,'v; A %' •'vU)
** v1 :•
" ' ''
' * r, '- •
■• V. "
^ ■' &"
«fl ©end ®f GhHst.
—: by the ;—
REV. GEORGE F. BRAGG JR. D. D.
- '•■ > V ' v:||
•' 'ft ■'?;
ft'':
v . •" \ -
.•r.'S:
Grace Church, and Rectory, Norfolk, 1890.
Interior, Grace Church, Norfolk, 1890.
St. Stephen's Church, Petersburg-, Va.
A BOND-SLAVE OF- CHRIST.
Entering The Ministry Under Great Difficulties.
By the Rev. George F. Bragg, Jr., D. D.
Ever since I have had a distinct recollection of early hap¬
penings, when a child, have I been conscious of an inward
feeling that God wanted rne for the Gospel ministry. When
a boy 15 years of age I was enrolled as a student of the branch
Theological School which was established on the premises
of St. Stephen's Church, Petersburg, Va., during the fall of
1878. I became connected with the schootf in January, 1879.
There were six students altogether during that term, the late
Rev. Thomas W. Cain, Archdeacon Russell, myself and two
Methodist and one Baptist minister. The Rev. Thomas Spen¬
cer, an Englishman, was in charge of the school. During this
period, my studies were confined to the languages and phil¬
osophy. At the end of the year I dropped out of the school.
The cause of my disappearance as a pupil was on account of
the conviction of my pastor that I was not "humble" enough.
In his estimation I was wanting in the virtue of "humility."
During the next four or five years, together with my friends,
Archdeacons Russell and Pollard, I studied the ancient lan¬
guages and philosophy, under the direction of a very learned
and eminent scholar, Mr. John D. Keiley, the father of the
Roman Catholic Bishop, of Savannah, Ga. We attended in the
afternoons and paid out of our own pockets for the tuition thus
furnished. Aside from this, during these years, I continued
my rfewspaper business, having two routes, one of a morning
paper, in Petersburg, and the other, an afternoon paper pub¬
lished in Richmond. During -the years, of 1881-82 I had some
political experience by being associated in campaign work
under the committee of which the late Senator William Ma-
hone was chairman. "The Re-Adjuster" party was success¬
ful, and in the winter of 1881, when the Legislature assembled,
I was made a page therein, and, afterwards, promoted as the
postmaster of the House of Delegates. In July of the follow¬
ing yeaf, although not a man, with the money I had saved
while being in the Legislature, I established the first Negro
newspaper, a weekly, ever published by a colored person in
the "black belt" of Virginia. In the fall of 1885, there had
2 ,
been a change in the rectorship of St. Stephen's Church,
Petersburg, Va., and, accordingly, I sought an interview with
my new rector, expressing an earnest desire to become a
postulant for holy orders. He encouraged me, and I was ad¬
mitted by the Bishop as such. During the remaining portion
of the year I taught in the parish school of the Church. On
the first of January, 1886, I entered the Theological School
(afterwards the Bishop Payne Divinity School.) This brings
me to an entirely unique and. original experience, the force of
which can only be fully appreciated by a digression at this
point.
Up to this time in Virginia the settled policy was not to en¬
courage colored candidates to aspire to the priestly office. It
was judged by our good white friends, who even now don't
quite just understand us, that it was practically impossible for
colored men to reach such high eminence; only in very excep¬
tional cases could it be hoped for. At the time of the starting
of the colored divinity school, only one colored man had ever
been priested in Virginia, the Rev. Joseph S. Atwell, who had
come into the diocese as a deacon from the diocese of Ken¬
tucky. The policy then was that all colored candidates should
apply to become candidates for deacon's orders' only. They
were kept in school some three or four years in preparation for
deacon's orders only, and, then, after their ordination to the
diaconate, they were to go forth to their ministerial labors,
and, if they could do that work successfully and find time to
prepare to become candidates for priest's orders, and then, in
addition, pass the three canonical examinations for the priest¬
hood, they would be accounted worthy of such promotion.
In my very soul I rebelled against this unfair and unjust ar¬
rangement, and was fully determined, by. the help of God, so
far as I was concerned, to smash it. Certainly, it was a diffi¬
cult program for one of the colored race, already by some, ad¬
judged as wanting in "humility." Yet, on the first of January,
1886, I entered the Theological Seminary fully determined
upon the course to be pursued by me. There was no one-1
could take into my confidence. Most of the men there would
talk among themselves abojut matters which ought not to be,
but none had the courage or disposition to come in the open
Rev. George F. Bragg, D. D., the present Pastor
of St. James' Church, Baltimore, Md.
