At that time, students at King's College were required to attend divinity lectures. Pearson announced that he would not attend the lectures and threatened to leave the college; the requirement was dropped. Attendance at chapel services was also required, but Pearson sought and was granted an exception to the requirement. He later attended chapel services, explaining that it was not the services themselves, but the compulsory attendance to which he objected. He graduated with honors in mathematics in 1879.
After graduation, Pearson traveled in Germany and became interested in German history, religion and folklore. A fellowship from King's College gave him financial independence for several years. He studied law in London, but returned to Germany several times during the 1880s. He lectured and published articles on Martin Luther, Baruch Spinoza, and the Reformation in Germany, and wrote essays and poetry on philosophy, art, science, and religion. Becoming interested in socialism, he lectured on Karl Marx on Sundays in the Soho district clubs of London, and wrote hymns for the Socialist Song Book. Pearson was given the name Carl at birth, but he began spelling it with a "K," possibly out of respect for Karl Marx.
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