OCTOBER 19.

A Miracle of the Soul. By Rev. J. A. Leas. Scripture Lesson-The Conversion of Saul. Acts 9:3-6; 13-18.

Memory Verses-"Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?" Acts 9:6. "For he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings and the children of Israel." Acts 9:15.

Parallel Readings-Paul's own account of his conversion. Acts 22:6-13; The Prodigal Son. Luke 15:11-32.

Aim of the Lesson.-This lesson is to show that even the most wicked sinner may be converted. It also shows the power of God over a life of sin. When the sinner knows that he has sinned and is really sorry, God is always ready to save him. It is not so that the days of miracles are past. There are daily miracles of grace as wicked sinners are turned to Christ and brought to salvation.

The Lesson.-What a wonderful change in the life of Saul! Only three days ago he was the pompous representative of a cruel government. He despised the Christians and tried to put them to death. On horseback, he was on his way to Damascus where he expected to carry on his wicked work of persecution. But God said he should not go in this state of mind. Then there was a bright light, the vision, and the voice of Jesus speaking to him. "Saul! Saul!" "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" was the first question Saul was able to ask. Three days he was without food and drink. No wonder he had no appetite! That awful load of sin on his heart took away his appetite. Bad habits do not let go so easily, and we often suffer great pain and sorrow before we get rid of them.

God wants us all to be good and sends others to help us. So he sent Ananias to Saul. Ananias called him brother and told him that Jesus had sent him to heal him and cause him to be filled with the Holy Ghost. You have read of John Bunyan. He was a wretched, swearing, drunken tinker. God saved him.

Let us remember that the same Jesus who met Paul on the way to Damascus is able to forgive our sins and lift us into the sweet atmosphere of a holy life.

Hints. Examples of Jerry McAuley, the drunken river thief of New York. The historyof John B. Gough, the hopeless drunkard, who became the great temperance lecturer and reformer. The power of kindness in winning others for Christ. Ananias said "Brother Saul" and took him by the hand.

OCTOBER 26.

God's Use of Men. By Rev. J. A. Leas. Scripture Lesson-In the calling of the twelve apostles, a great work was assigned to men. Matt. 10:1-15.

Memory Verse-"Go ye therefore and make disciples of all nations, etc." Matt. 28:19-20.

Parallel Readings-The call of the Seventy. Luke 10:1-12; The Saviour's interpretation of Christian service. Matt. 25-34-46.

Aim of the Lesson-To show that God works through men. (Men means women as well as men.) Men preach the Gospel, they heal the sick, and they comfort the dying. Christian service is to be world wide and to include all Christians in the effort.

The Lesson-God has made no other plans for the saving of the world. If we do not do our share, some one will not know of Christ and will be forever lost.

Not only is it Christian to preach the Gospel and to pray, but we should learn how to minister to others in every way possible. Nurses care for the sick; doctors give them medicine;

kind people build homes and hospitals. All of us can do some good to others. We can carry them flowers, help them in their troubles, and find work oftentimes for those who are in need of employment.

Many children are never brought to Sundayschool unless some one goes after them and invites them. Couldn't we all be little workers for Jesus? There are so many things that must be done. There are so many tired feet, and so many weary hands. Let us help some of them. Bring them the best comfort, the sweetest smile; perhaps, to some in need, an old, but yet useful garment. Even a cup of cold water to some thirsty one, in Jesus' name, will be gladly received and will be blessed by the dear Saviour. Don't wait for big things to do. Do the little things that needs to be done right now. God will give strength and opportunity for bigger things later on.

Sometimes there are found some who are not appreciative. Jesus' apostles found such, but they were not discouraged. Jesus went wherever there was need. So must we. Then, if we are not wanted, we have done our duty. Hints-Men as representing the human race. Jesus as an example of the highest order of manhood. Examples of useful men and women we know or have known. Qualities that we admire. Marching orders, "Go." We are our brother's keeper. Shall we do our full duty?

LUTHER LEAGUE TOPICS
(Continued from page 26.)

believer. This new vision of hope made burdens light, yokes easy; hardships, crosses and sorrows were turned into blessings.

What about the present? Should there not be a revival of this spirit and hope infused into our present-day society? Are we not living and striving as if everything consisted in the things and pleasures of this life? Is not the word "success" written in the minds of our youth in dollar signs? Is not the dollar to many the beginning and the end of all things? The person who lives in and for the mere present, who emphasizes merely the now, is no better than the animal.

Aspect Number Three. The Reformation has emphasized the value of each individual. The great body of humanity is to be a priesthood of believers under Christ Jesus, the High Priest, who once and for all offered an acceptable sacrifice for sin. The priesthood of believers is the true church of Christ on earth, each member thereof having a place and a specific part in the great architectural design of God. Each believer has a

rsonal relationship to his God and also to his fellow believers. This is what gives religion its true value. This precious truth has been rescued for us in the Reformation achievement. It is this truth and faith that unites believers in the bonds of brotherly love, inspires them to live unselfishly, stimulates them to consider the pressing wants of dying millions, to care for the orphans and widows, the aged and helpless, the blind and defectives, to establish hos

LUTHER LEAGUE TOPICS

pitals and hospices, to teach and preach the Gospel of Salvation and to do innumerable other works of mercy.