4
and speak put like men. Their policy was one of submission.
My good friend Prof. Spencer put me to work teaching in ele¬
mentary branches some few men coming from rural parts, and
had mapped out for. me, during that year, a few studies which
were not strictly theological. At the same time, he was dili¬
gently preparing my friends, Burke, Burwell and Howell, who
had been there some three or four years, to take their exami¬
nation for deacon's orders only, in June of that year, when
the Examining Chaplains visited the scho'ol for that purpose.
I said nothing, although it was pain and grief to me. I mas¬
tered the art, for a little while at least, of holding my tongue
—but, at the same time, no man put in such hard labor as
myself. First I went to a man in whom I completely confided;
I don't think that I have ever loved any man on earth more
sincerely and affectionately than the late Rev. Dr. Churchill
J. Gibson. - In his goodness of heart I had the faith of a little
child. It was utterly impossible for him either to mislead or
deceive me. At least, so I firmly believed. I told him every¬
thing. I revealed to him all that was in my heart. He had
known me before I knew myself. He was the first clergyman
of any kind I had ever consciously beheld. I had procured a
copy of the general canons and I had diligently studied that
portion referring to ordinations with all the powers of my
mind, and I had formed my own plan of action. He had a
place in that plan. In addition to the requisite testimonial
from the rector and vestry of my own church, it was necessary
that I should have a certain testimonial from two presbyters
setting forth the conviction, that from personal knowledge, as
well as examination of me, that I had such knowledge of the
prayer book, etc., as would justify my entrance upon a course
of preparation for the ministry. Dr. Gibson signed the testi¬
monial and Dr. Hains united with him in the same. My papers
were duly forwarded to the Standing Committee, and in March
of that same year, 1886, I was admitted a candidate for dea¬
con's orders only. This was done with a fixed purpose as will
hereinafter appear. Without the knowledge of Prof. Spencer,
I was diligently preparing myself to take the examination for
the order of deacon in June when the Chaplains came to ex¬
amine the other men. I became a candidate so as to be eligible
to take that examination. At the proper time, I took it and
creditably passed the Chaplains. I had only been a candidate
for about four months. Two of the men who took the examin-
5
ation, Burke and Burwell, who were shortly ordained deacons,
requested the Bishop that he would appoint special examiners
to take their literary examinations before they left the city
for their fields of labor, so that they might immediately become
candidates for priests' orders. It was granted, and I forthwith
requested of the Bishop, although yet unordained as deacon, to
permit me to participate in the same special examination so
that I could use it later, if necessary, in becoming a candidate
for the priest's orders. The Bishop readily consented, and I
took the examination and successfully passed. Like the Rev.
Dr. Gibson, Bishop Whittle was my ever true and faithful
friend. He believed in me. He was incapable of being false to
any man, black or white. He was the truest man I ever met
in all the days of my life. He knew and appreciated the ambi¬
tion,'of my soul. He had confirmed me when a boy of twelve
years. At every visitation to St. Stephen's Church he had
a special word and good cheer for me and a warm grasp of the
hand as I would persist in conveying' his vestments to his car¬
riage. Accordingly, without any knowledge upon my part, a
few days later, he had most highly recommended me to a
clergyman from a neighboring diocese, who was at the Vir¬
ginia Seminary desiring to procure a colored clergyman for
some work in liis parish among the colored people. Later,
through my pastor, I was made acquainted with the desire of
this clergyman, and met him in a city whither I was visiting.
We had arranged everything satisfactorily, and Bishop Whit¬
tle, with the consent of the Standing Committee, had deter¬
mined to shorten my probation period by six months, and
ordain me. The unexpected "happened. The clergyman ceased
his correspondence with me, and I was unable to ascertain
the cause. The Bishop had only consented to my leaving the
diocese, because while having a plenty of work he had no
money with which to support me. One day about the middle
of September, 1886, I met the good Bishop at the railroad sta¬
tion en route for his home in Richmond, from a visitation in
Lunenburg county. We talked together about the matter, and
he promised me that he would find out the reason of the delay
and let me know. In a few days I heard from him. He was
then busy arranging to leave for Chicago to attend the General
Convention, and only had time to write but a brief note, but
with this note he inclosed a letter, of which the letter below is
a true copy. And this solved my vexed problem. Here is the
letter:
Sept. 23, 1886.
Rt. Rev. and Dear Sir:
Your kind letter of the 21st inst. is at hand. I should be
extremely sorry to have you think that I lightly regarded your
recommendation of George Bragg, Jr., so I write a word of
explanation.
