Today as you look through Pittslvania County the spires of many Baptist Churches dot the skyline. God has put his stamp here. But everything has a beginning and it all started in a humble little cabin. Daniel and Joseph Murphy and Daniel Marshall were holding a preaching meeting when up strode a Virginia military colonel. Generally this would be bad news for the Baptists as the state church often persecuted them, but God had been convicting upon the heart of Col. Samuel Harriss.
"As the people were collecting. Colonel Harriss rode up, splendidly attired in his military habit. What is to be done here, gentlemen ? said Harriss. Preaching, colonel. Who is to preach ? The Murphy boys, sir. I believe I will stop and hear them. He dismounted. The house was small, and in one corner stood a loom, behind which the colonel seated himself. The Lord's eye was upon him, and the truth became effectual in deepening his convictions. Such was his agony of mind, that at the close of the meeting his sword and other parts of his regimentals were found scattered around him." (James Taylors Virginia Baptist Ministers)
God saved Samuel Harriss and though he would lay down the physical sword, he would take up the sword of the Word of God and be a flaming firebrand all over Virginia, starting church after church. Countless men were saved under the preaching of the Word of God. Sadly today though, Harriss is largely forgotten. A monument to him is by the Family Dollar Store on BR-29 on the way north of Danville on the way to Blairs. The Baptist Heritage Revival Society did put a marker at his grave site in 2013 near Chatham but today the site is again overgrown and choked with weeds. God help us to remember those brave souls that have went before us.
