Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-02-14

my schoolmate. college mate. army COM
rade, and lifelong friend and brother.
II seems to me only yesterday that l
met the rosy-cheeke1 boy, who came to
the school Of our honored old teacher,
Mr.. William T. b. Frazer, who still lives
among us. and we began friendship
which lasted through our school-days,
was renewed and strengthened at the
University, grew into ties OF closest
brotherhood during the hardships and
sufferings and dangers Of the war. and
continued to grow, as we were bound
together by common sympathies, common
objects In life, and a like glorious hope
Beyond the smiling and the weeping"
Herbert Harris, as boy, was conscien-
tious, studiCus, and successful in all Of
his studies. He came to the University
admirably prepared by his previous
course at Richmond College. easily went
to the front in all OF his classes. and
made his Naster-of-Arts degree-at that
time unquestionably the highest evidence
OF real scholarship conferred by any col
lege on the Continent-in three sessions,
with perfect ease.
/ roomed I'm the Same dormltory with
him my last session at the University,
and very distinctly remember his quiet
zeal and sanctified common-sense In our
Christian work, which resulted that
year in a glorious revival at the Uni
versity. There were In that dormitory
four brofessed Christians and four who
were not, and we decided to have
family prayers" every night and to
make special prayer and put forth spe-
cial effort for the conversion OF the four
out Of Christ. In q few weeks God
heard our prayers and blessed our
efforts. and all four OF them came out
on the Lords side.
One of them went to Heaven from the
HANDICAPPED heights of Gettysburg. brave
ly doing his duty; another has long been
deacon of ole of the Presbyterian
churches in Richmond; the third is deacon
in Baptist church In Eastern Virginia,
and the fourth Is in the far West; a use
ful man, / trust. These followed q gra-
cious revival, in connection with the
weekly prayer-meeting we held, and
Herbert Harris was a leading spirit in
all of this work as well as In the gene
raj Christian work OF the University
| The Young Mems Christian Association,
Of which he was one Of the founders,
was organized in 1851, though the revised
constitution and bylaws, which bore the
marks OF his judicious hand, was not
adopted until October, 1888, and IL. H..
Harris is clearly entitled-along with Rev.
Dabney Carr Harrison, our chaplain,
who fell at the head Of his company at
I Fort Donelson, and other kindred spirits
among the living and the dead-to the
| honor OF having assisted In organizing
/ the first college Young Mems Christian
| Association ever started Your sketch
\ has treated so well OF his career as a
/ brave soldier, a great teacher. and an
influential leader among his people, that
/ I will not go over the ground again; but
/ will only add several Illustrations. l
met him frequently In the army, and
! regarded him as one OF the finest Illus
trations OF how our brightest, and best
Young nen-whose talents fitted them for
high command-bore so patiently and
heroically the duties and hardships, and
dangers OF the private soldier. lie was
a fine specimen OF the men who made the
morale OF the Army OF Northern Vir-
! glnia, absolutely unequalled In all the
annals OF war. recall how frequently
| saw his genial face In our camp congre-
cations, heard his fervent prayers or
| pungent exhortations. and witnessed his
| iudicious work in our great revivals.
In the engineer corps he won fine repu-
tatlon for his attachments and admirable,
practical work, and I heard General Lee
say OF him one day in Lexington: He did
excellent work, and was one OF our rising
young engineers"
had no opportunity OF Judging person
! ally OF his teaching, but / always heard
i his students speak OF him In the most
/ enthusiastic terms. Professor Thomas r.
Price, when Professor OF Greek at the
University, said to me: "Harris's students
are among the very best prepared men
/ who enter my class; and DR.. John A.
| 10 aQr a mi " 4.
scholar said In my presence more than
once: 1T can tell the students whom Her
bert Harris has taught the moment
4 question them In my classes" But a
short time before DR.. Broadus's death he
had occasion TO write me his high estimate
II ~ Professor Harrlss scholarship and real
ability az a teacher. The friendship be-
I tween Drs. Broadus and Harris was very
i close and very beautiful. and we love to
think OF II as purined and strengthened
lover there" They were lovely ano
r,eassnt In their lives. In their death
thew are not divided" but II is no stretch
~ the Imagination to think Of them as
taking sweet counsel together as they re-
cali hallowed memories OF familiar scenes
and persons OF other days.
n 4. within my personal knowledge that
On 1ssa-,e0 DIR. Harris had decided to go Out
az missionary to China, and while pre-
vsrtad from fulfilling HIS cherished pur-
nose nv the coming on OF the war. his
s,hsaouent connection with the Foreign
xT,ssson Board, his thorough knowledge
=, ths WORK. ana his active efforts In IT'S
sehslf accomplished more for foreign mis-
.,ons than ne could have done had ne
f,,alled his cherished purpose OF going to
while not an Orator in the popular
.enss az the term. 7 have heard DR.. Har-