We publish elsewhere an account of the burning of the Congregational church and school building of the Emerson Institute, Mobile, Ala. The origin of the fire is indicated by the following offer of reward: “$300 reward. The undersigned will pay the above reward of $300 for the arrest, conviction and punishment of any person or persons who set fire to any of the following buildings, to wit: Residence of John F. Cotham, house of Annie C. Sullivan, house belonging to estate of Boulo, Congregational Church building. A. P. BUSH, President Mobile Board of Underwriters.”
The school was enjoying a winter of unusual prosperity at the time of the fire, and as will be seen by the communication referred to it has made temporary arrangements for the continuation of its work.
Our newly-appointed business agent for the Mendi Mission, Mr. I. J. St. John, in describing his journey from Freetown, West Africa, to our Good Hope Station, writes: “Mr. Hall and myself had been on the water in a boat with nothing but the soft side of a hard board to sit on and sleep on for three days and two nights, with nothing to eat but bread and strawberry jam. The worst of it was the board each of us had was only fourteen inches wide and four feet long.” These brethren will watch with special interest the report of the receipts for the John Brown Steamer, which we shall commence to build as soon as the money is assured. We trust the friends of this Association will keep right on furnishing funds for this object. About one-third of the $10,000 needful has been subscribed.
ARTHINGTON MISSION.—A PARALLEL.
The enterprises of different nationalities operating in northeastern Africa are continually converging about Khartoum, which, during the past three years, has been transformed in appearance from an African to a semi-European city. Good houses and extensive stores have been constructed, and at present all supplies required by modern civilization are furnished.
The activity in this locality is indicated by some of the following circumstances: Recently Mr. Goodwin, engineer at Cairo, reported to the Egyptian government the necessity of prolonging the railroads of lower Egypt to the Egyptian Soudan. A Spanish association is planning an expedition from Korosko to the Albert Lake. Agents of the Italian Society of Commerce are on their way to Khartoum for mercantile purposes. The English government contemplate locating consuls south of the desert, both at Souakim and Khartoum. A special interest seems just now to be taken in the Galla country. Baron Müller, with a German expedition, is heading towards this locality. Piaggia is at Khartoum, from whence he purposes to penetrate the same region. There is also reason to believe that Count Pennazzi is already making his explorations in that country.
We are chiefly interested, however, in an enterprise which is parallel to our proposed Arthington Mission.