FOR SPECIAL STUDY.

1. The growing appreciation of the Protestant Reformation by great leaders. 2. How to stimulate every Leaguer to study Luther and the Reformation.

3. The relation of the Constitution of the United States Ninety-five to Luther's Theses.

4. What churches have autocratic forms of church government?

5. Practical proofs of the universal priesthood of believers.

The Ministerium of Pennsylvania at its last convention adopted the following: "Any male communicant of the Lutheran Church, of full age and the proper qualifications, may serve as lay reader in the church of which he is a member, and may read such portions of the service as the pastor may direct, and also a sermon approved by the pastor, when the latter is absent. Under the direction of his pastor he may conduct similar services in parish missions, rendering a monthly report to the church council." Notice was also given of an amendment to the constitution providing for the appointment of synodical lay readers to be commissioned by the president of the Ministerium.

DIFFERENT BRANDS OF COURAGE

There are different kinds of courage, and just because a man possesses in a high degree one brand is no reason why he should possess all other degrees of bravery. This was aptly illustrated by the famous cartoon of the structural ironworker, standing on the dizzy edge of a swinging beam three hundred feet above the street, who said, "Look, Mike, at those people dodging across the streets in front of automobiles. It makes me tremble to think of the risks they run." Another illustration was given the other day when the foreman of a gang of shipworkers in a Delaware River yard was approached by a young man who said he wanted to quit his job because he could not stand the strain of the escaping air pressure in the automatic drills. "You are a fine specimen," sarcastically observed the foreman. "How long have you had this job?" "Three days.' "What did you do before?" "I was in the army." "I'll bet you were in some safe place," said the foreThe workman young calm. "Yes," he said, "I was pretty safe. I was

man.

an aviator."

was

-The great drive staged by the Lutheran Laymen's League of the Missouri Synod for a permanent endowment fund for the support of incapacitated professors, pastors and teachers and their widows and orphans has so far yielded $1,421,161.08, according to the treasurer's report of June 16.

Charter provides for degrees.

GOOD COMPANY

One of the objects of the Luther League is to promote friendship and acquaintance among our Lutheran young people. It proposes to guard our young people against dangerous and vicious associates. One of the dangers besetting our young people is unworthy friends and bad companionship. Of the value of good association, one of our pastors has the following excellent observation in a recent number of his parish paper:

"Let no young man or woman go into a social circle where the influences are vicious, or hostile to the Christian religion. You will begin by reproving their faults and end by copying them. Sin is contagious. You go among those who are profane, and you will be profane. Go among those who are given to strong drink, and you will inevitably become an inebriate. There is no exception to the rule. A man is no better than the company he continually keeps. It is always best to keep ourselves under Christian influences. It is not possible, if you mingle in associations that are positively Christian, not to be made better men or women. The Christian people with whom you may associate may not be always talking their religion, but there is something in the moral atmosphere that will be life to your soul."

POOR MERE MAN!

To start learning roller skating at the age of forty, and at the weight of twenty stone, is rather a daring act, but Mrs. Overweight was trying her luck.

On one occasion of her weird evolutions she landed plump on the floor, and several attendants rushed to her rescue.

For ten minutes they made strenuous efforts to raise her prodigious weight, but were quite unsuccessful.

"We'll get you up in a minute," ventured one soothingly. "Don't worry."

"I'm not worrying about that," replied Mrs. Overweight. "But it's horrid; your floor is so lumpy!"

"I'm not a lump," came a voice from the underneath. "I'm instructor!"-An

swers.

Although Palestine has been virtually set apart for a Jewish state, the Jews themselves are divided in their attitude toward the old homeland. The Zionists look upon it as a veritable refuge, while the antiZionists prefer to share the civilization of the nations. Meanwhile, the Christian Jews, whose numbers are increasing, are outcasts among their own people, and do not feel at home in Gentile churches. With some central organization they might prove a prominent factor in the future of the Holy Land.

Petrograd would not be considered a Lutheran city, yet there are more Lutherans there than in many cities of our own land. In eighteen large church buildings services are held in six different languages for more than 100,000 members. Amid the dire conditions in Russia and with a dearth of authetic information, we have grave fears for the safety of these congregations, for Bolshevism will not make many converts among Lutherans. For Russia's sake, as well as their own, we trust that this strong evangelical element will not be totally destroyed. The righteous few may yet save a city.

It is not so serious a thing to make a mistake as it is to try to cover it up and to pretend that it was not a mistake at all. Some young people show a foolish loyalty to their blunders. Instead of repudiating them, they make a pathetic effort to stand by them as if having once committed them, they were in duty bound to declare them right. And so the original mistake becomes a twin. When you make a mistake, acknowledge it frankly. Otherwise you have made two.