gregations as a safe friend of the young people and an efficient aid in local church work.

Let

Fellow Leaguers, why are we here? Why make sacrifices to come to this convention? We came here to become acquainted, to receive helpful information and inspiration in our League work. Though from various synods, as Lutherans, we rally round our common doctrinal standard. The aims and efforts of the League movement are to imbue our Lutheran youth with the spirit of a wider Lutheran fellowship and co-operation. We are not here to ride synodical hobbies or magnify differences. us pray, plan and look for the time when our American Lutheran Church shall be united in fact as well as in faith. This is Christian love made manifest, our preaching practised. Again, we are here to help each other, to receive and give suggestions as to local League work. Further, as a State League, we are here to plan and co-operate in reaching and interesting the many pastors and young people's societies that have not yet joined our ranks. The Lutheran Church is the strongest Protestant Church in South Dakota. In 1890 it had 23,304 communicant members. There are 146 Lutheran pastors in the State-70 Norwegian, 67 German, 5 Swedish and 4 Danish. Most of these are not yet interested in the League movement. If the Luther League can help in disseminating and propagating a spirit of fraternalism between the various Lutheran synods, we say, God bless it in doing so! Neither synodical, nor nationalistic, nor linguistic differences should stand in the way of this broader fellowship. The League meets and greets all Lutherans alike:

Since you belong to Luther's band, Here's my heart and here's my hand.' The League, as a faithful child of the Church never expects to outgrow the Fourth Commandment. It wants to serve and obey. It is entitled to the advice and leadership of the wiser and older heads and maturer and more cautious minds. Young friends, the League will be what we make it, and what we are. Are we true Leaguers consecrated to Christ? Do we live in the atmosphere of prayer, confess Christ in our lives, walk in the light of His word and serve Him constrained by His love? Let us work! "The night cometh when no man can work."

After this were heard reports from other officers of the League and from the Extension Committee. This committee was permitted to use funds to the extent of $50 for extension work during the year. Of this sum about $22 had been used. This sum was expended in publishing and distributing Luther League literature. Reports were heard also from representatives of the various local Leagues. From all came flattering reports in regard to the work being done. It was especially gratifying to learn what stress is laid by all on the study of the Bible and of the History and Doctrine of the Lutheran Church. It shows that the Luther League is carried on in the right spirit.

The remainder of the session was spent in hearing and discussing a paper on "Knowledge of Truth," by O. A. Anderson. The committee, in arranging the programme for the convention, had chosen as the convention "keynote" the alliteration, "Truth, Trust

and Tact," as essentials to successful Luther League work. This general topic was to be treated in a series of papers, of which Mr. Anderson's was the first. The following is a brief synopsis of the paper, which was a very excellent and instructive one:

God is the source of all truth, and we come to a knowledge of this truth through God's revelation of Himself through Christ, and in His holy word. It is important therefore to study God's word so as to learn His will to us. It should be studied regularly, prayerfully and diligently. But, as Lutherans, we have in the Augsburg Confession and in the other symbolical writings of our Church an expression of the teaching of the word of God as understood by our Church. Therefore, every young Lutheran should have a good knowledge of these.

In the discussion which followed on this paper the work of the League in aiding its members to the knowledge of Truth was especially set forth. The value of the proper and constant use of the Bible was emphasized. But in gaining the knowledge of Truth as taught by the Lutheran Church the extensive study of Confessional and symbolical writings of the Lutheran Church was urged, and as an efficient aid to this the Luther League Reading Course was recommended, and the reading of the LUTHIER LEAGUE REVIEW, together with the use of the Luther League Topics. The session was closed by the singing of a hymn and the pronouncing of the benediction.

Tuesday Evening, May 12

This session and all the succeeding sessions of the convention were held in the handsome church building recently completed by St. Peter's congregation (United Norwegian Lutheran). It was a matter of regret to all that the pastor of this church, Rev. Moe, was necessarily absent. He had a short time previous to this date taken his departure for his old home in Norway, whither he went in the hope of restoring his health, spent in the service of the Master. Rev. A. C. Barron conducted the opening devotional exercises. The convention then listened to an address by Rev. N. N. Boe (Norwegian Synod), of Sioux Falls, who spoke on the subject, “The Social and Moral Condition of the World at the Time of Christ." He said:

The world at the time of Christ was the Roman Empire. The genius of the Romans was seen in their ability to hold the vast empire together. The most essential factor in this was the system of Roman roads, which also became a highly essential factor in the spreading of Christianity. The religious views of the Gentile world were polytheistic, the form of worship idolatrous. In the East worship took more of the form of nature worship, as for example, the worship of Moloch. The earlier religion of the West was purer. Gradually the nature worship of the East spread westward throughout the Roman Empire. By this time skepticism was

widespread among the learned, yet they upheld religion and public worship, because of the greater power in holding the common people.

