between Damon and Pythias, David and Jonathan.

In reference to the friendship that existed between Christ and his disciples, the Lord Jesus gives us the best characteristic and definition of friendship, when he says: "Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you." (John 15: 15.)

* * * * "and many sounds were sweet,
Most ravishing and pleasant to the ear;

But sweeter none than voice of faithful friend,
Sweet always, sweetest heard in loudest storm.
Some I remember and will ne'er forget;
My early friends, friends of my evil day;
Friends in my mirth, friends in my misery too;
Friends given by God in mercy and in love;
My counsellors, my comfortors, and guides.”

-Pollok.

The Ethics of Friendship: Duty in friendship is well defined in this given characteristic: "A friend

ticketh closer than a brother." Proverbs 18:24) Be true to your friend in good and in evil report, and give all needed counsel, aid and comfort compatible with the maintenance of a good conscience.

If your friend is fortunate, rejcice with him, without the lightest feeling of envy, if unfortunate, or in the wrong, help him in his difficulty to the extent of your ability-save only a due regard to truth and the right-just as is required of an honest lawyer in behalf of his client.

With those in authority, a false friendship sometimes obtains toward favorites and family relatives. Thus, Queen Elizabeth had her favorites, Essex and Leicester, to the detriment of the public weal.

Washington, in making appointments to offices of public trust, found it necessary-excluding the consideration of family ties to regard only fitness of character and qualifications for the office, and claims from former merit in the public service.

Honor is defined by Webster thus: “A nice sense of what is right, just and true, with a course of life correspondent thereto."

"Say, what is honor? 'Tis the finest sense
Of justice which the human mind can frame
Intent each lurking frailty to disclaim,

And guard the way of life from all offense
Suffered or done."

-Wordsworth.

"Honor and fame from no condition rise;
Act well your part; there all the honor lies."

-Pope.

The sentiment of Pope in this couplet, in one view, speaks truly; in another it is incorrect. Admit

that honor is not necessarily affected by condition, yet practically it is. We should by nature have thoughts and feelings just and honorable; but to insure the cultivation, maintenance and habitual presence and use of such feelings, the environment. must be favorable; in other words, the element of condition enters.

In the English Parliament the lords act pro bono publico, on the honor of gentlemen; with a king, the focal point of honor is in truth and justice; with a soldier, it is in obedience and courage; with the statesman, it is in moral courage-fidelity to one's convictions, while the man of business sees it in honesty and in the prompt discharge of obligations.

Sir Walter Scott, by the reverses of his partners in publishing houses, became responsible for over 100,000 pounds sterling. Of this immense debt he paid 40,000 pounds in two years by means of his literary labors, and all in six years; but the toil and strain cost him his life. This act has wreathed the brow of Sir Walter Scott with greener laurels than all his literary honors.

DIVISION II. DUTY; DUTIES.

39. DUTY THE ELEMENT IN ALL MORAL RELATION.-Duty Defined: Webster defines it thus: "That which a person is bound, by any natural, moral or legal obligation to do, or to refrain from doing; the relation or obliging force of that which is morally right."

Duty Illustrated: The Priest and the Levite, who passed by on the other side, were morally bound to succor the wounded man who on the road to Jericho had fallen among thieves or robbers; but they did not. They possessed neither the native good feelings of humanity, nor a true idea of religion, or of duty to God, though professedly they were religious. If was left to the good Samaritan— good, though ordinarily not on speaking terms with the wounded stranger he had fallen in with by the wayside to illustrate the true idea of duty in the manifestation of "love for one's neighbor."

In behalf of a man by national antipathy and education inimical to himself, he did all acts of kindness necessary to relieve his distress; bound up his wounds, conveyed him to a place of safety; and paid the charges for the care of him until his

recovery.

In family, social and neighborly relations, sympa thy, love, good will, and kind acts are duties, as well as the works necessary for life and health. That duty is the essential element in these relations is evident enough; and also in other relations-in civil and political affairs, a sense of duty must control all the acts of citizens and officials, else the public weal suffers, at the behest of fancied self-interest, and of party ends.

40. DUTIES TO GOD.-Obedience: "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all they that do his commandments." (Psalm 111: 10.)