4 THE CANADA LUTHERAN. THE CANADA LUTHERAN Published monthly in the interests of Lutheranism in Canada, by the authority of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Central Canada. PUBLICATION COMMITTEE Editor--Rev. H. A. Kunkle, M.A., i8 Victoria Ave. S., Hamilton, Ont. General Manager and Treasurer--Rev. N. Willison, Unionville, Ont. Associate Editors--Rev. W. H. Knauff, Pt. Colborne, Ont., and Mr. E. H. Beckman, Theological Seminary, Waterloo, Ont. All communications must be sent in to the Editor by the 15th of the month previous to publication. Subscription price so cents per annum, payable in advance, to the Treasurer. Send remittances by Draft, P. 0. Money Order, Express or Bank Money Order, not by cheques unless certified and payable at par at Toronto. Advertising rates on application. JANUARY, 1916. EDITORIAL. UP AND ONWARD. R. W. Emerson. We do not believe there is any force in to-clay to rival or recreate that beautiful yesterday. We linger in the ruins of the old tent, where once we had bread and shelter, and organs, nor believe that the spirit can feed, cover and nerve us again. We cannot find ought so dear, so sweet, so graceful. But we sit and weep in vain. The voice of the Almighty saith, "Up and onward for evermore!" We cannot stay amid the ruins. Dear Christian Friends: The old year is history and has recorded blessings as well as losses and failures. A retrospect is simple, sometimes amusing, sometimes sad. It found many men very busy, some doing something, some idle. What will 1916 bring to us? What measure of faith, of thrift, of earnestness and of sympathy shall be recorded to our side of the ledger account with God and our fellowmen? How much of our time shall go to things religious, humane and eternal? How much merely for the world? "Why stand ye here idle?" will be asked or each one of us again for the New Year. "Go labor in My vineyard" is stille the dear Lord's patient and earnest command. "Up and onward" Christian soldiers is surely a motto for all men of all nations and creeds. There is no excuse. All have some gifts. Dr. James M. Speers in his fine address delivered at the great National Missionary Convention recently on "The Laymen's Opportunity," gives us the following: Perhaps some one is saying, "Oh, I have no experience, no capacity for doing Christianity's duty or work. I cannot undertake to do personal evangelism, etc." Well, that is the way, as Dr. Bushnell says, to keep your incapacity forever. To overcome it just be a true Christian. Undertake whatever task God gives you cheerfully and courageously and thereby gain ability to do your duty by doing it. Of one thing we may be certain, that obligation is not measured by our own ability, but the power that God is ready to give when we undertake our duty. His promise is that "They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength." That is, be supplied with strength for every new duty. The blue flag with the white cross is the only flag, the banner of righteousness, that we allow to float above our nation's flag. We are glad that all the world shall know that we salute the ensign and acknowledge the rule of King Jesus. Let us meet the call of God and of the world; let us take advantage of our opportunity for service; let us fulfill our, obligations as Christian men by swearing anew our allegiance to Jesus Christ by making Him King in our home life, in our business life, in our civic life in our church life, as He has never been before, and in that way remove the impotence and disarm the criticism aimed against His Church. These earliest men of God have paved the way, let us walk therein. They have built the foundations and laid the corner stones, let us erect the superstructure, adorn the houses of worship and gather the lambs into the fold. The soldiers have responded to the King's call and are marching down the avenue while these words are penned. They heeded the call; they are willing to go into training and obey the command, "Go and conquer the foe." Millions of soldiers and billions of dollars are now placed upon the altar of the battlefield. What a picture of loyalty [ loyalty ]! The Captain of our Salvation, the Lord of lords and King of kings gave the command, "Go ye into all the world." We have a common foe-