EV. LEWIS CRAVEN was born in Randolph county North Carolina, in 1806, and died in Halifax county October 7, 1842, aged thirty-six years.

      In early life, he became a member of the Christian Church, but was opposed by his stepmother who was a "Quakeress." Being impressed with a call to the [144] ministry, he united with the North Carolina and Virginia Conference or General Meeting, and commenced preaching in 1828, being licensed at the General Meeting at Union meeting house in Orange (now Alamance) county, North Carolina. He was assigned to Nottoway circuit in Virginia. He attended the General Meeting, held at New Providence, September 23, 1830, and was assigned to the Dan River circuit, in Virginia. He was ordained in 1831, the General Meeting being held at Union, in Orange (Alamance) county; and in 1832, he was at the General Meeting at Lebanon in Surry county, Virginia, and was assigned to Staunton River circuit. He was also present at Kedar in Warren county, in 1833, and was assigned with Rev. S. Apple to Neuse River circuit. In 1834, he was at New Providence General Meeting; and he was at the General Meeting at Pleasant Grove in Halifax county, Virginia, in 1835, as secretary and to form a new circuit. In 1836, he was at O'Kelly's chapel, and was appointed as a kind of superintendent, that is to "travel at large." He was at Pope's chapel at the General Meeting, in 1838, and in 1839 he was chosen chairman of the Conference at Lebanon in Surry county, Virginia.

      The North Carolina and Virginia Conference met at Union meeting house, Orange (Alamance) county, North Carolina, October 2, 1840, and Rev. Lewis Craven was chosen secretary. At this Conference he was assigned to the Staunton River circuit, in Virginia, to wit: Pleasant Grove, Mountain Hill, Shiloh, Cook's school house, Christian chapel, Providence, Liberty Grove, Concord, Arbour, Chappell's and Reece's. At the Conference at Apple's church, in Guilford county, in 1841, he was present, and was appointed on the committee to examine candidates for ordination. He was also appointed one of the ordaining presbytery and a fraternal messenger [145] to the Eastern Virginia Conference at Cypress chapel, in Nansemond county, in 1842, and was invited to a seat to "enjoy equal privileges with the members of this [Eastern Virginia] Conference." He was authorized to represent the Eastern Virginia Conference in the North Carolina and Virginia Conference at its next session. The next session of the North Carolina and Virginia Conference was held at Union, Halifax county, Virginia, in 1842. At this time, Rev. Lewis Craven was transferred to the Eastern Virginia Conference, and the churches nearest to it were recommended to unite with it. On Sunday, October 2, 1842, he preached a powerful sermon from John 5:28, 29, before the Conference, and it was thought that this was partly the cause of his death. He was taken with a severe hemorrhage, which so weakened him that on his return to church next day, he was obliged to stop by the way at Paul Tuck's, where he died the following Friday. It is said that he was perfectly resigned to die. With joy in his countenance he said, "I feel like going home." 'He was married and left a wife but no children. His funeral was attended October 9th; discourse by Elder Alfred Apple from Psalm 12:1, and probably the text was never repeated with more propriety than when used in reference to the death of Lewis Craven, 'He is gone but not lost.' The body was laid to rest in the Union chapel graveyard, in Halifax county, Virginia.

      On one occasion in his early ministry, when he had started on a preaching tour, he stopped at the house of a lady, and as it seems he preached. After the congregation had dispersed, she said, "Bro. Craven, I think you had better go back home, I don't think you will ever succeed." He sat in silence a few minutes, his eyes filling with tears, and said, "My sister, you can hurt my feelings, but you can't hurt my prospects." She exclaimed, "Craven, go on and you will succeed." [146]

      He had been a preacher thirteen years; his labors were extensive, constant and zealous; his usefulness was well known and will long be remembered and cherished by many in Virginia, where he was employed the last year of his life, and in North Carolina, besides those far to the West who also enjoyed the benefit of his labors. As a man he was of fine appearance and succeeded admirably. Withal he was liberal hearted, and was highly esteemed as a preacher of the gospel.

[LCM 144-147]