Van Raalte Papers: 1850-1859

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  Meeting Minutes of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church

  A. C. Van Raalte and William Buursma

  There was much discussion at this meeting of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church about the suitability of Abraham Krabshuis to serve as an elder. Although the majority of the Consistory approved Krabshuis' installation, it was decided to consult with the Classis about the matter "to satisfy the protesting individuals." The cemetery has been plotted and lots were available for sale at the cost of one dollar. Other matters also came before the Consistory. Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte presided and wrote up the minutes. [The Classis of Holland approved Krabshuis' installation at its meeting on 11 April. Classis Holland Minutes 1848-1858, pp. 173-74.]

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  Meeting Minutes of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church

  A. C. Van Raalte and William Buursma

  Many members of the congregation of the First Reformed Church appeared at this meeting of the Consistory. Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte presided and wrote up the minutes. Several people made it known to the Consistory that Abraham Krabshuis was unfit to serve as an elder. Protests were made against the election of some other Consistory members. Van Raalte did his best to pour oil on troubled waters. These minutes give a good picture of the feelings of many members of the congregation and their divergence of points of view.

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  Meeting Minutes of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church

  A. C. Van Raalte and William Buursma

  The newly elected members of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church have finally been installed because they were present at this meeting: Elders Labots, Broek, Apeldoorn, Wilterdink, Jonker, Keppel, and Krabshuis; and Deacons Wilterdink, de Vries, te Roller, along with Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte. The new members were welcomed and "the hope was expressed that they could serve in fraternal faithfulness and abiding love." Rules for the ringing of the bell were discussed. Several building matters were reviewed. Van Raalte felt, for health reasons, he could not preach in the new church before the necessary work was completed. A second fund drive was authorized.

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  Meeting Minutes of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church

  A. C. Van Raalte and William Buursma

  Various matters were before this meeting of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church at which Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte presided. Only three of the elders were present and they will be asked for an explanation for their non-appearance.

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  Meeting Minutes of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church

  A. C. Van Raalte and William Buursma

  At this meeting of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church, Jan B. de Vries and Lambertus van Dis appeared to make profession of their faith but "because of their lack of knowledge, they were rejected and given opportunity to attend catchism twice weekly." Pieter Nagelkerks asked for his statement of membership because he wished to withdraw from the congregation because of the "defects" in the congregation. Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte presided at the meeting and also wrote up the minutes.

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  Meeting Minutes of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church

  A. C. Van Raalte and William Buursma

  The Consistory of the First Reformed Church met to hear the professions of faith made by Jan de Vries, Lambertus van Dis, Francina van Dis, Jannes ten Have, Trijnte ten Have, Jan Dirk Bloemers, Harm Plaggemars, and HendrikJan Plaggemars. Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte presided and wrote up the minutes.

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  Meeting Minutes of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church

  A. C. Van Raalte and William Buursma

  More concerns were expressed at this Consistory meeting of the First Reformed Church about the men elected to the Consistory, Krabshuis in particular. B. van Dijk sent in a letter declining to serve as a deacon There was a request for funds to aid two Dutch families to come to America. This request had to go to the Clasiss for approval. Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte reported that he spent considerable time with the Doesburg family over the alleged repeated thievery of son, Jacob.

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  Meeting Minutes of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church

  A. C. Van Raalte and William Buursma

  At the proposed meeting of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church, Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte was to have read the text of the letter which was to be sent to "Brother Doesburg," editor of De Hollander. But the issue did not refer to his publication but to his son, Jacob, who allegedly stole items from the Post' store. The son is summoned to meet the Consistory "in the catechism room" of the church at 5.30 p.m. on this date. No one came to the meeting because no real charge was brought against Jacob according to his father. The issue had also been resolved.

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  Meeting Minutes of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church

  A. C. Van Raalte and William Buursma

  At this Consistory meeting of the First Reformed Church, the members prepared a double slate for nomination to Consistory. The names of T. Keppel, A. Krabshuis, Kroes, and J. van de Luijster would be presented to the congregation for the two elders who were to be elected. Since three deacons were to be elected, all nominees of the congregation would be presented: D. te Roller, R. Schilleman, P. de Vries, Kroes, van de Liujster, and J. van Dijk. A third deacon would be voted in if Keppel were elected to the position of elder and vacate his deacon's position. Other matters also came before the Consistory. Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte presided at the meeting and wrote up the minutes.

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  Meeting Minutes of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church

  A. C. Van Raalte and William Buursma

  In the presence of Elder Jonker and Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte, Jan Smit of North Holland made confession of faith and was confirmed as a member on 25 March. The information was placed in the minutes of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church by Van Raalte on 26 March.

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  Meeting Minutes of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church

  A. C. Van Raalte, William Buursma, and Althea Buursma

  The first item of business for the consistory of the First Reformed Church after Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte opened the meeting with prayer was the report of sales of lots in the church graveyard. Seventeen families had purchased lots. In article seven, it was reported that "Brother Krabshuis" presented written objections against the recent classis meeting and Rev. Van Raalte. Consistory ruled that Krabshuis had not followed biblical guidelines in that he should have spoken with Van Raalte before bringing his complaints to the consistory. The lengthy meeting reveal some schismatic tendencies of Krabshuis. The pastor also served as clerk for this meeting.

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  Meeting Minutes of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church

  A. C. Van Raalte, William Buursma, and Althea Buursma

  At the meeting of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church, a considerable discussion was held on the office of deacon. Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte presided. A member by the name of Nagerlkerke was readmitted to the "table of the Lord."

