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.
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A Letter of A. C. Van Raalte to Philip Phelps
A. C. Van Raalte
A letter of A. C. Van Raalte to Philip Phelps, noting that Mrs. Van Raalte was not well. Vander Wall is preparing to go to South Africa. More on the District School; "Americans are coming in."
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A Letter of A. C. V. R. to His Son, Dirk B. K.
A. C. Van Raalte and Nella Kennedy
A letter of A.C.V.R. to his son, Dirk B. K., admonishing him about faithful religious practices and urging him to do his schoolwork. Dirk is now 16 years old. Apparently A.C.V.R. is visiting his daughter and son-in-law, Pieter J. Oggel, who are serving the First Reformed Church of Pella. A.C.V.R. also makes mention of other Oggel family members who are living in Pella.
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Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte Wrote to His Daughter and Son-in-Law, the Oggels
A. C. Van Raalte and Nella Kennedy
Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte wrote to his daughter and son-in-law, the Oggels, about the possibility of their coming to Holland so that Pieter J. Oggel can take a position in the Academy. Van Raalte is quite critical of the Pella people in this letter.
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Meeting Minutes of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church
A. C. Van Raalte, G. Wakker, William Buursma, and Althea Buursma
At a meeting of the congregation of the First Reformed Church at which Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte presided, the president announced that the successor to Rev. Giles Vande Wall who left for South Africa will be a person who "is able to use the Dutch language, which is the only means and the normal way for us to retain our Holland national existence as Hollanders, and give direction to the instruction of our youth, in such a way that they will remain bound to our people through love. The absence of this kind of influence will very likely mean that the American influence will distance us Hollanders, as well as our confessional statements and cateachism, all of which is precious and essential." The instructor will be financed by the classes of Holland and Wisconsin. Hence Rev. Pieter J. Oggel is a prime candidate for the position. Families will be assessed twenty cents quarterly to pay his salary.
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Meeting Minutes of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church
A. C. Van Raalte, G. Wakker, William Buursma, and Althea Buursma
At a meeting of the consistory of the First Reformed Church at which Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte presided, a Mr. Dalman requested support from the church because he wished to attend the academy. The church would give him something but he was married. His family of five would not be able to live on the stipend of eleven shillings granted him. New members from Chicago, Kalamazoo, and Grand Rapids were received. Deacon J. van de Luyster moved to Franklin, Wisconsin, so his vacancy needed to be filled at the up-coming congregational meeting.
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Meeting Minutes of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church
A. C. Van Raalte, G. Wakker, William Buursma, and Althea Buursma
At a meeting of the consistory of the First Reformed Church at which Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte presided, new members were received and one family was transferred to Muskegon. One member was censured for intoxication during threshing and could not take communion next Sunday.
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Meeting Minutes of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church
A. C. Van Raalte, G. Wakker, William Buursma, and Althea Buursma
At a meeting of the consistory of the First Reformed Church at which Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte presided, little business was conducted.
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Meeting Minutes of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church
A. C. Van Raalte, G. Wakker, William Buursma, and Althea Buursma
At a meeting of the consistory of the First Reformed Church at which Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte presided, new members were received and delegates to classis appointed.
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Meeting Minutes of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church
A. C. Van Raalte, G. Wakker, William Buursma, and Althea Buursma
At the congregational meeting of the First Reformed Church at which Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte presided, elders and deacons were elected. A financial report was made. The teacher of the school of the church was owed money. The meeting was poorly attended. The congregation continued to have financial problems. The approval to add a consistory room to the church was not approved.
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Meeting Minutes of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church
A. C. Van Raalte, G. Wakker, William Buursma, and Althea Buursma
At a meeting of the consistory of the First Reformed Church at which Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte presided, it was reported that the divorce proceedings have been dropped by a couple and they requested readmittance to the Lord's table. Two other couples were having difficulties in their marriages. Censures were lifted on them also including Kommer Schaddelee and his wife. Elder Teunis Keppel proposed that the pastor have a Bible or catechism lesson on Sunday evenings. The pastor agreed to this. [This means that Van Raalte will be preaching and teaching three times on Sundays.] Pews will be rented again but poor members will be given pews. [To this point there has been no mention of the Civil War in the consistory and congregational minutes of Pillar Church.]
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Letter from Dirk B. K. Van Raalte to A. C. Van Raalte
Dirk B.K. Van Raalte and Nella Kennedy
Dirk B. K. Van Raalte wrote to his father, Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte, who was in Pella, Iowa, at this time. (Strangely enough, Dirk writes the number 28 above the number 19.) There seems to be an indication in the letter that Mrs. Christina Van Raalte went along with the pastor to Pella. Dirk gives his father a report on what he is doing. Frank, the horse, is misbehaving in the stable. Dirk would like to receive a black silk tie for his birthday which falls on 1 March. Dirk has good handwriting but complains his writing is not good due to the poor pens he has to use for writing. Dirk is at the academy evidently because he speaks about doing his school work. At the conclusion of his letter he is asking his father if he got a call from the "Theological Seminary." This is curious because theological education had not yet been established in Holland. Could this be a reference about a possible call from the Theological Seminary at New Brunswick, New Jersey?
