The Bold Frontier Preacher

This book is the biography of the Reverend William Cravens (1766–1826). He preached all around what is now the eastern United States, and made a huge and lasting impact everywhere he went. He did much good, but is certainly one of the lesser-known early Methodist itinerant preachers.

It has been said of him that "his character was great courage and holy boldness. He had the boldness of Luther, the fearlessness of Knox. He was made of such materials as martyrs are made of – He was a moral hero." (Quoted from the sketch which opens this book.)

He abhorred more than any other these two things: slavery and alcohol. After his conversion, he sold his slaves, but soon went back to re-purchase them so that he could set them free. His morals ran deep, and spilled over into his day-to-day life. He certainly practiced what he preached. We would do well to do the same.