Van Raalte Papers: 1850-1859

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  "The American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, Acknowledge the Receipt of Ten Dollars from the Church of Holland, Mich. by Rev. A. C. Van Raalte."

  Treasurer

  "The American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, acknowledge the receipt of Ten dollars from the Church of Holland, Mich. by Rev. A. C. Van Raalte." Theo. Frelinghuysen was president of the Board.

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  "Received from A. C. Van Raalte the Sum Below Stated as Payment in Full for the Taxes Assessed in Said [Holland] Township for the Year 1853."

  H. Van Eyk

  -Received from A. C. Van Raalte the sum below stated as payment in full for the taxes assessed in said [Holland] Township for the year 1853." H. Van Eyk signed the receipt. The total bill was $71.18.

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  Copy of a Letter from A. C. Van Raalte to Gilman Chase

  A. C. Van Raalte

  A copy of a letter of A.C.V.R. to Gilman Chase regarding property matters. The letter is difficult to read even though A.C.V.R. wrote in English. Apparently he hastily made a copy of the original letter. Therefore, his handwriting is not in the usual clear style of most of his writings. The letter needs to be "deciphered" in order to be useful for research.

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  Discussion in De Hollander

  A. C. Van Raalte

  In De Hollander on this date, there was a considerable discussion in regard to hiring a teacher for the district school. Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte who was referred to as the "senior [school] Inspector" protested the hiring of George A. Seaver but was overruled by the board and hired.

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  Minutes of the Classis of Holland

  A. C. Van Raalte

  Minutes of the Classis of Holland, held in Zeeland, Michigan. Rev. Seine Bolks became the president, "it being his turn." 146

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  Notice in De Hollander

  A. C. Van Raalte

  A notice in De Hollander placed by A. C. Van Raalte that ministers in the Classis of Michigan were coming to conduct worship service in the District Schoolhouse.

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  Meeting Minutes of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church

  A. C. Van Raalte and William Buursma

  Albertus C. Van Raalte, elders Jonker, Hekhuis, Appeldoorn, Labots, J. A. Wilterdink, and Broek and deacons de Weerd, G. W. Wilterdink, A. Plugger, and Keppel attended this meeting of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church of Holland. It was reported that the cost of the new building would be $2000 more than the $2,064 it was originally thought to cost. A request will be made to the Collegiate Church of New York for a loan of $1,000. When the pastor was absent and not available to teach the catechism classes, elders Labots, Jonker, and Wilterdink would do the teaching.

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  Meeting Minutes of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church

  A. C. Van Raalte and William Buursma

  This meeting of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church was poorly attended. Only the pastor, Rev. Albertus A. Van Raalte, elders Broek, Jonker, Wilterdink and deacons Wilterdink and de Weerd were present. At the close of the meeting, it was ruled that absent members were to give the reason for their absence. It was reported that James Veneklaassen had stolen an otter from a trap owned by an Indian. He must confess his sin. A Mr. Hudson accused Brink and D. Hekhuis of stealing young fruit trees as well as boards and hay. Elder Wilterdink was designated to contact Hudson about the allegations. Consistory accepted the offer of an anonymous donor for a gift of $15 to begin a church library under the condition that others contribute a matching gift of $30.

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  Meeting Minutes of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church

  A. C. Van Raalte and William Buursma

  Several matters came before the members of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church. The members were Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte, elders Broek, Appeldoorn, Hekhuis, Labots, and Jonker and deacons Keppel and Plugger. One decision was to buy communion wine from another place rather than in the store of Mr. Post. Keppel reported that $1,600.00 was pledged toward the new church building. Schrader will serve as the architect. Much of the meeting was spent on a complaint that involved members of the Consistory and the pastor. Deacon de Weerd and his son-in-law, W. van der Haar had bitter differences. Broek, son-in-law of de Weerd, regretted that the pastor involved himself in the matter. It was considered interference. A committee of Jonker, Plugger, and Keppel were appointed to resolving the offense. Van Raalte again served as clerk of the meeting.

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  Meeting Minutes of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church

  A. C. Van Raalte and William Buursma

  Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte, elders Broek, Jonker, Wilterdink, and Labots and deacons Plugger, Keppel, Wilterdink, and de Weerd attending the Consistory meeting of the First Reformed Church of Holland. The major item for discussion was the new building.

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  Meeting Minutes of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church

  A. C. Van Raalte and William Buursma

  Several matters came before the Consistory of the First Reformed Church at their meeting on this date. There was a dispute about the ownership of a gulden among some members. Some consistory members cautioned about the planning of the new building to avoid bitterness and division. Elder Broek said more had to be said about the new method of paying their pastor, Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte. Some members of the congregation were unwilling to cooperate. On Old Year's Day, the pew rentals brought in $230.00, $100.00 of which given to the pastor for his needs.

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  Meeting Minutes of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church

  A. C. Van Raalte and William Buursma

  Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte presided over the meeting of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church. Several problems confronted the members: discontent in the congregation, slander of a particular member, enlarging the number serving in the Consistory, and several money problems.

