David Carradine

Beverly Francis Carradine (1848-1931) was an American minister and a prominent figure in the holiness movement, dedicating much of his writing to the concept of sanctification. Born in Mississippi, he served in the Confederate Cavalry before graduating from the University of Mississippi. He experienced a spiritual awakening in 1874, leading to his licensing as a preacher and later ordination as a Methodist elder. His prolific writing career, which produced at least 26 books, focused heavily on spiritual themes, particularly sanctification, which he also received a profound experience of in 1889. Carradine was also known for his public stance against the Louisiana lottery, which he analogized to slavery. He was the patriarch of the Carradine family, becoming the grandfather of actor John Carradine and the great-grandfather of actors David, Keith, and Robert Carradine. Despite being a prolific author, he revealed little about his personal life in his writings.

Beverly Carradine was a key evangelist within the holiness movement, a branch of American Methodism emphasizing the doctrine of entire sanctification. His spiritual journey included a significant moment he referred to as 'praying through' in 1874, which he felt marked a profound spiritual cleansing. This experience deeply influenced his ministry and prolific writing. He was licensed to preach shortly after this event and later ordained as a Methodist elder. A pivotal moment in his theological development occurred in 1889 when he received what he described as the 'blessing of sanctification.' This theme became central to his literary output, with many of his published works, starting with his third book, "Sanctification" (1891), exploring this doctrine in depth. He authored at least 26 books, primarily addressing spiritual growth and the pursuit of holiness.

Carradine's literary contributions extended beyond theological treatises; he was also a vocal social critic. Notably, he wrote about his strong opposition to the Louisiana lottery, drawing parallels between its exploitative nature and the institution of slavery. His early activism and public pronouncements against the lottery, particularly during his tenure as a pastor in New Orleans, were reportedly instrumental in its eventual abolition in the state. While he authored at least 26 books, his writings, including his autobiography "Pastoral Sketches," were characterized by a general reticence regarding personal and family matters. His bibliography includes titles such as "A Journey to Palestine" (1892), "The Second Blessing in Symbol" (1893), and "Yazoo Stories" (1911).

Beyond his religious and literary career, Beverly Carradine holds significance as the patriarch of a family that would achieve considerable fame in the performing arts. He was married twice and fathered at least nine children. His son, William Reed Carradine, became a correspondent for the Associated Press and was the father of the renowned actor John Carradine. Consequently, Beverly Carradine is the grandfather of John Carradine and the great-grandfather of actors David, Keith, and Robert Carradine, all of whom carved out significant careers in Hollywood. This lineage connects the spiritual and evangelical world of the late 19th and early 20th centuries to the modern film industry through his descendants.