Vol 35 Issue 02

The RFPA (Standard Bearer) met in annual session Sept. 25 at First church. The brethren R. Bloem, D. Engelsma and C. Kregel were elected to serve on the board. The high light of the evening was a speech by the Rev. H.C. Hoeksema. The Reverend challenged the members and the board to renewed zeal for their mission—the witness of The Standard Bearer in the church world. The constructive criticism offered by the speaker will serve as an excellent guide to the board in the coming year. 

Occasionally I am asked by members of the Protestant Reformed Churches the point-blank question: is there a church political ground for the Forbes-Isabel churches to “withdraw” from the Eureka Classis? And the second question is: if any, what is the doctrinal reason for leaving the Eureka Classis?  Eureka Classis has just met this summer in their “48th Annual Session” at Eureka, South Dakota, although they were incorporated as a corporate entity as late as 1928 under the Statutes of the State of North Dakota, having their “residence” at Ashley, North Dakota. 

Held after Address at Hull Mass Meeting July, 1953  Questioner: Rev. H.C. Hoeksema Answers by: Rev. H. Hoeksema Question: Why was the Rev. H. De Wolf’s public explanation-apology related to the two-statement heresy charge against him not found acceptable to that part of the First Prot. Ref. Church Consistory headed by the Rev. H. Hoeksema?

Such is the title of an article appearing in the September 15, 1958 issue of The Presbyterian Guardian, and written by Carl J. Reitsma, minister of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church of West Collingswood, N.J. A “Foreword” precedes the article, evidently written by the editor of the Guardian, which explains the purpose and nature of the article written by the Rev. Reitsma. The “Foreword” reads as allows: 

THE REPORT  (The continuation of the report of the Study Committee and Committee of Pre-Advice, Synod of 1926, freely translated)  4. The Denomination. (Het Kerkverband) 

Delivered at the annual meeting of the Reformed Free Publishing Association  September 25, 1958, at Grand Rapids 

Later in the fourteenth century the Regular Observance grew again to considerable proportions, and in the beginning of the fifteenth century its fame was revived by the flaming preachers Bernardino of Sienna and John of Capistrano. The peace of the Franciscan order continued to be the concern of pope after pope until, in 1517, Leo X terminated the struggle of three centuries by formally recognizing two distinct societies within the Franciscan body. The moderate wing was placed under the Master-General of the Conventual Minorite Brothers, and was confirmed in the right to hold property.

“0 Lord, how manifold are Thy works! in wisdom hast Thou made them all: the earth is full of Thy riches.” These are the words of the psalmist in Psalm 104:24. And this is a truth that our children must have constantly held before them in all their education in the natural things of this life. In the geography class there is such an abundant opportunity to do that. And the covenant youth ought never to leave his geography class without that truth being impressed upon him.

“But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, . . . What saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son; for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.” Galatians 4:29, 30

Nevertheless we do not think that this is the only, or that it is even the main idea that is expressed. On the contrary, rather than saying that one-third means the smaller part over against two-thirds that are not affected, I would say that one-third signifies just a little more than the one-fourth that is always affected. You will remember that we explained the meaning of one-fourth in connection with the fourth seal. That fourth horse and its rider traverse the earth and kill one-fourth part of all men.