The Defection Of Jeremiah Vardeman
The writings of Alexander Campbell, largely through the Christian Baptist, encouraged a number of Baptist preachers in Kentucky to become identified with the movement to restore New Testament Christianity. Among these Bluegrass Baptist "Reformers" were such men as John Smith, T. Johnson, P. S. Fall, Jacob Creath, Sr., Jacob Creath, Jr., and the subject of this sketch, Jeremiah Vardeman. When these men first became identified with the Restoration, Campbell and his associates were affiliated with, and were regarded as, Baptists. However, the sharp controversy that arose between the "Regular Baptists" and the "Reformers" in the late 1820's eventually led to a separation, with the Reform element becoming a distinct people. As the controversy was developing, the doors of many Baptist churches began to be closed against the Reformers and the opposition to them became bitter. This turn of events led some of the Reform preachers to become weary in well-doing and to return to the old Baptist traditions. One of these was Jeremiah Vardeman.
Vardeman was the most popular preacher in Kentucky during the 1820's, and his great popularity gave him a commanding influence among the Baptists of the state. When Alexander Campbell met William McCalla in debate at Washington, Kentucky, in 1823, he chose the popular Kentuckian as his moderator. While Vardeman was not as strict in his adherence to Calvinism as most Baptist preachers apparently were, he did renounce it for a time to advocate "with ability and success" the New Testament as the only standard of faith and practice. Robert Richardson says, "Jeremiah Vardeman, indeed, even from the time of the McCalla debate, had preached baptism for the remission of sins with great zeal and effect. In November, 1826, he told Mr. Campbell that he had much more pleasure in immersing persons than formerly before he was aware of the meaning of the ordinance." (Memoirs of Alexander Campbell, Vol. 2, p. 287).
As a proclaimer of the ancient order of things, Vardeman was very successful. During 1827 and 1828, he baptized 668 persons between November and July. But it was not long after this fruitful season when he made an abrupt change and began "preaching again those things he once labored to destroy." Jacob Creath, Sr. said of him, "He set out in the Reformation before me; but, after I had enlisted under its banner, and started to battle for it, I met my old comrade and brother, now disgusted and discouraged, coming home again with his knapsack on his back." (Life of Elder John Smith, p. 243.)
John Smith was so moved by news of Vardeman's defection that he went over to David's Fork, where the great preacher was conducting a service, to talk with him about it. After Vardeman's sermon, Smith arose and begged him "not only for my sake, but for his own good, and that of the people." to tell the audience "what passage in the word of God convinced him he was wrong." The exchange that followed might well be a classic for it has been repeated in substance many times since.
Replying to Smith's earnest entreaty, Vardeman said the brethren knew how much he had always loved Brother Smith, and that he had long known him to be a good man and one who stood for the truth of God. "But," he continued, "to do what he now desires, would only lead us into controversy and I do not wish to dispute about doctrinal matters with such a man as he."
However, Smith would not be this dissuaded from his purpose. He further pressed his brother to give a reason for his change, saying:
"What Brother Vardeman has said only makes it the more imperative on him to give me the reason which led him to abandon us. He says I love the truth; he must know then, that whatever passage of scripture condemns me, I will, as an honest lover of truth, accept with all my heart. He says he loves me; how then can he bear to see me in the wrong, and not enlighten me? Besides, he has the promise that he that turns a brother from the error of his way, will save a soul from death and hide a multitude of sin. (Ibid, pp. 212, 213.)
Vardeman responded only by saying he was satisfied that a controversy there would do no good, and that he would proceed to dismiss the assembly. And so he did, but not before the resourceful challenger got in an additional word. "If you now refuse," Smith said, "to cite the proof that we are wrong, whom you so lately declared to be right, the people will justly conclude that you have abandoned us without any scriptural reason at all." (Ibid.)
The meeting was adjourned with Smith's impassioned plea for the Scripture that caused Vardeman's change, and the sound reasoning as to why it should be given, failing to move the backslidden Reformer to defend his action. But the conversation was not without effect. It made a deep impression upon the audience. Smith's biographer says, "The people became suspicious; and perhaps more was effected by the bold but fruitless challenge than would have been accomplished by more protracted controversy."
Vardeman was more forthright about his reason for changing when Jacob Creath, Sr., asked him about it in private. Vardeman confided to the old Reformer, "Oh, if this thing takes we shall all starve. The Baptists are not too liberal as it is." (Richardson, op. cit., p. 324.)
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