Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1917-12-01
NfGRO ASKS 0NLY CHANCE ID PROVE
 HIS LOYALTY
Bishop Conner Delivers a Strong and Patriotic Ser
 mon Before Conference.
(By CHAS. STEWART.)

 Warren, Ark, Nov. 30.-"Are all the preachers blameless in life and conversation" was the question ask jed by Bishop J. M. Conner at the op- ening of the third days session of the South Arkansas conference which brought before the conference the of- ficial, religious and moral acts of each minister for scrutiny.
 "I have a number of letters and bills on my desk," said Bishop Conner, "and I wish that the poole will learn that am not a collector of bad debts, and any man who will not pay an honest debt is unfit to preach, and unless these complaints are cleared away you shall not receive an appointment at my hand.
 Preachers are the leaders of the people, and thus must lead by ex- ample. A man with two living wives is unfit to advise people against di- vorces and there is no place for him in our ministry. Your life must be in keeping with your preaching. You must protect the homes of our people and not destroy them. Do not take up too much time with silly women, and you are not to stand around on street corners telling lies.
 | Patriotism and Loyalty.
 "Our country is at war, and have preached to my people loyalty and patriotism. Our young men have en- listed and are now in the training camps. l thank God that they are not slackers, but workers and are willing to do their duty, come what may. It is fortunate that We are not vindic- tive. There is not money enough in the whole world to induce us to turn against the country for which our fathers have died.
 Time for Sober Thought.
 "We are confronted with the most unusual and alarming conditions in all the annals of human history. The spirit of mans inhumanity to man has engulfed practically Christendom, and the world is literally on fire. Across the great divide, an holocaust of war is raging with unabating fury. Ar rayed against us is an enemy that is aggressive, vigilant, powerful, re- sourceful, vindictive, interruptions and brutal. With France heroically fight ] ing the fight of desperation, Russia rent asunder by internal broils and dissensions, England confronted with the gravest crisis since the war be- gun, Italy retreating in dismay be- fore the enemy. our own soldiers fall ing early victims to German bullets, and the fact staring us in the face that America must win this war, sure- ly this is the time for the most sober thought and the most serious utter rance.
 "God forbid that in this hour of na- tional peril and threatened disaster there should be anything uttered, written or done to chill the spirit of patriotism swelling in the breast of any loyal American, be he white or black. This is the hour of all others when the passions and prejudices which have divided us should be ob- liberated, when we should stand to- gether as one, against our common foe. In this crisis in our American history, we should forget our creeds, classes, colors, and conditions, and stand out for Americanism-unsullied, untrammeled, and undismayed. At this time when we are threatened with the mailed fist, we should uphold the arms of our president.
 "The American negro asks for noth- ing but fair play, and a chance to prove his loyalty to his country and the old flag. The patriotism of the negro has been tested upon the battle fields of our country from historic Bunker hill to bloody Carrazal." ] Bishop Conner was given an ovation by the members of the conference and , the large audience present. He spoke on the conservation of food, and urged his people to get in the game and help to win the war.
 | The conference opened with impress i've song and prayer service singing, ''I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say Come Unto Me and Rest"
 The Rev. Dr. Fleming made the op- ening prayer.
 Pulpit Wants Clean Men.
 The questions in the discipline were asked and answered. It was declar- ed by the bishop that he would not ordain any man who used tobacco, be- cause unclean men were not wanted in the pulpit.
 The day was spent in general rou- tine business, and many of the con- ference committees reported. "Educa tion" was the theme discussed tonight. Rev. s. L. Green, DID,, of Little Rock; W. T. Pope of Fordyce, and President Campbell of Shorter University, North Little Rock, spoke.
 In his address, Dr. Campbell called attention to the necessity of the ne- gro preparing himself for real ser vice, and if he failed, then it would be dark for him. In his opinion the negro was living in the greatest age of the worlds history, and if he failed to take his place among the thinkers, he would have only himself to blame. "We are getting today what we are prepared to do. Just to think, we have two men filling important posi-