Scotland and the Continent—Missionary Crusades

Chapter 12, 1889-1891

The visit to the Centenary Missionary Conference in London in June, 1888, was an event that changed the whole course of Dr. Pierson’s life. He planned only to attend the conference, present some letters of introduction to prominent men and then to spend a month or two in rest and travel on the Continent; but furlough time for him had not yet come. On sailing for England he entered in his diary—“Wife and I especially asked of God today that this might not be a mere pleasure trip, but that rest and recreation might be combined with service—especially to missions.” No prayer was ever more abundantly and literally answered. From the time he boarded the vessel, opportunities for testimony began to present themselves and before he returned four months later he had addressed over a hundred and twenty-five gatherings.

The Scotch Athens

His addresses at the missionary conference bristled with facts, sometimes startling, sometimes distressing, sometimes encouraging, but always unimpeachable. Fires of enthusiasm were lit and spread over the Continent and the British Isles. At the close of the meetings in Exeter Hall he was invited to address Mildmay and other conferences. Then having no further engagements, his interest in the