All Articles For Hofman W.

*Translated from the Holland brochure: Appel! This is the title of a brochure which we received from the Netherlands and which has been sent to many others in the U. S. The form letter which accompanied the booklet explains what it is and its purpose. This letter reads, in part, as follows: “In the name of the Board of Netherlands Federation of Young People’s Societies and the Federation of Young Women’s Societies, we have sent these few copies of the brochure ‘Appeal’.

Review . . . .

Dear brother Ophoff: A few days ago we received the August issue of the Standard Bearer and are much concerned about the article you wrote concerning the Revs. J. De Jong and B. Kok. So much so that I felt I should write you and express my opinion and reaction since I also expect to do so publicly in the next issue of the Standard Bearer.

In a previous connection it was stated, as you may recall, that the subject of “common grace” was also among those which was being discussed in the Netherlands before the war and concerning which there was difference of opinion. In 1942 the Synod of Sneek-Utrecht, also made certain dogmatic expressions regarding this theory. Although the declarations which were delivered by this same Synod regarding the Covenant of Grace became the greater issue, many protests were also delivered against the decisions relative to “common grace”.

(Note: The following was prepared and in the hands of the printer for publication in the Sept. 15th issue. Due to lack of space it has been held over until now.)

There is great rejoicing among many of the Holland immigrants in Chatham, Ontario, Canada. For here on the evening of March 23, a goodly number of them were organized as the Church of Jesus Christ. These sheep of God’s Kingdom had found a home in the midst of our Churches. Their prayers and ours had been answered, and we with them could thank and praise God for His goodness and faithfulness. He had kept His covenant with His people and had led them to the waters of life that flow from His Word and Spirit.

Madison, South Dakota January 29, 1951 The Standard Bearer The Rev. H. Hoeksema, Editor Dear Brother: May I kindly request a bit of space in a few issues of the Standard Bearer to express myself around and about the Declaration of Principles? I would like to consider the Declaration both from a formal and material point of view and will attempt to show that we should not adopt it or, positively, that we as Churches should abide by our own tradition of officially standing upon the basis of the Scripture and the Three Forms of Unity alone. This does not...

Among the grounds which are given for the adoption of the Declaration there is, first of all, the assertion that it is based solidly on our Confessions and hence that it offers nothing new. Now although I may believe and endorse these statements they do not yet present a ground or give a reason why the Declaration should be adopted. As statements of fact they do justify and defend the Declaration as such, but do not offer grounds for its adoption. In fact, they rather suggest a reason not to adopt the Declaration. For since the Declaration offers nothing new...