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James Alexander Harding (1848-1922)
As a student at Bethany College
JAMES ALEXANDER HARDING was born April 16, 1848 in Winchester, Kentucky. He entered Bethany College in the fall of 1866. Earlier that year Alexander Campbell had died, and W.K. Pendleton, Campbell's son-in-law, was president. Harding graduated at age 21 in the class of 1869. He then moved to Hopkinsville, Kentucky and began his teaching career. He met and married Carrie Knight, the daughter of Hon. John B. Knight in 1871. She died August 14, 1876. He then married Pattie Cobb of Estill County, Kentucky, March 7, 1878. For 17 years he labored only in the evangelistic field in 22 different states and Canada, during this time preaching about 10 sermons per week. Oftentimes for months he would preach two sermons a day. On October 5, 1891, he, along with David Lipscomb, began Nashville Bible School (later David Lipscomb University). He was the first principal, and later the superintendent. Harding remained in Nashville for ten years before moving to Bowling Green, Kentucky and founding Potter Bible College. In his lifetime he held more than 50 debates. His last years were spent in Atlanta, Georgia with his son-in-law. he died May 28, 1922, and his body was laid to rest in the Fairview Cemetery at Bowling Green, Kentucky next to his wife, Patti and son, Paul. After his death two institutions of higher learning were named after him, Harding University, Searcy, Arkansas and Harding Graduate School, Memphis, Tennessee
As Potter College President
Pattie Cobb Harding
Biographical Sketch Of The Life Of James Alexander Harding
James A. Harding was born at Winchester, Kentucky, April 16, 1848. His parents were members of the church several years before he was born and his father, elder James W. Harding, was a gospel preacher. He was baptized into Christ during a meeting conducted by Moses E. Lard and Harding's father, at Winchester, in October, 1861. He was 13 years old when he became a Christian. At age 16, he was placed under the tutorage of J. 0. Fox, an eminent educator of his day. Mr. Fox conducted a school to prepare young men for college. Next, he entered Bethany College in West Virginia in 1866. He remained there three years and graduated at the age of 21 in the class of 1869. After leaving college, he began teaching in Hopkinsville, Kentucky, where he taught a school for young men and boys.
He married Miss Carrie Knight, the oldest daughter of Hon. John B. Knight, and
one of the prominent members of the church at Hopkinsville. His wife lived five
years after they were married. About two years after her death, he married Miss
Patty Cobb of Estill County, Kentucky. On account of ill health, he gave up
school at Hopkinsville and in the Fall of 1874, he began to devote all his time
to the work of an evangelist.
He soon attracted attention and rapidly grew into prominence as a successful
evangelist. His field of activities gradually widened until his labors were
almost nationwide. For 17 years, he labored wholly in evangelistic work. During
this time, he preached an average of about 10 sermons a week.
During these 17 years, he held more than 300 protracted meetings of more than
three weeks duration. One of the longest meetings was in Nashville, Tennessee,
on Foster Street. This meeting continued eight weeks and resulted in 115
additions to the church. He conducted one meeting in south Nashville and one in
northeast Nashville which resulted in 300 additions to the church. One year he
spent six and one-half months in meetings in Nashville. He preached more in
Nashville than in any other city. Harding was a great character. He could do
many things well. He was a great teacher and a ready writer but his greatest
power seemed to be as a preacher in the pulpit. He preached "as never sure
to preach again and as a dying man to dying men."
David Lipscomb placed before Harding a plan for starting a school. Harding fully
endorsed the plan and gave much encouragement to Lipscomb. So, on October 5,
1891, on Fillmore Street in Nashville, in a rented house, the Nashville Bible
School was started. Only nine young men were in attendance the first day but
during the session 32 students were enrolled. Harding was selected as the first
Principal of the school and later was given the position of being Superintendent
of the Nashville Bible School, which is now David Lipscomb College.
Harding remained with the school for 10 years. While teaching daily in the
school during each session, he preached four or five times a week in and around
Nashville and during vacation he entered the field of an evangelist. In addition
to his preaching and teaching, he wrote weekly for the Gospel
Advocate and other religious papers. After leaving Nashville Bible School,
he went to Bowling Green, Kentucky, and founded the Potter Bible College. David
Lipscomb College still honors him as one of its founders.
In April, 1899, he began publishing The
Way, a religious weekly. This was published in Nashville until Harding moved
to Bowling Green and then it was published in that city. The Way was finally combined with the Christian Leader of Cincinnati, Ohio, and the new paper bore the
name, The Leader and Way.
Harding was a great debater. He held more than 50 debates. Four of his debates
were published in book form. The first one, "Debate on Baptism," was
held with Mr. T. L. Wilkerson, a Methodist, in December, 1884, in the town of
Meaford, Ontario, Canada. This debate continued for six days. The second,
"Harding-Nichols Debate," was held in Lynnville, Tennessee, January 24-27,
1888. His next published debate was called "The Nashville Debate" and
was with J. B. Moody, a Baptist minister in Nashville, beginning on May 27,
1889, and continuing for 16 nights. The next published debate was the
"Harding-Nichols Debate" held in Murray, Kentucky, March 24-27, 1890.
The last years of Harding's life were spent in Atlanta, Georgia, with his son-in-law. He died on May 28, 1922, and his body was laid to rest in the cemetery of Bowling Green, Kentucky. So ended the life of this noble man of God. Many will remember him for his strong faith in God and his reverence for the word of God. No man did more for the cause of Christ during the time allotted him than did James A. Harding. In Memoriam, by Gussie Lambert, Shreveport, La, 1998, pages 130,131
Directions To The Grave Of James A. Harding To find the Fairview Cemetery, where J.A. Harding and other Restoration preachers are buried, From I-65 at Bowling Green, Kentucky take Exit 26 (Hwy. 234). Go west on Hwy. 234 (Fairview Avenue) for about 2.0 miles. Enter the main entrance to the Fairview Cemetery on your right (north side of street). To get to Hardings grave: The burial plot is located in C-1. Go through the entrance and bear to the left and around the fountain. You will come to a huge section C on the right that is a big oval. Follow the drive around C on your right. You will pass smaller sections and wedge section on the left. Come on around until you see section G. Harding is one of the first graves in G (G145) very close to a little wedge section. Also buried in this cemetery is M.L. Moore Location C-1 N-93; Born May 8, 1867 and Died June 25, 1928; J. Petty Ezell C1 D-84 B. Jan. 2, 1885 D. May 10, 1934; Ben F. Rogers C1 C-300; B. May 31, 1840 Nov. 3, 1915; Raymond Hazelip C-2 (Cemetery 2 Across Fairview Ave. in new cemetery next to office) He is buried in Section B-1 B. Jan. 17, 1917 & D. Nov. 6, 1982. Note: This is the Hazelip family site. Harold Hazelip, brother of Raymond, is to be buried there when he dies.
GPS Coordinates
James A.
Pattie Cobb
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