The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1908-05-14

VI Ia ooHIe 1888 use life,
sung. -,
Mr.. starks began life with "as
much book learning "as william
shakespeare and with decidedly
more than Abraham Lincoln. Yet
VINO Is so ignorant as to speak ~
the Bard Of Avon, or the great eman
clpator as uneducated men. CARLYLE
said a university is a place where
men learn how to- read. Whoever
therefore is able to- read and intelli-
gently digest the, unbpunded, riches
or our literature, throws wide open
the doors of that university which
oners TO all the fullest measure of
culture. a The test OF all education
IS the ability to think logically as.I
independently. This faculty 80 was
possessed by Mr.. Starks In the high
est degree. Who that ever read his
excellent reports to the: [Suprern.; :
Lodge dealing with questions OF naar- {
lonal import, outlining policies and
o1ctat1ng measure touching the yital,
interest of the thousands, VINO
marched under the banner Of Pyth-
lan1sm, could for moment dombt
the soundness Of his reasoning or
tha culture Of his brain. In evarv
rlsnt sense, If we judge by brain
proaucts and not by diplomas. MFR: s
otarks was a man of rare cu1+uFe-
ana IN possession, in the very hest
Seilse or thorough education. p \ .
rev men possess in the same 40.
gree the qualities necessary for "a,
leadership. This may sound trfte[af
first thought, but a second ao,.n,.
consideration will show us thar to
De able to lead the Negro race emo:
eessfnlly a man must have unniaadl
virtues, Our greatest. T.. weakness.
PEI, perhaps, Is our !inabfiitE to pF9 tiaSeey:
men who SO fully possess our ea,,E is.sn
lldence that we are ready to follow
tnem through thick ana thin =
through sunshine and darkness 4
through good as we'll as evil repott
rev Negroes living or dead have
gained and kept the love and conf, :.
dence Of the Negro people: Betteu<
lar IS a regiment OF lambs, led. by
non tnan regiment OF lions led
by lamb. r.: - y,
our race has not been wanting In
great men, but there hak been a sig
nal paucity Of great leaders A great
leaoer Is man who leaves behind
MIN when he has finished life some
great cause or institution to nn;-
phasize his leadership and ,hene41t
mankind. Frederick Douglass was
a great man, from his clarion e,;ll
no raise
Dut IN the broadcast sense not a grsat
leader. t1e left behind him no In
stltution to perpetuate his memory
or bless coming generations. Jc nm
wi. Langston was a great, orator. a
superb thinker and scholar but in
no sense entitled sto be c5nStder6a
great leader. ":~ #E - 4
S. w. Star1s was q great leader
or mon. He lifted tho Ordar SF
?}thians. like Thebes from ira sal,.,a
ne 1o' nd it valley OF dry bi,nea
AMI from the breath or his insa'ra-
lion, 1t became an army Of iivfne
ccnnitl ors. -; -"
When he died hiB taking off ar
ftctcG the widow In her lcncly' cct.
the struggling orphan whose life
the help Of this man had changed.
Ihe habitations of the po5r to the
most remote boundries Of ciyilixa.
ton, found the world fonlisr without
the loving smile OF 8. w. Starks.
He left the cause he had found a
weakened beggar Hercdles In
strength. -, -.
The iren who rallied Mt the buSje
cl'l OF the Supreme Cha, ,.a ,rr !c1-
loved The n leader and oAkea no
qr"t'n Who that has be,n witd
Lin IN Grand Lodge VII SO, kan l.
ing everybody, knowing every move
ment'' surrounded. BY his faHhful
lleutenants, their ears to the ground
reporting to him every change OF
sentiment, and through his direction
seeming out every grievance, and
notifying every rising storm could
doubt his inborn and Godgiven right
to leadership. The highest auaiity
Of leadership Is not only a knowl
edge of men, but wisdom to nae
them wisely. Who can name q ari8nd
that ever hesitated much less desert
ed Grand Chancellor Starks on the
f1elR OF conflict. At the drum tap
his followers we're always In liria
to do or die at the nod Of his kindly
head Possessing almost regal pow
er over the realm wherein hs ruled.
he was not conceited, for no man .
ever more willingly accepted the, asa-
vice of others than he--for q, little
child could lead him, If 1t only had
right on it's side. - ~ -.
What then were the Qualities THAI
made this man so tinnheAtfouahix