Amy B. Harris (1895)

HARRIS

Posted By: Kent Transier
Date: 12/18/2006 at 07:42:12

Semi Weekly Madisonian
Winterset, Iowa
Tuesday, 02 Jul 1895
Page 3

THE END HAS COME

Amy Harris, after a Week of Suffering, Passes into Rest

A week ago these columns gave a reasonably complete account of the attempt on her own life by Miss Amy Harris, who had just returned from missionary work in Burmah. On Friday her condition was briefly noticed. She continued to sink until Sunday morning, just one week after her injury, when she gently and, to all appearances, peacefully passed away. She realized what she had done, and understood that the effect must be fatal. Yet she did not know why she did it, and had no memory of any volition in the matter. Sickness and nervous prostration had, in fact produced an attack of irresponsible insanity. It is inexpressibly sad to see such and ending of a life so beautiful, so brilliant and so devotedly Christian; of a life that had already accomplished so much for enlightenment of the dark places of the earth, and that promised yet greater results in changing our toil-burdened and sorrow-stricken earth back to Eden. With some lives self destruction can be understood from a human standpoint. But what had Amy Harris to fear or dread? If her life was not such as to produce a peaceful mind, there would appear, so far as human eye can discover, little use in the effort. In her case there can be but one explanation – an overruling Providence willed it so.

Four paragraphs of religious statements follow.

The funeral services were held in the Baptist church Monday afternoon. The services were conducted by the pastor, assisted by Rev. G. C. Peck, who was pastor at the time of Miss Harris’ departure for her mission work, and Rev. J. R. Murphy, a former pastor, and intimate friend of the family. The casket was borne by six young men of the church, preceded by six young women. The services were short, simple, but expressive and tender. The extraordinary circumstances appeared almost to daze the audience with awe, and forbade the outward expression of grief, yet anguish was in every eye. A light blow may produce and outcry, but a stunning shock is followed by silence. There is no suffering like that which endures in silence and loneliness.

The following sketch of the life and character of Amy Harris was prepared by Mrs. French, and read by the pastor Rev. C. Holmes:

Amy B. Harris was born at Nevinville, Adair county, Iowa, in 1863, but removed with her parents to their present home in the suburbs of Winterset at an early age. Thus her childhood, youth, and young womanhood are all identified with this city. Her school life was begun in our city schools, and, after completing the course laid down by them, continued at the Central University, Pella, Iowa, from which place she graduated, in company with her older sister, with high honors, in June of ’84. But this by no means ended her student life. Ever distinguished by a fondness for reading, even in childhood preferring a book to the society of her young playmates, upon leaving college she bent her trained mind to thorough, exhaustive study, which was continued as the intervals of her work permitted.

In disposition our golden-haired Amy was ever gentle, mild, affectionate and obedient, receiving into an open heart the religious training of her parents and of the Sunday School, of which she was an attentive member from an early age. She was converted when only ten years old, and soon after baptized into the fellowship of this church by Rev. Richard Garton, then acting pastor. While very reticent as to her personal feelings and experiences, her religious life seems from the first to have been strongly marked, and to have kept even pace with her mental development.

Just at what point her interest in foreign missions was first aroused we cannot tell; but that such interest should have been awakened quite early is by no means strange when we remember that seven bearing the name of Harris had already been or still were toilers on the foreign field. During the years spent at the university the Macedonian call began to ring loudly in her ears, and soon after her mind was made up and the response given “Here am I; send me.”

Early in 1887 she offered her services to the W. B. F. M. Society, and was accepted by them and designated to school work in Basseln (?), which place she reached in December of the same year. In giving herself to this work there were no reservations. She gave her all, and entered upon the work with the quiet enthusiasm that marked all her endeavors. Her previous linguistic training enabled her to acquire the language with more than ordinary facility, and so she was enabled to take upon herself active duties at an early date. The school in which she was engaged was large, having nearly 400 pupils, and her duties were neither few nor light. But with her it was not the drudgery of the duty but the labor of love. All the privations and vexations and difficulties incident to the work were bravely and uncomplainingly borne by her. One of her last coherent utterances was of love and regret for her work in Burma. Dr. D. A. W. Smith of Rangoon, speaks of her as one of the most efficient and successful missionary workers who had ever been on the field.

For more than seven years these unremitting labors were sustained; then came the imperative command of her physician not to risk another season in Burma. Accordingly on March 29 of the present year she reluctantly laid down her work and turned her face toward the west in joyful expectation of soon meeting with the loved ones at home. A note from a co-worker to be opened soon after the journey was commenced, reads “You are now homeward bound.” How much truer than he knew were his words! Her journey was not to end in Winterset, but in the Celestial City.

After a short trip through Egypt and Palestine, chiefly at Jerusalem, the first Sabbath of June found her in London, the second on the broad Atlantic, the third just landed in Boston, the fourth, the disease laid it's fatal hand upon her at her father's house in this city, and the fifth yesterday, she reached the journey’s end in one of the many mansions of our Father’s House.

At the early age of thirty-two her life work was done and she entered into rest. Those who stood by her bedside will never forget the intelligent look of radiant happiness that overspread her features shortly before her departure, as of the reflection of a light from within the vail. Then, as it slowly faded, she gently turned upon her side and sweetly “fell asleep;” and soon, without a moan or a motion, she was not, for God had taken her.

Rev. G. C. Peck read portions of a letter written by Miss Harris in February last, a short time before starting home. This letter was addressed “To the Juniors and Bands of Iowa.” It gave the workings of the mission schools, and exhorted the children in Iowa to exertion in the cause.

At the close of the services in the church the funeral train took up its last march to the cemetery, where all that is mortal of Amy Harris was consigned to earth to await the resurrection of the just.

Gravesite
 

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