Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1907-03-14
JOHN DARST GAVE
TEN PER CENT
TO CHRISTIANITY
STARTED POOR, RESOLVED TO
DO GOOD, PROSPERED AND
MADE MANY HAPPY.

Iellef startled the world by making
the largest single donation ever made
to the cause OF eduCation-that is.
the largest amount Of money eve
given at one time Mr. Rockefeller
presented to the general education
board $32,0OO,OOO. 1t is impossible
for the lay mind 10 grasp the enor-
nifty of these figures. But enormous
as the sum is it does not represent
10 per cent of the fortune popularity
credited to Mr.. Rockefeller. and
many man has given more than 10
per cent of his fortune to education
or to charity without being herald
ed in the public press as a philan-
thropist. If Mr. Rockefeller is to be
praised Tor giving less than 10 per
cent of his holdings to a good cause
what need of praise should be Civ
EN- to Uncle John Darst?
Very few readers of The Common
er ever heard of John Darst. He is
dead now But during his life he
scattered more sunshine. gave more
money to charity and to education.
performed more acts of kindness and
helped more men in proportion to his
opportunities than perhaps any other
man who ever lived in Illinois.
When young man, without foot
OF land or roof to cover him, John
Dnrst married a woman who for
fifty years was what a wife should
be, help meet Mr. and Mrs Darst
began married life i'm one room log
cabin, and the furniture was borrow
ed from the poor neighbors who then
lived in central Illinois. Both OF
them were devout Christians and al
most their first decision was that 10
per cent OF all they made-not 10
per cent of the net, but 10 per cent
of the gross-should be given to the
Lords cause. This resolve was new
er broken. On the contrary, many
times more than 10 per cent was Civ
en-. Uncle John, as he was Familiarity
called. prospered Acre by acre he
added to his holdings until he owned
one OF the largest and best farms
in central Illinois Twelve children,
eleven boys and a girl, were born to
Mr.. and Mrs. Darst raised to man
hood and womanhood and given
start in life. Each one OF the boys
was given a farm we'll stocked when
he became of age. The daughter was
given the same when she married
When Eureka college was estab-
lished Uncle John Darst and his wife
were the largest contributors The
college had the same experience as
most UNCONVENTIONAL schools II often
seemed about to die for lack Of mon
ey. But in every crisis Uncle John
stepped to the front and tided il over.
At one time Uncle John mortgaged
almost everything ne had i'm order
10 raise money to keep the college
open. But he never lost faith. "The
Lord gave # to me. and If lie wants
it back He is entitled 10 it," said
Uncle John when a friend remon-
strated with him for assuming such
a burden But Uncle John didn't
lose His example inspired others,
and finally the college was firmly
established it stands today as a
great and enduring monum mt to The
liberality and the heroic -elf-sacri-
fees Of John Darst and his GOOD wife
u has sent ont thousands of minis
ters and missionaries COngressmen.
governors merchant princes. lawyers
doctors and farmers owe their sue
cess tn life 70 the lessons lea -ned I'm
that college rfs influence for good
has encirclod the world n has no
endowment OF millions ~ has no
multiplied buildinge If name IS
never mentioned in the daily news
papers because Of some sDectacular
expression from urofos or It is
going right ahead quiet but oHec-
lively in giving o the world Young
men and women who look upon their
graduation day as marking tho be-
ginning NJ life of service to- their
fellows
For forty years Uncle John Darst
made it poiu. 20 soe thai a... sick
man. woman and child r Eureka had
proper medical attention and uropor
nursing Ills own gentle fingers
closed the dying eyes OF hundreds.
H'F @mpathetia words and his ever