All Articles For Gritters M

MET IN OSKALOOSA, IOWA, SEPTEMBER 6, 1950 This Classis was called together by Rev. J. Van We el den. Psalter 24 is sung, the Chairman reads Romans 12 and offers prayer. Roll-call reveals that eleven congregations are represented, but three of them lack an elder representation. Classis’ attention is called to this matter. Complete representation is urged. The credentials are accepted and the meeting constituted.

  “Our Help is in the Name. …” At the very opening of the divine service the pastor says: “Our help is in the name of the Lord who made heaven and earth”. I wonder if the congregation pays much attention to those words which every Sabbath are uttered from the pulpit. Possibly for many of us (pastors often included) these words are little more than a mere formality. We have perhaps grown accustomed to the little expression, and its continued repetition only makes the words more meaningless. Suppose that some morning your pastor would ascend the platform and say:...

IN SESSION MARCH 7-8, 1951 at HULL, IOWA The Rev. L. Vermeer calls the meeting to order, reads Eph. 4, and has the brethren sing Psalter 403 and offers prayer. The eleven churches of this Classis are respresented, twenty-one delegates being present. Rev. P. Vis becomes chairman for the day and Rev. Vermeer keeps minutes of the proceedings. Previous minutes are read and their recording approved. The Sermon Committee (Revs. Howerzyl and Gritters) report that the Sermon Books have been made. Each minister of Classis West is to receive a sermon book gratis and it is decided sell them in...

A joint communication from two pastors is read to the Classis and received for information after which the Clas­sis considers two documents, one from the Hull Consistory and one from it pastor. Originating from these documents Classis reconsiders the matter of the Letter of Informa­tion which was treated by the last Classis. Last Classis of March had before it a committee report consisting of four points. This Classis expresses that the decisions made at that time in points 1, 2, 3, 4 are to be put into the hands of a committee for report at this meeting. This commit­tee makes...

The Rev. S. Cammenga calls the meeting to order, Psalter 94 is sung, Scripture is read and the president of the former classis offers prayer. Rev. J. De Jong pre­sides and Rev. Cammenga records the minutes. The cre­dentials are brought to the table and roll call reveals that all the churches are represented, except Bellflower. Lynden is the new-comer among us. The minutes of the former meeting are read and approved as recorded. The Stated Clerk reports that he has finished the work the last Classis assigned him. The church visitors for Man­hattan report, also the church visitors for Iowa-Minn....

REPORT OF CLASSIS WEST IN SESSION AT DOON, IOWA—SEPTEMBER 3, 1952 After the singing of Psalter 408 Rev. De Jong reads from I Cor. 12 and offers prayer. The roll call reveals that all (twelve) congregations are repre­sented. Rev P. De Boer becomes chair­man for the day and Rev. J. De Jong records the minutes.

MET IN SIOUX CENTER, IOWA—MARCH 4-7, 1953 Report of Classis West Rev. Peter De Boer calls the meeting to order. Psalter No. 200 is sung, reads Psalm 91 and offers prayer. Credentials show, twelve churches to be represented by twenty-two delegates. Those present for the first time sign the F. of S. Rev. L. Doezema is chairman for the day and Rev. Die Boer records the minutes.

Rev. James Howerzyl calls the meeting together and opens with announcing a Psalter number, reads Rom. 12 and offers prayer. All churches except Bellflower (Rev. L. Doezema was hindered from being present) are represented with proper delegation. Rev. M. Gritters be­comes chairman for the day and Rev. S. Cammenga keeps minutes.

The above question was evoked by the reading of an article appearing in the March, 1958 issue of The Reformed Journal, entitled Reformed Theology and the First Amendment, written by the Rev. Leonard Verduin.  We cannot quote all that the writer has to say on this subject, nor is this necessary for our purpose. But that our readers may know a little of the argument Rev. Verduin sets forth in his article, and to meet the charge that we might be quoting him out of context, we feel it necessary to summarize briefly, what the article is about.