Then, as now, we can look to the family life for a sure criterion of the character of the people. The men who are held up as great in Grecian history, literature and statesmanship were low and dissolute persons. The word home and all it means to us was practically unknown. Woman held but a very low position. It is Christianity which has raised woman to the position she now occupies. The strength of early Rome may be accounted for by the chastity and purity of its home life. The beginning of the decline of Rome dates from the introduction into her civilization of the effete sensuality of her Eastern possessions. Slavery, the idleness of her citizens, contempt for manual labor, love for amusement and pleasure brought with them growing laxity of morals. At the same time more and more of the people were losing faith in their gods, so that Rome came to be a land of skepticism in regard to their religion. Thus the Gentile world was gradually being prepared for the Unknown God."

In closing a hymn was sung and the benediction was pronounced.

Wednesday Morning, May 13

After a fifteen-minute prayer session the meeting listened to a paper "Trust in the Lord," by Rev. M. O. Wee. In this excellent paper Rev. Wee said in part:

God

Knowledge of the truth is necessary; obedience to truth leads to trust in the Lord. commands us to trust in Him: Isa. 26, 4; 50, 10; 30, 15; Jer. 17, 7; Psa. 125; 144, 1-2; 34, 8; Nahum. 1, 7; Prov. 16, 20. We need the God of the Bible and must assume the attitude indicated in these passages if we shall be able to accomplish anything for Christ and the Church.

..

Trust in the Lord is an essential element in living faith. Whatsoever is not of Faith, is sin." We cannot trust in the Lord of our own strength; it is the work of the Holy Ghost. The Pharisees trusted in the Lord in their own way, but their hearts were cold and lifeless. We notice with regret how this dangerous spirit has invaded our Church circles. It was predominantly the case during the time of Orthodoxism in Europe, and is by no means out of sight to-day. The most striking example illustrating the real value and importance to those who serve God and work in His vineyard, of trusting in the Lord is recorded in I Sam., 14. Trust in the Lord and obedience to Him was a marked characteristic of the ancient Apostolic Church. Peter and Paul, St. Augustine, Gregory Nazianzen, Basil the Great, all trusted on the Lord. Trust in the Lord has been an essential element in Lutheranism from its very birth, and may it remain so till the Church militant shall become the Church triumphant. Luther was a man of trust in the Lord. In the hour of sore trial, when the Evangelicals were congregated in Augsburg, summoned thither by the Emperor, whose wrath hovered over their heads, Luther, remaining at Koburg, putting all into God's "everlasting arms,' to the Christian Church in general, to the Lutheran Church in particular, that memorable hymn, "A Mighty Fortress is Our Lord." Spener and Francke were men of trust in the Lord. The Lutheran Church has a mission in the world, and our young people are called upon to take a large share of the work. Grand is the work and glorious shall the harvest be! but the aim can be attained only when pursued in the

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right spirit and by the right men and women. By boasting of ourselves and denouncing others we do no justice to the cause. Living faith, trust in the Lord, must indeed be made an essential element in our League work. Then, only, can we suceeed.

After an interesting discussion of the above paper the election of officers for the ensuing year was taken up with the following result: Pres., Rev. C. K. Solberg, Vermillion; vicepres., Miss Carrie Hegdahl, Howard; rec. sec'y, Miss Martha L. Berdahl, Garretson; treas., Gilbert Satrum, Canton; cor. sec'y. Jens M. Otterness, Brookings.

On invitation of the Brookings League the convention will be held there next year. The session closed with the Lord's Prayer.

Wednesday Afternoon, May 13

The opening devotional exercises of this session were conducted by G. Thorson. Thereupon Rev. A. C. Barron read a paper on "Prayer." This was in line with the general topic of the convention, since if we trust in the Lord we must pray. This paper was in part as follows:

"He who trusts in the Lord must pray." Prayer is the avenue of approach to God. It is the heart's communion with God. It embodies confession, praise, and petition. Some one has said that it is the Christian's native air and vital breath. Nearly all worship has some element of prayer. The heathen in his blindness prays and offers sacrifices. Like the Christian, he, too, has a certain sense of helplessness and a craving for outside help. Christian prayer, however, has the true meaning of prayer and a definite idea of man's sinfulness and of God's grace. Our peculiar relationship to God calls forth prayer. As God's chosen people, elect, heirs to salvation, we have a right to approach the throne of grace and claim these heavenly blessings.

It is the believer's blessed privilege to pray. All God's promises and blessings are out of His fatherly love and grace. We have only deserved His wrath. As unworthy sinners we are permitted to approach His throne of grace. any time we may have an audience with God.

