The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-12-19
PRESIDING ELDER
 ON DISCIPLESH|P
Rev. pr. s. |. Dobbs Begins
 Work Here
BREACHES STRONG SERMON
Or. pobbs Makes an Excellent Impress sion and 1t is Thought He Will Prove a Worthy Success
 sor to pr. Simpson.

The Rev. Dr. S. L. Dobbs began hts work as presiding elder of the Birming- ham district yesterday He preached an excellent sermon at St. Johns M. D. Church, south. from Matthew 1924, the theme being the conditions of disciple ship.
 He prefaced his discourse by saying that the Christian life has it's sacrihcial side as well ns it's gains; that in the words of the text Jesus made disclosure of the sacrifice necessary in order to at tain unto place among the true dis ciples
 In a very impressive manner he set forth the fact that Christian discipleship was the highest vocation known to men. and yet the one vocation to which any and every man is called. While 1t is the glory of the most highly civilized nations, the lowest barbrians are called to dis cipleship, and while the calling employs to the fullest measure the highest faeul- 
 ant in the field is as much called as the greatest man and .may win the highest place among the blood-washed throng All who heard can not fail to see a new glory in those words, "If any man will come after me-
 The gospel of the Son of God, the speaker declared, is the gospel of self denial. By precept and example, Jesus preached this doctrine from the Bethle- hem manager to the rugged brow of Mt Calvary
 Service to Fellow Man.
 Without self-cenial men never attain to any measure of success in secular pur- suits, and Christian diseipleship Is not an exception to the rule; without great la bor there is no excellence
 Men must be willing to suffer even the loss of life, if they would be followers Of Jesus.
 When many of our brave men were falling before Santiago. said the speaker We did not cry "call the army home and abandon the enterprise in hand" but we gloried in the fact that our people were willing to sacrifice life to attain an object of such moment In the foreign fields we must lift up the banner of the cross if the effort costs the life of many devoted disciples.
 Service is the characteristic trait ot 1 Christian discipleshp. Every day ant i hour of life affords some opportunity for serving onr fellow man. This is tho supreme duty of the Christian. Service to our fellow man touches the great hear of our Father in heaven and will not fail of it's reward. Rapturous emotions and exclamations of praise are the small Ter part of the religious life, being sea sonal and transitory; but service may bt continuous and hence constitutes tho great task of the followers of Jesus.
 Self-DeniaI.
 In conclusion a fervent appeal was made to all present to enter upon ( life of self-denial and to follow in tho footsteps of Jesus who denied himself and suffered that he might serve others
 The sermon made profound impression upon the large congregation and Dr Dobbs was rendered a warm reception by the members of St. John.
 Having served efficiently other districts in the North Alabama Conference. Dr Dobbs will, 1t is believed. pHove worthy successor to Dr. Simpson, who has jus closed a most prosperous administration of four years in the Birmingham district.