Methodist Episcopal Church, South

My dear Friend:-
A certain preacher had a good appointment and many friends,
but the spirit of the Prodigal took possession of him and one day he said to
his Elder, "Give me the transfer that falleth to me and when that kindly-dis-
posed man had answered his prayer according to his folly straightway he took
his journey into the Southland where a thousand favorite sons had covered
themselves with glory choosing "liberty or death" and in a section made fa-
mous by Bishop Hoss and the great Munsey. Here he was not long in finding
better conditions and plenty of bread; but there arose a mighty famine in
his heart and a hungering in his soul to return to his native land and grasp
again the hand of warm hearted friends of other days: and no man offered him
consolation.
And when he came to himself he realized that good appointments and good sala
ries do not satisfy the earnest longings for home and friends, and that the
praise of the multitude is as " Sounding brass and tinkling cymbal" because it
falls not upon the ears of dear friends and near relatives; and he said to 
himself "Man shall not live by bread alone" , and I'd rather eat the husks in
any pig sty in the homeland than to have a square meal in Holston."
Behold then the plight of the Prodigal who wanted to return but could not,
for the fatted calf had already been killed and the veal loaf served to
others who went not South but West and returned empty handed.
And thus the prayer of the Prodigal continues. "Thou hast given me the South-
land, give me also springs of water".
Greetings to the brother who staid at home and to whom the father said: "ALL
I have is thine".
MORAL.-Never transfer.

-Walter C. Harris
October 28th, 1922
Mountain City, Tenn.