Seven Years Street Preaching In San Francisco: Embracing Incidents, Triumphant Death Scenes, Etc.

Rev. William Taylor was a Wesleyan Methodist missionary sent from Baltimore to San Francisco during the California Gold Rush. He arrived in 1849, and became a well-known open-air preacher/street preacher. His account is helpful for scholars wanting to research the Gold Rush Era of California, Methodists, Early Evangelicalism, and 19th Century California. Ministers and street evangelists will also find William Taylor to be an eminent communicator and defender of the methodology of street preaching. Read more Continue reading Read less REVIEW
"Among the first of our noble army of occupation in California was the Rev. William Taylor. In labors he has been more abundant, and as fear-less as laborious. His book, as a book of mere incident and adventure, possesses uncommon interest; but as a record of missionary toil and success its interest is immensely increased. The sketches of personal character and death-bed scenes are thrilling." -Ladies' Repository




"The observation and experience recorded abounds with the most pleasing interest, and the scenes are described with much graphic power and felicity." -Baltimore Sun




"This is a graphic description of the labors of a missionary among the most complex, and perhaps most wicked, and at the same time excited and active population in the world. It is a very rich book, and deserves a large sale." -Zion's Herald




"As a religious history, it occupies a new department in Californian literature; and its incidents and triumphant death scenes are of the most interesting character." -The American Spectator




"It is a very entertaining volume, full of adventure, grave and gay, in the streets of a new city, and among a peculiar people." -New-York Observer




"We like the spirit and daring of the author of this book. But few like him live among men. With an undoubted piety, and courage like a lion, he preached Christ at a time, in San Francisco, when Satan reigned about as triumphant as he ever has on any other spot of the cursed earth. The book will be read, and it will do good wherever it is read." -Buffalo Christian Advocate




"The state of society which Mr. Taylor describes is almost anomalous, and his pictures are boldly and clearly drawn." -New York Evening Post

--This text refers to the hardcover edition. ABOUT THE AUTHOR
William Taylor (1821-1902) was a trailblazing American Methodist Episcopal missionary, author, bishop and global evangelist. His early career is synonymous with California and street evangelism. Often compared to St. Paul, Taylor traveled far and wide, pioneering innovative approaches to missions for nearly half a century in places such as Australia, the Congo and South Africa. The self-sufficiency of churches in the field was his top priority. He emphasized a locally financed church model that relied on local economies instead of overseas support; a methodology still used today. --This text refers to the hardcover edition. Read more Continue reading Read less