Very soon after our conversation in the seminary chapel,
I wrote, as you suggested, to Mr. G. , describing my
proposed work, and asking him, if he thought Bragg a suitable
person for it, to approach him on the subject and see if I could
get him. In reply Mr. G wrote me his opinion (quite
favorable) of B,ragg, and told me as B. was coming on to
B , I might see him there and talk the matter over with
him. I decided to do this; and on my way to B I met
Bishop , told him what I had in mind, and readG 's
letter to him. He advised me to see Bragg and form my opin¬
ion of him, but not to close an engagement with him until he
(Bishop ) could make some inquiries concerning him. A
week or two afterwards the Bishop wrote me "my report (of
Bragg) is most decidedly unfavorable. Don't take him" (the
italics are his) whereupon I erased correspondence with
Bragg, and tried to find another man. Failing in this, I wrote
to the Bishop again, asking him to give me leave to try Bragg
for a time at any rate, saying that it was Bragg or nobody, as
I . could get no one else. In response to this letter he wrote
"my information concerning Bragg was from one who had
every opportunity to know, and the statements were very
strong. . . Suppose you write to Rev- and Rev. Mr.
, and ask them to tell you what Bragg's fitness for the
work is, and how far you can trust him. They both know him
well, and I think their answers will be convincing. Better wait
than get a mischief maker." I did not write to the two gentle¬
men named. The Bishop evidently distrusted Bragg's fitness
for the work; and it would have been unkind to Bragg for me
to bring him into this diocese under the circumstances, especi¬
ally as he would have to look to the Bishop for half of his
salary. What the Bishop's objections to Bragg are, I know
not. G in his letter to me, after saying many good
7
things of Bragg1, mentioned. that he was not very popular
among his own people, in Petersburg; and that Bragg had a
very good opinion of himself. The 'first of these objections
was not necessarily to Bragg's discredit, since a Prophet is
not without honor, etc.; and the last might not prove serious.
I read all this to the Bishop, and he shook his head as I read.
I also mentioned that Bragg was the editor of the "Afro-Amer¬
ican Churchman," and this information, too, seemed to distress
the Bishop.
But I infer from'his letters that he has other objections to
Bragg besides these, and I have not been able to remove or
overrule them. I am sure you will appreciate my position and
see that my failure to take Bragg arises from no lack of regard
for your recommendation. This is a case in which it takes
three to make a bargain.
I take advantage of this .opportunity to assure you of my
sincere affection for yourself.
Yours very faithfully,
Several years after the foregoing letter was written, the
Bishop who objected to my entrance into his diocese, put forth
strenuous efforts to have me take work therein of far greater
responsibilities than that I had anticipated as my first work in
the ministry. He became one of the warmest, and confidential,
friends I ever had, and yet, he never knew for once that I was
in possession of all of the above information with respect to
his rejection of me upon the threshold of my ministry.
The principal clergyman who had been at the root of this
opposition, and who had thus wrongly influenced the Bishop,
some years since, voluntarily sought my forgiveness, whfch
was most heartily granted. .For this venerable old clergyman
I have nothing but the sincerest good-will, and would not
minimize the credit due to his magnificent labors, among the
Colored People in days gone by, despite his misjudgment of
me in the past. This clergyman was none other than my old
teacher, an ex-Confederate soldier, who, as my pastor, pre¬
sented me for Confirmation. Some few years ago, we both met
in the chancel of the Church where I had been Confirmed, re¬
ceived my First Communion, Married, and Ordained to the
Ministry. I listened with affectionate interest to him as he
recalled the olden days. And when he was. done, for the first
time in my life, it was my very high privilege, in his presence,
to celebrate the Holy Eucharist, and communicate him under
both kinds, while later, he asssted me by delivering the chalice
to the several communicants. All is well that ends well. I
devoutly think God for all the trials and tribulations which
bore me to the embrace of the desire of my heart, the Holy
Priesthood. By His mercy they were all sanctified as chan¬
nels of grace, and utilized in drawing out the slumbering in¬
ternal resources which needed the pressure of such untoward
circumstances to make manifest and fruitful.
The one point this memorandum would emphasize is, that
white Bishops and white people generally, just don't quite
understand us. They don't understand aspiring and intelli¬
gent colored people, and only i those who thoroughly under¬
stand us can really lead and successfully accomplish construc¬
tive work among us.
My Ordination toi The Diaconate.
That same year, 1886, upon the return of> Bishop Whittle
from the General Convention, held in Chicago, the Rev. Mt.
