"A letter recently received from our brother Wm. Amies tells of the safe arrival of himself and Mrs. Amies in London. They were well received, and are staying with Miss Jacob. They expect to sail from Antwerp, Feb. 15th. Every need was met and to spare for their journey. He writes that another little babe has been born to our brother and sister Althorp at the Mission Station in January. This will be a great cheer to the mother after the recent loss of her second baby. May the Lord spare this little one to them."-E. H.

JAPAN NEWS LETTER No. 60.

Tokyo, Japan. Beloved Brethren and Sisters:Jan. 1927.

Issue of the English News Letter has been pushed aside by so many duties in connection with the work of the Lord, that now it is six months since No. 59.

Our Japanese News Letter, which we call Hata to Waza (Field and Work) appears more often. It gives the Japanese brethren and sisters news of the work of the Lord in other lands as well as in their own. It is printed by Brother Tadashi Saito on a Japanese Myriagraph. Our scattered brethren and sisters send in letters relating blessing received, trials encountered, manna obtained from the Scriptures, or experience in gospel testimony. I hope to give extracts from their letters in later news letters.

Baptisms. Two sisters were baptized by Dr. Tsukiyama, and there have been a few more baptisms since last News Letter.

A young woman employed by Mrs. Koll, through reading the Bible every day with Mrs. Koll, and attending the Women's meeting at our house listening to Mrs. Tsukiyama's gospel talks, has confessed the Lord Jesus as her Saviour.

Open Air. During the fall and early winter we had many open air meetings in several places with good hearings. By means of these we have come in touch with several new inquirers. Some young men have been coming to the meetings at our house from the open air meetings we had in this neighborhood. One of these who seemed to be anxious, when he could not get away from work at meeting times, came at other times, and my wife had the joy of teaching him the gospel, and leading him to confess Christ as his Saviour. He seems to be really converted.

Several of the brethren and sisters have been taking part and helping in the open air meetings. We had these meetings nearly every day at some place or other. And we are expecting to resume them again as soon as the weather permits.

Kondankai (Conversation Meetings). In November, at my suggestion, monthly tea-meetings were started, for the brethren and sisters of the Tokyo neighborhood. They have been held so far at Dr. Tsukiyama's and at our house. The consultation and prayer we have had together has been very profitable, furthering interest and activity in the work of the Lord and in the study of the Word.
Workers needed. One matter under consideration at these meetings was the fact that a few of the young brethren are very desirous of devoting themselves to the work of the gospel. But they say they lack faith to give up their employment and start out. I know them to be earnest and sincere students of the Word, and having a yearning for the salvation of sinners.

We have previously experienced cases of brethren starting out in the work and having to return to other employment because of not being supported. Brother Kasamatsu, the pioneer of our company here, had at times some hard experience. At our last kondankai the matter of "tithing" was introduced by one of the brethren, the idea that the Lord's people, not as a legal requirement, but as a privilege, ought to give at least a tenth of their income for the work of the Lord. We hope that this will be acted upon by the brethren here, though for some of the poorer ones it may be more than they can manage.

Reports of Work. Brother Mizuno is going on well in the Lord's work. And now young Brother Fujimoto has declared his purpose to devote himself to the work of the Lord. He was working in a rubber works long hours, but in spite of that he was very faithful at the meetings, and in the open air work, often going a distance and getting home late, although he had to get up very early in the morning. He has a great interest in the study of the Word. He has now given up his work for the Lord's work, but is at present helping in Dr. Tsukiyama's house as Mrs. T. is 99:

Brother Ando, the awning maker of Fujisawa, making a trip to the Izu peninsula on business, as he usually does, took a lot of tracts which he distributed on the way and at the places where he stopped.

Brother Matsumoto of Kobe had a week's preaching tour in Shikoku Island with blessing.

Mrs. Tsukiyama is 99:She has heart trouble. It is not serious they say, but every now and then she has to stay in bed. She has not been able to come to our house for some time past for the Women's meeting. Please pray for her. She has been very faithful in personal testimony for the Lord, leading many to the Saviour.

