The Canada Lutheran, vol. 3, no. 2, December 1914, Dec. 1914, p. 2

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2 THE CANADA LUTHERAN, THE ATTITUDE OF THE LUTH- ERAN CHURCH IN THE PRESENT CRISIS. Owing to the adverse criticism against the Lutheran Church aroused by the reported utterances of individuals for which the Church is not responsible, I deem it advisable to set forth clearly the attitude of the Lutheran Church in Canada in the crisis which has befallen our Empire and country.. _ In the first place, there is no church which represents so clear a line of demarcation between the sphere of the Church and the sphere of the State, or which, while recognizing both to be divine, so jealousy guards against the usurpation by one of what belongs to the other, as does the Lutheran Church. In the second place, the Lutheran Church is not the Church of merely a single nationality, or language, or clime, but is to be found in well-nigh all nations, languages and countries of the earth. And while she recognizes no particular nationality, she is on principle loyal everywhere to the country in which she is found. In consequence of this, there are at the present time Lutheran Russians, Lutheran Frenchmen and Lutherans of the English speaking tongue fighting with the Allies as well as Lutheran Germans and Lutheran Austrians fighting in the armies of our foes. In each of these cases the Church, without departing a single hair's breadth from its purely spiritual sphere, is in the various countries in which she is found, inculcating a spirit of true patriotism in all its- members. While recognizing that its supreme duty is to render unto "God the things that are God's," it is not neglecting the twin duty, joined to it by Jesus Himself, of "rendering unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's." No church more insistently emphasizes the divine injunction, "Honour the King," or more consistently applies the Apostles counsel, "Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers, for there is no power but of God, the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefor resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation." Recognizing in civil government therefore the ordinance of God, she teaches her people loyally to support the powers that be, and warns them earnestly against any word or act breathing the spirit of rebellion,insubordination or treason toward the land in which, under God, she receives the liberty and protection which she enjoys. Nor will she in any wise countenance or be held responsible for the utterances of any individuals, whether claiming to be of her or not, contrary to this sound doctrine. J. MAURER, President of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Central Canada. Williamsburg, Ont., Nov. 16th, 1914. THE IMPORTANCE OF THE KINDERGARTEN AND CRADLE ROLL DEPARTMENTS IN THE SUNDAY SCHOOL. By Mrs. J. J. Clemens, Ottawa. (Published at the request of the Sunday School Association of the Eastern District, before which this paper was read, on Nov. 4th, 1914.) I have been asked to speak on the "Importance of the Kindergarten or Primary and Cradle Roll Departments of Our Sunday School" and to give some hints on the methods of conducting the same. This is such a large subject one can only hope to touch on a few of the many sides of the question. In connection with the Cradle Roll department, I might say that the result of this work is not so much with the child as with the parents and the school fails to grasp a golden opportunity which does not extend its arm of sympathy and affection to the home, when the hearts of the parents are made tender by the cry of the little babe which to them is a treasure beyond all value. There is hardly a more opportune time to present Christ to the parent unless it be the sad day when the angel of death enters the home to take the little one back to the gracious Giver. To the Cradle Roll teacher is given the privilege of deeper entrance into the heart life of the parents, than could scarcely be given even to the pastor. Then let us enter humbly and tenderly as becometh one to whom God has intrusted a special message. The average Sunday school worker of to-day feels that the Primary, or Kindergarten department, is one of the most, if not the most, important class in the Sunday school. Some may not agree with this opinion, hut let me say that the work of the primary department is at the foundation

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