Pollard, deacon, having passed the last of his examinations,
was advanced to the Priesthood in St. Paul's Church, Norfolk,
Va., in December of that same year, Bishop Tucker presenting
him, while Bishop Lloyd preached the sermon,. I was present
that morning, and left on the same train that afternoon with
Bishop Ayhittle. He made known to me that the Rev. Mr. Pol¬
lard had greatly surprised him by informing him that he had
accepted a call as assistant minister of St. Mark's Church,
Charleston, S. 'C. He also imparted to me the joyful news that
he would arrange shortly for my ordination to the diaconate,
and, thereupon send me to Norfolk to take up the work soon to
be vacated by Mr: Pollard. A few days after I had reached my
home, in Petersburg, I received this letter from Bishop Whit¬
tle :
"I think it right to tell you that I am afraid you are going
to be disappointed again. I had a letter last night from the
'Secretary' for 'the Wardens, Vestry and Congregation of the
Holy Innocents,' from which I infer (though" he did not say
so in so many words) that they are not willing to receive yotf
as their minister. I have written in reply, and will do all I
8s:?;
The Bragg Family, From Photo in 1908.
10
. can for you, but cannot force, and presume you would not "be
willing- to be forced, on an unwilling people. I will write
again as soon as I have anything to say."
Upon the receipt of Bishop Whittle's letter, the authorities
of the church in Norfolk readily withdrew their objection. The
Bishop then appointed the time for my ordination on the 12th
of January, 1887,. in St. Stephen's Church, Petersburg, the late
Archdeacon Pollard being the preacher, and the late Rev.
Thomas Spencer, the presenter.
The congregation in Norfolk wanted the late Rev. Mr.
Burwell, who was then at Alexandria. The excuse given to
the Bishop for not desiring me, was, on account of my "tender
age." This was to the Bishop. But the real reason, as came
to me through my friend, the late Archdeacon Pollard, who
presided over the meeting, was, on account of my association,
in the past with "politicians." Although but a youth, I had
been employed in connection with political work with the late
Senator Mahone and former Congressman Brady. In that
work I received such practical knowledge and insight into real
' things as have been of far more practical help in my ministerial
work than any hint or suggestion ever received at the theo¬
logical seminary. But I remained at Norfolk nearly five years,
and yet, none of the people ever knew that I possessed the
information here related with respect to this double headed
objection to me.
When Bishop Whittle, following my ordination in St. Ste¬
phen's Church, gave me my papers of ordination, he also turned
over to me letters and correspondence which he judged I ought
to have. Among these were letters from two of the white
rectors in that city, stating in black and white, their attitude
towards the colored work in their midst, and the promise of
each of them, by a vote of their vestries, to pay one hundred
dollars of my salary. It is a genuine pleasure for me to state,
that they not only lived up to it, but exceeded, in a great de¬
gree, any expectations of mine with respect to interest and 1
encouragement of that work.
Solution of Problems the Destiny of Man.
Problems and difficulties are nothing new or strange to me.
I should rather feel lonesome without them. The destiny of
man is the solution of problems, and, as a rlian, I hesitate not
to take my share.
11
Having been ordained to the diaconate January 12, 1887, in
less than a year since my admission- as a candidate—for dea¬
con's orders, on the strength of the literary examination
already passed, sometime ago, I was admitted a candidate for
the priesthood from the date of my ordination as deacon. The
Sunday following my ordination I took charge of the work in
Norfolk, Va. The following June I passed the first of the
three canonical examinations for the Priesthood; in April of
the following year I passed the second, and in the following
June I passed the third and last examination.
Bishop Whittle was now sick at Clifton Springs, N. Y., from
which place he wrote me that upon« his return home he would
come down to Norfolk and advance me to the Priesthood.
Accordingly, on the 19th of December, 1888, in St. Luke's
Church, Norfolk, he raised me to the Priesthood. Dr. Tucker,
now Bishop Co-adjutor, under whom I served my diaconate,
presented me. Rev. Dr. Reese, now Bishop of Georgia,
preached the sermon. In addition, the Rev. Mr. Gravatt, now
Bishop Co-adjutor of West Virginia, and the Rev. A. S..Lloyd,
now Bishop Lloyd, and President of the Missionary Society of
the church, united in the imposition of hands. Rev. Dr. Bar-
ten, Rector of Christ Church, was not present. The next day
I received a lengthy, but most cordial letter explaining his
absence. He felt very much hurt in having been constantly
ignored, on that, and similar occasions, in not being given
some conspicuous function, when, as a matter of fact, he was
not only one of the oldest clergymen, but, in a very peculiar
sense, had sustained a most intimate and affectionate relation¬
ship to the colored work, antedating the civil war. His letter
is certainly an interesting one, in view of his long association
with the colored work, and also because he was most affection¬
ately regarded by the colored ministers of the various denom¬
inations, and the colored people generally. In one portion of
this letter, he said: "I hope the Bishop and your present
friends will do better for you than your old friends have
done. . . . The early movement was fostered by my aid
and co-operation, when the other congregations found it either
not safe or convenient to do anything in the premises."
