KNOWING, GIVING, PRAYING. These are the three strands of the rope by which the car of missions is drawn. This is the trinity of Christian work. The three are one, and each one is only itself fully as it is with the three. One can have little interest in knowing of a work for which he neither gives nor prays. His knowledge will be indefinite and easily forgotten. It has no grip in it such as comes from a personal connection. In the nation’s war, men and women thought of it, read of it, were eager to know the latest tidings, because their sons and their wealth had been given to the cause which they believed was God’s, and their prayers were daily following as they traced the progress of the day. No one will give generously or sufficiently when he has not taken pains to know. You cannot get up much enthusiasm over a mere list of stations or catalogue of workers. Dr. Albert Bushnell says that half the Presbyterian churches in the United States give nothing to the cause of foreign missions, and that many who do not give do not pray. We should be willing to go further than that and say that none who do not give can pray effectually. They may repeat prayers possibly in public for missions, because that is the proper thing to do, but such are but “vain repetitions” against which we are warned. We all agree that missions need the prayers of Christians; that such prayer is the duty of all who bear the name of Christ. Then it is equally a duty for all such to fulfil the conditions by which they may be able to pray aright. It is a duty to know about the progress of the Redeemer’s cause. If He bids us say, “Thy kingdom come,” He will not be content with us if we sit with closed eyes, indifferent to the signs of its coming. But how many Christian people take pains to keep themselves informed of the affairs of the nations of the earth, their wars, their acts, their commerce, and skip the paragraphs which tell of the contests and conquests of Christ’s kingdom! How many who know of the strifes and supremacies of parties in Maine and Mississippi, know nothing at all of the religious state or progress of our land! Is it likely that such will give much, or pray earnestly? Nor will they pray aright unless they give. That makes it their work. That establishes their interest in it. That, if it be real giving—not mere throwing away to avoid the trouble or the embarrassment of saying No—based on intelligent appreciation of the need, enlarges and emphasizes and doubly underscores the prayer which, then, with the alms ascending, will surely find their way to God together. Friends, we want your prayers for us, for our workers and for our work. But we want prayers that are weighted by your gifts—they will rise the better for it; and that are illuminated with your intelligence—they will be read the better for it, even by the Father who “dwelleth in light.” * * * * * TILLOTSON COLLEGIATE AND NORMAL INSTITUTE, AUSTIN, TEXAS.