The log cabin Democrat., 1906-12-20
HOW HE WAS RETAINED.
Pres. Anderson Writes Concerning the
 Location of Rev James Thomas.

The friends of Hendrix and Gal loway Colleges have, for some time, felt the need of a forward movement in our educational work in Arkansas. All are agreed that the need, at Hendrix of $500, GOO for endowments and new buildings and at Galloway of SoS, ,ooo for improvements and new buildings, is imperative. At the annual meeting in June last of the boards of trustees of the two schools 1t was thought that the time was ripe for projecting such a move ment. After due deliberation, CO., operative action between the boards of Hendrix and Galloway colleges, and in consultation with Bishop Tigert, Rev. James Thom- as was selected to lead the forward movement. He was accordingly elected commissioner of education. The plans of the movement were all submitted to Bishop Tigert and approved by him, and he publicly and privately announced 1t as his purpose to appoint Brother Thom- as to that work exclusively at tn
 beginning of the conference year Ioo6-o7. From the time Brother Thomas was elected commissioner, although he was still pastor Of the First church, Texarkana, he has done what work he could for edu- cation. He represented the schools at several district conferences dur ing the summer. explaining their need, and at the recent session of the Little Rock conference an nounced that he had secured for Hendrix College S65 ,ooo endow- ment, and SIo, GOO for new build ings at Galloway.
 At the closing session of the Lit tie Rock conference, held Novem- Der 2S to December 5, Bishop Atkins announced Brother Thom- as transfer to the North Mississ- ippi conference. No one was ap- pointed commissioner of education to take Brother Thomas place I believed then, and I believe now, that, under the peculiar circum- stances. to take Brother Thomas from the leadership of the work which had been so hopefully begun, our forward movement, planned in prayer and consecrated thought, would collapse. We would have lost what had been gained ill the past six months in dollars and cents. But what is much more, we would have lost the confidence of business men of means, upon whom we must so largely depend, and the spirit of buoyant hopeful ness everywhere appearing regard ing our educational work. AS l see it, our educational progress would have been stayed by at least a quarter of century, If not, indeed, rolled back indefinitely.
 With such feelings and convic- tions, and in much prayer for di- vine guidance, Capt. w. w. Mar tin, Rev. F. s. H. Johnston, Mrs. l.. B. Leigh, and myself, sought conference with Bishop Hendrix who was holding the North Miss issippi conference at Corinth, and into whose hands Brother Thomas had fallen We lad the case be- fore Bishop Hendrix and begged that Brother Thomas service might be retained for educational work in Arkansas. had then, and l have now, the very best reasons to believe that this con- mittee in their feelings, convic- tions and request represented not only the boards of Hendrix and Galloway colleges but the facul- ties and students, as we'll as the alumni and alumnae, and former students of both schools, together with their thousands of friends throughout the state.
 On the representations which we gave Bishop Hendrix and at our urgent request he directed me to wire Brother Thomas as fol- lows: You will be retained commissioner of education in Ark ansas. The above telegram was sent on the night of December 5. On the morning of December s, I received a letter from Bishop Hendrix addressed to Wynne, Ark. Its contents in part are as follows: There is one sure way of continuing Brother Thomas valuable services for our education al work in Arkansas. Let him wire me at once his request for location. This will leave him ab- | o.,I &1,a eax