We have had some financial shortage lately and have been in debt owing to a fall off in contributions for some time past, caused no doubt by the enlarged demands upon the ministry of our brethren, by reason of the increase of the Lord's servants gone to foreign fields, the spread of the harbor work, the disasters in the Bahamas and at Miami, and other claims. Also the Tsurumi house having been vacated the past two months we have not had that income, while the expenses of the house, land rent, taxes, insurance, etc. keep up. At first after the earthquake we had no trouble in renting at a good rental, but now, though we have reduced the rent from 160 to 130 yen we have not been able to rent it yet. There has been remarkable activity in building, so that now there are plenty of houses and apartments to let in Tokyo and Yokohama, and rents have gone down.

Journeys. I have not been able to take the journeys for the gospel and visiting of scattered believers, which I desire, as mentioned in previous letter.

Bible Circulation. The American Bible Society, Japan Agency, had its 50th year Jubilee celebration in October, and closed the year with the largest circulation in its record, 938,800 being the total of Bibles, Testaments and Portions of Scripture circulated in 1926.
In connection with the Jubilee they had a special sale of Gospels and Testaments in the cheaper editions at half price, having a gilt Jubilee imprint on the cover. Our Tokyo assembly bought a large quantity, and we have been selling them at our open air meetings.

Bible Study. This year I have started outline studies, which we hope, with the help and blessing of the Lord, will carry us through the whole Bible in the year, if the Lord tarry. These study meetings are twice a week, but we lay out home work for each day. It is somewhat after the idea of the Y. B. Department in Help and Food. The brethren and sisters are much interested and are keeping up faithfully to the extent of their spare time.

Number in fellowship in our company. In the memorandum sent to brother Harshaw of Philadelphia, giving fuller information as to the work from the beginning, my estimate of the number that are and have been in fellowship was in error. According to a new address list recently compiled there are now about 100 in fellowship, from one end of the land to the other, so that counting all that have been from the beginning, the figure should have been 200 or more, instead of 100 as stated.

From Righteousness to Peace. In Japan this is the second year of "Sho-wa." Within a month one era has ended, a new one has passed through its first year and entered its second. On December 25 at 1:25 a.m. the Emperor Yoshihito died. He had been ill a long time with consumption, leading in late years to cerebral anemia, Immediately the era of "Tai-sho" (Great Righteousness) ended, and the era of "Sho-wa" (Radiant Peace) began. Hirohito, who had been Prince Regent during his father's illness, was sworn in and proclaimed Emperor at once. The new emperor is about 25 years old. His first year was very brief, only 7 days, from Dec. 25 to 31 inclusive; and with Jan. 1 his second year began.

Old Testament method of reckoning eras is thus still in vogue in the Orient. The year 1925 was the 15th of Tai-sho, and latterly the 1st year of Sho-wa. In reckoning Oriental chronology, just as in 0. T. chronology, this double reckoning has to be taken into account.

Birthdays in Japan. Everybody in Japan and other oriental countries adds a year to their age on New Year's day. For example our two boys, who had their 8th and 12th birthdays last year, and are in their 9th and 13th years according to our reckoning, are, in Japanese reckoning, said to be 10 and 14, since the first of January. A baby born on Dec. 31 reaches its second year the next day. So the idea obtains that it is better to be born early in the year so as to have a long first year. This is one of the many indications of the dependent spirit which prevails in the Orient. Instead of the individuality which reckons age from its own birthday, there is the dependence as it were on the Sovereign, reckoning age and dates and times with reference to him. Spiritually there is a good idea in it, that of centering, for the Christian, our affairs in Christ.

As ever, we are thankful for the prayers of our brethren and sisters. The Japanese brethren and sisters always desire to join in sending greetings abroad,

Affectionately yours in our Lord,

E. B. Craig.

Berkeley, Calif, Beloved Brother:- Jan. 27,1927.

I greatly appreciate your kindness in giving space in "Help and Food," which is indeed what the name implies.

