All Articles For Hofman W.

Final Session. . . . The Rev. R. Veldman led us in devotionals on Thursday afternoon, the final session of the Conference. He also introduced the speaker, the Rev. L. Doezema, pastor of the Protestant Reformed Church in Bellflower, California. The final aspect of the development of the general theme: “The Church” had been assigned to Rev. Doezema. His topic was “The Reformation of the Church”. Resume of Lecture. . . . “Our topic forms a fitting close to our discussions since reformation of the Church has always been considered important. That we so consider it, is evident from the...

Final Session. . . . Last time we presented a resume of the lecture of the Rev. L. Doezema. He had been chosen as the final speaker and developed his topic: “The Reformation of the Church”, as follows: The Need for Reformation—the condition of continual deformation and defection in the form of the Church constantly requires reformation. The Principles of Reformation—1. It is a return by the true Church to the Word of God. The false Church cannot be the object of Reformation. 2. It is God’s work—alone and completely. The Pattern of Reformation—1. It is begun by God in...

Japanese Christianity. . . . In The Presbyterian Guardian of December 10, we found a “Declaration issued by the Japanese Reformed Church”, excerpts from which we present below. The following note accompanies the article: “It is to be remembered that this is the action of a group of Japanese Christians, who have been out of touch with missionaries for a number of years as a result of the war. It therefore represents a witness from within Japanese Christendom. . . . The best English form of the name seems to be ‘Reformed Church of Christ in Japan’. Its relation to...

Barthianism . . . . One of the calmest and most fair criticisms of Dr. K. Barth and his theology that has appeared for some time is contained in the following few paragraphs. It was written by the Rev. C. Norman Bartlett, S.T.D., in an article entitled, “The Preacher and Current Trends in Theology”, in the January 1947 issue of the Moody Monthly. Usually, if one but so much as mentions the name of Barth or has the courage to quote him, he is in danger of being labelled and classified as a “Modernist”. It is, of course, practically impossible...

Reformed!! ??. . . . In The Banner of January 17, 1947, official organ of the Christian Reformed Churches, the Rev. J. M. Ghysels, in his “Meditation” department, writes as follows: “Once I read of a rich man whose wife died, and not long afterwards their only child, a little boy, followed the mother to the grave. The father never recovered from the shock of the double bereavement. After his death search was made for a will, but none could be found. At the sale of the household furniture, a maid, who had worked for the family, was present for...

Centennial. . . . During the course of this year the communities of Holland, Michigan and Pella, Iowa, will celebrate the 100th anniversary of their founding. Here in Holland, the commemoration of this event has already begun. The opening event was a public meeting held in Hope College Memorial Chapel on Feb. 9. It was 100 years ago, on Feb. 9, 1847, that the Rev. A. C. Van Raalte, with a party of seven men and one woman reached the shores of Black Lake (now Lake Macatawa) to found the colony of (Holland. On Feb. 1, of the same year...

Correspondence . . . . We received a letter reflecting on the remarks we made concerning the Banner’s Meditation department and its author. We take the opportunity to answer it here. The letter read in part as follows: Dear Brother: Reading, Periscope, in the Standard Bearer of Feb. 15. . . . I notice your note of surprise. . . .that there is very seldom a voice of protest raised. . . . Will you kindly inform me where such a voice of protest or rebellion can be raised? Do you imagine that the Banner would and dares to place...

Commendation. . . . We wish to begin our column in a slightly different manner this time. Under the caption above we will quote several comments and add a few personal remarks at the close. The statements quoted are certainly worthy of repetition as they contain valuable lessons for us all, as well as an encouraging and heartening note of truth. The first is written by a Mr. Henry Sikkema, in the department, “Voices in the Church” of the Banner of Feb. 28. Most of our readers are aware of the fact that Mr. Sikkema took issue with the Rev....

Niemoller. . . . The Rev. Martin Niemoller’s speech making tour of the U. S. officially ended in the latter part of March. Pastor Niemoller spoke to capacity audiences in 53 cities in the U. S. under the auspices of the Federal Council of Churches. Throughout his stay in America two questions have been raised time and again. The first deals with his relation to the Nazi regime under Hitler. It is well known that in the early part of the War he had offered his services to Hitler as a submarine captain; in which service he had distinguished himself...

Write Your Congressmen!!! …. Important labor legislation is, or will soon be, before both houses of Congress. Among the provisions of the bill before the House of Representatives will be a clause to ban the “closed shop”. It is expected that the Senate Committee will report its measure soon and also include this provision. We believe that all of our readers are or should be, directly or indirectly, interested and concerned in this matter. Therefore, we urge you to write to your Representatives and Senators to encourage them to support these measures; particularly the provision to ban the “closed shop”....