Starr King In California

Reproduction of the original.

A biographical work on Thomas Starr King has been presented here. His preaching that took him from Boston to San Francisco is discussed in detail. His work in turning the sympathy for the Unionists in California is also mentioned.

"Soon after his arrival in California from Boston during 1860, King joined a small group of friends for an excursion to Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa Grove. On his return he described the trip in a seies of eight letters to the 'Boston Evening Transcript'. These communications, never before reprinted in their entirety, form the body of 'A Vacation among the Sierras'--Book prospectus.

Excerpt from Starr King in California H IS book is the result of the author's strong desire to know the truth relative to a critical period in the history of California, and a fur ther strong desire to deal justly by the memory of a man recent historians have been pleased to pass. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

"In many years no finer piece of Western Biography has been done than Starr King in California." -San Francisco Chronicle, 1917"The book is a scholarly and conclusive estimate of the part played by the great preacher and orator in saving his adoptive state from joining the Confederacy or, perhaps, from proclaiming a Pacific republic of its own." -The DialThomas Starr King (1824 - 1864) was an American Universalist and Unitarian minister, influential in California politics during the American Civil War, and Freemason. Starr King spoke zealously in favor of the Union and was credited by Abraham Lincoln with preventing California from becoming a separate republic. He is sometimes referred to as "the orator who saved the nation." In 1917, American author William Day Simonds (1855-1920) published "Starr King in California," writing: "This book is the result of the author's strong desire to know the truth relative to a critical period in the history of California, and a further strong desire to deal justly by the memory of a man recent historians have been pleased to pass by with slight acknowledgment. What was the nature and measure of Starr King's influence on the Pacific Coast during the Civil War? To be able to answer that question has cost more time and study than the reader could be brought to believe. It has necessitated a thorough examination of all published histories of California, of numerous biographies, of old newspapers, memoirs, letters and musty documents. It has involved interviews with prominent persons as well as a careful study of earlier writings upon Starr King in books and magazines. Best of all it has compelled the writer to the delightful task of renewing his acquaintance with the published sermons and lectures of the patriot-preacher. It is believed that no important data has been overlooked, and it is hoped that a genuine service has been rendered to all students of California History, and to all lovers of Starr King-he who was called by his own generation, 'The Saint of the Pacific Coast.'" That Starr King, "Saint of the Pacific Coast," was a good deal more than a mere pulpit-pounder was long ago made clear, and is demonstrated in Mr. Simonds's study of that remarkable man's services to the Union and freedom-"Starr King in California." A short opening chapter devoted to King's early life in New England is followed by two longer ones on California in the early sixties and King's part in helping to turn that state to the side of the North in those critical times; then comes a review of his work as philanthropist and preacher, and finally a brief retrospect of his career as a whole. Contemporary sources of information have been diligently sought out and judiciously drawn upon, a few of King's old friends and acquaintances being still alive to contribute their testimony and reminiscences. Other books by Simonds include: The Christ of the human heart (1910) Sermons from Shakespeare (1898)

Starr King in California by William Day Simonds When Starr King entered the Golden Gate, April 28, 1860, he had passed by a few months his thirty-fifth birthday. A young man in the morning of his power he felt strangely old, for he wrote to a friend just a little later: "I have passed meridian. It is after twelve o'clock in the large day of my mortal life. I am no longer a young man. It is now afternoon with me, and the shadows turn toward the east." There was abundant reason for this premature feeling of age. Even at thirty-five King had been a long time among the most earnest of workers. Born in New York City, December 17, 1824, of English and German ancestry, son of a Universalist Minister who was compelled to struggle along on a very meager salary, the lad felt very early in life labor's stern discipline. At fifteen he was obliged to leave school that by daily toil he might help to support his now widowed mother and five younger brothers and sisters. Brief as was his record in school, we note the following prophetic facts: he displayed singular aptitude for study, he was conscientious yet vivacious, he was by nature adverse to anything rude or coarse. Joshua Bates, King's last teacher, describes the lad as "slight of build, golden haired, with a homely face which everybody thought handsome on account of the beaming eyes, the winning smile and the earnest desire of always wanting to do what was best and right." This is our earliest testimony to the lovable character of the man whose life-story we are now considering. It will impress us more and more as East and West, Boston and San Francisco, in varying phrase tell again and again, of "the beaming eyes, the winning smile, and the earnest desire of always wanting to do what was just and right." A bread-winner at fifteen, and for a large family, surely this is the end of all dreams of scholarship or of professional service. That depends on the man-and the conditions that surround him. Happily King's mother was a woman of good mind who knew and loved the best in literature. Ambitious for her gifted son, she read with him, and for him, certain of the masters whom to know well is to possess the foundations of true culture. It is a pretty scene and suggestive-the lad and his mother, reading together "till the wee small hours" Plutarch, Grote's History of Greece, Bullfinch's Mythology, Dante and the plays of William Shakespeare. Fortunately his mother was not his only helper. Near at hand was Theodore Parker who was said to possess the best private library in Boston, and whose passion for aiding young men was well known. He befriended King as he befriended others, and early discovered in the widow's son superior talents. In those days very young men used to preach. Before he had reached his majority, King was often sent to fill engagements under direction and at the suggestion of Parker. The high esteem of the elder for the younger man is attested by the following letter to an important church not far from Boston. We are delighted to publish this classic book as part of our extensive Classic Library collection. Many of the books in our collection have been out of print for decades, and therefore have not been accessible to the general public. The aim of our publishing program is to facilitate rapid access to this vast reservoir of literature, and our view is that this is a significant literary work, which deserves to be brought back into print after many decades. The contents of the vast majority of titles in the Classic Library have been scanned from the original works. To ensure a high quality product, each title has been meticulously hand curated by our staff. Our philosophy has been guided by a desire to provide the reader with a book that is as close as possible to ownership of the original work. We hope that you will enjoy this wonderful classic work, and that for you it becomes an enriching experience.