The general opinion is that the Albany Convention was a great success. Our hosts made careful preparations, and their plans were so energetically carried out that nothing occurred to cause dissatisfaction; everybody was pleased with the kindness and cordiality of the Albany people. Our executive committee so carefully arranged for the presentation of the convention's theme, "Creed and Flag," that there was no failure in any part. Papers and addresses presented by the speakers, both clerical and lay, were of a high order, and proved that there is more talent in the Lutheran Church of America than many suppose, and that much of this talent is being developed through the Luther League. The possibility of League work in country churches was proved by an expert in a bright paper. There were discussions, in some of

tion was harmonious.

One of the features of the convention was the music. A sympathetic organist presented a program in accord with the sessions, and trained the choir, which seemed faultless in its rendition of the music. The closing session in Harmanus Bleecker Hall was an inspiration, with a chorus of 350 voices, an orchestra of more than 30 pieces, and a leader intent upon success. The music, which was rendered to an audience of at least 2,000 people, was, with the closing address, "The Christian Man in Politics," a fine terminatior to a great convention.

The attendance at all the sessions was good, and at the evening meetings the audiences were larger than could be accommodated in the church or in the hall. The delegates came to learn, and their earnestness was shown in their attention; we are thankful for this gathering at Albany, believing that good will come to our churches wherever the spirit of the convention is carried.

After all this entertainment and the education upon our duties to God and our Church, and to the Government under which we live, what will the result be to our Church? Good addresses, enthusiastic singing, the adoption of resolutions, will bring nothing of themselves Each delegate must take the incitement of that convention to his own local League, and help to create the spirit of service in each congregation. The fountain head of work is the local League, and its first activities must be in the interests of its own congregation. The District and State Leagues are simply advisory, recommending to the individual societies what they shall do. "The National is the thinking, suggesting head and the local societies the active operating members.”

Since the convention the question has been asked, "What is the chief work and aim of the League? Is it social, or something else?" The social is a good element in holding together the members of the League, and bringing

others into connection with it. Yet it should be secondary, and not too frequently resorted to. The first aim of the League is to learn what its Church means, and how it can best serve its Church. It also should be educational, learning first the local needs and then the general needs of the church to which the congregation belongs. Its members should be informed upon that which is done at home and abroad, as well as within its own narrow bounds. The devotional goes hand in hand with the educational, for only as we pray and study, and study and pray, do we learn what we, as individuals, can do in the great work of the Lord. Frequently it is charged that we are lacking in spirituality; that we do not resort to prayer as we should; that the man who prays gains strength, and living near to God knows what He desires him to do. Let us not forget that the power is not in us, but in the Lord, who gives strength to everyone to perform his duty according as he asks for the strength. When we, as a band of young people, are bound together in one common work, and ask of the Master what He desires us to do, we will find direction and strength, so that we can faithfully and unitedly do His work. The president and chairman of the executive committee are always willing to answer questions and give information and help, and it would be pleasing to them, when doubts occur or any advice is needed, if the members of the Luther League would communicate with one or the other of them. Our work should be with full information and in earnestness and unity. God help us all to do our full duty, and also to remember the motto which the president gave at the closing session, in the words of Jesus Christ, our great leader, "To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth."

Christmas is the season of the year that fills the hearts of men, women and children with joy. Its old story never wearies. Its theme is as sweet and charming to the old man and woman as to the child. Ever since the angels

caroled their song over Bethlehem's manger, and the wonderful light of the guiding star illuminated the hills and plains of Judea, thousands upon thousands have rejoiced at the birth of the Prince of Peace. It is a profound mystery. Scholars, scientists and sages for generations have sought to explain the union of the divine and human in one Person in that Bethlehem cradle. Simple folks are content with the Scripture story, and willing to await the explanation of heaven's deep mystery. The world is constrained to acknowledge His divine origin. Its chorus has been expressed in the old familiar hymn of childhood:

"Once in royal David's City
Stood a lowly cattle shed,
Where a mother laid her baby
In a manger for a bed."

Ever growing more distinct, the murmuring voices of invisible singers have echoed the song around innumerable glowing hearth fires. The Christmastide comes with its joys, gifts, reunions of families, loved ones and friends. Its effects are seen in the faithful followers of Christ and the results of His work are being recognized as never before. The caressing tenderness, the stilling clamor of the heart, the staying of complaint that creeps into the day and its observance are convincing circumstances of the growing power and witness of Christmas. Each one, as he accepts and admits the infant Saviour within his heart, obtains a personal share in the benefits of the birth of the Babe of Bethlehem.

