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Description
Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte opened the Consistory meeting of the First Reformed Church with prayer. The majority of those present (Elders Labots, Jonker, Hekhuis, and Appeldoorn and Deacon Keppel) opposed changing the present system for terms of service of consistory men. However, upon retirement of consistory men, they would become part of the "greater" consistory and could be called upon when their advice would be needed. Evidently there has been pressure from the congregation against long terms of service of consistory men. Also discussed were the continuing arrears in the pastor's salary. He had been promised $600 per year but this amount had never been reached. The congregation had the responsibility to pay for family needs although his debts related to his "obligations in connection with the colony and lands" were his responsibility. Van Raalte said that it was necessary to speak about this matter of salary and not be silent. Several important matters were on the agenda of this meeting.
Date
10-9-1854
City
Holland, Michigan
Source
The original documents are held in The Joint Archives of Holland.
Rights
This digitized material is intended for personal research/study only. The original documents may not be reproduced for commercial use in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without permission in writing from The Joint Archives of Holland.
Recommended Citation
Van Raalte, A. C. and Buursma, William, "Meeting Notes of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church" (1854). Van Raalte Papers: 1850-1859. 261.
https://digitalcommons.hope.edu/vrp_1850s/261
Notes
In Dutch; translation by Rev. William Buursma.
Description of the document and reference to The Joint Archives of Holland by Dr. Elton J. Bruins.
About the collection:
Elton J. Bruins, long-time professor in the Department of Religion at Hope College, spent years collecting documents by and about Albertus C. Van Raalte, founder of Holland, Michigan and early patron of Hope College. Documents were gathered from dozens of public and private collections, making a nearly exhaustive collection of Van Raalte's writings and reflections. It is these documents that make up the "Van Raalte Papers."
Digitizing the Van Raalte papers was supported by the Dutch Culture USA program by the Consulate General of the Netherlands in New York. The project was done in partnership with Heritage Hall at Calvin University, which also digitized its Van Raalte collections.