s characteristic
mark, its essential feature. The essential feature of universal
brotherhood is common origin, present struggle, and future hope; the
essential feature of racial, national, or community brotherhood is
patriotism; the essential feature of brotherhood of the order is mutual
helpfulness; the essential feature in brotherhood of the profession
is common pursuit; in brotherhood of the family, common parentage; in
conjugal affection, attraction for opposite sex; in parental and filial
love, love of offspring and love of parent; while in friendship the
essential feature is harmony of natures.

WHAT IS FRIENDSHIP?

No human relationship can be more beautiful, nor more abiding than true
friendship. It is a spiritual thing, a communion of souls, virtuously
exercised. How one is impressed and pleased to see another horse just
like his own, to see another dog exactly resembling his own, to meet a
person who speaks, looks, and acts like some one he has known. It is
a surprise, mingled with mystery and delight. But with what increased
surprise and delight does one meet with a "person after his own heart."
All men have recognized the strength and beauty of right self-love.
The second great law of Christ's kingdom is declared in terms of true
self-love. "Love thy neighbor as thyself." Every one loves himself,
because one's self is the truest and best of other lives filtered
through his own soul. When one finds in another that which perfectly
answers to his own soul-likings and longings, he has found another
self, he has found a friend. Friendship is the communion of such souls,
although they may be absent from one another. The highest friendship may
grow more perfectly when friends are separated, then it is unmixed with
the alloy of imperfect thought and action. Then it is nourished by
the past, for only the past buries all faults; it is encouraged by the
future, for only the future veils the awkwardness and shortcomings of
the present. The character of friendship is determined by the character
of friends. Negative personalities wanting in taste, conviction, and
virtue produce only a negative friendship. Intense personalities
produce intense friendships; noble personalities, noble friendships, and
spiritual personalities, spiritual friendship. In the true, spiritual
sense, before one can become a friend, he must become an individual. He
must stand for something in thought and purpose. If this is not true,
friendship