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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 of Holland held a meeting at which Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte was accused by Mr. and Mrs. Hoogenhorst who complained about the payment of taxes on land that they purchased from the pastor. The complainants were not present. If they wished to pursue the matter they needed to come to a consistory meeting or go to Holland Classis. Brother Hellental appeared at the meeting because he and Brother Krabshuis felt that they were unjustly accused by Deacon Plugger of being Remonstrants.The contracts for the new building were ready to be let. Members present were the pastor, elders Jonker, Labots, and Appeldoom and deacons Wilterdink, de Weerd, Keppel, and Plugger. The pastor served as the clerk.

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  Meeting Minutes of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church

  A. C. Van Raalte and William Buursma

  At his meeting of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church, the censure imposed on J. Hoogenhorst and his wife by the Consistory will be announced to the congregation. These persons have shown persistent slander and bitterness toward the pastor and the Consistory. Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte opened the meeting with prayer and Elder Wilterdink close the meeting with prayer.

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  Meeting Notes of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church

  A. C. Van Raalte and William Buursma

  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.

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  Meeting Notes 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, the editor of De Hollander needed to be warned of the unreformed direction the paper was taking, it was ruled. There again was discussion about the length of terms of the elders and deacons. It was decided that elders and deacons were asked to give a half day a week to family visitation. Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte served as clerk as well as presided at the meeting.

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  Minutes of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church

  A. C. Van Raalte and William Buursma

  In the minutes of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church, it was reported that the costs of building the new church were more than expected. Cutbacks were designated and permission was granted to borrow $100 to purchase the wood to finish work on the church floor. Also, only $350 had been contributed to Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte's salary during the current year. At a congregational meeting on the same day, $7.50 was declared due from every member. "Payment in work or goods will no longer take place."

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  Notice Published in De Hollander w/ a Poem by M. W. B.

  A. C. Van Raalte, C. J. de Moen, M. W. B., and Henry ten Hoor

  Albertus C. van Raalte and C. J. de Moen had a notice published in De Hollander that their eleven month old daughter, Anna, died after a brief fever. The notice is dated March 6, the day the baby died. Following the notice is a long poem. The first verse reads: "My child lies hidden in the grave./ It rests now with her God and Lord./He has bereft her of her life./O my soul! Give Him the honor." The initials of the person who wrote the poem are M.W.B.

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  Letter from Albertus C. to Ben Van Raalte

  A. C. Van Raalte and Nella Kennedy

  In a letter from Albertus C. Van Raalte to his son, Ben, Father Van Raalte referred to Ben as "my child." Ben was sixteen years old when the letter was written. Ben's father pleaded with him to "Turn, my child, to your God and seek His fellowship."

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  The Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte Wrote a Letter to the Editor of De Hollander

  A. C. Van Raalte and Simone Kennedy

  The Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte wrote a letter to the editor of De Hollander in which he requested the editor to print a notice from the Boekzaal of July about the destruction brought by liquor. A testimony of a woman from Pennsylvania said that her husband and five sons all went to their graves as drunkards. As a result of her words, the town refused to have liquor imported any longer.

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  News in De Hollander

  A. C. Van Raalte, J. Labots, T. Keppel, and Henry ten Hoor

  Several items of particular interest to the Holland community were reported in this issue of De Hollander. Five cash gifts arrived for "the spread of God's kingdom" in the amount of $38.45. Three of the gifts came from churches in Rochester and Buffalo, New York. J. Labots and T. Keppel announced that bids were being accepted to build the new (Pillar) church. Specifications can be viewed in the home of Mr. Schrader. The lowest bidder will be made known in the orphanage on 10 April. The spring meeting of the Holland Classis will take place in the First Reformed Church of Zeeland on 12 April, commencing at 9 a.m. Rev. Ypma will preach the sermon. The committee on immigration will meet on 11 April and churches are reminded to take offerings on 9 April.

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  A. C. Van Raalte Posted a Notice in De Hollander

  A. C. Van Raalte and Henry ten Hoor

  Rev. Albertus Van Raalte placed a notice in De Hollander on this date that the fall meeting of the Classis of Holland will take place in the First Reformed Church in Zeeland on Wednesday, 13 September at 9 a.m. Van Raalte will be in charge of the opening and Rev. [Wynand] Gardenier [pastor of the First Reformed Church of Kalamazoo] will preach the evening sermon. "The semi-annual congregational collection for the assistance of poor countrymen and immigrants is set for Sunday, the 10th of September."

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  A Letter to A. C. Van Raalte from A. Zwemer Published in De Hollander

  A. Zwemer and Nella Kennedy

  A letter to A. C. Van Raalte from A. Zwemer, dated, 29 December, 1853, Rochester, New York.

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  At the Meeting of the General Synod of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church, It Was Resolved That a Committee be Appointed to Consider the Liturgy of the Church.

  At the meeting of the General Synod of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church, it was resolved that a committee be appointed to consider the liturgy of the church. Sixty delegates voted to approve the resolution; twenty-four did not including Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte. The committee was appointed which included such personages as George W. Bethune, Elbert S. Porter, Talbot W. Chambers, Theodore Frelinghuysen, and Stephen Van Rensselaer.

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  This Document Recorded the Mortgage of a Piece of Land That Was Purchased by A. C. V. R. from Courtland Palmer on 11 November 1847

  This document recorded the mortgage of a piece of land that was purchased by A.C.V.R. from Courtland Palmer on 11 November 1847. It was assigned to James Suydam and Samuel B. Schieffelin and was paid off on 8 December 1853. This document was dated 10 March 1857 and was recorded 8 July 1857.