We, write “a glad occasion in Hope”. And that it truly was on the evening of May 26 when Mr. Herman Mensch might reach the milestone in his life to which he had looked forward for the past six years. It was a glad occasion for brother Mensch, and we surely congratulate him in thankfulness to God. But it was also a glad occasion for the Faculty members of our Seminary, both regular professors and instructors, as well as for the Theological School Committee, which too was present.

A good audience was present. Hope was, of course, represented. We saw brethren and sisters from our Holland Church, Hudsonville, Fuller Ave., Creston, Kalamazoo, Fourth Church also were repre­sented in the audience. Our Second Church had their Annual Social that evening, otherwise they too would have been present. The enlarged auditorium of our Church at Hope was neatly filled.

While the Rev. Heys, pastor loci and instructor at our Seminary, played beautiful sacred strains on the Hammond Organ, the Faculty, Mr. Mensch and the Curatorium took their places in Church. Our own beloved Rev. Hoeksema took his appointed place for the evening at the pulpit. He read II Tim. 2, re­quested of the audience to sing Psalter No. 51 and lead the gathering in prayer, recounting before the face of the Lord all of past faithfulness and present grace and mercy.

There must have been much in the soul of His servant that passed before his mind’s eye. For 27 years the Rev. Hoeksema and Rev. Ophoff have faith­fully given time and strength in teaching at our Sem­inary. (Except during the illness of H.H.). It was on the 16th of June, 1925 that these brethren with the Rev. H. Danhof began to give instruction in what is now the Eastern Ave. Christian Reformed Church. Later they held school in the old Oakdale Park Chris­tian School. And for the past 25 years they have given instruction in the basement room of the First Church. Much passed before the soul’s eye of the Rev. Hoeksema that evening. The Lord has strength­ened these servants in a remarkable manner. Then they were young men in their late thirties and early forties. Now they are men in the sixty. How re­markably the Lord has restored to us the Rev. H. Hoeksema. There he stands again on the pulpit, not as young and robust as in yester-year, but still young in mind and strong in faith and purpose. And the Lord receives all the glory for all His faithfulness and preserving even to this present moment our Sem­inary—our Seminary which is so vital in the keeping of our Sojourner’s Sabbath.

Next the Mr. Mensch takes his place on the plat­form. It is a great moment in the life of this brother. His being thrills with joy and thankfulness. It is one of these moments in a young man’s life which are not forgotten. Brother Mensch expresses his thank­fulness to the Faculty, Rev. H. Hoeksema, Rev. G.M. Ophoff, Rev. G. Vos and Rev. J. Heys, and also to the Rev. H.C. Hoeksema, who too had been his instruc­tor for two years. Also the Curatorium is recognized in a word of appreciation for having open the doors of our ‘School to him. And not the least is his thanks to the Hope Church for all that they have meant to him and his family during these six years of abode in their midst. Truly Hope is, from a physical view­point, nothing more than a “hill of blowsand”. But to the Mensch family here on this hill of blowsand the “waters of life never stopped flowing for their thirsty souls” Brother Mensch’s thanks is not based, says he, on subjective feelings, but it is anchored in; 1. the fixed doctrine taught in our School and Churches 2. and in a fixed and ready heart prepared by God through His Spirit. And so all thanks is to God alone. It was gratifying to hear this heartwarming speech by Mr. Mensch.

The Rector of the School, the Rev. Ophoff then takes the pulpit after the Rev. J. Heys plays skill­fully on the Hammond Organ. With bated breath we listen to the beautiful strains presented as a sweet incense to the thrice holy God. The Rev. Ophoff spoke for nearly an hour on a well-worked-out oration on the subject, “The Significance of Exegesis for the Minister”. The Rev. Ophoff made a few remarks re­lative to the practical Significance of Exegesis of Scripture and then began to analyze his subject and showed us the various elements entering into the science of interpretation. The speaker emphasized also that the exegetes, although not bound by the Con­fessions of the Church certainly will with correct exe­gesis not come at odds with the confessions, the Re­formed Creeds.

The ceremony of handing Mr. Mensch his diploma was without much ado. Visibly brother Mensch was very happy and pleased to receive his well-earned diploma.

The Rev. Hoeksema once more ascended the pul­pit to make a few fitting closing remarks to brother Mensch; He reminded the brother that he must ex­pect disappointments in his ministry, especially if he would remain Reformed in his preaching. Many winds blow and will have to be withstood. Brother Mensch is now leaving the fellowship of our churches. It is with pain and regret that we see him go. But we trust that he will go and be a faithful preacher of the Word, preaching the full counsel of God.

Now the Rev. Vos rises to close with a word of prayer and thanksgiving to God, after the audience sings Psalter No. 334.

The brother who graduates is given a warm hand­clasp by brethren and friends, and we return home­ward. Into the future we go. God’s future. And our hearts are glad. He will be with us even unto the end of the world.

G. Lubbers