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Meeting Minutes of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church
G. Wakekr, William Buursma, and Althea Buursma
At a meeting of the consistory of the First Reformed Church at which Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte presided, Wiepke Diekema and his family wished to be reinstated in the church because they have left the Scottish [Presbyterian] church in South Holland [located on what is now South Washington Ave.]. The pastor of that congregation, Rev. Schepers, would not give the Diekemas a transfer of membership letter. A committee of the pastor and Elders Keppel and Wakker would make an inquiry "concerning their Christian conduct" of Rev. Schepers. The deacons inquired of the consistory whether two families are deserving of help from the congregation.
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Meeting Minutes of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church
G. Wakker, 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 pastor noted that he again dealt with H. Slag and his wife who are under censure. They apparently have a view of infant baptism that is not in line with the Reformed Christian doctrine and they oppose both the pastor and the consistory. The pastor explained the doctrine of baptism and a committee was appointed to deal with the Slags. Other discipline cases were discussed. It was noted that the pastor's salary was not "paid on a timely basis and is incomplete,..." Definite steps needed to be taken "so that this miserable practice for once and for all should come to an end."
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Meeting Minutes of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church
G. Wakker, William Buursma, and Althea Buursma
In a meeting of the congregation of the First Reformed Church at which Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte presided, the pastor requested a report of the committee raising funds for the school. The results of only one district was reported on. $15 was received for the teachers and $11 for the new building. There was no unity in the meeting about the school. Some wondered if the school was even necessary. It was proposed to raise $600 "by means of a tax personally assessed. This was approved. "...[T]he president expressed his concern whether it would be wise to continue with this matter." [It was not clear whether Van Raalte wondered about continuing the school or if the tax assessment was the right way to go.]
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Meeting Minutes of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church
G. Wakker, William Buursma, and Althea Buursma
At a meeting of the consistory of the First Reformed Church at which Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte presided, it was decided "that the deacons would collect the monies owed for rental of the pews and use them in order to pay the teachers."
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Meeting Minutes of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church
G. Wakker, William Buursma, and Althea Buursma
At a meeting of the consistory of the First Reformed Church at which Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte presided, consistory decided to ask Rev. Giles Vande Wall to preach due to the absence of the pastor. [Is this the Sunday he would be preaching at Vander Meulen's installation service?] Several disagreements were aired about various matters.
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Meeting Minutes of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church
G. Wakker, William Buursma, and Althea Buursma
At a meeting of the consistory of the First Reformed Church at which Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte presided, several young ladies were present to make their confession of faith. All were approved for membership except one who needed more catechetical instruction. This young lady, Garda Perendina Pfanstiehl, was even offered the opportunity to receive private instruction from the pastor. Members who were visited due to their lack of attendance at worship "found so many faults and shortcomings on the part of the congregation, consistory, and pastor, that they could no longer live in fellowship with the church." B. H. Ploeg was particularly a problem. Several members presented resignations from the church. Revs. Nijkerk and Zwemer agreed to accept preaching appointments at the church during the absence of the pastor in Pella, Iowa.
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The Congregational Meeting of the First Reformed Church
G. Wakker, William Buursma, and Althea Buursma
The congregational meeting of the First Reformed Church was opened with prayer by Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte, followed by the singing of Psalm 25.2. Apparently the school of the church was in another crisis. It was again decided to continue the school and give instruction in the Holland language. The present district teacher, C. Doering, "will be called to work in our school." Some people made financial commitments at this meeting for salary and lumber for a new building.
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The Meeting of the Board of Regents of the Holland Academy
Adrian Zwemer
Among others, Dr. Albertus C. Van Raalte attended the meeting of the Board of Regents of the Holland Academy on this date. Asking the families of the churches in the Classis of Holland for a contribution of $1.00 per year was not working well. The ministers of the Classis will be asked to preach on the "imperative duty of our churches to sustain that institution."
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The Meeting of the Board of Regents of the Holland Academy
Adrian Zwemer
There was a fill attendance of the members of the Board of Regents of the Holland Academy including Dr. Albertus C. Van Raalte. Rev. Cornelius Vander Meulen was elected president for the coming year. Routine business was conducted.
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The Minutes of the Board of Regents of the Holland Academy
Adrian Zwemer
In the minutes of the Board of Regents of the Holland Academy of this date, the following members of the board were present: Rev. Philip Phelps Jr., Rev. Giles Vander Wall, Dr. Albertus C. Van Raalte, Rev. G. J. Nykerk, Rev. Herman Stobbelaar, and Rev. Adrian Zwemer, ministers; and Teunis Keppel, G. Huiser and G. Wilterdink, elders. A student was dismissed; the father of another informed the board that he could cover his son's expenses. Peter and William Moerdyk were advised to request the Classis to give a recommendation to the Board of Education of the denomination for support. The two boys were entering the freshmen class.
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A News Item in the Allegan Journal
A news item in the Allegan Journal, p. 3, concerning "The Allegan, Holland and Grand Traverse Swamp Land Road."
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The Consistory of First Reformed Church Sold a Lot to A. C. V. R. for One Dollar
The Consistory of First Reformed Church sold a lot to A.C.V.R. for one dollar. The property was Lot seven in Block forty-five. There is no explanation for the property transaction.
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The Minutes of the Board of Regents of the Holland Academy
In the minutes of the Board of Regents of the Holland Academy, the title of these minutes reads as follows: "Meeting of Classis Holland in the Charade of Board of Regents of Holland Academy." This copy of these minutes are obscure and difficult to read. Aaron van der Veen was a student applying for aid from the Board of Education of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church. A letter from Rev. Seine Bolks was read, recommending aid for a student from his church in Milwaukee. The entire meeting was concerned with requests for aid for prospective students of the Academy.
