Paul in that epistle, as you know, is speaking of the church as the body of Christ, and at verse eight of chapter four, he says of our ascended Lord, that "he gave gifts unto men.

And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers."

Why did He bestow these gifts upon the church? Remember, it is He who does bestow them. Colleges and universities, and seminaries and Bible institutes cannot bestow them. They may have a part in the preparation of them, but except a man is given to the church as a prophet, or an evangelist, or a pastor, or a preacher, he can not become such in the heavenly sense.

But why are these gifts bestowed? For a single reason only. They have just one thing to do. They are "for the perfecting of the saints." But, the saints being perfected, what are they to do? The text explains that they are to engage in "the work of ministering for the edifying (the building up) of the body of Christ."

Shall they always, and for ever, be engaged in that work? No, only until "we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ. That "perfect man," my brethren, is not the individual man; it does not mean you nor me, as such; the "perfect man" is that mystical man of whom I have been speaking, that man conceived of in the

thought of Christ as the Head and the church as the members of His body.

The day is coming when we all shall come in the unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God unto this perfect man. That will be the day when there shall be manifested the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ. When that day comes, then "Christ, who is our life, shall appear, and we also shall appear with Him in glory."

AFTERNOON SESSION

Robert B. Haines, of the Haines Gauge Company, and Secretary of the American Branch of the Scripture Gift Mission, Philadelphia, presided during the afternoon session. After urging attendants upon the Conference to carry back home the inspiring messages they were hearing, Mr. Haines went on to say:

"The plan of this conference is a progressive. teaching program, based upon the Bible-the words of Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God, not on visionary speculation; but we must have the illumination of the Holy Spirit to guide us as we study, so that our understanding may be opened, and we have the assurance that our understanding will be opened, and we have the promise that He will give the Holy Spirit to those who truly desire and ask Him (Luke 11:13).

"The first day of the conference was for prayer and humiliation before God, the only attitude in

which to approach our Lord. The lessons were teachings fundamental to our Lord's return-the Bible in its entirety as the inerrant Word of God, the deity, the virgin birth, the incarnation of Jesus Christ; His humiliation, His ministry, His atoning death.

"There is no salvation and no hope for the future apart from the blood. All who are saved must come under it just as surely as the Israelites of old came under it when it was sprinkled upon the doorposts of their houses in Egypt, and whoever did not come under it was cut off.

"The lessons of the second day-to-day-are teachings relating to the age in which we live. The present high-priestly work of Christ; the purposes of God in this age; the capture of Jerusalem; the regathering of Israel, etc. All these teachings are illuminating and are to exalt Him.

"Oh, let us honor and fall prostrate before Him who has done so much for us, for 'He alone shall be exalted in that day.'

"To-morrow the theme is, "The Return of Our Lord and Saviour in Prophecy,' and deals with our resurrection and rapture-His coming for us, His body, His bride, the church; the judgment of our works; and His coming again later with His saints to bring in the millennial age. Our hearts should be filled with praise and rejoicing at this approaching event.

"It may not be out of place to say a word concerning the origin of this great conference. Last fall, when we heard of the capture of Jerusalem

by the English, under General Allenby, after so many centuries of Turkish misrule, our hearts were filled with thankfulness to our wonder-working God, as we felt that this was one indication that the Times of the Gentiles were surely nearing the end, and this afternoon the speaker, Dr. Thompson, who has lived for many years in Jerusalem, will tell us the story of the capture of the city. Immediately after the report of this momentous event was flashed around the world, great advent and prophetic conferences were held in London and Dublin for praise and thanksgiving that Jerusalem at last was freed from the Turks.

"The reports of these meetings which came over to America in the London Christian and other papers were most inspiring, and a few of us in Philadelphia felt that the time was opportune to hold a similar advent testimony meeting, in sympathy with our brethren across the sea, for the study of the prophetic Word. A small group met by agreement one bitter cold day last winter, and after consultation and prayer, fifty invitations were sent to various laymen and ministers to meet together on a Saturday afternoon for further conference. Thirty-nine busy men responded to this call, and those who could not attend sent messages of approval and encouragement. Who can say that such a movement as this was not God's doing? We feel that this conference is of God, and not of man. It has involved a great amount of work in a short time, as you can understand, and I wish to thank our most efficient secretary, Mr.

J. Davis Adams, for the work he has done, and it has not been easy; also all the members of our committee, who have worked together harmoniously and without friction. I wish to thank our large office staff-mostly voluntary-for their cheerfulness, efficiency, and kindness, and for their labor and manifest results.

"One of our speakers, Dr. William B. Riley, has a vision of holding great conferences similar to this one in different parts of the country, from the Atlantic to the Pacific Coast, and we hope this one may be a forerunner of others.

"The eyes of people have been closed long enough to the great truth of our Lord's return, the prophetic Word, and the closing end of the age in which we now live; and it rests upon us who appreciate this great fact, to speak forth the truth in these days, for 'the truth shall set you free.'"

Mr. Haines then introduced the Rev. Dr. A. E. Thompson, for fifteen years pastor of the American Church at Jerusalem, and who was finally driven out by the Turks at the outbreak of the

war.