Some Men Who Have Influenced My Life.
But I would hardly be just to myself if I failed to impres¬
sively emphasize the sincerity, the brotherly kindness, the gen-
12
uine helpfulness of all the clergy of the Church, of the.Norfolk
Convocation, without one single exception. During my entire
ministry at Norfolk, I cannot recall one single incident indic¬
ative, in the least, of race "prejudice," exhibited towards me.
I never spent happier moments in my life, in fraternal and
clerical association, than that spent in contact with the clergy
of Norfolk and vicinity. And not only so with the clergy, but
also with the white laity with whom 1 had certain relations.
But, there are two men, who, more than any others, have
influenced both my life and my ministry. The first of these,
naturally is the late Rev. Dr. C. J. Gibson. In character and
goodness, no one, in my estimation, ever Excelled him. If I am
regarded as a "mischief" maker by some, then Dr. Gibson must
bear, a part of the blame, for he stirred up my spirit, and earn¬
estly entreated me to organize our colored brethren in Vir¬
ginia, and do my utmost to defeat the "disfranchisement" prop¬
osition, which he considered as "disgracing" the old Church in
Virginia.
It would be altogether impossible for me to describe in
words the genuine feeling of my heart towards Bishop Whit¬
tle. I always thoroughly and sincerely believed in him. I
never felt smaller than in his presence, and, at the same time, I
never felt the fullness of my own manhood with a keen sense
of the tremendous weight of responsibility than when I came
into contact with his personality. I recall the ,fact that the
late Rev. Dr. Barten, innocently, got me into a long church
ljiewspaper controversy. One day I was discussing with him
some phases of the so-called race problem, and I read him a
paper that I had with me. He was much pleased, and seemed
to agree, in general, with the ideas thus expressed by me. He
requested that I would turn over to him my paper as he
wanted to send it on to the "Church of To-day" for publication.
Of course I yielded, not dreaming that it would lead to a long
war of words. It was published, and such a thrashing I received
that it is a wonder I had not given up the ghost. Some writer
impugned my motive, and this was too much for another dear
clerical friend of mine, now a Bishop in the Church, and, hence
he wrote a strong- article in my defense. Bishop Whittle,
upon the occasion of a visitation to this clergyman, thanked
him most heartily for his letter and good words on my
13
behalf, and then that grand old man enunciated- such senti¬
ments which ought to be indorsed by every Bishop in the
country. He said, in substance, to my friend: "While I do not
agree with what Bragg has to say, yet he has absolutely the
same right to'set forth his views, as I or any other man; and
the right to seek to persuade men to accept the same." But
there is another incident which shows that the late Bishop
Whittle was not that type of a Bishop who would shut off a
sincere and genuine expression, simply because' opposed to
what the Bishop believed on that particular point.
Upon the occasion of a visitation for Confirmation, at
Grace Church, Norfolk, the services being over, the Bishop,
Rev. Dr. Tucker and myself were in the vestry room removing
our vestments. Bishop Whittle very affectionately remarked
to me "that Romish fixture must come down." I immediately
began to argue the question, while Dr. Tucker graciously moved
out of the vestry into the church, leaving me alone with the
Bishop. There we had it together for nearly half an hour.
I agreed with the Bishop that a "Romish fixture" was out of
place in a Catholic Church, but denied that a material cross,
either of wood or brass, was a "Romish fixture." Finally, I
assured him, independent of my convictions respecting the
lawfulness of the same, by reason of the higher law of love,
his wishes would be most cheerfully respected.
My Introduction to Newspaper Work.
I may be pardoned for a brief reference here to my introduc¬
tion to newspaper life. Capt. John Hampden Chamberlayn'e,
who maried a daughter of my dear friend, the Rev. Dr. C. J.
