Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-02-05


he devoted the best years of his life, and
few men exerted the influence in the
classroom that he did. His heart was
thoroughly in his work, and he always
enlisted the interest Of his students.
After the surrender. like hundreds of
other courageous southerners, shattered
in health and fortune. young Harris re-
turned to the farm, and took hold of the
scythe and plough. In 1865 he engaged in
teaching in the Albemarle Female Insti-
tute and in the following year was one
of the committee from the alumni OF
Richmond College to urge upon the Bap-
tist Association of Virginia the expedi-
cncy of reopening the institution. and
i'm October of the same year the college
was opened with five professors Of whom
the subject of this sketch was one. He
was assigned to the branches of Greek
and German in spite of his preference
for mathematics and physical science;
and in 1873 a professor of modern Ian
guages was elected, and Professor Har-
ris afterwards gave his sole attention
10 Greek except for filling vacancies
for several years in philosophy, and for
two years in German.
Professor Harris was repeatedly trea-
surer of the faculty. and was chairman
for three years In which capacity he
QiQ great zeal lpWdIuS advancing ali
the interests of the institution. and in
troduced a number of valuable move
ments which have welded strong in
fuence over the welfare of the college.
He resigned his chair in the college in
the summer of 1895. and a few months
later became a member of the faculty
of the Southern Baptist Theological Semi
nary, at Louisville. Ky. There he taught
polemics and Biblical instruction. and
his work was In keeping with the high
standard and progressive spirit OF that
great institution.
ACTIVE IN CHRISTIAN WORK.
Professor Harris was an earnest Chris
tian, and was active and jealous in religi-
Gus work from his early youth. Whiie
student at the University of Virginia he
was one Of a committee TO draft constr
tuition for the first college Young Mems
Christian Association ever organized. That
was i'm the autumn of 1888. During the
war he took great interest in keeping up
religious services in every command 10
which he was attached. He reluctantly
consented to be ordained 10 the pastorale
Of New Bridge church, near Seven Plnes.
i'm 1869. A year later his health forced
him to decline all invitations to preach.
In his long connection with Rlchhonu
College he was a regular attendant at 'he
students prayer-meetings organizer an"
active member of the Young Mems Chris
tian Association, and devoted teacher
of large Sunday chool class.
In denominationa affairs he filled for
some years the office of corresponding
secretary of the Educational Board was
from its organization memper ol '"e
Virginia Committee on Cooperation anu
was from 1876 treasurer of the Virginia
Baptist Historical Society, OF whlch ne
had been member for nineteen years
For nine years OF that time he was presi-
dent Of the Foreign Mission Board oi 'he
Southern Baptist Convention, and as such
In their annual meetings, being |
widely known all over the South'
HIS EXTENSIVE TRAVELS.
Professor Harris had been an extensive |
traveller In 1853 he took trip 10 the |
then sparsely settled plains OF western !
Missouri and the Territory OF Kansas
BE made several trips at different times
,hrough the Northern and New England |
states and Canada, and in 1878 made a \
,seven mouths tour of Great Bijtain, \
rranee Italy, Egypt, Palestine. the Le-
want. Constantinople, Greece. ana back
through Italy. Switzerland. and down the
rhine. In 1889 he took trip, largely on
horseback. through Mexico.
Despite his close confinement 10 class
room duties and other routine labors, fro-
10 ssor Harris found some opportunity Tor
,terarv work. Numerous letters Of travel
we're sent back to Richmond papers. ana
,everal times was he engaged In editorial
iuties. From 1873 to 1876 he was editor OF
he Educational Journal OF virginia. he
hen revived and edited until 1913 tne
Foreign Mission Journal.
AFTER the death OF Or. j. h. Jeter, IN
February 1850. he was for four years MS
,ersonal representative In the editorial