All Articles For Hanko, Cornelius

Freedom of the press is considered to be one of the inherent attributes of a democracy. While a dictatorship necessarily suppresses the press under its authority, allowing nothing to be published for public consumption than what can serve its interests, a democracy is supposed to give every individual free rein to express in print any views and opinions or divulge any information within the sphere of decency and good order. Thus freedom of the press, as a part of free speech, is one of the “four freedoms” we are said to be fighting for in this present war. It is...

RESOLVED—that the Underground Movement in Occupied Countries is Revolutionary. Affirmative: Because of the timely nature of our subject, the terms used hardly need further elucidation. Ever since the outbreak of the war in Europe such terms as “the underground” and “the occupied countries” have been heard repeatedly on the radio, read in the papers and found on every lip. Who does not realize at once that by “occupied countries” is meant those countries in Europe which have been overrun by the German war-machine and have since been under Nazi control? The “underground” is also familiar to all as the subversive...

The Rev. P. De Boer conducted the usual opening exercises. It appeared from the credentials that all the churches were represented. Rev. L. Doezema takes the chair as president of the day, and Rev. P. De Boer serves as secretary. The president extends a word of welcome particularly the two new ministers now serving in Classis West, Rev. C. Hanko and Rev. L .Vermeer, and also to the deputies ad examina, the Reverends B. Kok, A. Petter, and M. Schipper. The church visitors for the middle West present their report, informing the Classis that love and unity prevail in the...

RESOLVED—that the Underground Movement in Occupied Countries is Revolutionary. AFFIRMATIVE REBUTTAL Allow me to state that it is a pleasure for me to debate this subject with so worthy an opponent as the Rev. H. Hoeksema. I appreciate the fact that he has a marked ability to clearly state the issue in question, which is particularly advantageous in this case where the whole argument is so definitely on the side of the affirmative. I also appreciate that he expresses agreement with my contention that we must be subject to those in authority, regardless of how they come into power, and...

From all appearances there is a decided change in the attitude of the Soviet government toward religion, which, according to some reporters, promises to outlast the war. Ever since the rise of the Soviet Union repeated attempts have been made to suppress, if not to wipe out religion in Russia. The first assault was launched in 1917 when Communism came into power. Priests and bishops were jailed, exiled and executed by the thousands. The church schools and press were outlawed, while property was confiscated and turned into nurseries, granaries, anti-religious museums and the like. In 1928 other steps were taken...

In times of local or national calamity the government steps in to aid the distressed. Whether a certain community is inundated by a flood, so that homes are destroyed and crops are ruined or whether the whole nation suffers from a depression, the government is called upon to send the necessary relief. She also serves by erecting institutions for the psychopaths, sanitariums for the disabled and hospitals for the sick. This is not only taken for granted, but commonly considered to be her duty. The government, it has often been said, owes us our living. And it is frequently regarded...

Should anyone ask you whether Christ assumed our human nature as an individual, a fellow man among men, or whether He merely assumed a general human nature, you would most likely express your assent with the former and reject that latter. The question comes down to this, did the Son of God have His own, individual human nature, or did He have a nature that is common to the human race? In answer to that you would no doubt say that He had His own human nature as a distinct individual among us. You would bolster your position by showing...

The opening prayer and the accompanying devotionals were led by the Rev. J. Van Weelden. The reading of the credentials showed that all our churches were represented. On account of sickness in the family, the Rev. P. Vis was unable to attend this meeting of Classis, so that the alternate delegate from Rock Valley took his place. After the formula of subscription was signed and the meeting declared constituted, the Rev. L. Vermeer took the chair as president of the day, and the Rev. J. Van Weelden served as secretary. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and approved....

Call it a digression if you will, but the contributor of the next few articles for this department intends to use the allotted space for a brief discussion of our Form for the Baptism of Infants, as we find it in our Psalters. An apology for this digression is hardly required. The Form itself is significant and rich enough to warrant a discussion at any available opportunity. The subject matter is always of fundamental importance, and is especially timely today while a new interest is being aroused by the discussion of this subject both in the Netherlands and in our...

Our Baptism Form starts out with speaking of the sacrament of baptism as a holy sign. It is more than that, for it is also a seal as well as a sign, but it is nevertheless first of all a sign. To the question, Of what is it a sign?, the answer can be given, that baptism is a sign of our entrance into God’s covenant through the washing away of our sins. By nature we are outside of God’s covenant, a part of the fallen human race, dead in trespasses and sins, without hope and without God in the...