THE CANADA LUTHERAN. 3 the charity and benevolence of the Lutheran Church in other lands from which it borrowed its ministers. In a growing country like Canada, which was going forward by leaps and bounds, commercially, financially, educationally, and in manifold other ways, it was evident that such a state of things could not continue, if our Church was to take its proper place in our great Dominion. The need became increasingly urgent, and the call to the Church to establish a training school for its pastors became more and more insistent, until at last the call was heard and this institution was founded. Here we have a centre from which our influence is to radiate in every direction and to impress itself upon Canadian life. From this institution, small though it is now, there is to go forth a spirit, a mighty influence, an evangelical power telling for the up-- building of Christ's kingdom in Canada. And, young men, it depends largely upon you as to the extent in which our Church is to make itself felt in this land. You are Canadians, loyal to the land in which you live, in sympathy with the aspirations of its people, sympathetic with their views of things, and sharing their conditions. You will have an open door to their hearts as you carry to them the greatest of all blessings, the pure Gospel of Jesus Christ. You are here, I take it, because you believe that, that it is God's will for you that you should take up the highest calling in life, the noblest, the most useful, and the most beneficial to men. Moved by the Spirit that animated Paul, you feel, "Woe is me if I preach not the Gospel." You are here because you feel that you are not qualified as yet to enter upon this exceedingly responsible calling, but are in need of preparation, an all-round preparation of mind and heart and soul. You are here that you may become efficient in the high and holy calling which you have chosen as your life work. Efficiency is the watchword of the age. It is the test applied to men to-day in every trade, business, or profession. It is the test inexorably applied to those who aspire to leadership in the world of affairs. But it is equally necessary for those who would become leaders in the Church of Jesus Christ. You are here to improve the opportunities offered you in this Seminary. This will require diligent application and hard work on your part. Your professors are here to lead you, to guide you, and to direct you; but much depends upon your own earnestness and zeal. The theological disciplines will claim your attention. And if we look at the matter in its widest horizon, the number of these is well-nigh appalling. As Christianity comes in contact with life at every point, no form of human knowledge is altogether alien to it. You must become sufficiently familiar with many subjects to know, at least, the principles that underlie them. But of prime importance to you are such subjects as these: Exegesis, the study of the Scriptures in the languages in which they were originally given; Dogmatics, the study of the doctrines derived from the Word, as tested, sanctioned and approved by the Church; Church History, the record of the conflicts, defeats, and victories of the Church in its progress through the world; Homiletics, the application of theological knowledge to the great art of preaching; Pastoral Theology, the practical application of Scriptural truth to the wants and needs of individual souls; Missions, Home, Inner and Foreign, which show the Church alive and active, going forth in the Spirit of its Master, conquering and to conquer the world .for Christ; Apologetics, the defence of Divine Truth against the assaults of scientists, philosophers, critics, skeptics, and unbelievers. But above all these is one book, the Book Divine, the Holy Bible. During the years that you are here the English Bible is to be your constant and most intimate companion and friend. Its precious passages, in ever-increasing number, are to be stored away in your memories, pondered, meditated. upon and kept in your hearts, and applied to your lives and to your personal experience. Let it never be said of you, as is sometimes said of seminary students, that you know all about the Bible, but very little of its contents. Let it not be said that, with all your learning you have not learned "the one thing needful." One of the highest compliments paid to a man in the Scriptures is that applied to Apollos where it is said of him that he was "an eloquent man and mighty in the Scriptures." Aspire to merit the same praise. You will never become great preachers until you become thorough- (Continued on page 16)