We begin our little bulletin for the month with a word, not merely as to the importance, but the necessity for prayer for this work. "Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it." Back of laborers offering themselves, back of clearly opened doors, back of liberal provision for temporal needs, is this great necessity for constant, believing, united prayer. Let us put it very simply:Am I, are you, giving ourselves to prayer? Not occasionally, but regularly, in private, and are we uniting in this labor? Let us make mention of names and places in the daily family prayer, and then we will be looking forward to the regular stated public meetings for prayer and information on this great subject.

We will gladly welcome correspondence with questions or suggestions as to these or other matters relating to the work.

As mentioned in the previous number, our meeting in New York has been postponed this month in order to have a farewell meeting on May 1st with our beloved brothers and sisters sailing for Africa via England, on May 2nd. All preparations have been practically completed; the freight has been shipped, the passages booked, and all is in readiness. We are looking forward to a season of special blessing at the meeting, not only for ourselves who remain, but for those who sail. They are going out, not knowing what is before them, realizing in some measure the trials and difficulties, but knowing the unfailing grace of our Lord.

It will be a cheer to all to know how generously the beloved saints have responded with their gifts in fellowship with the work. At this writing considerably over $9,000 has been received. All needs have been met, and sums have also been sent to other fields, for the work in Japan and China, and in the Congo Region, and Nigeria. For all this bounty we would return heartfelt thanks, blessing the Giver of all good for His unspeakable Gift. We are hoping to give some definite and detailed account of the work in Japan, where our dear brother E. B. Craig and his wife have been laboring a good many years. Our brother was led in a remarkable way to this field. He had gone with our brother B. C. Greenman for a visit to New Zealand, and from there he went to Australia, serving in the gospel in both countries. From there he went on to Japan, making a preliminary stay, and on his return home was so impressed with the need in that great field that he decided it was the Lord's mind to devote his strength to that land. The Lord has graciously owned the work, and there has been fruit in the conversion of souls and the establishment of little centers of testimony. Quite a good deal of the work is being carried forward by native brethren, of whom Dr. Tsukiyama and E. Hirano are best known. Our brother Craig has been enabled to translate a number of books into the Japanese, and to conduct a little periodical in the native tongue. It is right too, to remember our native brother Kasamatsu who was brought to the Lord while in California, and returned to devote himself to the need of his countrymen. After laboring a number of years, he was called home, not however, until our Brother Craig had been established in the work. During the sufferings caused by the terrible earthquake, our brother and wife, themselves spared from injury, were enabled to minister to the sufferers about them, and distribute the bounty sent from this country.

We are thankful to know that in recent years, both in Japan and China, suited homes have been secured for the workers, so they are not subject to sudden orders to vacate by none too friendly native owners.