Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1914-07-02
COLLEGE HEADS SPEAK AT THE
OPENING CONFERENCE
MEETING
Methodist Pastors and District s"-
pcrintendonts COnvene-BiSh-
op Shepard Presides-
Many Arc Here

educational institutions supporter
by Kansas Methodism. in the open
ing meeting of the called conference
of the pastors and district superih-
tandents of the Methodist churches
~ the state at the Methodist church
Monday night. Pres. Wilbur N Ma
aon Of Baker, Pres. F. e. Mossman
~ Southwestern and Pres. r. r.
smith OF the Kansas Wesleyan were
the speakers at educational night
Zach told of the work being done
AZ the three colleges and declared
that the future never was brighter
for the UNCONVENTIONAL colleges than
n Ia now. The speakers were intro
duced by Bishop w. o. Shepard OF
Kansas City. who is presiding AZ
the conference, the first statewide
meeting ever held by the Kansas
Methodists. The attendance last
night was good. One hundred ana
fifty visiting pastors are expected 10
be here by tonight.
Bishop Shepard in opening the
conference asserted emphatically
that the educational institutions OF
the church were Of paramount IN
terest and Importance. and for that
reason the educational program had
been given the place OF honor.
The Church Schools Mission
President Mason was the first
speaker. 1.-THE call Of a great mis-
sion is before the denominational
schools" he said. 1.-THE question Of
ten arises, and even some OF US
sometimes are not clear in our minds
"a to whether or not the religious
schools have as well-defined place
in the education as they did gem
Grafton ago. We are tending toward
state education. But the future
never was brighter for the denomln-
ational schools. Some lines we can
not undertake. We must place the
emphasis of our work on the SUI
preme importance Of religion. we
need made no apology for pressing
religion"
President Mason speaks rapidly
and fluently and says things that
are worth while with vigor OF de-
livery that wins attention.
Religious Tone Counts
President Mossman of Southwest
ern emphasized the moral tone OF
the Methodist colleges of Kansas
."The personality of the men who
are in charge of the classroom work
is more important than the subject
matter. he said. "The state schools
need the Christian colleges" The
speaker verged on sensationalism
when he asserted that religious
schools we're certainly needed when
$1,000 could change hands in one
night in a poker game between
leaders Of a college Y. M. G. A. In
a state school, He livened his adj
dress with a winning manner OF
talking and pointed incidents.
Supplement State Schools Work
The religious colleges of the state
are not trying to supplied the state
educational institutions, the Rev.
DIR. R. P. Smith, president OF the
Kansas Wesleyan university OF Sa-
lima declared. The religious colleges
are only experimenting the work
of the states schools, DR.. Smith
nointed out, in the course OF an
interesting discussion. "The state
institutions may be as we'll or bet
ter equipped than we are" he SAID
~They may be as high in scholar
shin: but we must also be religious
" thorough. One half OF all the
presidents of our state schools were
educated in church schools.
'"The Bible is the greatest DOCK
of education that ever was written
, It has nodded our philosophy. 1t is
the worlds greatest literary classic
since the state schools do not at
tempt to teach the principles of this
the worlds greatest classic, 1t re-
mains for those institutions whose
very foundation is the Bible to &C.
complish the work Of a true uni
versity." DR.. Smith speaks force'
fully and clearly.
Notes Of the Conference
DIR. Smith reminded the CONFER
ence that the school he directs en-.
lows a peculiar distinction. Situated