I am sure all the missionaries are glad that there is room given there to the interests of the Lord in the world-field and that saints of God are thereby encouraged to pray.

Several saints have sent me back numbers of "Help and Food" for use on the ships, and I have used these in places best suited. But the real and vital need in the work among passengers (and what I had in mind when I wrote regarding this fine opportunity to place before many Christians not acquainted at all with the precious things we hold dear) was that about 100 copies of up-to-date issues, each month, are needed to fill that need in San Francisco Harbor. The same would be true of New York, Antwerp and other ports, and I mention this here for prayer, as to have these would mean much in the work.

Was interested to read about Afghanistan in the January issue. We had a ship with men from that country here in port and when asking the headman if they had anything in their language, was shown a Koran, but only permitted to see the book and not to touch it. So the message of the Cross of Christ our Lord was brought into a specially needy place. If there are "no Christian Missions in Afghanistan" we can rejoice that some of these people were reached, as they came here, so many thousand miles, with the Word of God. Pray for these men.

There has been much to exercise our hearts, also much to rejoice in, and the Lord has not failed us, even in the far flung line of battle. There is a constant need for Gospel literature, especially now in foreign tracts. We pray the Lord for a continued supply of these! We cannot use soiled, torn, or greatly intermixed tracts, much as the good will of the senders is appreciated. Through the Lord's help I was enabled to order needed pamphlets in English at very reasonable cost, and the more one can order at one time the more reasonably can they be purchased, and sent cheaply by freight. Let us not forget that we have wide-open doors, faithful brethren whom the Lord has raised up around the globe to labor in the seamen's work, and it is now mainly a question of the needed tracts in foreign languages. As we are shut up to Him entirely, we would value help in prayer as to this.

Brother Eck arrived safely in Antwerp on Jan. 6, and found it rather hard to find housekeeping rooms and a room for the literature, but this also has been settled by the Lord's mercy. The brethren in Germany were found very faithful and heartily in the work, though in sore need at that time, but in that also the Lord revealed His grace. Brother Sawallisch in Hamburg expects soon to. leave his secular work to take up the work full-time, as the need is so great. We trust the Lord will lead him out if that be His will .

Considerable interest is manifested in Sydney Harbor and it seems the Lord is about ready to answer prayer for that needy port. An urgent request for prayer was made from Shanghai, where some are interested locally. They desired prayer and suggestions as to this work and it seems the Lord has moved hearts there also. Brother J. Willies' step of faith to help in the large port of New York has been a real encouragement to many, especially the New York brethren, brother West, and myself. Unsaved men (and women among passengers) can be reached, almost no restrictions are put in our way, and circumstances allow these people to find time to read.

Appreciating all your past help and kindnesses in the

Lord, I remain,

Yours affectionately in our Lord Jesus,

Oscar S. Zimmermann.

Taitowing, China. Feb. 1927.

It is now some time since ve have been hindered by bandits. Last year for five months we were not able to go out much because there were so many of them about, but last November they were enlisted in the army, and so we were rid of them. Recently, however, they have come back, and a week ago some 500 soldiers were sent to fight them, but we hear that the bandits escaped with their
loot.

China certainly needs Christ. Nothing else will save them, but in times of disturbance preaching is not so easy as in times of peace. Our meetings have been quite well attended, and in the villages we get good crowds, but few receive the truth, and especially now when there are a number of antichristian movements going on, many are afraid.

Since the New Year we have had from forty to fifty children in the Sunday School, but these are boys only, as we can do nothing for the girls until we have some woman missionary to take charge of them. There are also a number of women who seem anxious to know about Christianity, but on account of the customs here it is impossible for us to work amongst them. I had hoped that you would be coming in the Spring, so that we might undertake this and other work.

Well, the Lord knows all things, and we know He makes no mistakes. Let us trust Him more, and seek to please Him more. He is worthy of our service now, and our praise forever more. Kindly remember us in your prayers, as we are remembering you.

With much love in our soon coming Lord,

Charles O. Kautto.

To Mr. and Mrs. Pennington.