WH

HAT are you planning for your Juniors for Christmas? There are so many fascinating plans; here are a few suggestions:

1. Have a public meeting full of the Christmas spirit, invite all the parents and friends, sing Christmas carols, have Christmas stories and several appropriate exercises. "Visions of the Christmas Star," which provides for some costuming, is very effective. (General Literature Committee, 844 Drexel Building, Philadelphia.-2c.) Use some of the articles in this number of the REVIEW.

Let the children cut out stars, holly leaves, poinsettias, bells and other Christmas emblems, from red, grecn and gold paper, and give those out as invitations. Or cut out white candles from cardboard, using red crayon to make flame, and write on the back "This little candle lights the way to the Junior Christmas meeting."

Small calendars made by mounting the one-half cent size Madonna pictures (Perry pictures) on red cardboard with a calendar at the bottom and red ribbon at top-with the dates of the Junior meetings and the Committees printed at the bottom, make an attractive gift for the leader to give the Juniors.

2. Have the Social and Missionary Committees arrange some special features for the meeting:

Jack Horner Christmas Pie. Make a pie of brown paper on a deep plate, decorate it with holly and red ribbon, and fill it inside with plums cut from purple cardboard, with a string fastened to each, and on each write a wish for a happy Christmas for others. Have children pull these out and read. Or Christmas pictures may be distributed in this way.

Wreaths of Christmas Cheer. Cut out wreaths from green paper. Add red berrics. Paste in the center of these pictures of different parts of our missionary work, and write below a plea for helping each Or use bells, each one ringing with a message for the children to spread abroad Christmas cheer for others. Use these in the decoration of the room.

one.

The Wonderful Christmas Tree. Draw a large Christmas tree on a large sheet of paper, or cut one from green paper and paste on cardboard. A real tree may be used. Give children pictures of our schools in Japan, India, our orphanages, etc., mounted on stars, bells and balls. Have the children decorate the tree with these, giving a few words about the work as they do so.

3. Handwork. Have the children make booklets illustrating the Christmas story. Make these of heavy brown paper, with white pages, or light covers can be used, decorated with holly or pictures cut from the magazines. Then let the children collect all the pictures of shepherds and angels and Madonnas, and sheep and cattle and stars that they can find, and after the Christmas lesson is taught, let them pick out of these pictures those that tell the story and arrange them in their books so as to illustrate the whole story. This can be done with the aid of a little drawing. The books can afterward be sent to the hospital for Christmas.

4. Posters. Put up in your room for the Junior meeting charts telling the Christmas story. On red cardboard put up pictures of the wise men and the angels and the shepherds; post cards can be used. Then the Madonnas in brown with a bit of holly added, and some part of the Christmas story written around each, make lovely charts. Emphasize the missionary part of the Christmas message by putting in the centre of a large sheet of cardboard a Christmas picture, and around it group pictures of the various heathen nationsask the children to bring these. Print the Christmas message in large letters-"Behold I bring you good tidings

which shall be to ALL people." Tell the children stories of some of these people who have never heard the Christmas message.

5. Service. Christmas is not Christmas without some plans for helping others in the Junior League. Let the Juniors help pack a Home Mission box, have them prepare gifts for the sick, the hospitals and our settlements. They can make calendars and blotters, dress dolls, cut out patches and put them into bundles for the old folks, make scrap books for the babies-many suggestions can be used. Let them bring toys for some poor children, magazines and fruit for the shut-ins, and cards for the sick. Have them if possible arrange a little celebration for some poor children of the neighborhood or the orphan home. They can use the tree used in the Christmas festival of the Sunday School, they can sing their Christmas songs and repeat their Christmas exercises, and then play some games and have a social time-after which have a distribution of gifts and candy from the tree and a little treat for the children.

6. Lastly to close the holiday season, (Continued on page 33)

JANUARY 4, 1920.

The Sower.

By William H. Heinz.

