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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Meeting of the Classis of Holland in Kalamazoo
William Buursma
At a meeting of the Classis of Holland in Kalamazoo, there was an invitation of the Committee for Mission Work to send a pioneer gospel minister to serve the Dutch population of South Africa. Surprisingly, the Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte offered to take this position. At the conclusion of this Article X,"Classis unwilling to see Rev. van Raalte leave its midst and believes that the reasons underlying this offer are not sufficiently justified for sending Rev. Van Raalte to Africa. Later at the Classis meeting, Van Raalte was asked specifically why he wished to go to South Africa. The first reason given was: "In the history of the colony, the pressure of necessity had made it necessary for Rev. van Raalte to be involved in many activities and intervening in many matters. As a result, his extensive influence has been placed in an unfavorable light." The classis refused him permission to leave saying "that Rev. van Raalte's service and person are precious to the classis and that they could not make a decision to send him out of their midst."
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Letter from Jacob O. Doesburg to Christian Vander Veen
Jacob O. Doesburg
In this letter from Jacob O. Doesburg to Christian Vander Veen who currently is a student in the New Brunswick Seminary studying for the ministry, he is writing about political issues in Holland. He mentions Henry Post, John Roost, Hendrik P. Scholte, Philip Phelps Jr., Giles Vande Wall, and also a reference to an Oggel, whom we assume, is Pieter J. Oggel, a former pastor in the First Reformed Church of Grand Haven who this year moved to Pella, Iowa, to serve as pastor of the First Reformed Church there. Doesburg also refers to Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte in a negative manner: "...His Ex[cellency] Van Raalte wants to force [the Americans who plan to form Hope Reformed Church] to become Dutch Reformed His preaching is very dull nowadays; it is as if he wants rather something else to do, Land-Speculator for instance;...
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Letter from Martin S. Garretson to A. C. Van Raalte
Martin S. Garretson
Martin S. Garretson wrote Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte about property matters. Could Garretson have been a brother of Rev. John Garretson who was secretary of the Board of Domestic Missions of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church, 1849-1859? [Note that in this document, the gentleman's "e" look like "i']
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Incomplete Letters from 0. G.Heldring to Professor Harting on Theological and Scientific Matters
O. G. Heldring and Nella Kennedy
These two items are incomplete letters from O. G. Heldring to Professor Harting on theological and scientific matters.
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A Resident of Pella, Iowa, Sent a Lengthy Letter to the Editor of De Hollander
H. and Simone Kennedy
A resident of Pella, Iowa, sent a lengthy letter to the editor of De Hollander in which the writer gave extensive unfavorable opinions of Rev. Hendrik P. Scholte.
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A News Note in De Hollander in Which A. C. Van Raalte is Mentioned
Nella Kennedy
A news note in De Hollander in which A. C. Van Raalte is mentioned.
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Editors Note in De Hollander
Nella Kennedy
In this issue of De Hollander, the editor made note of the excellent sermon that the seminary student, Christian Vander Veen, preached in the Pillar Church. Vander Veen, a graduate of the Holland Academy and Rutgers College, was currently a student in the Theological Seminary of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church in New Brunswick, New Jersey.
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Report in De Hollander
Nella Kennedy
The editor of De Hollander reported that that Roel of Pieters supplied the pulpit of the Graafschap congregation the past Sunday morning and Christian Vander Veen in the afternoon. Both students were very well received. "...The church building in Graafschap was so full that many even had to stand outside." Dr. Albertus C. Van Raalte was occupying the pulpit in Zeeland that Sunday.
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Article in De Hollander
Simone Kennedy
De Hollander had another lengthy article about the Republican Party. Simone Kennedy translated the article. Other articles, not translated, concerned the local school, shipping, and an article about "Scholte over Douglas." This Scholte is Rev. Henrik P. Scholte, founder of Pella, Iowa.
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De Hollander Announced That Dr. A. C. Van Raalte Returned "In Fair Health" After a Three Month Absence.
Simone Kennedy
De Hollander announced that Dr. A. C. Van Raalte returned "in fair health" after a three month absence. "The large crowd that came to church hung on his every word."
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De Hollander Discuss the Establishment of De Grondwet
Simone Kennedy
De Hollander gave big play to fact the John Roost established the newspaper De Grondwet in Holland, Michigan. It will be published on Wednesdays. The editor of De Hollander indicated that the new paper would be Republican. The translation of the article comes to six pages. The editor also expected the new paper to be printed in Dutch and English.
