Within the first few weeks of his arrival he and his wife marched to Portsmouth square in the heart of the gambling saloon district and began singing so loudly that the saloons and gambling dens quickly emptied to see what the noise was all about. There they found a six foot, 207 pound man gathering passers by into an informal Christian service. Taylor would use a carpenter's bench or a wheel barrow, or whatever else was at hand. He would then appeal for order on the basis that they were all respectable and, preaching under the new United States flag, he would fearlessly challenge the sinful life-styles of their frontier culture pointing to the power of Christ to transform lives even in that difficult society.

A Fearless Proclaimer

One of Taylor's favorite preaching spots was down at the harbor's Long Wharf. With the ease and grace of a man at his own fireside, Taylor would climb atop the nearest whisky or pork barrel and engage passers by in dialogue.

After greeting each of the nationalities which stopped to watch the proceedings, he and Mrs. Taylor would sing a few gospel songs. Then, with a voice that echoed loudly up and down the muddy streets, he would choose a simple text and proclaim the power of Christ to transform lives and give victory over the sins and temptations of the restless city.

He would call his listeners to accountability before God sometimes actually entering the bars and brothels to speak fearlessly to their customers. Strangely the power of his message and the boldness of his person led to acceptance even in such situations. In this manner he often preached at different street locations four or five times a day.

If rowdyism or interruptions threatened to overwhelm his meeting, he would appeal to the "fair play" instincts of his hearers (he always referred to them as "gentlemen"). He would point to the U.S. flag he always flew at his side as a symbol which stood for his right of free speech and assembly and ask some listeners to keep order for him.

His regular followers respected him, and, because he always treated them with honor and courtesy, quickly took care of any who sought to disturb him. He would often refer to the Brothers and families his hearers had left behind in the East as not only depending on the miners but also as those who trusted them to live as men of quality and integrity. Many times the toughest miners and the many sailors visiting the port among his listeners would break down into tears.

He quickly established a book depository and planted infant Methodist fellowships in the nearby towns of San Jose, Santa Clara, and Santa Cruz then volunteered to serve as the chaplain of the new two-story San Francisco hospital demanded by the harsh winters and disease-breeding conditions of that shanty town. He not only visited the sick, but aided the poor, defended American Indians and preached in Chinese labor camps. He founded the Wesleyan college which has since divided to become today's University of the Pacific and the Pacific School of Religion on the Berkeley University of California campus.