Scripture Lesson-Matthew 13:3-8. The Lesson-Jesus is speaking to a large gathering of people. The way in which He is doing so is very interesting. Let us try to form in our minds a picture. The crowd was so large that it was necessary for Jesus to be placed so that He could speak to them in the same way that men address large crowds today. There was no stage, no platform, no pulpit; so Jesus went "into a ship, and sat, and the whole multitude stood on the shore." Then He told them a story. This story was not just to amuse them. It was to interest them and to teach them a lesson. The seed which Jesus mentioned was the Word of God. The lesson He wanted them to learn was the way in which the Word was received by the people.

Its Application-How are you receiving the Word of God? If you hear it and do not know what it means or do not try to learn then you are like the wayside where the seed fell and the birds came and carried it away.

If you hear it and are pleased with it and obey just for a little while and then forget it all you are like the stony ground, for Jesus tells us here the seed takes root, but only for a short time when the sun comes up and scorches the grain and it withers. Do not become easily discouraged in doing good but let the Word of God take such a deep root in your heart that you will be one of His good strong plants.

Now, then, be careful of this part. If you hear the Word and let some one else lead you to forgetting it you do wrong. Then you are allowing tares to grow up among the grain. Tares are weeds or thorns. This is the bad things you do and think and which grow up and choke the good deeds and thoughts. If you are a good strong plant there will not be room for the tares in your mind.

Now for the last and best part. The good ground. This is when you hear the Word, and understand it, and lead such a life that you spread it out among others. You know if a seed is planted it is expected to grow and to multiply. This is what you are supposed to do with the Word of God. The best place to learn how to do so is in your Sunday school and in your Intermediate Luther League. Always be willing to learn how to do things for Jesus. Then you will be able to increase your good works.

Hints-Have one member read a verse of the Scripture lesson and another one the answer as found in Matthew 13:19-23. Follow this out until the whole lesson is covered.

JANUARY 11, 1920.

The Tares.

By William H. Heinz.

Scripture Lesson-Matt. 13:24-30.

Lesson-In our Scripture lesson Jesus is telling another story. Did you notice how simple and plain it was? Every one could understand it. No doubt among the many people Jesus was speaking to there were some who were not good and who were like tares in a field. Jesus tells the people not to destroy the tares while they are growing among the grain for in doing so some of the grain might be destroyed also. The tares were to represent wicked people and the grain the good people.

Applied Let us first know that the sower mentioned in the lesson was Jesus. The grain

which He speaks of is the good people while the tares are the wicked people. The field where all these things are growing is the world. To which class do you belong? Whenever we know of a person who is not just as good as we think he might be, we are not to be too quick to try to get rid of him. We must do those things which are right and set an example for others to follow. In this way we will lead others to do good. You may know of some one in your Sunday school, in your Luther League, and, as you grow older, in your church, who you will say is a tare among the grain. You are not to treat them in such a way that they will leave, but you are to try to correct them and lead them to do things which will be pleasing to God. If they will not listen and continue to be wicked until the end of their lives then God will take care of them. We are told in the lesson that the grain will be gathered into the barn. This means that if you have led a good life you will be taken into Heaven. The tares will be cast into the furnace and burned. This means that if you have led a wicked life you will be cast aside and put among those who are to be punished. If you read Matthew 13:43 you will see these words of Jesus, "Who hath ears to hear let them hear." Having read this lesson we have learned of what Jesus wants us to do and if we do not do it we have only ourselves to blame.

"And Jesus

Memory Passage-Mark 1:17. said unto them, come ye after me, and I will make you fishers of men."

The Lesson Developed--When Jesus was upon earth He chose a band of men, twelve in number, to be His special companions and they were called apostles. He gave them instruc tions as to what they should do and taught them a great many things which He did not teach the crowds which followed Him, and gathered at any place He preached. When He first called these men and asked them to follow Him He told them He would make them fishers of men. Several of the twelve were fishermen but Jesus made them all fishers for other prizes than those found in the lakes of Galilee.