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Marriage Annoucement Announced in De Hollander
Simone Kennedy
The marriage of Rev. Pieter Oggel and Miss J. M. W. van Raalte was announced in De Hollander. Four ministers were present! [I think that it can be presumed that her father, Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte, conducted the ceremony.] Rev. Cornelius Vander Meulen had come up from Chicago for the wedding.
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News in De Hollander
Simone Kennedy
De Hollander noted that Albertus Van Raalte, son of the minister, "will continue the tree farm [nursery] that was set up in this place by Mr. Hudson."
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Notice in De Hollander
Simone Kennedy
De Hollander noted that beginning next Sunday there would be four worship services. The Dutch services will be in the Pillar Church at 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. and the English services in the "school building" and in the evening at the Pillar Church. [Presumably Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte will be conducting the Dutch services and Rev. Philip Phelps Jr. the English ones.]
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Report in De Hollander
Simone Kennedy
De Hollander reported that Dr. A. C. Van Raalte was on his way home from Rochester, New York. His congregation is eager to have him back after a fourteen or fifteen week absence.
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Report in De Hollander
Simone Kennedy
De Hollander reported that Christiaan Vander Veen and Roel of Pieters conducted the services at Pillar Church in the absence of the pastor. [These young men had just finished their second year of study at the New Brunswick Theological Seminary.]
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Meeting Minutes of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church
Labots, Wakker, William Buursma, and Althea Buursma
At a consistory meeting of the First Reformed Church, Elder Labots was chosen as chair in place of the pastor, Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte who was still out East. It was reported that the building previously used as the church has collapsed. A non-member wanted the ruins but was refused. Instead, the building is to be dismantled and materials sold to the highest bidder. Members are to be assessed $875 for the minister's salary.
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Article in De Hollander
F. J. Littlejohn, Henry ten Hoor, and Simone Kennedy
In this issue of De Hollander, there appeared a long article, entitled, "Is the matter of John Roost now completely settled?" Roost was involved in a court case. [I believe it was concerning his alleged withholding of some funds he raised in the East for the Holland Harbor. The minutes of the board of Holland Township would have much information on this issue.] F. J. Littlejohn, Circuit Register, was quoted. Kommer Schaddelee was mentioned in passing.
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Letter from Pieter J. Oggel Published in De Hollander
Pieter J. Oggel, Henry ten Hoor, and Nella Kennedy
Rev. Pieter J. Oggel, writing from Pella, Iowa, on June 25, is engaged in polemics with a Mr. B. Ploeg who made charges about "Sunday schools, Sunday school booklets and Hymns." Oggel wonders how he can be against hymns when he does not read English and therefore cannot know the words of the hymns. Oggel defends hymns for their spiritual and poetic value. Ploeg also claimed that the Sunday school materials did not teach Reformed doctrine. Oggel really takes Ploeg to task for his opposition in these matters. Oggel's letter was published in De Hollander on the above date.
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Rev. Philip Phelps Jr. Wrote in the Christian Intelligencer
Philip Phelps Jr.
In this issue of The Christian Intelligencer, Rev. Phillip Phelps Jr., Principal of the Holland Academy, concludes his efforts to answer the issues raised by "W" in the December 1 issue. He very carefully and lovingly gives his defense of the Holland Academy and the fund-raising efforts of Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte. It is ironic that if "W" is Rev. Charles Scott that Phelps called him to serve at Hope College later in this decade.
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A Long Letter from B. H. Ploeg to J. Bijlsma Published in De Hollander
B. H. Ploeg and Nella Kennedy
A long letter from B. H. Ploeg to J. Bijlsma of Grand Rapids was published on this date in De Hollander. One issue under discussion was the length of terms for elders and deacons. Ploeg said that two year terms had no basis in the Bible. Ploeg has been engaged in a long argument about the singing of hymns in the churches, a practice he disapproves of heartily. Ploeg's long letter gives an insight into many issues he has with the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church that the Classis of Holland joined in 1850.
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B. H. Ploeg Continued His Arguments in This Issue of De Hollander
B. H. Ploeg and Nella Kennedy
B. H. Ploeg continued his arguments in this issue of De Hollander His comments were directed to G. Wakker again.
![[Pillar Church Minutes April 4, 1860, and Dosker's Accounts, Re A. C. V. R. Being Insulted as Bungler] by Dosker and Nella Kennedy](https://digitalcommons.hope.edu/vrp_1860s/1545/thumbnail.jpg "[Pillar Church Minutes April 4, 1860, and Dosker's Accounts, Re A. C. V. R. Being Insulted as Bungler] by Dosker and Nella Kennedy")
