Title
Minutes of the Meeting of the Classis of Holland
Files
Description
Minutes of the meeting of theClassis of Holland in the Zeeland church. Rev. Hendrik Klein is president "in order of succession" and Albertus C. Van Raalte is clerk. Major items are: It was determined that Roman Catholics are not to be supported with Classis funds for emigration. Roman Catholics "are constantly dangerous for religious and civil liberty, since they are by their faith and religion bound to intrigue so as to transfer all authority into the hands of the Pope of Rome." 160-1 The Rev. John N. Schultz, of Centreville, was present as a representative of the Classis of Michigan and brought greetings. Rev. Cornelius Vander Meulen reported that the Polkton [Coopersville] congregation has been organized. Van Raalte, a delegate to the General Synod, reported that the word Dutch was retained in the title of the Reformed Church. "The Synod also approved, by a unanimous vote, the request of the Classis to send to the Village of Holland a preacher for the Americans, to whom at the same time could be committed the care for the English Academy." 164 TheClassis of Wisconsin is being organized. Mr. Taylor has left the school and Rev. Crispell appointed. Hope is expressed that he will accept the call. In regard to baptism, adults who have been baptized but have not made confession of faith are entitled to be married by the minister and their children have right to baptism. "Further, (the assembly feels) that in the church the children are too little regarded as members,..." 167
Date
9-13-1854
Source
Unknown
Recommended Citation
Klein, Hendrik and Van Raalte, A. C., "Minutes of the Meeting of the Classis of Holland" (1854). Van Raalte Papers: 1850-1859. 481.
https://digitalcommons.hope.edu/vrp_1850s/481
Notes
Description of the document 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.