 Frontier fighters, tear fighters, the glowing imperishable deeds of those fearless sons of courage who gave their lives so that the West might have liberty and justice. When the Reverend Thomas Star King accepted a pastorate in San Francisco, his well-wishing Boston friends thought he had suddenly become bereft of his reason. They assured him California was a land of brawling miners, outlaws and savages. But on April 5th, 1860, Star King and his wife boarded the steamer Northern Light for San Francisco. When the ship was a few miles out, he remarked to his wife, Well, Julian, you worried a little? Oh, no, not exactly worried. That's a little apprehensive. California is such a new country. Such a... Such a wild country. I know. And you're a little worried about me personally. I don't exactly look the rugged pioneer type. Star, why did you ever leave Boston? Not that I wouldn't go with you to the end of the earth. I know, my darling, what you're thinking. I've given up so much to accept so little. Oh, it does look that way to the human eye, but, Julian dear, I was called to San Francisco to serve both my country and my God. Star, you sound like a soldier about to invest in the army. My dear, if Abraham Lincoln is elected president of these United States, well, I... Oh, but don't worry, your little head, Julian. I can only say, my darling, that I was really called to California. But now, look up at the sky, my dear. Isn't it glorious to know God's in His heaven and all's right with the world? On April 28th, 1860, Star King preached his first sermon in the Unitarian Church on Stockton Street. His sighs, his beardless boyish face were held against him until he spoke. Then, every doubt in the minds of his parishioners faded away. They were charmed and tranced, delighted, wildly enthusiastic. With every sermon his fame grew, and in a few months, people came from every part of the state to hear this inspired young preacher. Just before Lincoln was inaugurated, some of his followers asked Star King to declare himself. Declare myself, gentlemen? Why, I don't understand. It won't be many days now before a Greek calamity is going to hit these United States powerful hearts. And can't help but be that, and more, for a man like Lincoln is sitting in the White House? I ain't for mincing words. You're going to be North or South, Reverend King? Neither, Mr. Jones. Neither? Just a humble, God-fearing, liberty-loving American. And now, gentlemen, I bid you good morning. Something wrong, dear? Not yet, Julian, but there will be soon. When the question, shall there be a North or South, raises its head in the House of the Lord, in his earthly kingdom, we can certainly look for trouble. What's that? Don't you hear that furious pounding on the door? One of your parishioners must be desperately ill. Oh! Coming! Coming! Patient! Reverend King, a thousand apologies for getting you out of bed at this hour, but news just came over the telegraph wire from Washington. Something happened to Abraham Lincoln? The President is well, but, oh, sir, Fort Sumter has been fired upon. Fort Sumter fired upon? That means that the Civil War has begun. California will be in a bad way, Reverend. More than 40 percent of her citizens are of Southern birth. If we lose California, the entire West may see-see from the Union. I don't know why I come to you, Reverend King, except I thought you'd want to say something about it from the pulpit. From my pulpit, and from every pulpit in the state of California that loves the Union, and from every lecture platform, from every street corner, if need be. You will be criticized, Reverend King, for taking a stand like that. Your congregation brought you to California? To save souls. Yes, I know, David. But God rules Earth as well as Heaven. And from this hour on, I dedicate my life to saving California and preserving the Union. There are those who say they are Union men and in favor of the government, and yet they are bitterly opposed to the administration and cannot support its policies. But in a war for self-existence, this divorce is impossible. One might as well say it's a fire, while his house is beginning to crackle in flames. I am in favor of this engine. I go for this water. The hose meets my endorsement. And certainly I am for putting out the fire. But don't ask me to help man the brakes, for I am conscientiously opposed to the hose pipe. Its nozzle isn't handsome. It wasn't made by a Democrat. My friends, I have a vision. I want to share it with you. I see a restored, peaceful, majestic, irresistible America where North and South are one again, where Liberty and Union, now and forever, are one and inseparable. Oh, I can't stop, dear. I must have another speech ready by morning. Just in, Julia. We're beginning to turn the tide in favor of the Union. Perhaps by fall, if Leland Stanford is elected governor, then California will be safe from disunion. But your health, star, dear. You can't go on like this, living in excitement. But just burn yourself out. I can't stop now. Not even for a minute. Today, tomorrow, next month, next year, not until every state is restored to the Union. Of course. Forgive me for having scolded you. Your life has been service to God, service to your fellow men and women. Your life was laden with love, winged with sacrifice. Well, I do know more than thousands do, everywhere in the United States. United States. They were United once. I pray, God, they will be again soon. The war years drove on. In a bitterly fought campaign to re-elect Abraham Lincoln, threats were made against the preacher Patriot's life. He tried to keep their knowledge from Mrs. King. One day, greatly alarmed, she came to his study. No, Typhoon. It's terrible. Monsters to think that anyone wants to kill you. Julia here, dear. Now pull yourself together. Oh, we're leaving California. We'll go away. Done your duty by God and man. No one can expect more. There, there, now, dear. Let me see that note. I turned cold all over when I read it. Why, Julia, I've received notes like this before. But you didn't ever say anything. What was there to say, Julia? I wasn't afraid, and I knew that no harm could come to me until my mission was finished. We'll leave California. You need a rest. You've gotten so thin. You don't sleep well anymore. You hardly take time to eat. After Abraham Lincoln is re-elected and the union is whole and sound again, we'll have a second honeymoon. We'll go to Europe. We'll see all the places we've read about. We'll... Sir! Sir! Here, let me get you some water. It's just a little dry spot in my throat. I'm sorry to frighten you. Ah, you did for a moment. You won't lie down and rest for just 15 minutes. No, no, no, I... I haven't addressed a mass meeting. Julia, I'll consider my work well done. If I can bring a majority of 10,000 votes to the president, wouldn't that be a wonderful vote of confidence in the great work he's doing? I wonder what you'll receive for the great work you're doing. For the little I've done to help my country. I may receive a crown of thorn or the bitter cup which he drank and called it sweet. Even when his strength was fast-failing him, Star King drove himself on day by day. Even as the election returns were pouring in, he kept on preaching the gospel of liberty and union, one and inseparable. Closing his fervent plea for an undivided union, he said... And when the work of the government shall be accomplished, when the flag of 13 stripes and 34 stars shall again float over Sumter, over New Orleans, over Mount Vernon, and the American dust of Washington. You're a reverent final election return. Oh, thanks, Bill. I'll announce them from the stage. How does it look, Bill? Like a landslide? Oh, yes. Yes, it does. Ladies and gentlemen, I shall conclude my speech. There is nothing more to be said. My work is done. Abraham Lincoln, in the Union State of California, is favored by a majority of 30,000 votes. Doctor, there's my husband very ill. Mrs. King, there's hardly a spark of life left in that frail body. Oh, no. No. Oh, the jury. Uh, come in, dear. Read me the 23rd Psalm. No, no, no. No, give me the Bible. I'll read it. Yes, dear. Here's your Bible. Don't look so unhappy, dear. I'm not going far away. You see, I can't stray far, because the Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in the green pastures. He leadeth me beside the still water. He restored. Doctor. A great soul has joined his maker. In Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, there has been erected a beautiful monument to Thomas Starr King. The inscription reads, In him, eloquence, strength and virtue, were devoted with fearless courage to truth, country, and his fellow men. And so, a man of God joins the long line of great, selfless and daring frontier fighters.