Info on George R. Hand:
April 27, 1867:
Elder G. R. Hand, of the Christian Church of this city will preach tonight and Sunday Morning at Camden, Mo. As a reasoner and expounder of the Gospel, he has but few equal in the west.
Taken from microfilm of Richmond Conservator
of April 27, 1867 at Ray County, MO Library
In the Spring of 1886, after completing the book, "The Gospel Delineator and Survey," which the church News Publishing Company had gotten out for him, G. R. Hand left the writer's home in Sacramento, where he had spent most of the winter, for Southern California. It was his second trip tot hat favored country, who suggested to him a trip to San Diego to look over the field and organize a church, if the outlook was favorable. Coulter had made a previous investigation in regard to San Diego. Some years before, he had sent W. D. Frazee in a similar mission, But Frazee brought back the report that there were giants of difficulties in that city, and as we could not take it. Hand went, he saw and he conquered. He organized the Central Christian Church of San Diego. We are told in God's word to "Despise not the day of small things." Out of this small beginning has grown the largest congregation of Disciples on the Pacific slope.
The real period of development began with the coming of W.E. Crabtree in 1895. The first house of worship was built on Thirteenth street. In 1900, it was moved to Ninth and F. In 1909, the old house was demolished and a $50,000 plant took its place. The building was forty reems, and is a varitable beehive. During these years of progress, the hive has swarmed three times, so there are new three splendid missions, the children of the mother church.
Page 283
History of the Disciples of Christ in California
by E.B. Ware