The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1911-11-23

gave him employment with him in
columbus, at salary scarcely suf-
ftcient to pay his board and washing
and 80 hard put for money was he,
that In going to and from the Col
onels house on an errand he would
run every step Of the way there and
back in order to save the street car
rare given him. He stuck it out in
prayer and penury, hoping for a bet
ter day. At last it came.
Operator in Charge of Charleston
Office.
First as both janitor and operator
and then in charge of the Charleston
othce, he won by patience and sac
rifice tin spite of his color) the con-
hdence Of his employers.
Charleston he was transferr--
ed to Corning, Ohio, (then, as now,>
an important point on the K. & M.
system). Becoming dissatisfied THAI
he was not promoted as fast as lie
thought he. deserved, and believing
that he was Disseminated against on
account or his color, he resigned. He
entered the school Of Bryant e STRAIT
ton In Chicago, completing the cours-
es OF bookkeeping and. stenography.
fhis led him to Denver, Colorado
where, after a short stay, he return
cd home. Here he organized a COM
pany and went into the grocery bus
mess, which he successfully conduct
ed until appointed state librarian by
Governor A. B. White, March 4th,
1901. lie was reappointed by Gov
ernor Dawson four years ago, and
Continued in that position until the
day of his death
His Highest Work.
1t was not as telegrapher, stenog-
rapher, bookkeeper or librarian that
the name Of Samuel w. Starks will
be best remembered, but as leader
IN the order Of - nights Of Pythias
lie was one OF the charter members
Of Capitol City Lodge No. 1, and
from that day until he passed to the
great beyond, he has been virtually
the main spring Of Pythianism in
this state. He was the states first
Grand Chancellor, and has served in
that Office 16 consecutive years. He
saw the order in the state grow from
one castle to more than one hundred.
In a state sparsely populated with
men Of his own race, he has made
Pythlanlsm the most virulent and
"elptul Influence among us. He put
into everything he touched brains
and energy, compelling lby the farce
or his intelligence and genius sue
cess, where to less masterful men
success seemed impossible His man
agement OF our state fra a4rnal insu-
rance department has made it one, of
the safest and most reliable in the
entire jurisdiction.
His Work in West Virginia.
, The Pythian Mutual Investment
Company is a child of his fertile
brain. He conceived the idea that
the dimes thOughtlessly thrown away
by our people, if wisely invested,
would aid in building a monument
OF beauty and usefulness. This idea
IN the concrete stands on the corner
or Dickerson and Washington streets
facing the state capitol, a monument
to Negro thrift when wisely directed.
The first success accomplished, Mr..
Htarks turned to Huntington and
Lurchased the Herald building, an
investment equally wise and profit
able 1t was his fixed purpose to dot
the state with beautiful castles, and
II the sands of time had run on a few
years more he would have coined his
wishes into realities-fIis aecumu-
latlons OF wealth and affluence is ali
example Of his own teachings. He
saw his race On the ragged edge of
the world begging a place to meet
socially, and he determined that this
not be, and he used the things
within his reach to better their condi
ton.
ELECTED as Supreme Chancellor,
In the fall of 1899, after serving
several terms as supreme vice chan
cellor he was elected supreme chan
cellor of the Pythian world. Enter
th ts5the- office he found-the- business
OF the organization in a chaotic con-
d1t1on, the treasury depleted, the or
DER split in twain, and failure and
ruin Of the beloved order staring
MN in the face. Nothing discour-
aged, he began with indomitable
courage and sleepless 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 Starks turns over the shin
to other hands there are more than
$4,000 members. In less than ten
years, under his progressive leader
ship, he has increased the member
snip seven times. When he began,
the order could not pay the expenses
Of it's Supreme representatives to q
hinn io1