Editorial by Rev. Geo. F. Bragg

Assistant Editor.

REV. GEORGE F. BRAGG

We are living in a. new epoch. The end of the great world war,
and the completion of three hundred years of residence in this
country, eloquently proclaims that "Old things are passed away: be-
hold all things are become new." Our racial endeavor must be tuned
to a. "new song." We must not sing the "old song," but s. "new song,"
issuing from the accumulated experiences of past endeavors, and con-
quests! One of the elements of the new song is a fuller realization of
our relation to the one Brotherhood of man. In the past, we have
been more concerned with the part, rather than with the whole. We
have been too much self-centered on our racial needs. We must re-
verse the order. We must lose our lives in the interest of the welfare
of the whole, and, in so doing, we shall find life in our particular
group richer and more abundant because of the unselfish endeavor.
Instead of holding ourselves aloof from the problems and concerns, of
the various foreign nationalities by which we are environned. and
who, in a degree, suffer from the same root of bitterness which affect
us, we must steadily cultivate their friendship and good will. Knowing
each other the better, OUT combined effort for the good of the whole
will Tiring far better results than we can secure in selfishly working fer
the interests of our group alone.

Presently. We hope, we shall be through with heavy Church debts.
The meaning of this release is plain. The Church will sing a new song.
The clergy will then betake themselves to their real mission. It was
not intended that they should be general promoters, and students of
finance, but promoters of the Kingdom of God, and students of spirit-
ual and moral concerns. In thus applying themselves they will sing
a "new song," not alone for the particular racial group of which they
form a part, but, chiefly, for the whole brotherhood, waiting for the
distinctive contribution the African Church is to render for the good
of the universal family. The materials they have; eloquence, oratory,
vision, faith and love. They need to organize and rightly handle such
racial endowments. Time for study they must have. The pastoral
office must be made real and effective. They must be known by their
goodness or likeness to God. and by their unquestioned learning. Out
of the abundance of their hearts they shall speak, "Thus saith the
Lord," and in their fidelity to this matter, they shall supply what the
rest of the whole brotherhood need more than any other one thing.
In short, the very heart of Christianity is the application in real life
and conduct, the Law of Love; for the founder of Christianity de-
clared that by this sign shall all men know that ye are my disciples.
God has done marvellous things for us, and He demands of us a "New
Song." Shall we sing it?

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