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 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, two members of the congregation requested that worship services be conducted by elders of the church in the neighborhood of the elders due to the long distance that some members lived from the church. This request was approved. There would be a meeting of the school committee on 17 December. "It was decided to take a collection for the oppressed and persecuted Christians in Syria." A committee was appointed to inquire of two consistory members who have been absent from consistory meetings repeatedly. It was brought to the attention of the pastor that a child had been baptized whose parents were not confessing members of the church Rev. Van Raalte was unaware of this. He agreed to visit these members although he felt that children of non-confessing members should be baptized. Members were to be visited who have not been coming to worship including B. Ploeg.
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Meeting Minutes of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church
G. Wakker, William Buursma, and Althea Buursma
Several matters were dealt with at the meeting of the consistory of the First Reformed Church at which Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte presided. New members were received. Widow de Frel resigned from membership in the congregation. Rev. Philip Phelps, principal of the Holland Academy asked for permission to use the church building for the upcoming examination of students. The request was put on hold. A student at the parochial school was dismissed for slovenliness. The consistory accepted the responsibility to find him a good Christian home. Finances of the parochial school continue to be a major problem. Since C. Vorst and his wife had their child baptized "at the Secessionists," a committee of Elders Keppel and Wakker was appointed to investigate the matter. A committee was appointed to review the books of the deacons.
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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 committee that called on the [Kommer?] Schadeelees reported that this family no longer considered itself in "ecclesiastical connection" with First Reformed Church. This family was now in connection with the Graafschap congregation that seceded from the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church in 1857. New members by transfer and confession of faith were received into membership. The committee that was appointed to visit the C. Vorst family learned that their baby had not been baptized but the family intended to join the Graafschap church. The church building was threatened with sagging because of blowing sand. A member of the consistory was appointed to look into the matter.
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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 reported that a teacher from Grand Haven was willing to receive the assignment to "be the teacher for the school of the congregation." Miss Zwaluwenberg would be leaving the school. Elder Labots reported that Dr. [Bemardus] Ledeboer wished to become a member of the congregation. In view of the fact that he was a member of the Congregational Church in Grand Rapids, the consistory was uncertain how to proceed. Dr. [sic] Philip Phelps will be consulted by the pastor concerning this matter. Three elders were appointed to consult with J. Vinke "concerning his dissatisfaction with the consistory."
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Meeting Minutes of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church
G. Wakker, William Buursma, and Althea Buursma
The minutes of the consistory of the First Reformed Church do not indicate who served as chair of this meeting in the absence of Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte. Elder Labots was absent; Elder Gerrit Wakker served as clerk. "Brother te Roller reports that the orphanage currently being used by the parochial school needs repairs. This was assigned to the deacons." The consistory also decided to canvass the congregation to obtain funds for the school. "Brother Broek informs the meeting that Kommer Schaddelee has used very deflamatory expressions and had not refrained from accusing the pastor of being a devious manipulator." The consistory considered that such conduct was unacceptable and certainly by an elder!
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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 reported that Miss Zwaluwenberg would stay at the parochial school as long as she was needed. Mr. [Roelof?] Pieters indicated that they had no criticism how the hiring of the new teacher was done. (I believe that Pieters and Zwaluwenberg were later married and were the parents of Albertus Pieters. Consult one of his articles about his mother.) The pastor reported on the request of the Ledeboer family to unite with the congregation. They were accepted as members but the clerk, Gerrit Wakker, for reasons of conscience would not vote affirmatively. His opposition held up the request for the time being until the matter could be checked by a committee and then empowered to act. Cor and Aleda Voorst resigned from the congregation. A committee of eight to ten members, half of whom were from the consistory and the other half from the congregation were appointed as a school committee. The members of the committee were Van Raalte, Keppel, Wakker, van de Luyster, and Geerlings of the consistory, and C. Doesburg, H. J. Hesselink, Plugger, Polsma, and Rev. Giles van der Wall from the congregation.
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Meeting Minutes of the Consistory of the First Reformed Church
G. Wakker, William Buursma, and Althea Buursma
Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte was back in town and presided at the meeting of the consistory of the First Reformed Church. A new member was received and a discipline problem was again discussed. Some pledges for the support of the parochial school were reported by the elders who had been visiting members of the congregation.
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Letter from G. Wakker to Pieter J. Oggel Published in De Hollander
G. Wakker, Henry ten Hoor, and Nella Kennedy
A letter written to Rev. Pieter J. Oggel, living in Pella, Iowa, on 24 August 1860 by G. Wakker was published in De Hollander. The letter was intended to be an open letter and therefore was published. Wakker sides with Oggel in the current controversy about hymn singing but he asks Oggel to refrain from responding further to Wakker because the controversy disturbs the peace of the community. "....Your comments will not extinguish the strange fire...."
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Meeting Minutes of the Board of Regents of the Holland Academy
Adrian Zwemer
In a meeting of the Board of Regents of the Holland Academy, Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte, Rev. Philip Phelps Jr., Rev. Cornelius Vander Meulen, Rev. Adrian Zwemer, Rev. Giles Vande Wall, Rev. G. J. Nykerk, and Elder Garret Wakker were present. Vande Wall took the chair. Zwemer was appointed secretary in place of Rev. Peter J. Oggel. Student requests to be permitted to enter the Academy were processed. Cornelis Gardenier was admitted at the age often. His father was the late pastor of the First Reformed Church of Kalamazoo. One student of the school was dismissed. How the students were to be supported was also dealt with.
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Report of the Holland Classis Appeared in the Christian Intelligencer
Adrian Zwemer
On this date, a report on the Holland Classis appeared in The Christian Intelligencer. The meeting was held in Grand Haven Michigan; Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte presided. "The reports of the churches were generally encouraging, though no special revival could be named." Rev. John Van Vleck's membership was transferred to the Classis of Kingston. Elder J. [Van] de Luyster of Zeeland reported that ten families had lost their possessions in the recent fire and Christian sympathy was commended to the congregations who were directed to take offerings for them.
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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, Dr. Albertus C. Van Raalte was present. Rev. G. J. Nykerk was elected chairman. One matter of business was the request of Ale Buursma for some articles of clothing that he was in need of. The long meeting dealt with many student matters.