His teaching was preparing them for the time when they should go forth in couples or alone to preach and teach in the uttermost ends of the earth. They were allowed to witness many of the miracles which Jesus performed and to hear not only His private instruction but also those parables and lessons given to the multitudes. Jesus also taught them to pray.

The whole work of the apostles was foreshadowed in those three words "fishers of men." Many things were needful for them to learn before they would be fitted for the great work. They must overcome many temptations within themselves, strengthen their own characters, and grow in grace. They must learn to be humble. All these qualifications Jesus endeavored to instil into them as they traveled up and down Palestine and He also gave them to understand the treatment they might expect, even such as He told them he would receive at the hands of his fellow countrymen. He desired to strengthen their faith so they might go forth

to teach and in turn revive the faith of the new believers if they became luke-warm.

With this careful preparation when the outpouring of the Holy Ghost occurred on that first Pentecost Sunday, they were then fully

equipped and knew just where and how to continue the work.

Suggestions-Name the twelve apostles. Find out each one's temporal occupation and the city each one came from. The order of their calling. Special missions any undertook. Did any receive special commissions? Make a list of all the special things any of the apostles are known for. How did each one of the twelve meet his end?. Were any of these endings foreshadowed? Explain and give reference. Who was chosen in the place of Judas. Why is Paul classed as an apostle since he is not one of the twelve? JANUARY 25, 1920.

The Conversion of Saint Paul.
By Erle C. Greiner.

Acts 9:1-9; 11; 12.

Parallel Passages Acts

26:9-17; I Tim. 1:12-15.

"This is

Memory Passage-I Timothy 1:15. a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief."

The Lesson Developed-The first mention we have of the name of St. Paul in Scripture is at the stoning of Stephen, where we are told "the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet whose name was Saul." He was a Jew of the sect of the Pharisees, who particularly hated the followers of Jesus and was inflamed with a strange zeal which caused him to desire the death of every follower of Christ. After the death of Stephen he appeared more bitter in his hatred and sought out the believers in Jerusalem dragging them forth to prison. This caused many to flee the city and seek other homes. Not content with his work at home he went to the high priest and besought authority to seek the followers of Christ in other cities and with a band of men eager to do his bidding turned his steps toward Damascus.

As they neared the city lying in the splendor of a noon day sun, suddenly a light, more dazzling than the glory of the sun, appeared and all fell prostrate to the earth. A roaring sound as of thunder was heard. but to Saul it was a voice speaking, "Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?" And trembling and afraid Saul asked, "Who art thou, Lord?" Again the voice from heaven spoke, "I am Jesus of Nazareth whom thou persecutest." And thoroughly humbled the proud Pharisee asks, "What wilt thou have me to do?"

He

He is told to go into the city and there learn what he is to do. When Saul arose from his feet and opened his eyes he saw no one. was blind. Instead of entering the city to terrorize the followers of Jesus he is led into it blind and groping. He remained three days fasting and praying and then a disciple of the lowly Nazarene named Ananias was instructed to go to him and put his hands upon him that he might receive his sight. At his touch the scales fell from his eyes and he was baptized. Now no more Saul, the persecutor, but Paul, an apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Suggestions-What are we told of Paul's personal appearance? Have one Leaguer prepare a short paper on the early life of Paul. Explain the reason for the change in his name. Where did Paul go and what did he do after his conversion and for how long? What is Saint Paul often called? How does he rank among the apostles? How many times and to whom did Paul relate the story of his conversion? For what purpose each time?

JUNIOR TOPICS

JANUARY 4, 1920.

"Mook" and His Friends.

By Miss Brenda L. Mehlhouse.

