Omaha daily bee., 1902-02-03
DR.. CONLEY'S FIRST SERMON
New Faster Of First Baptist IsEinS His
Wsrk in 0naha.
DlscOURsEs ON LOYAL SERVICE TO COD
Christian work should BE I'm spirit of
Love and without Thought Of Re-
ward-sermOns in other
Churches.

DR.. W. ]. Conley was greeted by a large
congregation yesterday morning at the First
Baptist church, where he preached his hrst
sermon as the regularly installed pastor.
Two months ago DR.. Conley visited Omaha
and preached to the First Baptist congre-
cation. A few days later a call was ex-
tended to him and he resigned the passionate
Of the Oak Park Qll.) Baptist church TO
accept the charge in Omaha.
Service" was the theme OF DR.. Conley's
sermon yesterday morning and his text
was: and whosoever will be chief among
you let him be your servant" The
preacher emphasized the necessity OF loyal
service to Coo and man and urged that
such service be without thought of reward,
with the proper motive and In the spirit
of love.
ITO be a Christian means to be a servant
Of Jesus Christ" said DIR. Conley. "Christ's
teaching is the Interpretation of service.
Three factors enter into the service Of men.
They are motive, reward and spirit. The
motive which prompts much service given
to the Lord is fear. 1t blights the re-
ligious life OF many Of Christ's servants.
The ecclesiastical lash wings over much
Of Europe and compels devotion that should
come through love.
Reward is an element in all service.
The employer looks to his employee for EN-
Client effort because of the wages paid.
Most literary men work for the reward
that will come to them in money. Even the
pulpit is not above this quest for gold.
While reward must not be despised, we
must bear in mind the fact that we will
never attain great ends until we apply
ourselves to our work in a spirit OF love.
Better Than Golden Rule.
"The Golden Rule, DO unto others as
you would have them do unto you,' is not
the Christians rule. The true follower OF
God says: Give yourself unto others re-
CARELESS Of what they do unto you This
is the Christ conception of the relation
which men should bear unto each other.
Much service is too narrow. 1t is dwarfed.
The opinion is frequently expressed that
a large-hearted. sympathetic man must not
belong to a church. Why should such an
opinion p~revail7 The scope Of a Christian
church must take in everything helpful to
man. The moral and physical welfare OF
man and his political and social life must
be Influenced by religion.
"Men must prepare themselves to live
rather than to die, and 1t is the duty OF the
church to assist in any work which will
make the lives of men brighter and hap
pier. There is a disposition among certain
Christians to serve God in their own set
alone. The scope of a Christians life
should not be narrowed to the social circle
in which he moves. / am an expansionist.
/ believe in spreading the good tidings
which Christ brought to the world. I wish
the United States would acquire all the
world IL It's purpose were to serve the
people whom It meets. II service is our
pupose in taking the Philippines under
our care, Il Is we'll, but our conquest was
wrong II it was the purpose of the gov
eminent to crush and subdue the Filipinos.
The spirit OF service is very essential.
Everything depends on the manner In
which Christians undertake their work.
There is a spirit Of charm which is irre-
sistible. and a spirit Of fear which is re-
pellant. Love, not pity, must characterize
efficient service. We must give ourselves
to the service of Cod; our none will not
sufice. And q hopeful confidence in the
triumph of faith must crown all our work.