Marion, Ala.—In one envelope yesterday, the collection being for the A. M. A., was $5 from a hard-working man, this being one-tenth of the man’s crop—one bale of cotton, which brought $30—showing that your work for this people is not wholly unappreciated. We made the A. M. A. a special subject of prayer at our church meeting last week. Sixty-three at Sunday-school yesterday. Boys’ meeting at the Home fully attended. We have had a “reception” at the Home—all our people, men, women and children, including babies. We only want the special influences of the Holy Spirit.

Florence, Ala.—On the Sabbath, November 23d, a new church edifice was dedicated at this place. Pastor Wm. H. Ash was assisted by Field Superintendent Roy; by student Anderson, from Fisk University, who had preached for the church the year before Mr. Ash came; by the Presbyterian pastor, who offered the prayer of dedication; and by the M. E. South Presiding Elder. Fifty of the best white citizens of the place were present; among them, besides the ministers named, two other Methodist preachers, ex-Governor Patton and four lawyers. These friends contributed freely to the balance needed ($70) to put in the pulpit and pews, which had not yet been secured. It was all raised in a few minutes after the sermon. The house is spoken of by the citizens as the only modern church in the place. It is indeed a gem. It is twenty-five by forty feet, with a brick foundation, a steep roof and a little belfry. It is well painted on the outside, and on the inside ceiled in varnished yellow pine. The total cost was $950. It was built with great economy under the supervision of Mr. Ash. “Howard,” of Boston, is a man who knows how to make fine investments in this line, as several of his ventures of this kind have proved. To his $300, the Central Congregational Church, of Providence, R. I., to which Mr. Ash belongs, added $100. One year ago, more than twenty of the influential and well-to-do members of this church removed to Kansas, else so much of aid would not have been needed. We learn that those people are highly respected in the communities where they have settled. Pastor Ash and his educated wife are greatly devoted to their people. They are also teaching a parish school, which is much approved.

GENERAL NOTES.

Africa.

—Quite full accounts of the Nyanza Mission are given in the last two numbers of the Church Missionary Intelligencer. Mr. Wilson set out August 23, 1878, from Kagei, at the south end of the lake, for Mtesa’a capital, at its northern extremity, in the Daisy, but was wrecked on the way, and compelled to take out a section of the boat with which to repair the rest of it. Eight weeks were thus occupied, during which they received great kindness from the chief and people of Uzongora, a tribe which met Stanley with great violence. They arrived November sixth at Uganda. Mtesa continued to treat them well, despite the efforts of the Arabs to prejudice him against them. Mr. Wilson had gone to meet the three missionaries who were coming to reinforce them by way of the Nile. Mr. Mackay was teaching reading by charts to a large number of old and young. Some valuable conclusions have been reached by their experience—that they do not need ordained men yet so much as those experienced in practical work. “Unless we succeed in elevating labor, we shall get hearers, but no doers. Hence slavery—domestic, at least—cannot cease; and if slavery does not cease, polygamy will remain.” The need of English traders to take the place of the Arabs, who want slaves, is emphasized. The cost of maintenance is very trifling: small presents secure an abundance of goats, coffee, plantains, sugar-cane, etc. It is hoped that long ere this, seven missionaries are together in Uganda, viz.: the Revs. O. T. Wilson and G. Litchfield; Messrs. Mackay, Pearson, Felkin, Stokes and Copplestone. Sixteen in all have been sent, of whom six have died and three have returned sick.

—The English Independent of October 30 says: “It would seem, from communications which have just been received, that the wiles of French Jesuits have already brought trouble to these missionaries. A letter of introduction, written by Lord Salisbury to King Mtesa, was read, and gave great satisfaction. Soon after the arrival of the Jesuits the aspect of affairs was changed. The king accused the missionaries of playing him false, an untruthful report having reached him that the Egyptians were advancing their posts more to the south. Some months passed in a very unsatisfactory manner, and at length one of the missionaries was allowed to go to Egypt to prepare the way for the king’s messengers, who were to be accompanied by Mr. Wilson; two more were permitted to return to the south side of the lake, ‘on condition that they would thence send on to Mtesa some mission stores left there.’ At the end of June, three remained at Uganda, without the necessary facilities either to carry on their mission work or to withdraw. With such troubles they are beset, through the combined intrigues of the enemies of corporeal and spiritual freedom.”

—The same paper says that no direct tidings have been received from the London Missionary Society’s agents at Ujiji on the Tanganika, and ascribes this break in communication to the Arab slave traders, and only hopes that their hostility has been limited to intercepting letters. Dr. Kirk, the consul at Zanzibar, has been instructed to institute inquiries. Dr. Laws, of the mission at Livingstonia (Scotch), has been requested to send messengers to Ujiji to learn the condition. Great solicitude is felt, and a day of special prayer for Divine guidance and help has been appointed. The last accounts in the Chronicle of the London Missionary Society report the death of Rev. A. W. Dodgshun seven days after his arrival at Ujiji, on the way to which place he lost nearly all the goods belonging to that part of the expedition, and the successful progress through Ugogo of Messrs. Southon and Griffith: they were in good health, and confident of reaching their destination shortly.