(The Missionary Topics for the Junior Luther League have been prepared under the direction of the Literature Committee of the Women's Missionary Society of the United Lutheran Church in America. The graded missionary material for the use of Junior Luther Leagues formerly published in Lutheran Boys and Girls will be printed in a separate pamphlet. Because of the increased price of paper and composition Lutheran Boys and Girls will be reduced from eight to four pages. The first issue will appear January, 1920. Lutheran Boys and Girls will contain missionary material which will be of value to Junior leaders and boys and girls in the Junior society and Sunday school. The Junior Leaders' Quarterly will begin with the January quarter and will contain helps for the three grades of Juniors for January, February and March. Price 50c per year, 15c per quarter. Subscriptions for The Junior Leaders' Quarterly, orders for the book "Mook" and all other material referred to in the Missionary Topics should be ordered from the office of the General Secretary, 846 Drexel Building, Philadelphia.

Restatement of material: Junior Leaders' Quarterly, price 50c per year, 15c per quarter; Lutheran Boys and Girls, weekly missionary publication for Juniors, price 40c per single copy, 25c per copy in clubs of ten, sent to one address; "Mook," price 35c paper, 55c cloth.)

Opening song.

Scripture Lesson-Luke 1:76-79.

Prayer (a few moments of silent prayer, closed by the superintendent).

The story told briefly by the superintendent -Chap. 1 and 2 from "Mook."

The story impersonated by the Juniors-The principal characters to impersonate are: 1. Mook-Chapter 1. 2. The Duchess-Pages 32 and 33. Begin with Ai-yah, stop at "We are safely here.' 3. "Cross Patch" or "Malea"recite poem on page 49. 4. "Moon Fairy" or "Moon Pearl"-select portions recited by them on pages 37 to 47. 5. Miss Ling, the head teacher-Pages 46 to 48.

Sentence prayers, offering, minutes of last meeting.

Roll call-respond with passage of Scripture beginning with "A."

us.

Unfinished business, new business, song. Closing prayer, "God be merciful unto and bless us, and cause His face to shine upon us, that Thy way may be known upon earth, Thy saving Help among all nations." Amen.

Plan to give every child some part in the program. The costuming should be very simple. The larger Juniors can assist in this work. The things mentioned in this story may be found with very little difficulty in any home. Children love to dress up and play that they are somebody else.

Have each child prepare a scrapbook on China. They can make their own collection of pictures from the magazines. If you want something just ready "Everyland Picture Series-Chinese Boys and Girls" will make a fine collection. Decorate the outside with the "Walls of China" or any thing Chinese. Cut narrow stips of blue paper and make the lettering look as Chinese as possible.

How to use one book with a large Junior society-have a scrap book and decorate the back with a picture of "Mook" cut from blue wrapping paper with a little yellow oval for the head; fan, hand and sandals may be added. Clip the illustrations from your textbook and paste them into it. If one page should have a picture on each side cut the leaf of your sera book so as to show both.

Now take your book and separate into the six chapters and bind neatly with the blue wrapping paper, decorating the back with some suitable Chinese picture. Pass the first chap

ter, second, etc., until every child who can read has read the whole book.

We feel that every Junior society should have a cabinet where they may keep the work of the Juniors and when we have gala days for father, mother and friends to come, will have something to interest them and help them to realize what we are doing for their boys and girls.

A suggestion-"Mook" may be costumed in a pair of blue overalls, sister's blue middy blouse, also carry a Chinese fan when he recites. "Cross Patch" should have a piece of bed quilt around her shoulders while she recites the first verse, just as she had when she came into the school of "Abiding Joy." Lay it aside for the second verse thus showing the transformation, or the change made by the

school.

JANUARY 11, 1920.

Our League and the Coming Year. By Erle C. Greiner. Scripture Lesson-Ephesians 5:14-17. Memory Verses-Romans 13:11-12.

Lesson Taught-We are to awake from our dullness and take on new life and, during the coming year, make our League a live and working one.

Lesson Developed-What has our League done during the year just passed? And what are we looking forward to doing in the year to come? The year we are just entering? We must answer the first question thoughtfully and then set about making the coming year one of fruitfulness.

