—­Colossians 2. 2.

Gracious Lord, I pray that I may not only be known to those who are my own, but may I consider all mankind.  May those who need me find me through my gentleness, and may they be assured by quiet confidence and faith.  Amen.

MAY TENTH

Rouget de l’Isle born 1760.

Jared Sparks born 1789.

James Bryce born 1838.

Sir Henry Stanley died 1904.

For four months and four days I lived with David Livingstone in the same house, or in the same boat, or in the same tent, and I never found a fault in him.  I am a man of quick temper, and often without sufficient cause, I dare say, have broken the ties of friendship; but with Livingstone I never had cause for resentment, but each day’s life with him added to my admiration for him.

    —­Sir Henry Stanley.

    In speech right gentle, yet so wise:  princely of mien,
    Yet softly mannered; modest, deferent,
    And tender-hearted, though of a fearless blood.

    —­Edwin Arnold.

    Ye are the light of the world.  A city set on a hill cannot be hid.

    —­Matthew 5. 14.

Almighty God, help me to aspire, that my life may tend toward the ideal.  May I be persuaded that I cannot be that which I do not possess, nor can I live in that which I do not know.  Help me to put the best in what I do, that I may not feel I have failed, even though it may not seem to be a success.  Amen.

MAY ELEVENTH

Baron Muenchhausen born 1720.

William Pitt, Earl of Chatham, died 1778.

Jean Leon Gerome born 1824.

    And methought that beauty and terror are only one, not two;
    And the world has room for love, and death, and thunder and dew;
    And all the sinews of hell slumber in the summer air;
    And the face of God is a rock, but the face of the rock is fair. 
    Beneficent streams of tears flow at the finger of pain;
    And out of the cloud that smites, beneficent rivers of rain.

    —­Robert Louis Stevenson.

    It is more shameful to be distrustful of our friends than to be
    deceived by them.

    —­La Rochefoucauld.

    Thou shalt rejoice in all the good which Jehovah thy God hath given
    unto thee.

    —­Deuteronomy 26. 11.

Lord God, may I comprehend the sacredness of friendship.  I thank thee for my friends, and for all the beautiful influences which they bring to my life.  May I never hold friendship without the sincerity to return it.  Correct my faults, and cause me to learn the secret of cheerful endurance, that I may be steadfast.  Amen.

MAY TWELFTH

Robert Fielding died 1712.

James Sheridan Knowles born 1784.