THE CANADA LUTHERAN. 5 saved." We were rewarded with a definite nod and we turned in prayer to Him Who can save to the uttermost all those who put their trust in Him. It was enough. That man may have had powerful arms but they were now helpless. He may have had feet swift to move but they could not now take him to a place of safety. His mind may have been brilliant but it could not devise a way of escape from death. The body failed. In Christ alone could the spirit take refuge. "Not by works of righteousness which we have done but according to His mercy he saved us by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost." Let those who preach salvation by man's works consider that in the greatest crisis of life man's powers fail him and at best he has but a little strength. His stride does not take him across the chasm that sin has made between him and God nor does his reach extend to heaven. He cannot save himself. Salvation is a gift through Jesus Christ. Through faith alone by God's grace, man is privileged to appro- priate Christ's salvation. By God's grace he is also privileged to convey to other souls the power through which they can be saved. It is here we learn the meaning of "Faith without works is dead." The life of the body is the spirit and it would be foolish to talk about the works of hands, feet or other organs when there is no spirit. At the same time the spirit abides in the body only so long as that body furnishes expression for the spirit. Faith can live only so long as soul and body express its life in works of obedience to Christ's commands--in other words only so long as service is rendered in Christ's kingdom. By such service is meant a going out into the world to preach the Gospel and the undertaking of efforts to preserve that Gospel at home. It implies intercessory prayer and words spoken unto edification. It means physical labor to relieve distress and the making of gifts to the poor. St. James has such service, which is a fruit of faith, in mind when he says: "Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father, is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world." Such works always react on faith to strengthen it and such strengthened faith returns to even greater works. The regenerated life kindled by the Spirit, is developed, enriched and beautified. The Christ and His King- dom become more and more precious until the soul rises to that inseparable communion and blessedness that heaven will provide. What the Church needs is Christians transformed by the renewing of their mind and able to prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God, not finding the commandments of God grievous because the love of Christ constrains them. This is life. BOOK REVIEWS. "It Came to Pass."--A Christmas programme based on the entire Christmas story, Luke 2, with application according to the three articles of the Catechism; by Adolf T. Hanser. Eight pages, printed in the Christmas colors, red and green. Lutheran Publishing Co., Buffalo, N.Y., 5 cents a copy; 25 copies $7.00; 100 copies, $3.25. We commend this programme to our readers. We consider it very good. We only regret it was not published with music. Instructions are given, however, as to how the music may be obtained.--N. W. WESTERN CONFERENCE. The Western Conference of the Synod of Central Canada met in St. Paul's Church, Guelph, on Tuesday, October 9th. All the pastors but one were present, but the laity were not represented as they should have been. The Rev. W. H. Knauff, President of Conference, preached the conference sermon from Amos 8: 11, 12. Holy Communion was administered by the President and Secretary. The President in his report urged congregations 1. To make the most of Jubilee year, 2. To attend promptly to the paying of their apportionments and, 3. To observe Home Mission Week on Nov. 18-25. A doctrinal paper that was much enjoyed was presented by Dr. Little, on the Tenth Article of the Augsburg Confession. Resolutions urging intercessory prayer for the nation and the Empire and the meeting of the General Council in Philadelphia were passed and acted upon. Rev. W. H. Knauff was re-elected President, and Rev. E. Huenergard, Secretary-Treasurer. Reports have come in from London that the Secretary of the World's Evangelical Alliance has engaged the largest hall in London for three successive mass meetings in the honor of the Reformation.