At Hamilton College—in Training for Service

Chapter 3, 1853-1857

In harmony with the wishes of his parents and the advice of his teachers and friends young Pierson early decided to prepare for the Christian ministry. Although he was not yet conscious of any special “call,” his talents, inclination and training all pointed in this direction. Without seeing the final goal, he took the next step in the divine program and every detail in this program is important.

He did not enter Columbia College as he expected, for his parents thought it best to send him away once more from the distractions of city life. Hamilton College was chosen as a Christian institution of high scholarship, large enough to offer the advantages of contact and competition with many classes of young men, yet small enough to allow for individual instruction and the impression of the personality of professors on students. Rev. Albert Barnes, the eminent divine, was one of the famous alumni and Dr. H.G.O. Dwight of Constantinople was pointed out, with pride, as a missionary product of the college. The early morning of September 19, 1853, saw Arthur cutting loose once more from his moorings and sailing out upon an unknown sea. It was of immense advantage that the decision as to his lifework had already been made, since it saved him from aimlessness and from a consequent waste of time and energy. He kept his port in mind, studied