ring
his residence in Baltimore, has founded a splendid
charitable institution, the Maryland Home for Friendless
Colored Children, and two young men have been sent into the
ministry of the church directly through his efforts. For
many years the Rev. Mr. Bragg was Secretary of the Annual
Conference of Episcopal Church Workers among the Colored
people. And in addition to his many other arduous labors he
has found time to edit the "Afro-American Ledger," a weekly
of this city, the "Church Advocate," and the "Maryland
Home," monthly publications.

Mr. Bragg is a well known figure in all public movements for
race amelioration, and is a veteran newspaper man, having
been Secretary of the National Press Convention for four
years, beginning with the presidency of the late Rev. Dr. W.
J. Simmons.

At first the asking of this question is a most natural one, seeing
that the great body of Negroes are attached to either one of the above
churches, and it would seem at a first glance that these religious
organizations are pre-eminently suited to the Negro race. But, we hope
to show that not only are other churches adapted to the "present
Negro," but one of these other churches meets the Negro's need better
than either one of those above mentioned. Of course it is hardly
necessary for me to state that our showing is conceived in the very
best spirit, and with the fullness of Christian love towards our
Baptist and Methodist brethren. Did I not believe that the church of
which I am a member is best suited for the Negro, I would at once
renounce attachment thereto and embrace most lovingly the one which I
thought more efficiently equipped to minister to the complexed and
diversified needs of my race. On account of a multitude of reasons,
not necessary to state here, Negroes naturally drifted into that form
of Christianity presented by the Baptist and Methodist churches. With
the innate feeling and strong tendency to warmth, fervor, animation
and excitement, it is not at all surprising that people so strongly
emotional should gravitate in that direction. Whatever may be my own
criticisms with respect to the defects in these two systems, which
render them inferior to the church of which I am a member, and
therefore less suitable to the needs of the race, I much prefer
stating my side of the question and leaving my readers free to draw
their own conclusions. That