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  Meeting Minutes of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church

  A. C. Van Raalte, William Buursma, and Althea Buursma

  At a consistory meeting of the First Reformed Church at which Rev. Albertus C. Van RaaIte presided, various items of business were dealt with. The Van Patten brothers offered to provide 40,000 feet of lumber for the new church building at the cost of $11.00 per thousand feet. Their offer was accepted. Discussion was held on the matter of casting lots for pews. Abraham Krabshuis closed the meeting with prayer.

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  Meeting Minutes of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church

  A. C. Van Raalte, William Buursma, and Althea Buursma

  Rev. Albertus Van Raalte presided at a meeting of the consistory of the First Reformed Church and opened with prayer. The minutes of the 22 October meeting were approved. Krabshuis apologized to the pastor and the consistory for not following biblical guidelines in his complaints. But the major issue at classis with which he disagreed was that the denomination permitted all Christians to come to the Lord's table. Van Raalte himself was opposed to "open communion" because purity in doctrine and life must be maintained. Van Raalte defends himself against the charge that he was not teaching true doctrine to the youth. At the close of the meeting Elder Broek raised the question whether Krabshuis was genuine in his confession of sin. But the "meeting was concluded with various fraternal comments.

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  Meeting Minutes of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church

  A. C. Van Raalte, William Buursma, and Althea Buursma

  A special meeting of the consistory of the First Reformed Church at which Pastor Albertus C. Van Raalte presided, it was reported that sufficient monies were on hand so that consistory was ready to accept bids for the new building.

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  Meeting Minutes of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church

  A. C. Van Raalte, William Buursma, and Althea Buursma

  At a meeting of the consistory of the First Reformed Church at which Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte presided, the major item for discussion was concerning the pillars for the new church.

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  Meeting Minutes of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church

  A. C. Van Raalte, William Buursma, and Althea Buursma

  At this meeting of the consistory of the First Reformed Church, several new members were admitted including Adrian Zwemer and his wife, Catharina Boon, from Rochester, New York. Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte presided.

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  Meeting Minutes of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church

  A. C. Van Raalte, William Buursma, and Althea Buursma

  After Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte opened the meeting of the consistory of the First Reformed Church, a report was made on the list of pledges made on Thanksgiving Day for the new building. "It was decided to return immediately to the completion of the building." At the request of the congregation, the number of elders will be increased by one.

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  Meeting Minutes of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church

  A. C. Van Raalte, William Buursma, and Althea Buursma

  Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte presided at the meeting of the consistory of the First Reformed Church. There was a discussion concerning standards of membership. Some felt that entrance of members into the congregation depended upon a commitment to the faith and to the canons of Dort in addition to papers if such were presented. Van Raalte is suffering from dyspepsia and asked for advice of the consistory. Should he refrain from pastoral work for six months? The consistory left it to him to decide.

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  Meeting Minutes of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church

  A. C. Van Raalte, William Buursma, and Althea Buursma

  At the meeting of the consistory of the First Reformed Church at which Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte presided, it was reported that pledges for the new building now stood at $550.00. The pews will be rented on New Year's Day at 2 p.m. The assigned places will be carried over to the new building.

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  Meeting Minutes of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church

  A. C. Van Raalte, Willliam Buursma, and Althea Buursma

  At a meeting of the consistory of First Reformed Church at which Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte presided, several items of business were about building matters of the new church. Several members were received by transfer of membership such as Ploeg, Boot, de Koster, Smits and Bakker. Membership received on 5 August were Zwaluwenberg, van Duin, de Koster, Littooi as well as those listed above.

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  Letter from A. C. Van Raalte to Christian Van Der Veen

  A. C. Van Raalte and Nella Kennedy

  According to this letter from Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte to C[hristian] Van Der Veen who, according to the RCA Historical Directory, was a student at Rutgers College, Van Der Veen is apparently having a difficult time meeting his expenses. A.C.V.R. attempted to encourage him. A.C.V.R. also reported on his recent trip to Wisconsin to visit the churches. Rev. Baay's son from Alto is studying in Beloit and given partial support from the church in Alto. A.C.V.R. also asked Van Der Veen to get the Dutch students together for a prayer meeting. Van Raalte mentioned in passing that Rev. Beidler began his work as principal of the Pioneer School on that very day.

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  Notice Placed in De Hollander

  A. C. Van Raalte and Henry ten Hoor

  Rev. Albertus Van Raalte placed a notice in this issue of De Hollander that the prayer day for crops was set for 5 April in the First Reformed Church of Zeeland where the meeting of the Classis of Holland will commence at 9 a.m. Rev. [Wynand] Gardenier of Kalamazoo will preach the sermon. Collection for the emigration of needy emigrants is set for 8 April.

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  A Page from the Record of the First Reformed Church (Now Pillar Church) of the Attenders at the Lord's Supper Including the Name of Rev. Albertus Van Raalte, His Wife Christina, and Seven of Their Children

  A page from the record of the First Reformed Church (now Pillar Church) of the attenders at the Lord's Supper including the name of Rev. Albertus Van Raalte, his wife Christina, and seven of their children. The record also shows when some of the children made confession of faith.

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  Article XX, Particularia, in the Minutes of the General Synod, RCA

  "It appearing that no delegation was appointed by the Particular Synod of Albany to attend this Synod from the Classis of Holland, and a certified copy of an act of that Classis having been presented, nominating Rev. A. C. Van Raalte as such delegate, it was Resolved, That the name of Rev. A. C. Van Raalte be enrolled as a member of this Synod."