Perhaps we have been negligent in our attendance. Let us resolve from this day not to miss one meeting unless we are ill or have some other real reason. Perhaps we have taken very little interest in the lessons and instead of helping, have been a hindrance by inattention. Let us resolve to be attentive and endeavor to assist our leader in developing the lesson. We must truly awaken from our dullness and take on new life. We must have such vigor within ourselves that we may carry others along with

us.

We want to awaken and be so wide awake that we can awaken many sleepers and soon every one will be awake and our League will have a prosperous year, and all because some one was wide awake.

Our leader alone cannot make the year a year of usefulness to us. We must help. Each one must do his or her part. Whatever the work assigned to us is we must take hold of it with a will and see it completed.

Suppose the wheels in the family clock would all decide to run to suit themselves. What time would the old clock tell? So we must work together, so the work will run true and we may have results.

con

Hints-Plan something definite the children can do during the coming year to help others. Perhaps some fancy baskets might be structed during the winter months and in the spring take them to the woods to fill with flowers and carry them to the hospitals or the shut-ins of the congregation. Arrange for a little entertainment for orphans or aged if there is a home in your vicinity. Make picture books, dress dolls, construct toys to send to the children of a home. Perhaps money could be earned for definite missionary work. Adopt as your motto: "As much for others as for ourselves." Children are happy when they can plan happiness for others. Do not neglect the spiritual side of your League but develop the practical side also.

JANUARY 18, 1920,

God Made All Things.
By Erle C. Greiner.

Scripture Lesson-Neh. 9:6; Amos 4:13.

Memory Verses-Psalms 19:1; 90:2; 124:8; Hebrews 3:4.

Lesson Taught God is from everlasting to everlasting and He created the world and made every thing in it.

Lesson Developed-In the beginning there was no world as we have it today. God was. and then He created our world and all the worlds around us, the sun and moon, and put all things in our world; land, water, sky, mountains, lakes, valleys, rivers and hills. He made the grass, the flowers, the birds, the fish, the animals. While God made all things from the beginning He still watches over all and sees that we have seed time and harvest, trees and plants to produce food for our nourishment, cattle to increase to furnish us meat.

Our subject reads "God made all things." Let us restate the subject as follows, "The things which God has made," and see what the Bible, the book which God caused to be made for us, has to say on our subject. In the first chapter of Genesis what is told us concerning creation? Put on the blackboard the six days and their special events. What does the Psalmist say? Psa. 8:3; 74:16; 89:11-12. From whom does our help come? Psa. 121:2: 124:8. What has the prophet Jeremiah to say about God the Creator? Jer. 27:5; 32:17. How did the apostles bear witness of God's power as creator? Acts 14:15. What does John the Evangelist say we are to give God glory for? Rev. 4:11; 14:7. What did God say when He had finished the creation of the World? Gen. 1:26. Who made us? Psa. 100:3. Who made the nations of the earth? Psa. 86:9. Who made the senses? Prov. 20:12. Who made and preserves our souls. I Peter 4:19.

We will readily see from a careful study of these references that God has made and still preserves to each one of us every single thing in this world which we have and enjoy. God is love and God is good and He has made only good things for us. There is badness and sorrow in the world but it is not God's work. It is the work of the devil and man has brought it upon himself. Sometimes God allows suffering to come upon those who trust in Him, but He never makes their burden greater than they are able to bear and frequently makes the evil of others work out a blessing instead.

Hints-Show how Job suffered, overcame temptation and finally triumphed through faith. Relate the story of Joseph and show how the evil intentions were turned into the salvation of a nation. The story of the crucifixion of Jesus by the wicked Jews and how this made possible the redemption of the world. Put the first article of the Creed on the board. Teach it and Luther's explanation. (For your own benefit study Stump's Catechism first article of the creed.)

JANUARY 25, 1920.

A Strong Body.

By Erle C. Greiner. Scripture Lesson-I Cor. 6:19-20.

Memory Passages-I Cor. 3:16; Psa. 118:14. Lesson Taught Our bodies as well as our souls belong to God, and we must keep the body strong and clean to make of it a worthy home for the soul.

