The Apostle of Virginia
by Thomas Ray
Not many mighty men are called. Samuel Harriss was one of those mighty men. Born January 12, 1724, in Hanover County, VA, His parents provided him with more than an adequate education. While still a youth, Harriss moved to Pittsylvania County where he became a successful farmer, owning at his death approximately 5,000 acres.
Harriss’s business success and honesty won him the respect and esteem of his fellow citizens. He was appointed and served as sheriff, justice of the peace, burgess for the county, colonel of the militia, captain of Fort Mayo, and commissary for the Fort and the Army. He was also actively involved in the ministry of the established (Anglican) church, serving as the churchwarden, which required him to oversee the needs of the poor. But all this esteem and honor did not fill the void he felt in his life. His study of the scriptures had convinced him he was a sinner and his sin had separated him from God. He was also convinced the established church did not have the answer to his problem. However, Harriss was determined to find peace with God.
In 1758, while fulfilling his Army responsibilities, he rode by a house where a large crowd had gathered. Upon learning that Baptist preachers Joseph and William Murphy were scheduled to preach, he was determined to hear them. That service transformed Harriss, leading to his conversion. Later that same year, 34-year-old Samuel Harriss was baptized by the renowned Daniel Marshall.
Harriss immediately began to preach. He spent the next year traveling, preaching, and learning from Marshall. He was totally committed to Christ. At the time of his conversion he had just finished building a new house worthy of his status in the community. However, instead of moving into the new house, he turned it into a church, and he and his family continued living in the old house.
Harriss was primarily known as an itinerate evangelist. He traveled and preached for over 30 years. His ministry took him to almost every part of Virginia and parts of North Carolina. No man in the 18th century established or assisted in establishing more churches than Samuel Harriss. Robert Semple, the Baptist historian, said that as a doctrinal preacher Harriss was not above mediocre, but in his ability to speak to the heart, he was not excelled even by the great George Whitefield.
His status in life did not make him immune to persecution. On more than one occasion mobs broke up his meetings. Once he was pulled from the stage where he was preaching and dragged around by his hair until rescued by friends. He was a man of great faith and prayer, demonstrated in the following anecdote. He approached a neighbor about collecting a debt. The neighbor informed him he did not have the money. Harriss told him, “I see you have a fine crop of wheat. I would prefer to have the payment in wheat.”
The man said, “I have other plans for my wheat.”
“Then, how do you expect to repay me?”
The neighbor said, “I don’t. I will only pay you after you sue me in court.”
Perplexed, Harriss rode away. He was so troubled he got off his horse and walked into the woods and knelt to pray. He said, “Lord you know I need that money to feed my family. But if I go to court, I cannot travel and preach, and perhaps 1,000 will perish.” As Harriss continued to pray, the Lord gave him absolute assurance God would meet his family’s needs. He returned home and wrote out a receipt dismissing the debt. After sending the receipt to his neighbor, Harriss left on a preaching tour.
Upon his return home after his preaching engagements, his neighbor stopped him and asked, “What does this receipt mean? I told you I would not repay you until you took me to court.”
Harriss replied, “I chose to sue you in the court of heaven and Jesus has agreed to pay. Therefore, I sent you a discharge.” The neighbor, overwhelmed with guilt and perhaps fear, loaded his wagons with more than enough wheat to repay the debt and sent it to Harriss.
Samuel Harriss entered into the presence of his Lord in 1799 at the age of 75.