The study of Lutheran teaching and its application to present day problems will make the pulpit of our Church a power. We have able men who stand Sunday after Sunday preaching the Gospel, and applying it to man's daily needs. These needs of busy man are real, they enter with tremendous force into their lives, and the pulpit utterances that apply the Gospel to these needs with understanding and sympathy because of vital doctrinal truth drawn from Scripture will never lose its power and will grip the attention of thoughtful men and compel a hearing among the frivolous. It is a possibility within the grasp of our Lutheran Church, whose creeds go to the heart needs of men in times like these because given to the world under conditions as strenuous as ours and beating with the throbbings of human hearts as men's pulses are quickened by the conditions amid which they live today.

End of the Year.

December 29, 1912. "Never This Way Again"

Ps. 90 and Deut. 17:16.

Topic reviewed by Rev. Paul W. Koller.

A realization of the fact that we have come to the close of a year, the days of which we shall never be able to live again, brings us some earnest lessons. It is a solemn thing to contemplate that the words of kindness and sympathy we have left unspoken will never be spoken, for we will never go this way again. The deeds of good we have left undone will never be done, for we can never go back. The year of 1912 has been lived, and it will stand as we have lived it.

It is useless to spend our time in vain regrets or to bemoan our shortcomings. It is profitable, however, to ask ourselves in all honesty some searching questions, for while we will never go this year's way again, yet a new year is coming which we should live better for having lived this one.

1. Am I a Better Christian?

This year has been full of experiences of all kinds which have had their effect one way or the other on our characters. Joys, sorrows, burdens and responsibilities have been ours. Have they developed us in Christian character? Have we grown in spiritual size towards the stature of the perfect man in Christ Jesus. After all the important thing at the end of this year is not, "Have I more money?" but "Am I a better Christian?" So many of us are content with our Christian living, and make no earnest effort to grow stronger spiritually. This ought not to be, for if we are not going forward we are going backward, for there is no such thing as standing still spiritually. It is right that we should face ourselves squarely with this question. If we feel that we have not made the advance we ought to have made, let us ask God's forgiveness and determine to do better the coming year. 2. What Have I Done for God this Closing Year?

What record have I made in my Lord's service? Never more than this year has our Lord needed earnest workers. At home and abroad His cause needed help. What have I done? We can all ask ourselves the question. What noble fights have we made against evil

in our city, in our neighborhood? This year of 1912 has been a year of reform. Have we stood for better things in our community, for righteousness and purity as required by God?

What service have I rendered the needy? What have I done for the sick and discouraged? Have I delivered any from the power of temptation by my words or prayers? Those who need help of this kind are many.

What service have I rendered God through His Church? What have I done to advance the cause of Christ as represented by my Church? These are searching questions. Have I been a helper or a hinderer? Have I brought one recruit into His service? Have I spoken for my Church? Have I prayed for it? Have I helped to bear its burdens, and marched with my fellow soldiers against its foes?

I pray God that you of the Luther League have done these things, for the Church needs greatly the help of all of us. Into our keeping Christ's cause on earth has largely been given.

3. What of Tomorrow?

Retrospect has only one real good. It is not in gratification, satisfactory as that may be. It is not in gloomy regret. But in that we are stirred to action in the days that are coming. If we have not grown in Christian character this year as we should, if we have not served our Master as His cause required, if we have not used this year as God intended we should, let us determine in the coming year to do better than in 1912. Lord help us "so to number our days that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom."

M. P. MÖLLER,

Hagerstown, Maryland

In Some of Our Large Cities

New York.

-The new Lutheran Hospice, located at 2040 Fifth avenue, corner of 126th street, was formally opened by a reception given by the Ladies' Auxiliary of the Inner Mission Society on Saturday, November 30. Lutheran young men coming to New York, either temporarily, or to live and study or work, are invited to correspond with the director, Mr. Paul C. Holter, at the Hospice.

-Dr. J. B. Remensnyder, president of the General Synod, was chairman of a committee representing the Christian ministry of New York and presenting to Mayor Gaynor a statement of their apprehension for the moral welfare of the community and their conviction that effective measures should be continued until the illegal connection between the members of the police force and criminals be brought to an end.

-The Norwegian Synod has leased a house in this city to use as an immigrant mission home. The house is to be remodeled at a cost of $4,000.

-St. Matthew's Church, Rev. W. T. Junge, pastor, recently celebrated its fiftieth anniversary. This is the oldest German Lutheran church north of the Harlem River. It was established when the section was occupied by the old village of Melrose. It is now in one of the busiest sections of the Borough of the Bronx. Rev. Dr. G. C. Berkemeier, of the Wartburg Orphan Farm School, preached the anniversary sermon. Chicago.

Omaha.

-Rev. C. A. Swihart has resigned the pastorate of Trinity Church, Denver, accepting a call to Grace Church, of this city.

Savannah.

-The Church of the Ascension has pledged $5,000 to build the chapel for the mission school in Japan.

