Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-02-05
HONOR PROF. HARRIS.
GRANITE SHAFT 10 HIS MEMORY
DEDICATED YESTERDAY.
A TRIBUTE FROM HS ADMIRERS
DIR. Pitt Makes the Presentation on
Their Behalf, md DIR. Jones Ac-
cents IL for the FaIniIy-The In
scripfions.
scripffons.


ris (whose death occurred just year
ago yesterday from gathering at MS
grave I'm Hollywood, on the occasion ot
the presentation of the granite shaft
which former pupils and old friends had
erected. At few minutes after
o'clock DR.. r. ]. Willingham took charge
of the simple exercises. and Rev. }. Cal
vim Stewart led in brief and tender
prayer. DR.. r. Fl. Pitt was then intro
duced as "close friend Of Professor
Harris, and who had been chiefly instru-
mental in raising the fund for the me-
mrial'
TRIBUTE OF DIR. PITT.
DR.. Pitt said:
Tn tho absence of Dr. Hatcher. IL be-
comes nv duty to say a simple Woru IN
transferring this shaft from the CUSTODY
of the committee in charge 10 tne iiiiine-
date kindred and TO that larger company
who have sought and obtained the PRIV,
lege of Sharing with the family the sacred
office of suitably marking this hailoweu
spot. From Dr. George Cooper came tne
first suggestion. which has grown INTO tiils
granite. We were gathered-Drs. ha.cn, n,
er. Willingham. Cooper. and myselI-n
the Foreign Mission rooms, place uea.
To the heart of our departed friend, and
were talking of him, of whose deatn We
had Just heard, when the suggestion Was
made that this grave ought To be marked
by his friends. The response was spon-
taneOus and hearty, and the fund began
Just there. The family gave their ap-
prOval and the rest is matter OF de-
tail which / need not enter into mere.
No large gifts were suggested. no sort
of pressure was used. but they came
from every quarter-from China, Japan,
Mexico. Brazil, from almost every stare
i'm the Union. from old pupils. from COM
rades in the army from colleagues IN tne
college and the seminary, from misslOna-
ries. from friends And with these gilts
came letters overfiowng with af1ecuon
and admiration for the man we were
seeking to honor.
PORTRAIT AND SHAFT.
Some of the donors said portrait must
hang i'm the college library. singunriy
faithful likeness Of his strong, sad face
hangs on the library walls, provided out
of this fund. And now our labor or iove
is completed in the formal delivery OF
this shaft. IT is as simple and modest
as he was himself In his tastes and
habits. Ii Is of granite, which htiy
typihes his own solid character. 1t
seemed proper that the stone when
marked his grave should be taken from
the everlasting hills Of his native State,
to which he gave his laboriOus life, ana
I'm whose defence he went forth TO DO
valiant battle. and so 1t is Of Virginia
granite. IL Is fit that his body should rest
here within sight and sound of the rush
ing river which he loved so well; here,
where. when all is still one may almost
hear the bells of the college 10 which his
long service lent such distinction.
Standing by his grave this bright winter
afternoon, and remembering how bravely
he fought his battle and how patiently
he bore his burden of physical weakness,
and how, after absence from Virginia, ne
came back 10 die and 10 be buried here;
remembering, too, how cheerfully he went
forth to meet death. | am reminded OF
those pathetic lines which are found on
StevensOns tomb i'm far Samoa. only the
words have deeper meaning here:
Under the wide and starry sky,
Dig the grave and let me lie;
Glad did | live and gladly die,
And | laid me down with will.
This be the verse you grave FOR me:
Here he lies where he longed TO be.
Home is the sailor home from the sea,
And the hunter home from the hill.
The inscription on this shaft. written
by his longtime colleague. Professor
Winston, is free from any extravaganza.
On one of the faces you Will find three
Greek words a slight suggestion Of his
mastership in that beautiful language.
These words, as | have often heard him
say are the key-WOrds OF Johns First
Epistle-"Love Light. Life" Into the
love which knows no change, into the
light excellent and supernal. into the life
which knows no mortal taint, he has
fully entered. We, following with halt
ing step lnger but little.
ACCEPTED BY DIR. JONES.
At the conclusion Of DR.. Pitts's address
DR.. John William Jones, lifelong friend
and kinsman of the family. was intro
duced to receive the shaft on behalf Of
the family and friends. DR.. Jones said:
4 ta.~r
been selected by the family 10 receive
this beautiful monument, which loving
hands have erected in honor of my old
schoolmate, my fellOw-countyman, my
collegemate my army comrade, my life
long friend and my beloved brother
"Herbert Harris needs no monument.
He erected himself a monument more
enduring than bronze, more lasting Ihan
granite, in the minds, the hearts, ana
teh lives of his old students, and his col
leagues, and cOlaDOieIS All over TINS anu
other lands.
"But IL is eminently Mt that this monu-
ment should have been reared TO show
how our noble friend was honored and
loved; and l. therefore, return to the
committee and to all concerned the hearty
thanks not only Of the immediate family.
but Of that larger family who hailed
him as brother beloved, and who gather
around this monument to-day from we'll
nigh every State in this land, and from
other lands, for there are with US not
few who are present in spirit, though
absent I'm body.
II may not further multiply words un-
der the circumstances which surround
rs though | could speak much more as
followed memories OF my friend crowd
upon me. and l will, therefore, only re-
neat the hearty thanks or those whom
represent for the happy conception and
delicate execution OF this noble monu-
ment, and the superb portrait in the col
lege library.
Dr. George Cooper then made the closing
prayer.
SHAFT AND INSCRIPTIONS.
The shaft Is singularly graceful and
well proportioned. and bears these In
scriptions: on the front face-"Henry
Herbert Harris. born December H. 1897;
died February T. 1891" On the right face
these words-"An eminent scholar,
great teacher true friend, a devoted
husband and father. faithful Christian"
and under this three Greek words, mean
ing Love. light. life"
on the left face-"Professor of Greek in
Richmond College. ls66-ls95; president
Forelgn-Nissi Board, lsS6-lSS0; president
$. b. T. Seminary, ls95-l&I."
ment-"This shaft bears witness TO the
affection of friends and pupils In this
and other lands"
Among those present at the grave were
Drs. A. Z. Dickinson. James B. Taylor,
]. s. Dill. +. w. BOatwrght, John Pol
lard. ". r. L. Smith. Charles H. Ryland.
S. c. Mitchell, Judge Roger Gregory, Pro-
fessors Kellogg and Gaines; Messrs. John
C Williams. f. NJ. Foster j. B. Cosby
and a number of others besides a large
company of ladies'. Professor c. II. Win
ston was absent on account or sickness,
THE MONTGOMERY At MATANZAs.