The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1894-08-16
GAVE ALL HE HAD.
Put His S3s 900 Into "A Church, and Now
lie Is Its ,Janitor.

"DenvCr has the extraordinary in
stance Of a man who gave his entire
fortune toward the building of a church
liam II. Graham recently. at is moth
inc unusual to see the man who gave a
large donation to the church become a
leader in the congregation, but here is a
man who gave every cent Of the S37, 600
be had accumulated and was then con-
tent TO serve il a lowly position with a
small salary.
'Many years AFRO there resided in
Alliance, o., Il man who, in order to
make a better living for himself and
wife, opened Il restaurant in addition to
his regular duties rs engineer on the
Fort Wayne road between Pittsburo and
his native town. He gained Il little
money in the pursuit of his yocations.
but when the Western fever broke out
and Denver was looming up out of the
rays OF the setting sun as the coming
metropolis of the West he packed up his
earthly possessions and started for that
growing place. With the little savings
he had taken with him he purchased Il
home surrounded by some little proper
ty. As luck would have it, a portion of
the land adjoining his house suddenly
became very valuable and he sold it at
. great profit. Having acquired a taste
for real estate he bought and sold. al
ways being successful until his savings
had increased TO what in those DAYS,
and we might say even now, were
thought to be a considerable fortune
S37 600, But the engineers path was
not TO be all roses, for about this time
his wife died, leaving him alone in the
world. He mourned her loss very bit
terly. Feeling that he should do some
good in the world he became very much
interested in church work
The Christian Church at Denver had
been very successful. but after acquir-
ing a considerable congregation the
work seemed at a standstiil. The pastor
had received a call from another city.
and was about to accept it, when the
Pittsburg engineer came to him and
argued that his proposed going away
was i'll advised. For he contended.
while our church has increased rapidly,
we are now at a standstill. What we
need now Is a counter irritant to stir
up the people for the good work. Estab-
fish another Christian Church here. and
you will see what great good can be
done. The minister concurred in this
opinion, but could see no way to ac-
cOmpliSh the establishment Of another
church, as funds were very scarce.
With this the engineer agreed to donate
81 600 toward purchasing a lot, and to
build new church if the pastor would
remain. This offer was accepted: soon
a lot was obtained, and in a short time
the tent which was erected to ho.d the
services held an earnest congrc cation OF
seventy. Interest in the work increased.
and building soon commenced. So in
terested did the engineer become that
he not only gave his promised Sl2, 600,
but kept adding and adding TO his dona-
ton until when the S6S,0JO church was
completed he had given every cent he
had in the world, S37, 900, leaving HIM
self utterly without money or means of
support. The church proved 10 be one
of the finest in Denver, and is to this day
the pride of the city.
But what was this benevolent man
to do? He had given hi, al. TO the
church, but he must live. He went
meekly and asked for tie position of
janitOr. OF course he was accepted. and
to this day he is filling that position.
But he Is no ordinary ianitor: he is
rather a king in the congre cation. He
is about 20 years old. ami lives in the
church. Away up in the berry which
he built he has a comfortable bedroom
arranged, and down in the basement he
!, I
but every cent that is not required for
MS frugal living he gives to the aims
fund. | said he is looked upon as a
king. On every question which comes
up about the church his opinion is asked
for and respected. H Is content with
his life, having made sacrifice uf him.
self and his wealth to the great cause.
-PttSbuTg Dispatch.