Our own people were quiet enough. We had a little confusion from other churches represented, but nothing serious. The number, hopefully converted on the first of March, was 31. Twelve have been added since, and still there are seekers. I am glad to say that every one, so far as I know, still holds out well. As the people think that to omit washing feet at the communion would endanger their title to heaven, we can form no church. The Band of Hope is practically our church, with one thing in its favor—we have 100 more members than we could have in a church. Almost everybody around belongs to it, except some of the old people, and they are coming. Our members are bound by voluntary covenant. Christ is the corner-stone, and obedience to Him the standard by which all are judged. We warn, exhort, discipline and expel according to Bible rules, and draw sanction from it for all proceedings. There are only seven unconverted members, old enough to know themselves, and they are under conviction. We lack only the name and ordinances of a church. It is most pleasant to see the evident affection shown by the young towards the teacher, and our theological student, Brother Scott, on whom a large share of the work has fallen, and who, if he can be assisted to an education, bids fair to be a power in the land. The children come early and stay late; they crowd around us, and do all they can to please us. They have the freedom of the house, but we never miss even a button. Such a school full of honest, truthful, obedient and affectionate children is rare anywhere. What shall be said of a set of _very dark_ colored children, in a community where the ignorance is simply appalling, and many of them go hungry? * * * * * ALABAMA. REV. W. H. ASH, FLORENCE. The work in Florence for the last two years has been comparatively a new one. The exodus of the colony from here not only took from the town some of the best citizens, but it robbed our church of its strength, both in a temporal and spiritual sense, leaving behind the weakest spiritually and the poorest financially. My first endeavor was to impress upon the people in their discouraged condition, the necessity of having faith in God. Since that time the church has grown in religious life and character; members have been added to it such, I hope, as shall be saved. We have had a revival which served as a great quickening influence, though there were not the number of conversions we had hoped for. Within these two years, we have built a beautiful house of worship, which helps greatly as an attraction to our service; as also does our organ, sent by friends, being the only organ in the colored churches.