|
Nicholas Brodie Hardeman
The Young Evangelist Nicholas
Brodie Hardeman was born to Dr. John
Bellefont Hardeman and Nancy Jane Hardeman on May 18, 1874, near
Milledgeville, McNairy County, Tennessee. He was baptized He began his career as an educator in the rural schools of West Tennessee. He was a member of the faculty of Georgie Robertson Christian College for eight years, 1897-1905. In 1908, he and A. G. Freed established the National Teachers' Normal and Business College. It was renamed Freed-Hardeman College in 1919. Hardeman served as Vice President from 1908 to 1920. He was acting President for a few years and President from 1925 until his retirement in 1950. Hardeman
studied the Bible under R. P. Meeks, A. G. Freed,
and Hall L. Calhoun. The text of his first
sermon was Romans 1:16. Hardeman was an excellent teacher and expected the very best from his students. If there was one thing that he disdained it was "generalities." Constantly he bemoaned what he termed a "smattering" knowledge of anything. He believed in thoroughness, no matter what the subject was. It was never enough to have a general knowledge of the contents of any subject. "Professor" Hardeman, as he was usually called, believed that one should be thoroughly grounded in all the fundamentals. For example, no student was educated until he learned how to spell, how to write a decent hand, so that it could be read without difficulty, how to properly word and diagram a sentence. Thus he always stressed accurate spelling, neat and legible handwriting; also correct answers in the fewest possible words to any question. Over and over he emphasized the fact that he could state what he believed on any subject on a post card and still have enough room to add, "Bring all your folks and come to see me." Although he was well versed in the American Standard Version, and most of the modern translations, Professor Hardeman always stuck to the King James Version when quoting from the Bible. He was well aware that quite a few words in the King James Version were archaic, but he was equally aware of the fact that many modern translations are not translations at all, but rather a commentary on, or else a substitution for, the original. During his almost 60 years as a teacher, perhaps more than 20,000 students sat at Hardeman's feet and studied the Bible and related subjects, many of whom are still living and carrying on the spirit and ideals which Hardeman imbued into them. Eternity alone will reveal the far reaching influence that he has already had, and will continue to have in the life and work of his thousands of students. And, like a succession of waves upon a lake, they continue to roll on and on toward eternity's shore. Hardeman was a debater, not that he "picked on" anyone for a debate, but he did willingly accept a challenge. His first debate was held with I. N. Penick, eminent Baptist educator. Hardeman had been preaching only two years and was only 25 years old. Without a doubt he took care of the situation adequately. His last debate was with the "wiley" Ben M. Bogard in Little Rock, Arkansas. There were many debates between the one with Penick and the last one with Bogard. All of Hardeman's debates were highly effective but the ones with Boswell and Bogard were truly historic and rank among the greatest debates in history. The Boswell-Hardeman Debate on instrumental music in Christian worship conducted in the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee, May 31-June 5, 1923, and attended by thousands, broke the back of digression in Tennessee, and was the greatest single factor in ending all further efforts by Christian Church preachers to justify scripturally their innovations. Every gospel preacher should have the Boswell-Hardeman discussion in his library, and should thoroughly familiarize himself with the arguments made. The Hardeman-Bogard debate, conducted in Little Rock, April 19-22, 1938, is, in many respects, the greatest debate ever conducted with the Baptists. Hardeman was a great preacher in the true sense of the word. He believed that the Bible should be preached with conviction and power. He did this as a gospel preacher. He was fearless in his proclamation of the word of God. As a preacher, Hardeman was eloquent. He was second to none as an orator. He would hold an audience spellbound as he with true eloquence preached the gospel. By the oratorical power of his preaching, multiplied thousands were persuasive. He taught the way of the Lord. Historians have written and will write of N. B. Hardeman as one of the very great preachers of all time. Another characteristic of the greatness of Hardeman as a preacher was the sincere simplicity of his sermons. He spoke "not with excellency of speech or of man's wisdom." The wisest of earth as well as the children could understand him. His thoughts were profound but were expressed with such simplicity that all could comprehend. This was indicative of greatness in heart and effectiveness in communication. Although he never accepted an appointment as a local minister, he delivered thousands of sermons, seven volumes of which have been published. In his teaching at Freed-Hardeman College, and through his published sermons, he has influenced countless young preachers in their presentation of the gospel message. Hardeman
