Orville Nave

Orville James Nave (April 30, 1841 – June 24, 1917) was an American Methodist theologian and chaplain in the United States Army. He is best known for compiling Nave's Topical Bible, an index of topics addressed in the Christian Bible.

Early life Orville Nave was born in Galion, Ohio on April 30, 1841. He was the son of Solomon P. and Jane Ann (Johnson) Nave. At Nave's recommendation, the Methodist Episcopal Church's 1892 General Conference appointed a three-member board to recommend Methodist clergymen for the chaplaincy. The Conference asked the federal government not to approve any Methodist clergymen as chaplains unless they were approved by this board. Some in the military also charged that his advocacy for greater focus on morality in the armed forces defamed the troops by implying that they were immoral. He continued his service as an army chaplain and was assigned to the 3rd infantry division in 1901. On June 24, 1917, Nave died from injuries sustained when he was struck by a street car outside his home in Los Angeles, California.