Prof. Wm. L. Gordon died August 28th at the residence of his father-in-law, Rev. W. I. Hunt, of Columbus, Mich., at the age of thirty-four years. Mr. Gordon became connected with the A. M. A., as Principal of the Avery Institute at Charleston, S. C., in 1880, which position he held until 1882, when he was transferred to Tillotson Institute, Austin, Texas, to become its Principal and Treasurer, where he remained until the time of his death. He became a Christian in his boyhood, although he did not connect himself with any church until he arrived at manhood. Rev. J. H. Parr, who was associated with Prof. Gordon during the past year at Tillotson, sends us the following estimate of Mr. Gordon's character: "To know him was to love him. No sounder advice than his was ever offered to young Christians. No one ever felt a deeper solicitude in behalf of the wayward and thoughtless. We cannot adequately speak of the loss which the bereaved wife and children sustain. We only venture to say that the school to which Mr. Gordon gave the last and best years of his life has lost its wisest counselor and truest friend. The American Missionary Association has lost a most faithful worker, and those who knew him well have lost the visible presence of one they loved, but they cherish a memory which shall be fragrant and inspiring forever." His Christian faith never wavered in all his sufferings. Only a few minutes before he died, he said: "Bless the Lord, O my soul, for all His kindness and goodness to me." * * * * * Another Missionary steamer has been set afloat. The London Missionary Society, after anxious and weary waiting, announces that its iron steamer the _Good News_ has been successfully launched on Lake Tanganyika, in Central Africa. To make an iron steamer in England, transport it in pieces across the ocean, have it carried, piece by piece, on men's shoulders, through jungle and forest, into the very heart of the Dark Continent, have it set up and launched upon the great lake whose waters and shores and inhabitants the story of Stanley and Livingstone has made of such thrilling interest to the Christian world, is surely an achievement that challenges our admiration. An Herculean task! But it has been done. In the name of Christ and in the interest of His kingdom, it has been done! The natives were greatly puzzled to know how the steamer was ever to be gotten into the water, or how, if in the water, she could ever float. Mr. Roxbury, the Society's engineer, who had the matter in charge, thus describes their perplexity: