The Sentinel=record., 1912-11-23
DEMANDS MORE
 ADVANCEMENT
BISHOP TELLS WEST ARKANSAS CONFERENCE ITS MINISTERS
 DO NOT MAKE PROGRESS.
Says There is no Excuse for Their Lack of Information and that
 None VIII Be Ordained Here.

ference was marked with some senz sation. The committee whose's duty it is to pass upon the efficiency of the men to be advanced as elders and deacons, reported and Bishop Chap belle sent one class back for twelve months because they had not studied The other two classes were sent back by the committee.
 For the first time in the history Of the conference, not a man will be ordained. Upon the report denying the men the privilege of ordaination, Bishop w. D. Chappelle, delivered one of the most severe charges ever heard by a Methodist conference. He said in part: The man who can stay in the conference four, five and even ten, and more years. as some of you have. and not be able to pass your class examination, are not the right kind of men for our ministry. You have missed your calling. The child ren are going to school, the race Is advancing, and an ignoramous can not fill the pulpits of today. There was a time, when men passed with gifts and graces, and good character could make it in our ministry, but today you must have all of those and
 more, you must know the Kings English" and also the subjects you preach
 must be prepared to meet and cope with the other ministers of the com munities to which you are sent. You have slept on your rights, and now you have to be humiliated by being sent back to your classes for anoth- CT year" T regret 1t, but I will not, or would not ordain my own brother If he did not measure up to the standard
 One young man, theological stu dent of Shorter college, Little Rock, will demand an open examination be- fore the conference, on the grounds. that he thinks the committee that examined him did not give thim fair examination. His name is T. H. Rob inson. Hesis under the tutorage of Dr. o. l.. Moody, the young and eff cient president of the Shorter. D7. Moody is willing to risk Robinson's chances before the conference.
 The report on state of the church as read by Rev. B. C.. Dawson, of Texarkana, covered every phase of work by the Christian church. The report was discussed by Rev. J. l. Lowe, D. D., of Pine Bluff, who is now the book agent of the A. NJ E. church, with headquarters at Phil adelphia, Pa. Dr. Lowe said: "The Negro must look for his political freedom, and other rights to come to him in the measure that he sup ports and stands by the church and Christian religion. Politices nor any thing else but the religion of Jesus will solve the race question. We must insist upon the coming into pos session of character, and Christian manhood and womanhood When ever the race is thoroughly in touch with these, we will then have to beat no retreats. Our status will be fixed We must away with the idle. the drone, and the laggard. The Negro that will not study, and keep pace with the times, and keep his debts paid, and live the honest life, is drawback to us, and we must not have anything to do with him." Dr. J. c. Robinson scored the church papers for carrying slander and abuse in their columns, and urged that the bishops and ministers demand cleaner church journalism by the church editors. Dr. Robinson is pas tor of the church at Fort Smith, and a writer well known throughout the church. The presiding elders made their recommendations to Bishop Chappelle, today, and it is thought that many changes will be made Some are wondering if the bishop will carry out resolution passed by the late general conference to change all presiding elders that have been in the position for five years. If he does. there will be srveral new pre- siding elders made in this conference Therefore there are several slates being made to get the places. The woman's missionary society of the conference held their meeting today They reported several hundred dol lars collected for missions The edu- cational meeting was held last night Speeches were made by Dr. 0. L. Moody, president Of Shorter college and others Rev. Vim. Lampkin, P. E., of the Fordyce district preached the educational sermon Dr. Moody's speech showed that much improve ment has recently been made 231 students have been enrolled during the first seven weeks of the form