The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1909-05-27
WHY THEY LOVED HIM.

Bishop Galloway wrote and spoke
many strong and beautiful thoughts
that will live long to enrich the En-
glish language and the memory that
treasures them but he wrote nothing
stronger or more beautiful than this
fragment of letter interpreting his
feeling on leaving home for long
absence abroad on one Of his world
mission errands:
some grows dearer with the
lengthening days of life. However
ready to obey the call of duty, or ca
ger to- enlarge the sphere of knowl-
edge, or alert to enrich the soul for
more efficient service, there is a
heaviness in the heart when the hour
pated Joy of return can not lift the
weight or keep back unbidden tears
from the eyelids. Never in life did
the dear home seem so beautiful or
the sacred temple across the street
SO stately and graceful, or the little
park so restful, or the street lamps
so grateful as when l walked out the
gate that night, while loving hands
were waving a sweet goodbye. The
very shadows of the oaks seemed fill
led with sacred spirits eager to- pro-
nounce a blessing and assure safe
return Nothing in this sworld is so
beautiful and divine as a happy Chris
tian home, and what could be more
sustaining than the loyalty of a brave
heart that will break and weep in
silence, but never ask you to stay
when the call of duty is heard?
Strength at home gives strength
everywhere. Happiness at home
makes life one long, sweet song.
There are compensatfons in living in
little town or city, rather than a
great metropolis. Cities destroy the
sense Of neighborhood; they make
impossible the ties of confidential
friendship. Formal and stately So
cial functions take the place of friend
ly visits? Families live for years,
am told, in the same apartment house
with never a nod of recognition, or
even knowing the names of neighbore
under. the same roof. But how happy
to live in a community where the lit
tie children call you by name and the
young people respect you because
you are their own and their father S
friend! Life is enriched by its attach
ments. Every one of us like to be
known and loved. The friendships of
Mississippi's little capital, where so
many happy years have been spent,
are among the priceless treasures of
my life When / was a little more
than youth, those good people flung
| wide open the doors of their hearts
to me, and, so far as / know, not
one has ever been closed or allowed
even to stand ajar. How could ]
fail to be grateful for hand grasps
and kind farewells!"
The Birmingham News cites this
letter In accounting for the great ma
nifestation of honor. and love brought
out in the death and funeral of the
distinguished divine His people low
ed him because he first loved them,
and bringing life down to it's last am
alysis, love Is about the only thing,
after all, in this worlds< worth striving
after 1t is difficult for us to realize
this in the hurry burly of living, with
cloud of cares and vexations con-
stantly pressing for attention, but in
the quiet hours, when they come, it is
altogether worth while to take ac-
count of this fact for the nourishment
of the spirit that strengthens and
adorns humanity. Bishop Galloway
was a great preacher and great
publicist but this greatness could
never have evoked such universal trib
ute had he not won the love as well
as the admiration of men in his daily
living. Love is the greatest thing
in the world. Meridian Star