s conversion he became
a student at the Theological College at Andover.

While at college, Judson and three fellow-students had their interest
deeply aroused in the conversion of heathen nations. They petitioned the
General Assembly of their church on the matter, and solicited its advice
as to whether "they ought to renounce the object of missions as
visionary or impracticable;" and if not, what steps they should take to
translate their longings into action.

The importance of this appeal was at once recognised by the churches,
and as an immediate consequence the "Board of Commissioners for Foreign
Missions" was formed, a society which has grown until it is now one of
the greatest missionary organisations in the world. Judson went on a
visit to England in order to expedite matters, and to consult with the
officials of the London Missionary Society. After some delay, caused by
the capture of the vessel in which he was sailing by a French privateer,
he reached London and saw the directors. They agreed to support him and
his companions should the American Board be unable to do so, and with
this assurance Judson returned to America.

He now made Miss Hasseltine a formal offer of marriage, and she knew
that if she accepted she must of course accompany him abroad. For a time
she not unnaturally hesitated. She was asked to do what no American
woman had before attempted, and the life of a foreign missionary seemed
full of unknown horrors. It meant to leave home and probably never to
see friends or native land again, to be worn out in the unhealthy
climate of some tropical land, to suffer "every kind of want and
distress, degradation, insult, persecution, and, perhaps, a violent
death." Friends, with few exceptions, advised her to decline, and public
opinion was strongly opposed to such a "wild, romantic undertaking" as a
woman going out to the heathen. "O Jesus," she prayed in her perplexity,
"direct me, and I am safe; use me in Thy service, and I ask no more. I
would not choose my position of work or place of service; only let me
know Thy will, and I will readily comply!"

After some weeks of hesitation she definitely made up her mind. "I have
at length come to the conclusion," she wrote, on October 28, 1810, "that
if nothing in Providence appears to prevent, I must spend my days in a
heathen land. God is my witness that I have not dared to decline this
offer that has been made me."

Her decision surprised many of her acq