Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-02-05
PROF. HARRIS DEAD.
CONTINUED FROM FIRST PAGE.

yiyal OF this zeal among the people and
let II flow through church and association
into the convention. you may watcn
the ocean" he said "as the great tide
from the Bay of Fundy Gibbs into 1T, ana
the level OF that vast expanse is not thts
perceptibly raised. But IL you VIII wait
for the turn. when the rising and swelling
tide from the ocean rushes up the Bay OF
Fundy. and will watch the shores OF the
h.v - He was not allowed to finish,
for his audience saw the light shine on
his thought and broke-a rare thing IN
the body which he was addressing-into
unrestrained applause.
FRIEND or THE STUDENTS.
The dead teacher did not have a de-
nnonstratiye nature. On the contrary,
his manners were usually reserved, and
he was of quiet speech; taciturn rather
than Ioquacious. But he could unbend,
and he always had the largest and most
appreciative sympathy, with younger peo-
ple. especially. One who graduated from
his Greek class years ago. and who has
been his close friend ever since, said OF
him, recently: Professor Harris. at col
lege. never regarded his work for and
interest in the students as ended when
his lectures for the day were over He
would occasionally visit the Literary So
ciety halls particularly the Mu Sigma
Rho of which he had been an active
member in his student-days; he was in
terested In the religious work Of the
boys; he taught a large Bible-class of
them on Sunday; he took part i'm their
athletic sports. and many a poor fellow
struggling on scantiest supplies and per-
picked with care found him always a
sympathetic and helpful counsellor He
was never too busy, never too worn or
sick to grant a distressed fellow an au-
dience."
DEVOTED TO VIRGINIA.
Dr. Harris's recent removal to Ken
lucky did not in the slightest degree
weaken. but, rather. strengthened. his
interest in Virginia affairs. especially in
her religious affairs; and yet. more par
ticularly the work of his denomination
in the State lie spent last summer i'm
Virginia. week or two in Richmond;
longer period i'm the mountains. and In
the Piedmont region, and was able to
attend a number of district associations.
Work Of this latter sort had in other
years taken him all over Virginia, and
had made for him an unnumbered host of
warm, personal friends. The grief of
his stricken family will be shared by the
citizens of Richmond and Virginia. by
former students Of Richmond College,
scattered throughout the United States,
and by some who are al work far across
The seas: by army comrades; by reli-
gious co-laborers; by colleagues in edu-
cational work; by seminary students
who, during his brief stay In Louisville.
had already learned to love and honor
him.
A good and true man has gone: dis
tingushed for his native ability his
scholarship. his genius in many direc-
tons; but distinguished most OF all for
his simple and transparent manhood,
his robust piety. the diligence and scru-
puIousness with which he discharged
every duty. A loyal son Of Virginia
he fought for her I'm the storm and stress
of war; he served her in peace. and on
her bosom, all that was mortal of him
will rest, waiting the resurrection.
A Pupils Tribute TO Dead Teacher.
Passed away yesterday, in the city of
Lynchburg. at the home of his son, one
Of the greatest educators Of this country,
Professor H. II. Harris. Almost since
his infancy he had sought after know
ledge. He learned TO read very soon after
learning to talk. This was contradiction
to this oft repeated theory that pre-
cocity meant mental obtuseness i'm
after years. He absorbed truth from
every point of contact and grew abnor-
mally in his mental constitution. His
suffering. physical nature asserted itself,
and he often had 10 lay aside books and
try to recover his health by outdoor
rHrsuts. Born II Christian parents
his early religious training was of the
strictest kind. The atmosphere Of the
home was most uplifting, and in
his boyhood he was known as a worker
I'm the Baptist Church, OF which he be-
came a member. Perhaps TO his Oldest
sister more than 10 any one else he Is
indebted for his early training. She
taught him and prepared him for college.
though he attended at times the neigh
borhood school All OF his life he not
only had affection for her as his
sister. but the greatest respect for
her opinion and judgment. He often
laid at her feet the laurels that
he wore In a conversation with him
not long ago. he said: MY grand
father was employed i'm this town Of
Paisley. Scotland in the great spool-cot-
ton-factory there" He and the elder
Coats wer4 friends. and often talked to-
gethsr OF their life work. Mr. Harris
decided TO cross the ocean and try his
fortune in this new country, and Mr..
Coats. also a Baptist. decided to remain.
In time Mr.. Coats was advanced In this
business, and became the proprietor OF
the Coats's factory. Mr.. Harris came
TO Virginia, married in Louisa, and
reared a family that has done honor to
his adopted state
Hearts are bleeding all over this South
land. and i'm regions beyond, at the sad
announcement that Professor Harris is
no more. What "a gap has this death
caused! what a gap in the home, where
he had set up his altar and reared his
children for truth and righteousness!
What a gap in the seminary, where he
had begun a work Of much far-reaching
usefulnessl What gap in the Church.
of which ne was a member! In the great
literary mart. the rule seems to be that
as one advances i'm letters he goes down
in Church life. He proved to the con-
trarv. In the Grace-Street church. OF
which he was "A member for twenty-seven
Years no member was more honored than
he was. because none honored the Church
more.
What a gap in the Baptist ranks! His
words were full of wisdom and expert
ence. and his writings always IN demand.
For many years his was the exposition oil
the Sunday-school lessons of the American
Baptist Publication Society. He never
wrote or spoke in public that he did not
have something to say
But most or all what gap his death
has made in the great rank of teachers.
He sometimes preached. but he soon
FOUND that while he loved the souls OF
men, his mission was not TO preach, Dut
10 teach in the classroom.
For who that has ever sat under ms
teaching could even forget his lnlniitaDlo
power. Scarcely second 10 his loved ana
nonored friend, Dr. A. b. Brown, he SEEM
cd 10 occupy the ned alone IN certain
His love OF his subject,
mis- clear analysis, ana wondrouS descgip-
tive power encnained the attention or the
student from the beginning. dorm
teacher, not one from necessity, so fuii
OF information was ne, ana SO wei was
l..A