The morning news., 1891-01-27
RABBI EARRls, pEATH.
The SAD Scenes Surrounding His Sud
den Demise.

. Auc Oa0 scenes G4rrOGHGluE 6lS SUD
den Demise.
The news Of the death Of Rabbi Harris
| in his pulpit Ia Riehmond, Va, Saturday,
has caused great distress among ths mem
bers OF the Mickva Israel congregation of
this city. OF which DR.. Harris was formerly
pastor. The Richmond Dispatch gives this
account Of his death:
he Is my God,
He Is my Lord.
He Is my King,
he Is my Saviour.
These solemn words in the Oldest Of Ian
gnagss had scarcely ceased TO sound In the
house cf God whea the pastors spirit was
with It's Maker.
"Disd at the post Of duty Never were
the words more truly written. In priestly
gsrb, praising the Almighty in his place of
worship on his day. was the Rev. DR.. A.
Harris Of the Synagogue Beth Ahaba
when stricken with death.
DR.. Harris had only few minutes before
preached sermon from the text: Renew
in me firm spirit-that is 20 say, firm
will y
He concluded his discourse With the fol-
lowing quotation:
He liveth long who Iiveth well;
Al else is life but flung away,
he liveth longest who can tell
Then I'LL the hours with what viii last;
buy up the moments as tEey go;
The life above when this is past
Is the ripe fruit Of life below"
These were the last words of bis life.
Having concluded his sermon, DR.. Harris
had taken a seat In one Of the chairs a. the
pulpit while the choir were singing. They
having finished, he was preparing 10 con-
clude the services, and was about TO rise
from his seat, when suddenly his head
dropped forward aud his prayer-book fell
from his hands to the door. Several ladies
In the congregation screamed and tainted,
and number Of gentlemen went to his
assistance. His. collar was looseaed, and
when bis shirt was cut he resisted slightly.
Beyond this and a slight breathing that
lasted about ten or fifteen minutes, the
doctor gave no sign Of life from the momeLt
be was stricken, though at one time his
color seemed to return little.
Members OF the congregation ran to and
fro in their efforts to procure medical as
sistance. Application was made TO the Re-
treat for the Sick aud the medical college,
both Of which were within two blocks Of
the synagogue. There was prompt response
from bokn.
A galvanic battery was sent for and ap-
Piled to the body Just over the heart, and
artificial respiration was tried, but use.
lessly.
Mrs. Harris, wife Of the doctor, was in
the synagogue at the time, and her grief
was something terrible.
DIR. Harris was born In Edinburgh, Scot
land, Aug. 10, 1885. He was educated Ia
London, and when 81 years of sge went to
Jamaica, where be lived for several years.
Here he met the Revs. George and Henry
8. Jacobs, natives of that island, both Of
whom afterward lived in Richmond. and
the latter of whom has been asked TO con-
duct the funeral services. He next returned
TO Europe and for some time pursued his
ministerial studies in London and Berlin.
He then came to Charleston, S. G., and Just
prior to and during the first part Of
the war had charge Of a congregation in
Charleston.
In the early sixties DIR. Harris left
Charleston and again took up his residences
in Berlin. Among the work performed by
him at the time was teaching Engllsh to
the royal family, the then Crown Prince
Frede ick, father Of the present German
emperor, being one of his pupils. In his po>
sitiou as royal tutor he was often brought
into contact witn Bismarck and Won
Moltke, both of whom were quite friendly
to the young stranger. After the war DR..
Harris, for seven years, had charge Of the
Mlckva Israel congregation in Savannah,
which position be relinquished to accept a
professorship In the Hebrew college in Gin
cinnati.
Ia September, 1878, the deceased was
called to Richmond to succeed the Rev. A
Hoffman. who had died short time before.
and is buried in the cemetery where DR.,
Harris was laid to rest yesterday afternoon
in Richmond.
In 1880 DR.. Harris married Miss Lena
Hsllibaum, of Petersburg, who survives
him.
DIR. Harris was man of extensive knowl-
edge, and there were few works of merit
which he had not read. AS Hebraist and
Talmurdical scholar he had few equals. He
was ready conyersationalst. and was fond
OF illustrating his remarks with apt anec-
dotes, Of which he had an unlimited supply.