Gibson, many years ago, was one of the owners and editors
of the old "Petersburg Index." When a boy six years of age
I was employed somewhat as an errand boy to him, in his
sanctum. I continued for many years in connection with that
paper. "Later,. I assisted the janitor in cleaning up the build¬
ing. One day whilst sweeping the floor, I had the curiosity to
take up a "stick" and attempt to adjust the type therein. One
of the printers coming in, using profane language, ridiculed
the idea of a little Negro boy seeking to acquire the art of type
setting. Then and there, as young as I was, I determined that
I would learn how to "set type." • I staid there a good while,
and I got the art by my own effort. Any number of colored
boys, subsequently, directly and indirectly acquired a knowl¬
edge of printing through me. Among the very first subscrib-
14
ers to the "Afro-American Churchman," which preceded the
"Church Advocate," were the late Bishop Whittle, and the late
Gen. Francis H. Smith, President of the Virginia Military In¬
stitute. I remember distinctly the first diocesaij. convention I
ever attended, as a layman and onlooker, was at Charlottes¬
ville, Va., in 1886. It was during a recess of the convention
that I met Bishop Whittle, in company with others, coming
down one of the principal streets. He stopped me, grasped
my hand most heartily, and expressed his gladness at my being
present, and, then, all of a sudden, he thrust his hands into his
pocket, and pulling out his pocketbook, he said: "Let me pay
my subscription to your paper while I think of it." It was
shortly aftef this incident when I was putting forth some
effort among friends to get together sufficient money to pur¬
chase some new type for my little paper when , someone sug¬
gested that if I write a letter to Senator Geo. F. Edmonds of
Vermont, he would, no doubt, help "me. .. I wrote to Senator
.Edmunds, and the Senator, in reply, said he would help me, if
I would send a letter of indorsement from my Bishop. No
sooner than I made the request of the Bishop the letter was
forthcoming and read as follows:
"Mr. George F. Bragg, Jr., of Petersburg, Va., Editor of the
Afro-American Churchman, 'newspaper' is a candidate for
Holy Orders in our Church. I am a subscriber to his paper,
have confidence in him, and believe he is faithfully trying to
promote the temporal and eternal welfare of his race."
Indicative of my unselfishness in the work I want to say
that there are quite a number of colored clergymen filling some
of the most responsible places in the ministry, who were so
placed through my co-operation with Bishops, vestries, and
others. There are a number of' young clergymen who owe
much to me for interceding on their behalf, and having them
rightly placed. And, yet, some of these hardly think it worth
the while to exhibit gratitude to the extent of an annual sub¬
scription of fifty cents a year for the "Church Advocate."
How that I can, year in and year out, not only do my own
parish work, publish a paper, advocate the cause of Mission¬
ary Districts, and do it all without one penny of help from
any source whatever, bear with the brethren who receive the
paper and fail to pay for it, persist in demanding Negro
Bishops when I. well know that I would probably be the very
15
last person to profit thereby,—all of these things mystify me
to some few of my own brethren. And, yef, it- is all very
plain. I have given myself and all my powers in the defense
of a fundamental principle. To follow such a principle, suc¬
cessfully, there must be both self-control, and self-renuncia¬
tion. There is absolutely no office of any kind in this whole
world which I covet. Because of this inward certitude I am
free^to speak out and declare the vision. Incidentally, those
who help me not in the struggle will profit by its successful
outcome. Strange as it may seem, even this brings me added
inspiration to continue the fight. It emphasizes the loneliness
of the cause which needs assistance, and, because there are
none, or few, I am so much the more determined to stand by
the fundamental principle espoused, although I stand alone.
Archdeaconships, secretaryships, colored professors in our
divinity schools, as well as other agencies, "The Advocate" has
championed, from time to time. The strongest comfort and
consolation have invariably come to me from Bishops, and
many of the most representative white clergymen and laymen.
Our own brethren, for the most part, have remained speech¬
less. Yet, whenever concrete fruit appeared, resultant from
the long and systematic campaign of education, they have been
only too quick to seize, all the while unmindful of the one who
has bravely stood in the thickest of the fight. Thus have we
described, somewhat, the unfavorable environments of our
labors. And, yet, although such untoward conditions increase
and multiply, God being our helper,- our only reply is : "None
of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto
myself, so that I might finish my course with joy and the
ministry which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify
the Gospel of the grace of God."
Our First Years in the Ministry.
In addition to the necessary preparations fpr the priest¬
hood, by the help of God, I was enabled to accomplish a
little during the first years of my ministry. I shall sum up
that accomplishment in words taken from the late'"Standard
of the Cross," published in Philadelphia. In the spring of
1890, that journal had to say, of me and my work:
"Photographs are at hand of Grace Church, rectory and
Mission School buildings, Norfolk, Va. This is a Mission
16
among colored people, in charge of the Rev. George F. Bragg",
•Jr. Many of the good people of Philadelphia have shown'
their interest by contributing to this work. The following
notes of correspondence. about it will be of interest to all
such. Mr. Bragg entered upon the work as a young deacon
.three and a half years ago. The congregation was small at
first, and with but a handful of communicants, the outtook
was discouraging. All were to be trained in the ways of the
church. During the short time he has been there the lot and
old building have been secured, the new church and rectory
have been built, and paid for, and recently a good second¬
hand pipe organ has been placed in the church. There are
now about eighty communicants, and* the congregations are
most excellent. . . . Whoever will look at these photographs
and note the bright faces and neat dress of the large number
of children belonging to the school, the extensive piece of
ground, covered With the group of buildings, the church-like
interior, and in a word the evidently substantial gr.owth of
the whole Mission, will be satisfied that HERE IS indeed a
work worthy of encouragement and support."
