days in the public schools of his native town until he was
sixteen years old. At that time he was happily converted to
Christ and received the impressions that he was called to
the gospel ministry. At the same time he united with the
Presbyterian Church. In 1886, Mr. Ellerson entered Biddle
University at Charlotte, N. C., to pursue such a course as
would prepare him for the ministry. He remained at Biddle
University until 1893, when he graduated from the classical
course with honor, taking the Philosophical Oration. In '92
Mr. Ellerson was the successful contestant for the medal
given by the Alumni to the Junior Class. During his course
at Biddle, Mr. Ellerson spent his summer vacations, teaching
in the district schools of North and South Carolina. In
June, 1893, Mr. Ellerson was employed to do missionary work
near Asheville, N. C. He continued in this work until
September, 1893, at which time he entered the Theological
Seminary of the Presbyterian Church at Princeton, N. J., for
the purpose of completing his course for the ministry.
During the first two years of his course of Theology at
Princeton he continued to come South in summer and engage in
teaching during vacations. He graduated from Princeton
Theological Seminary in 1896. He and two others being the
only colored students in a class of sixty-nine young men.
Besides keeping up the studies of the last year, Mr.
Ellerson supplied the pulpit of Dwight's Chapel at
Englewood, New Jersey. Here he remained until September,
1896, when he came to South Carolina and was ordained to the
full work of the gospel ministry by the Fairfield
Presbytery, the same Presbytery having licensed him the
preceding year.

During Rev. Ellerson's course at Princeton he was at one
time engaged to supply the pulpit of Siloam Presbyterian
Church at Elizabeth, N. J. At another time he was employed
to assist the Rev. H. G. Miller, pastor of Mt. Taber
Presbyterian Church, in New York City, during the illness of
the pastor. Upon his ordination by Fairfield Presbytery in
1896, Rev. Ellerson was placed in charge of the church and
school work at Manning, S. C. Here he worked very
successfully preaching and teaching until November, 1898,
when he was called to the pastorate of Berean Presbyterian