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."
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News Item in De Grondwet
William Buursma and Althea Buursma
This item appeared in this issue of De Grondwet: "The Van Raalte County plan will for the time being not be approved. Allegan County is not ready for this. Well, let it rest. However, we do need something new. How would it be if in the coming spring the ugly broken pole in the middle of our beautiful park were to be replaced by a statue of Dr. Van Raalte?"
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The Synod of the "Chr. Geref. Kerk in Nederland" Received a Letter, Written On This Date, from the Reformed Church in America Over the Issue of Freemasonry
Reformed Church in America and Nella Kennedy
The synod of the "Chr. Geref. Kerk in Nederland" received a letter, written on this date, from the Reformed Church in America over the issue of Freemasonry. The synod made a lengthy response to the letter in its response.
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In This Issue of De Grondwet, There Appeared an Article About the Proposed "Van Raalte County" That Would Consist of Ottawa, Allegan, and Muskegon Counties
William Buursma and Althea Buursma
In this issue of De Grondwet, there appeared an article about the proposed "Van Raalte County" that would consist of Ottawa, Allegan, and Muskegon counties. "As soon as the Holland- American element becomes dominant, the change of name will offer no problem." The editor of the paper had big dreams about the influence of the Holland area.
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In This Issue of De Grondwet, There Appeared an Article Entitled, "The Hollanders and the Reformed Church."
William Buursma and Althea Buursma
In this issue of De Grondwet, there appeared an article entitled "The Hollanders and the Reformed Church." The anonymous author is arguing with the author of an article that appeared in De Hope. Dr. Albertus C. Van Raalte is given credit for accomplishing much on behalf of the Dutch immigrants.
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In This Issue of De Grondwet, Kommer Schaddelee Published an Article in Which He Mentions Dr. Albertus C. Van Raalte and the Masonic Issue
Kommer Schaddelee, William Buursma, and Althea Buursma
In this issue of De Grondwet, Kommer Schaddelee published an article in which he mentions Dr. Albertus C. Van Raalte and the Masonic issue. Schaddelee was commenting on the after effects of the loss of many members of First Reformed Church after the majority of members left the Reformed Church in America.
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Kommer Schaddelee Published Another Article in De Grondwet. This One Was Entitled, "Not Listening to the Timely Advice of The Late Rev. A. C. Van Raalte, D. D."
Kommer Schaddelee, William Buursma, and Althea Buursma
Kommer Schaddelee published another article in De Grondwet. This one was entitled "Not Listening to the Timely Advice of The Late Rev. A. C. Van Raalte, D.D." He quoted a statement made by Van Raalte from the minutes of the consistory of First Reformed Church of 13 October 1873: "Membership in the Free Masons is not, in itself an adequate reason to excommunicate a person. For that, there would need to be sins committed because of membership in the Free Masons, such as breaking the moral law. Otherwise, Classis will ever give its approval, and I, for one, will oppose it as long as I can." He referred to the alleged "arrogance" of Elder Teunis Keppel.
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"The General Synod Visit to Holland," Published in the Holland City News
"The General Synod Visit to Holland," published in the Holland City News of that date. Several references to Van Raalte; the synod met on Hope's campus.
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At the Installation of Prof. Nicholas M. Steffens as "Professor of Didactic and Polemic Theology at the Theological Seminary Connected with Hope College," Rev. Seine Bolks Gave the Address
Seine Bolks and Nella Kennedy
At the installation of Prof. Nicholas M. Steffens as "Professor of Didactic and Polemic Theology at the Theological Seminary connected with Hope College," Rev. Seine Bolks gave the address. The speech was recorded by Rev. Henry Dosker.
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Many Articles Appeared in De Grondwet Were Published
Teunis Keppel, William Buursma, and Althea Buursma
During the acrimonius discussion on the Masonry issue, many articles appeared in De Grondwet were published. This article, "What Should Have Been Done" was written by Teunis Keppel, the leading elder of Pillar Church, the individual who led the secession of this congregation from the Reformed Church in America. Keppel disagreed strongly with the position that the RCA took on the issue. Dr. Albertus C. Van Raalte is quoted by Keppel in one paragraph.
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A Translation of the Minutes of the First Reformed Church of Holland, Michigan
P. T. Moerdyk
A translation of the minutes of the First Reformed Church of Holland, Michigan, of the stormy session when the congregation (males only at that time) voted to leave the denomination of the Reformed Church in America.
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De Grondwet Published a Letter from a Mr. K. Van Leeuwen, of Muskegon, On This Date During the Time of the Growing Controversy Over Free Masonry.
K. van Leeuwen, William Buursma, and Althea Buursma
De Grondwet published a letter from a Mr. K. van Leeuwen, of Muskegon, on this date during the time of the growing controversy over Free Masonry. He wrote: "I am still grieved that the Revs. A. C. Van Raalte and van der Meulen have not survived to address this question. If they were here, it would have been quickly solved. Rev. Van Raalte would have, with his powerful voice, witnessed, in the first place, against the Free Masons, as he did in his life...."
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Report in De Grondwet by D. B. K. Van Raalte
D. B. K. Van Raalte and Simone Kennedy
D. B. K. Van Raalte, as reported in De Grondwet, requested on behalf of the Van Raalte family that "the name of A. C. van Raalte is being used by certain persons who lack both knowledge and sensitivity. We politely ask that individuals no longer make references to van Raalte. We have too much respect and love for his sacrificial and frequently innervating labors bestowed on church and school to remain indifferent when, either indirectly or more directly, groundless accusations are made against him. We believe that he has earned the right to a peaceful cessation of his labors."
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A Long Article Appeared on Albertus C. Van Raalte On This Date in The Christian Intelligencer
A long article appeared on Albertus C. Van Raalte on this date in The Christian Intelligencer. Albertus was misspelled as Alburtus. The article does not indicate who wrote the article which continued in the issue of October 15. The first article covers V.R.'s life in the Netherlands. There is a footnote that John H. Karsten translated Dutch materials into English for the composition of the article. The second article covers V.R.'s life when he was experiencing persecution in the provinces of Drenthe and Overijssel before he migrated to America.
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It Was Reported in the Holland City News That the Funeral of Rev. Roelof Pieters Took Place
It was reported in the local paper that the funeral of Rev. Roelof Pieters took place. The number of carriages (65) was only exceeded by the number of carriages in the Van Raalte funeral.
