EV. THOMAS G. CRAVEN was born and reared in Randolph county, North Carolina. He was a member of the North Carolina and Virginia Conference, but resided in that part which was formed into the Deep River Conference, and later into the Western North Carolina Conference.

      At the North Carolina and Virginia Conference at Hanks' chapel in Chatham county, in 1844, Rev. Thomas G. Craven was admitted as a licentiate. He was present at the Conference at Apple's chapel in 1845, and also at Union in 1846. He was ordained an Elder at the Conference at New Providence in 1848; and also was in attendance at the Conference at New Providence in 1855. In 1857, he reported that he had not preached as often as he desired, but that the Sundays on which he did not preach he had labored in Sunday school. That the next year he expected to labor more than he had the past.

      In 1860, he was at the Conference at Pleasant Hill, in Chatham county, and served on the committee on unfinished business. He was also present at the Conference at Damascus, in Orange county, in 1862, and served on the committee on Sabbath schools. In 1864, he was still on the committee on Sabbath schools, and was pastor of Shady Grove, Parks' Cross Roads, Pleasant Ridge, and Shiloh, which churches are now in the Western North Carolina Conference. [247]

      In 1870, he was at the Deep River Conference at Oldham's Grove, in Moore county, and served as chairman of the committee on temperance. "It does not require labored effort to convince us that all intoxicating drinks as a beverage are evil and evil continually." He was not assigned work for the ensuing year in accordance with his own request. At the Conference at Shiloh, in 1871 he served on the committee on temperance, and on the committee to devise a plan for raising funds to erect a monument to the memory of Elders John R. Holt, Lewis Craven, and Josiah McCulloch.

      At the Conference at Union Grove, in Randolph county, in 1872, charges having been preferred against him, he appealed, and a committee of all the Elders decided to sustain the action of the Conference committee, and he was deposed.

      The reader can make his own reflections. Though a good reputation may require years to make, yet it will not stand unless built on the everlasting Rock.

[LCM 247-248]