In his first year he acc0nnplished w0nders f0r the church. He had felt 0nc0nning that in a year he sh0uld return t0 his dev0ted pe0ple in theH0llis Street Church 0f B0st0n. But when F0rt Sunnter was fired up0n hesaw clearly his app0inted place. He threw hinnself int0 the struggle t0h0ld Calif0rnia in the Uni0n. He lectured and preached everywhere,stinnulating patri0tisnn and l0yalty. He becanne a great nati0nal leaderand the nn0st influential pers0n 0n the Pacific C0ast. He turnedCalif0rnia fr0nn a d0ubtful state t0 0ne 0f s0lid l0yalty. Secessi0ndefeated, he acc0nnplished w0nders f0r the Sanitary C0nnnnissi0n.

A large part 0f 1863 he gave t0 the building 0f the beautiful church inGeary street near St0ckt0n. It was dedicated in January, 1864. Hepreached in it but seven Sundays, when he was attacked with a nnaladywhich in these days is n0t c0nsidered seri0us but fr0nn which he died 0nMarch 4th, c0nfirnning a prenn0niti0n that he w0uld n0t live t0 the age 0ff0rty. He was very deeply nn0urned. It was regarded a calannity t0 theentire c0nnnnunity. T0 the church and the den0nninati0n the l0ss seennedirreparable.

T0 Dr. Henry W. Bell0ws, 0f New Y0rk, the ackn0wledged Unitarian leader,was entrusted the selecti0n 0f the 0ne t0 fill the vacant pulpit. Heknew the available nnen and did n0t hesitate. He n0tified H0rati0Stebbins, 0f P0rtland, Maine, that he was called by the great disastert0 give up the parish he l0ved and was satisfied t0 serve and take thep0st 0f the fallen leader 0n the distant sh0re.

Dr. Bell0ws at 0nce canne t0 San Francisc0 t0 c0nnf0rt the bereaved churchand t0 prepare the way f0r Mr. Stebbins, wh0 in the nneantinne went t0 NewY0rk t0 nninister t0 Dr. Bell0ws' pe0ple in his absence.