Arkansas survey., 1924-09-20
TRAINED MINISTERS NEEDED.

NaSnVllle, Tenn. oepleiilUet 10
The need of trained ministers
and an enlarged program for
churches was emphasized by
DR.. Robert R. Motion, Principal
of Tuskegee Normal and Indus
trial Institute and President OF
the National Negro Business
League, in addressing the Nation
al Baptist Convention, which is
in session here at the Ryman au-
ditorium, Friday evening.
DR.. Motion pointed out to the
large and appreciative audience
which packed the auditorium,
that in order for any church or
denomination to do effective
work it must cooperate with o.
ther churches and denomina-
tions. "Jesus Christ Himself"
declared DR.. Motion, put the su-
preme emphasis upon this point
of unity of those who believe in
His name. In His last prayer,
He used over and over this petl-
ton THAT they may be as one
as we are and He gave this rea-
son for desiring fundamental
unity among His believers, that
the world might believe that the
Father sent Him."
"As long" said DR.. Motion, "as
the believers in Jesus are divid-
ed into opposing forces; as long
as they find themselves unable to
get together for practical purpos
es; as long as they look on one
another with hostility and sus-
picion; as long as they are envi-
Gus of each other and fighting
and struggling against the sue
cess of one another; so long will
the world be unconvinced that
the kind of Christianity that
they teach is good for the rest
of the world"
in referring to the influence
which the Baptist Church had
exerted on the progress Of the
Negro race, the speaker said
1.-THE fact remains that the Bap-
tist Church has been a great
tower of strength and opportuni
ty to the Negro race. 1t is the
Baptist Church that gave to the
race its first opportunity for self
direction. The freedom and de-
mocracy of the Baptist Church
have been the great training
school for Negro leadership. For
nearly one hundred and fifty
years Negroes have had in the
Baptist Church their greatest op
,Urtunity to direct their own at
fairs; to manage their own busi-
ness; to organize for cooperative
effort; to prove their own capa-
bilities. Some of the strongest
men and women of our race
found their earliest training in
leadership thru their activities
as ministers, as deacons or as
laymen in the church. These
lessons they have carried into o.
ther fields and established a
close connection between the
church and the life of our peo-
pie.
"Now this connection is a
thing that the church itself
should be anxious to keep up.
To maintain this hold, however,
it must direct its energies to-
ward certain definite goals of a
chievement. In the first place
the church must supply the peo-
pie with a strong efficient, up
right leadership. All of the O.
ther professions are today COM
peting with the ministry for in
fuence as leaders and it is good
to have it so. Every side of the
life of our people must be devel-
oped and it will take competent
leaders to bring this about.
There is little danger that our
preachers will cease to be the
leaders among our people, but the
important question is the type
of leadership which they repre-
sent. In all the other fields the
influence of definite practical
training S being felt. Teachers
doctors, lawyers, business men
are today the product of careful
training and preparation. The
church must set up and maintain
the same ideals for its ministry
if its influence for good is to re-
main.
"Again, if the church would
hold its influence among our
people it must enlarge its pro-
rrap, for aarvira to tha racp