The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1908-04-11

dition.
socially, and he determined that this !
should not be. and he used the things
within his reach to better their conf
ELECTED us Supreme Chancellor !
d In the fall OF 1899, after serving
several terms as SupremC Vice Cnan-
ccllor he was elected Supreme Chan
cellor Of the Pythian world. Enter
ing the Office he found the businesst
OF the organization In q chaotic con-
dftion, the treasury depleted, the or J.
der split in twain, and, failure and
ruin OF the beloved order staring
him in the face. Nothing discour-
aged, he began with indomitable |
courage and slecpless energy to right !
the ship, patch up the rents and be-
gin anew to put the craft out on the
open sea. In 1900 the order had less
than 10000 members; as Supreme
Chancellor Starlls turns over the ship
to other hands there are more than
10000 members. In less than 1Ol
years, under his progressive leader
ship, he has increased the member
ship seven times. When he began
the order could not pay the expen-
SEES of it's Supreme representatives to
a biennial convocation, today it owns
temple on State street, Chicago,
worth $4,000, and only q few
months ago purchased a sanitnrlum
for sick fraters at Hot Sprin gs," Ar
kansas. The order is IL excellent An
ancial condition, having thousands
Of dollars in the banks Of this and
other cities. %. '.':..:;"
Converted In this church, s.. w.
Starks has led Christian life from
his youth until the day Of his death
Well has the Daily Mail said: -
. Starting as a poor cooper's lad,
he worked himself up in half the al
lottcd span Of life, to position
which made him not merely a man
of local prominence, but one whose
reputation was world. wide, and
whose example will be 4 guide to
generations OF his race yet unborn"
We have watched him, friends, in
every step of his career. At his rise
We have rejoiced. We have been
proud to call him our leader, and
that with all of his worldwide fame
he was still the same simple, loving
friend that he was before his elevaA
ton. He Gid not get above us as
the world called him higher and
higher, but all Of his thoughts we're
Of us, and how he might lift his
brothers az he climbed. He might
have left us as he climbed, but the
poorest and the most humble had his
ear in their sorrows and his help in
theiE need.
H. He Loved HIS Race. ..
- He loved his race and never want
ed for himself. any priNilege that 1t
could not share When injustice and
prejudice bore hard on ibis race, his
heart felt the blow, and those of us
who were near him have seen him
shed bitter tears over race oppres-
sions that he could not cure.
He believed in our future and
longed for new paths up the hill of
difficulties, over which he might lead
the way to higher grounds. He be-
l1eved that much of our troubles
grew out Of the fact Of our poverty,
| and urged thrift as. cure for
part Of our ills. He gained success
| as leader Of men, becaitse he put
right always before might. He new
er attempted to gain a point by dou-
| bic dealing, for after all he often
! said: "Only by doing right can We
obtain permanent success
The soil Of West Virginia mover
grow better or bigger soul than
filled the body Of s. W. Starks and
the Negro race never had kindller
nor more beloved leader.
He never lost a friend, nor know
ingly made an enemy. When the
chapter Of his life closed last Friday
morning the sun rose on a world
poorer for his departure. His life
was sweet and full Of sympathy, and
the tracks he left on the sands Of
time will be revered by his friend DIS
and their children'S children to re-
mote generations.
The clock has struck, the light has
flickered and gone out forever. Ir
the shadows as We wait and weep
If on his grave could fan q flower
from every man and woman to whom
his work has brought friendship
charity and benevolence, he would
rest tonight beneath a wilderness OF
roses.
All! my brothers and sisters, we
must take up the work Of life tomor.
row bravely, If bitterly, without his
help. The days and nights must
come and go, until we are called tc
follow him; but many glimpses Of
the moon will look upon OUR sorrows
before we see his like again. The
world will be lonelier for US without
Samuel w. Starks.
But speak no more Of his ranown
) Lay his works and honors down,
: And in the silent churChyard leave