Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-07-05
GAVE ALL HE HAD.
Pat His &37.OOO Into n Church, and
Now He L. Its JanitOr.


From the Piftsburg Dispatch.
Denver has the extraordinary instance
of a man who gave his entire fortune to-
ward the building of a church and then be-
came its jsnitor." said William II. Graham
yesterday. 1T is nothing unusual to see
the man who gave a large donation to the
church become a leader In the congrega-
ton, but here is a man who gave every
cent OF the $4,000 he had accumulated and
was then content to serve in a lowly posi-
ton with a small salary. This is a rare
instance of self-sacrifce and particularly
interesting to Pittsburgers. as the noble
man at one period in his life spent his time
between Alliance and this city.
Many years ago there resided in Alliance,
Ohio, man, who. ia order to make a bet
ter living for himself and wife. opened a
restaurant in addition TO his regular duties
as engineer on the Fort Wayne read be-
tween Pittsburg and his native town. lie
gained a little money in the pursuit OF his
Nocations, but whea The western Fever
broke out and Denver was looming up out
OF the rays VI the setting sun As the COM
ing metropolis OF the west ae y,e-.-I up
his earthly Possessions ana started for ta2t
growing place. wan the ll.lc savIlss ae
haa taken with hlm he pIrcAase1 a home
surrounded by some h,ue Property. AS
iuck would have II. d porl.On l-Ie lana
adjoining his house sudGx- y oeC1iuG. NSsy'
valuable and he splI it al d grea; front.
Having acquired a taste Tor real csla.e ne
bought and sotd. always being successful,
untn his savings had Increased 10 wat. la
those Gays. ana mlghe say even uJw.
was thought to be a considers ole Iortuac-
S',voo. But the engineers path ss.ls. moi
To be all strewn WITH r.svs Tor about t.iis
time his wife died. leaving him alone IA the
world. He mourned her les very oiJ.sr.y.
FeSllng - !. 4 .tn "a N
world he became very much IN .ercsled ia
church work
The Christian Church at Denver had
been very successful. bat after acquiring a
considerable congregation the W.T.. seemed
at q Staadstin The pastor had resolved Z,
call from another city. ana Was Suoat 10
accept it. when the fIttsburg eagIueer
came TO him and argued that his proposed
going away was al advised. For he con-
tended. while our church has Increased
rapidly. We are now at a standstill What
We need now is counter irritant TO stir
up the people for the good work. Establ, sh
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 accomplish the estab-
lishment Of another church, as funds were
very scarce With this the engineer agreed
TO donate Sl2.UuO toward purchasing a lot
and to build a new church IL the pastor
would remain. This offer was accept ed /.
soon a lot was obtained. and i'm a short time
tne tent Wnlcn was erected TO hold the serN-
Ices held an earnest congregation of sew
enty. Interest in the work increased ard
building soon commenced. So Interested
did the engineer become that he not only
gave his promised $4,000 out kept adding
and adding TO his donation until. when The
$6s,OoO church was completed. he had given
every cent he had In the world. So 600
leaving himself utterly without money or
means Of support. The church proved to
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 his all to the church
but he must live. He went meskly and
asked for the position of janitor. OF course
he was accepted. ana TO this day he is fiIl-
ing that position. But he is no ordinary
Janitor; he is rather king in the congreya-
ton. He is about seventy years old and
lives In the church. Away up In the belfry
which he built he has comfortable bed
room arranged, and down in the basement
he eats his meals. He receives a salary.
but every cent that is not required for his
frugal living he gives 10 the aims fund. /
said ne Is looked upon a king On every
question which comes up about the church
his opinion is asked for and respected. He
is content with his life, having raade a
sacrifice of himself and his wealth 10 the
great cause. l doubt IL another such in
stance Of self-sacrifice can be found IN re-
cent times"