At

He who trusts in the Lord must persevere in prayer. He must take time to pray. The rush and hurry of life must be kept out of his closet. The staying quality of Jacob must characterize the Christian in his prayer, unwillingness to let God go except He bless him. It is often our sins that hinder God's blessing, and by His delay in answering God must try our faith and purge us from sin.

An edifying and interesting discussion followed, after which the convention adjourned to repair to the home of M. A. Dieson, where a social session had been provided for. Here was given an opportunity for all to become acquainted, a thing for which the work of the regular sessions of the convention left but little time. The two local Leagues served ice cream and cake on the spacious lawn, and while all were at their ease, enjoying the pleasant, balmy air, such as is peculiar to a South Dakota May afternoon, the choir of

Augustana College, Canton, rendered selections.

Wednesday Evening, May 13

This session was opened with Scripture reading and prayer by Rev. Prof. J. S. Nordgaard. This meeting was to be the "Rally Meeting." Rev. Kuhns was to speak, and it is estimated that fully 600 persons were in the audience to hear him. The capacity of the church was taxed to its utmost to accommodate the crowd. No synopsis can do adequate justice to Rev. Kuhn's address, but a few of the thoughts may be repeated:

As a man alone on a desert island cannot attain to the measure of usefulness of man, so the Church, the congregation, isolated, is bereft of You power which it should possess. and I have been born in the Lutheran Church because God wanted us in the Lutheran fold. He wanted our work and our service there. We live in a great and awful age, to live in which is sublime. If we shall influence the future we must stamp the imprint upon the future by our work now. The Lutheran Church is unchanged from the principles of the reformer, nor is there now any demand for change. The "Augustant has withstood the test of time. Doctrine gives life. Lutherans because we have been fed and nurtured on the doctrines of the Church, which are Truth and Life. Doctrine puts the stamp of the character of our religion upon our hearts. The early impressions of our doctrine, learned from Luther's Catechism, we can never entirely lose.

We are

The Protestant Church of the whole world is influenced by the work and works of Luther. The Lutheran has been, and is, the great missionary church. It is much the largest of Protestant Church bodies. Therefore, greater opportunities and responsibilities rest upon us. Luther Leaguers, we have no reason to be ashamed of our religious mother, who has but one sin. that of modesty. Learn from her history and her doctrines to be inspired.

In closing a hymn was sung and the benediction was pronounced.

Thursday Morning, May 14

Rev. II. M. Solem opened this session with Scripture reading and prayer, which was followed by a fifteen-minute prayer session. The feature of this session was an address by Rev. Prof. J. S. Nordgaard, Augustana College, Canton, “The Cardinal Principles of the Lutheran Church." This was probably the most carefully prepared address of the entire convention, and was so well received that the convention resolved to have it published in the LUTHER LEAGUE REVIEW (if space can be given to it), and in the Christian Youth and Ungdommeus Ven, in order that more of our Lutheran youth may have the benefit of the many excellent thoughts contained in the paper. There were set forth these three as the cardinal principles of the Lutheran Church: (1) Justification through

Faith alone, without the works of the Law; (2) The infallibility of Holy Writ; and (3) The utter depravity of man. As no synopsis could do justice to this address, and as we expect soon to see it published, none will be attempted.

There being still some time, a paper on "Obedience to Truth," which should have been read earlier in the convention, but had to be postponed on account of the necessary absence of the writer, Rev. H. M. Solem, was now heard. In part Rev. Solem said:

Truth is spoken of in the Holy Scripture in a double sense: First, in a spiritual sense, or as to our relation to God, and, second, in an ethical sense, or as to the relation of man to man. In the spiritual sense the gospel or the teaching of Jesus Christ is considered as the absolute truth. See John 1, 17; 18, 37; 17, 17. As the whole scripture is a revelation to us of truth from God, it follows that the Bible is the only infallible rule for our faith and life. This was one of the leading principles of the Lutheran reformers. On account of this they came into conflict on the one hand with the Roman Catholic Church, which set the decisions of church councils and the traditions of the church fathers above the Scriptures; and on the other hand, with the Zwinglian reformers, who had a tendency to elevate the enlightened human reason above the revealed Word of God.

Some small matters of unfinished business, appointment of committees, etc., was transacted, and the session closed with the Lord's Prayer.

Thursday Afternoon, May 14

on

This dealt with the more practical side of the general topic. The speaker showed the great necessity for the exercise of tact the part of pastors, congregations and young people, in their relation to one another. He showed that these three must co-operate if Luther League shall be as successful as it ought to be. But differences in circumstances and position, as well as differences in experience and nature, oftentimes make proper cooperation between the three classes difficult. To overcome the difficulties which the differences bring about requires the exercise of much tact, which is but common sense applied, the doing of the right thing in the most effective manner and at the proper time.

This paper was followed by the liveliest discussion of the entire series. In this discussion many valuable experiences were re(Continued on page 26.)