After his graduation, he visited Great Britain and on his return in November 1859, he became pastor of the Wooster Place Baptist church in New Haven, Connecticut.

On account of ill health, he resigned his pastorate in 1861 and took a walking tour of England.

On his return in 1863, he became professor ad interim of modern languages in the University of Rochester.

Not long after he accepted the pastorate of the Mount Auburn Baptist church in Cincinnati, Ohio.

In the same year, the University of Rochester conferred upon him the honorary degree of doctor of divinity.