Some Words of Appreciation.
The Norfolk Daily "Landmark," 1890, had this kindly no¬
tice :
"Mr. Bragg is doing an excellent work here among his peo¬
ple and has the confidence of all otir citizens. He is conduct¬
ing a parochial school, employing two teachers, besides him¬
self as principal. He has eighty communicants and a large
congregation attending his'i church, and the influence going
out from his parish to the people of his race in this city is
very great and known to be most excellent in its character."
My friend, of many years, .the late Mr. Joseph Bryan, Rich¬
mond, Va., wrote:
"I feel encouraged to believe that the work you are engaged
in will not suffer for want of ability in the workman."
The late General Samuel C. Armstrong, another friend, as
well as a man after my own heart, upon a particular occasion,
when I wanted to interest! some friends in the North in a
proposed charity, sent me a personal letter of commendation,
in which is this.striking sentence:
"I know you and believe in you, and wish you every suc¬
cess."
THE LATE BISHOP WHITTLE,
OF VIRGINIA.
James' Rectory, Baltimore, Md,
St. James' Church, Baltimore, Md.
Where I Preached My First Sermon.
This is the place where I preached my first
sermon, in the ministry, from the text, "Have
Faith In God." When I arrived in Norfolk
the congregation had given up all hope of hav¬
ing the property, then occupied by them,
transferred to them, and already had in mind
another site. ' I persuaded the late Rev. Dr.
Barten, rector of Christ Church, that the rec¬
tor and vestry of that church could make the
transfer. I succeeded in getting the matter
before the vestry of Christ Church, all of
whom were friendly to the enterprise, and the
transfer was realized. The late Mr. Wj W.
Old and Col. Walter H. Taylor, rendered con¬
spicuous and distinguished services, not alone
in this particular affair, but ever gave me their
heartiest and- most active support in the ma¬
terial affairs of the work. .
The mission had never been formally or¬
ganized under my predecessor, but was gen¬
erally known as "The Holy Innocents." Be¬
fore the transfer of property was effected, ob¬
taining the consent of all the rectors and ves¬
tries concerned, the mission was duly organ¬
ized by me as "Grace Church," and trustees
appointed by the Corporation Court of that
city. The fact of its organization, according¬
ly, is reported in the Virginia Journal of the
Convention of 1888.
ORDER OF PRECEDENCE! OF AFRO -AMERICAN CLERGY
According to Year of Ordination to the Priesthood.
Rev. Henry L- Phillips, 1876
Rev. William H. Wilson, 187.7
Rev. A. A. Roberts, 1879
Rev. Cassius M. C. Masoil, 1883
Rev. Hutchens C. Bishop, 1883
Rev. Joshua Bowden Massiah, 1883
Rev. Henry Mason Joseph, 1884
Rev. John W. Perry, 1887
Rev. James S. Russell, 1887
Rev. William Victor .Tunnell, 1887
Rev. Henry Stephen McDuffy, 1888
Rev. George F. Bragg, Jr., 1888
Rev. E. H. Butler, 1889
Rev. John Henry Simons, 1891
Rev. John Wesley Johnson, 1891
Rev. John Albert Williams, 1891
Rev. Henry Baird Delaney, 1892
Rev. A. H. Lealtad, 1892
Rev. George Frazier Miller, 1892
Rev. Richard Bright, 1892
Rev. William Montgomery Jackson, 1893
Rev. Owen Meredith Waller, 1893
Rev. Walter H. Marshall, 1894
Rev. Maximo Felix Duty, 1894
Rev. Thomas Jacob Brown, 1894
Rev. Oscar Lieber Mitchell, 1894