St. Paul.

-The Church of the Reformation broke ground for their new $62,000 building on October 29, 1912. Revs. William F. Bacher and George H. Schnur are the co-pastors of this congregation.

Newark.

-Trinity Church, Rev. W. H. W. Reimer, pastor, consecrated its new extension Sunday school room October 20. This building operation, costing about $4,000 and bringing the value of the property up to about $15,000, was made necessary by the large and rapid growth of the Sunday school, which now averages 400 in attendance, 100 or more of whom are in the primary department.

General.

-Mr. Marvin W. Lutz, of Mansefild, Ohio, and Miss Magdalene King, of Buffalo, N. Y., were married at the bride's home, November 12. Both the bride and the bridegroom are well known in Luther League circles. The Review offers congratulations and its best wishes.

-Mr. George H. Knollenberg, of Richmond, Ind., has rounded out fifty years of successful business life, and was honored by many of the business that people of prosperous city on 21, at the Commercial Mr. Club. Knollenberg conducts one of the largest dry goods stores in Richmond. He is treasurer of the General Synod.

San Francisco.

-Rev. W. E. Crouser, D. D., has resigned the pastorate of the First Church and accepted a call to be synodical missionary of the California Synod.

Albany.

-The Church of the Redeemer, Rev. Ernest M. Grahn, pastor, is looking forward to the erection of a new church building in the near future. The congregation has outgrown its present home and will erect a commodious and impressive structure on the plot of ground immediately adjoining. New Haven.

-Rev. J. Luther Sieber has been asked by the New York, New Haven and Hartford R. R. Y. M. C. A. to give weekly talks on the Bible to the railroad men. There are 201 men enrolled in the class. The talks will be reported each week in the Railroad News. The First Church, of which Rev. Sieber is pastor, celebrated its tenth anniversary, November 6 to 10.

-The historic Lutheran Church at Friedens, Pa., organized by Rev. Father Steck about 1792, has given new evidence of its vitality by completing a handsome new house of worship, at a cost of about $30,000. The offerings and subscriptions on the day of the consecration, September 29, amounted to $8,685, or about $1,500 more than was needed to pay all obligations of the church. The pastor is Rev. J. C. McCarney.

-In the death of Prof. Clement A. Marks, of THE PRIZE WINNER.

UPHELD BY QUALITY

STIEFF
PIANOS

Allentown, Pa., the Lutheran Church has lost one of its most devoted and cultured musical leaders. Dr. Marks was born in 1864, near Emaus, Pa. He exhibited rare musical ability at an early age, at fourteen years acting as organist of the Moravian Church in his native town. He has contributed several well known numbers to Lutheran Church hymnody. At the time of his death he was organist of St. John's Church, Allentown, and instructor in music in Muhlenberg College.

-Hartwick Seminary has secured more than $13,000 of its alumni endowment fund of $15,000 to establish a new professorship.

-The students of Newberry College have assumed the support of a native preacher at the Japan mission of the United Synod South.

-The trustees of Gustavus Adolphus have started a campaign to meet the requirements of C. A. Smith's and J. J. Hill's offers of $50,000 each.

-A unique feature of a missionary meeting in St. Matthew's Church, Cridersville, Ohio, was the presentation by Miss Dorothy Binkley of $72, which she had earned in a year by the sale of household articles.

Rev. John Franklin Shaffer, D. D., died at his home at Delaware, Ohio, November 10, 1912. Dr. Shaffer was born in 1837, began his ministerial work in 1861, and has served as pastor and leader in church work in many circles.

-Rev. Benjamin Brubaker Collins died at his home at Meyersdale, Pa., on November 2, 1912. Rev. Collins served as a missionary in Liberia, Africa, in 1875-76 and in several important capacities in missionary interests at home.

-"Lutheran Youth" this month makes its appearance in the family of Lutheran Church papers. It succeeds "Little Missionary" and "Child's Paper," and as the name implies, is devoted to the interests of young people of the churches in connection with the Joint Synod of Ohio. It has Editorial, Juvenile, Missionary and Luther League Departments.

Hymn 10. Hymn 45.

Psalm 122. (Read responsively.)

Gloria Patri.

Scripture: Luke 10:25-58. (Read by leader, an standing.)

Prayer by pastor. Hymn 153.

Summarize discussion in THE REVIEW. (Some one appointed in sufficient time in advance to do this.) Hymn 155.

Here let the leader, having written down on nieces of paper and given out in advance all the Scripture references in the discussion in Topics, read: 1. "What Shall I Do?" and then call for the various passages of Scripture in order. Let each one as the passage he may have is called for rise and read it clearly and distinctly. Then let the leader read: II. "How Readest Thou?" Then proceed as above. Likewise III and IV.

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