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A.T. Pierson
Arthur Tappan Pierson (March 6, 1837 – June 3, 1911) was an American preacher, missionary advocate, and author whose transatlantic ministry and prolific writings elevated him to prominence in evangelical circles during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Born in New York City, the ninth of ten children to Stephen and Sallie Pierson, a family with abolitionist roots, he was named after Arthur Tappan, a noted abolitionist. Raised in a Presbyterian home, he joined the church at 15, graduated from Hamilton College in 1857, and completed Union Theological Seminary in 1860. Ordained that year, he began pastoring in Binghamton, New York, before serving churches in Detroit (1869–1882) and Philadelphia’s Bethany Presbyterian (1883–1889), where he launched a missionary training school. Pierson’s preaching career soared as he championed foreign missions, authoring The Crisis of Missions (1886) and inspiring the Student Volunteer Movement with the motto “the evangelization of the world in this generation.” He preached over 13,000 sermons, wrote over 50 books—including In Christ Jesus (1898)—and edited the Missionary Review of the World (1888–1911). Succeeding Charles Spurgeon at London’s Metropolitan Tabernacle (1891–1893), he later embraced believer’s baptism in 1896, baptized by Spurgeon’s brother. Married to Sarah Frances Benedict in 1860, with whom he had seven children, he traveled globally, influencing figures like Robert Speer and John Mott. After retiring, he visited Korea in 1910, aiding the founding of Pierson Memorial Union Bible Institute, and died in Brooklyn in 1911, buried in Green-Wood Cemetery.
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A.T. Pierson shares reminiscences about George Müller, highlighting his unwavering faith and dependence on the Lord Jesus in every aspect of his life. Despite his advanced age, Müller expressed gratitude for his strength and ability to serve the Lord without hindrance. His Christian character was defined by the belief that he was nothing without Jesus, emphasizing his complete reliance on God's grace and the identity he found in Christ as a son of the King. Müller's intimate relationship with God was evident in his constant communication with the Lord, treating Him as a close, ever-present Friend who cared about even the smallest details of his life.
K. Further Recollections of Mr. Müller
MR. PERRY furnishes also the following reminiscences: As George Müller was engaged in free, homely conversation with his friends on a Sunday afternoon within about three weeks of his departure to be with the Lord, he referred to two visits he had made during the previous week to two old and beloved friends. He had fully appreciated that, though they were about ten years younger than himself, his power to walk, and specially his power to continue his service for his Lord, was far greater than theirs. So that he playfully said, with a bright smile: "I came away from both these beloved brethren feeling that I was quite young by comparison as to strength, though so much older," and then at once followed an ascription of praise to God for His goodness to him: "Oh, how very kind and good my heavenly Father has been to me! I have no aches or pains, no rheumatism, and now in my ninety-third year I can do a day's work at the orphan houses with as much ease and comfort to myself as ever." One sentence aptly sets forth a striking feature in his Christian character, viz.: George Müller, nothing. The Lord Jesus, everything. In himself worse than nothing. By grace, in Christ, the son of the King. And as such he lived; for all those who knew and loved this beloved and honoured servant of Christ best would testify that his habitual attitude towards the Lord was to treat Him as an ever-present, almighty, loving Friend, whose love was far greater to him than he could ever return, and who delighted in having his entire confidence about everything, and was not only ready at hand to listen to his prayers and praises about great and important matters, but nothing was too small to speak to Him about. So real was this that it was almost impossible to be enjoying the privilege of private, confidential intercourse with him without being conscious that at least to him the Lord was really present. One to whom he turned for counsel, in prayer, or in praise, as freely as most men would to a third person present; and again and again marked answers to prayer have been received in response to petitions thus unitedly presented to the Lord altogether apart from his own special work.
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Arthur Tappan Pierson (March 6, 1837 – June 3, 1911) was an American preacher, missionary advocate, and author whose transatlantic ministry and prolific writings elevated him to prominence in evangelical circles during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Born in New York City, the ninth of ten children to Stephen and Sallie Pierson, a family with abolitionist roots, he was named after Arthur Tappan, a noted abolitionist. Raised in a Presbyterian home, he joined the church at 15, graduated from Hamilton College in 1857, and completed Union Theological Seminary in 1860. Ordained that year, he began pastoring in Binghamton, New York, before serving churches in Detroit (1869–1882) and Philadelphia’s Bethany Presbyterian (1883–1889), where he launched a missionary training school. Pierson’s preaching career soared as he championed foreign missions, authoring The Crisis of Missions (1886) and inspiring the Student Volunteer Movement with the motto “the evangelization of the world in this generation.” He preached over 13,000 sermons, wrote over 50 books—including In Christ Jesus (1898)—and edited the Missionary Review of the World (1888–1911). Succeeding Charles Spurgeon at London’s Metropolitan Tabernacle (1891–1893), he later embraced believer’s baptism in 1896, baptized by Spurgeon’s brother. Married to Sarah Frances Benedict in 1860, with whom he had seven children, he traveled globally, influencing figures like Robert Speer and John Mott. After retiring, he visited Korea in 1910, aiding the founding of Pierson Memorial Union Bible Institute, and died in Brooklyn in 1911, buried in Green-Wood Cemetery.