Rev. J. J. N. Thompson, . 1894
Rev. E. N. Hollings, 1895
Rev. A. C. V. Cartier, 189S
Rev. Edmund Robert Bennett, 1896
Rev. Joseph Fenner Mitchell, 1896
Rev. Isaiah P. Daniels, 1896
Rev. Charles Wesley Brooks, 1897
Rev. Eugene Leon Henderson, 1897
Rev. George Alexander McGuire, 1897
Rev. Stephen Decatur Phillips, 1897
Rev. E. George Clifton, 1898
Rev. Franklyn A. I. Bennett, • 1898
Rev. John Randolph Brooks, 1898
Rev. John C. Dennis, 1898
Rev. August E. Jensen, 1899
Rev. B. Wellington Paxton, 1899
Rev. Scott Wood, 1899
Rev. E. Thomas Demby, 1899
Rev. William J. Heritage, 1899
Rev. James Nelson Deaver, 1899
Rev. William George Avant, 1899
Rev. Arthur Goff Coombs, 1900
Rev. George Bundy, 1900
Rev. Joseph W. Livingston, 1902
Rev. Thomas George Brown, 1902
Rev. David Richard Wallace, 1902
Rev. Edward Sherman Willett, 1902
Rev. Richard Temple Middleton, 1903
Rev. Robert Davis Brown, 1903
Rev. Joseph Silas Quarles, 1903
Rev. A. Eustace Dey, 1904
Rev. Nathaniel Peterson Boyd, 1904
Rev. Charles Henry Male, 1904
Rev. James Edward King, 1904
Rev. Robert Wellington Bagnall, 1905
Rev. Milton Moran Weston, 1905
Rev. David LeRoy Ferguson, 1905
Rev. Montraville E. Spatches, 1905
Rev. J. A. Mundy, 1905
Rev. Emmett E. Miller, 1905
Rev. Harry Oscar Bowles, 1905
Rev. John Richard Logan, 1906
Rev. Robert Henry Tabb, 1906
Rev. Charles Louis Somers, 1906
Rev. Henry B. Brown, JjJ06
Rev. H. A. S. Parris, ■ 1906
Rev. Junius L- Taylor, 1906
Rev. William B. Suthern, 1906
Rev* Ferdinand M, Mann, 1906
Rev. Samuel Whitmore Grice, 1906
Rev. John Baptist :Mancebo, 1907
Rev. Floarda Howard, 1907
Rev. Roger -Clinton James, 1907
Rev. John Samuel Simmons, 1907
Rev. James Henry King, 1907
Rev. Edmund Harrison Oxley, 19.07
Rev. Edward Douse, 1907
Rev. Robert Nathaniel Perry, 1907
Rev. Robert Lee Wilson, • 1907
Rev. Alonzo Johnson, 1908
Rev. William Thurber Wood, 1908
Rev. J. C. VanLoo, 1908
Rev. Robert Bagnall, 1908 -
Rev. Ernest Sydnor Thomas, • 1908
Rev. Jesse David Lykes, 1908
Rev. Erasmus Lafayette Baskerville, . 1908
Rev. Jacob R. Jones, 1909
Rev. J. DaCosta Harewood, 1909
Rev. Walter D. McClane, ■ 1909
Rev. George Marshall Plaskett, 1909
Rev. C. E. F. Boisson, 1909'
Rev. William E- Gilliam, 1909
Rev. David D. Moore, 1909
Rev. David Jonathan Lee, 1910
Rev. S. Alonzo Morgan, 1910
Rev. James K. Satterwhite, 1910
Rev. Robert J. Johnson, 1910
Rev. E. N. Pearth, 1911
Rev. Simeon N. Griffith, 1911
Rev. George Edward Howell, 1911
Rev. Arnold H. Maloney, 1912
Rev. John T.'Ogburn, 1912
Rev. E. H. Hamilton, 1912
Deacons.
lietf. Peter Williams Cassey, 1866
Rev. W. W. Cheshire, 1879
Rev. Joseph W. Carroll, 1885
Rev. John Thomas Harrison, 1885
Rev. James T. Kennedy, 1890
Rev. Charles L- Simmons, 1892
Rev. Thomas Burke Bailey, 1895
Rev. Charles B. Prichett, • 1898
Rev. John Speight, 1898
Rev. John Belton Brown, 1899
Rev. Arthur W. H. Collier, 1903
Rev. David F. Taylor, 1906
Rev. Henry T. Butler, 1907
Rev. John Jehosophat Pusey, 1908
Rev. Walter T. Cleghorn, 1908
Rev. A. C. Roker, 1908
Rev. A. M. Forsyth, 1908
Rev. John H. Scott, 1909
Rev. Samuel A. M. Pitt, , 1909
Rev. William Alexander Bruce, 1909
Rev. J. M. Matthias, 1909
Rev. Robert Z. Johnstone, 1910
Rev. Joseph B. Elliott, 1910
Rev. Aubrey A. Hewitt, 1912
Rev. Basil Kent, 1912
. - V . . - ft < -
- ■ ■ ■ :.\i
... , • - V-V^X, ''
-, v„./. • t.s.w-j h •»- .... * ''j'