conducted many gospel meetings especially in the southern States. One of
these at the Union Avenue Church at Memphis, Tennessee, resulted in 84
baptisms with 14 others during the week that followed the meeting. Some
who became angry in the early part of
It is doubtful that any
one man had more exact information regarding the history and geography
of Bible times than Freed-Hardeman College exists today because of N. B. Hardeman and A. G. Freed. Their dreams, ideals, and sacrifices brought it into being and these same things have kept it serving a worthwhile purpose until today. To his family Hardeman was kind, just, overgenerous, and gifted with a superb sense of humor. He not only preached to them lofty principles of honor and service, thrift and industry, but first practiced them himself. He was strongly supported by his beloved wife who had one basic rule of conduct: "Don't do anything that will reflect on your daddy." The early feelings that the children had toward their father were
natural love and devotion; and after growing up, they changed to the
deepest admiration, adoration and appreciation. The children never heard
a filthy word issue from him, nor a vulgar one, nor a profane. As early
as the children could remember their father was a hero to them. Whatever
he did or had them to do, they felt was right, though they didn't always He never had a broken bone, had his natural teeth, and fast growing silver hair, with never a bald spot. He was in a hospital only once for treatment before in his life, until in November, 1965. On August 31, he went to Shelbyville, Tennessee, for six nights at the Walking Horse Celebration, an event he had not missed in its 27 years of existence. On October 30, in the evening he was watching the Lawrence Welk show when he began to feel so uncomfortable that he retired. An hour later, he was seized by a severe chill, and on the doctor's advice, went by ambulance to the Baptist Hospital. At first, there was the suspicion of pneumonia, but after thorough testing, only a bladder infection appeared. This was yielding to treatment, and with the constant attention of his doctor, his three nurses and his family, he seemed to be improving. On the last day of his life, November 5, he greeted his family so cheerfully that they were deceived into thinking he was much better. He joked with the nurse that morning as she urged him to drink more fluids. Later in the morning, he murmured, "I wish brother Comer were here." When asked, "Which one, Papa?," he replied, "Brother R. W." Little could his family dream that he was within hours of joining his great friend and benefactor. R. W. Comer had supported all five of the Tabernacle Meetings, as well as other efforts of Hardeman, and on his death in August, 1944, had provided in his will for an endowment of $200,000 for the college N. B. Hardeman had helped to build with "toil and sweat, blood and tears." Near midnight on November 5, 1965, Hardeman suffered a stroke, and in less than three hours, that noble and courageous spirit ebbed gently, but steadily, into eternity. His family stood by in helpless anguish, the nurse worked over him frantically, and in constant attendance was that brilliant and compassionate young Christian doctor, G. Dan Copeland, so we knew that all was done for him that mortal hands could do. Now he has joined the "Choir invisible of those immortal dead who live again, in minds made better by their presence" while our hearts are filled with a great deep loneliness. This has been eased by the torrent of kindness, love and sympathy that has surrounded us. At his funeral, on November 8, 1965, at the Highland Church of Christ in Memphis, his dear friends J. M. Powell and B. C. Goodpasture spoke in eloquence; his son gave from his heart a message of tribute; Stoy Pate and W. B. West worded beautiful prayers; Paul Brown led congregational singing of his favorite hymns. At the graveside in Henderson, where a host of grieving friends surrounded him, B. B. James spoke the final words of love and respect and prayed the final prayer. - From In Memoriam, Gussie Lambert, Shreveport, LA, c.1988, pp.124-128
Hear To Sermons By N.B. Hardeman
Long Time President Of Freed-Hardeman University
Home Of N.B. Hardeman, Henderson, Tennessee
Directions To The Grave Of N.B. Hardeman
Nicholas Brodie Hardeman is buried in the City Cemetery at Henderson, Tennessee. From I-40 in West Tennessee, take the Hwy 45 exit south. Go through the city of Jackson, and continue south about 15 miles to Henderson. You will be on the bypass in Henderson. Go to you come to Hwy. 100. Turn left and go to the next stop. Turn left on North Church St.. Go about 100 yards and turn into the cemetery on the right. The cemetery will fork close to the entrance. Take the left fork and head up the rise to the peak of the hill. Stop the car and look to the right. You should see the Hardeman Plot.
GPS Coordinates
Buried At Henderson City Cemetery
Click On
Blinking Button To See Map & Other Graves At Henderson Cemetery |
the meeting returned later to obey
the gospel.