Lesson Developed-I wonder how many of the boys and girls are attracted by feats of strength and I wonder how many realize the kind of body required to make it possible for a person to do these wonderful things. It requires strong and well developed muscles and a steady eye and arm, and these go with a strong body. God does not give every one of us a strong body to start with, and some never possess one; but most boys and girls may, by

careful and regular exercise, develop a strong body. You all recall pictures, no doubt, of the late ex-President Roosevelt, what a big, strong body he possessed, and yet we are told, as a child he was exceedingly frail, but by systematic training he built up a strong body. A strong and clean body invariable owns a clean and clear mind, capable of knowing and applying knowledge. We all want this kind

of a body and should strive for it. Even if our body is frail we should endeavor to build it stronger, do everything in our power toward this end rather than be negligent of it and allow ourselves to become more weakly and frail.

Since God has given us our bodies, and souls as well, we must use them the best we can and make of them all he desires us to be. A strong body requires that we refrain from many things called pleasant, but may lead us into sin. If we desire to train for a race or some particular test of strength, how carefully we should watch over ourselves lest we do something to handicap our chance of winning. How much more carefully should we watch to keep our bodies clean and strong, since they are a gift of God and we must sometime present ourselves before Him!

Hints-Relate the story of Samson, drawing a lesson for the children from his strength, his falling into sin, and the losing of his life "Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God." Teach personal purity will assist in building a strong body.

METHODS AND HINTS (Continued from page 29.) arrange a social for the Junior League. Here are some games:

Trimming the Christmas Tree. Put up a white sheet of cardboard on which is pasted a Christmas tree cut from green paper. Give the children stars, balls, stockings, bells, and other ornaments cut from bright colored paper, blindfold them and let them try to pin on these ornaments. A star on the very top bough counts most. Play this like the old-time Donkey Party.

Filling the Stocking. Give each child a tiny red stocking made of red cheesecloth or of red netting, with a little Santa Claus sticker pasted on, filled with popcorn. Have a large stocking hung up in a convenient place, the top being kept open with wire run round the top. Have the children stand about six feet away, and try to throw their popcorn in the large stocking, grain by grain, which is not as easy as it seems, for the popcorn, being light, very easily misses the mark.

country visited and three of its products. Have refreshments, and use the pretty Christmasy napkins. Red gelatin is a suggestion for refreshments, which some of the mothers might be glad to prepare for you.

From these many ideas you can surely find something that will make Christmas a happy and helpful time for your Juniors. LUTHER LEAGUE TOPICS

(Continued from page 26.)

looking heart of faith. By such a heart, they are to be detected in the myriad little acts of Providence which the world calls "luck," but which the true Christian knows to be the work of a wiser and more kindly hand than that of fate. Nine of the ten lepers that Jesus healed regarded their cure as a bit of "good fortune," but one recognized it to be the work of a Divine Hand and returned to give glory to God. To Peter, the glory of God was revealed only after he had shown forth his willingness, in obedience to Christ's command, to attempt that which was seemingly impossible. And so today, it is to those who, for the sake of the Kingdom, are willing to attempt things seemingly impossible that Christ shows forth the power of His might. If men attempt only things which they of their own natural strength can accomplish, how can they call upon God for supernatural help? But if they, in humble faith and in obedience to His commands, attempt things that lie beyond their natural strength, they will find Him as ready now as He was in the time of Peter to insure their success and fill their nets to the breaking point. If they attempt to catch men, they may not see them come into the Kingdom by the thousands, but they will see individual souls that were twisted and distorted with sin straightened out into noble Christian characters. They will see men that were selfish sacrifice their lives for the Master and those whom He loves. They will see men that hated their fellows become the champions of Christian love. What privilege could be greater than the privilege the Christian has of catching men? To Paul, it was greater than his own soul's salvation: "I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren."

Scripture references: Matt. 4:18-22; Mark 1:16-20; Acts 9:6, 9; Rom. 9:3.

HE MUST BE A CHRISTIAN WHO SERVES