Again, due to Alice’s illness, here is your pinch-hitter reporting….
From Lynden’s bulletin we see that their church picnic was hold on Labor Day at Samish Lake, and included the following ingredients: Games and prizes, good fun and above all, Christian fellowship.
Regarding our Servicemen:
Southwest Church reports that on September 3rd Paul Schipper returned from Germany after finishing three years of military service. Welcome home, Paul!
Also on September 3rd, the Hull young people gathered to hold a farewell supper for one of their members, Henry Hoksbergen, who left on the 13th for service with the National Guard. The supper was held at Hull Park and included swimming in the afternoon for those who could be there early.
The young people of Southeast Church decided honor Homer Teitsma with a hay-ride on October 24th. Homer surprised his family and congregation when he came home on leave for a few weeks.
Bulletins from everywhere announce the beginning of a new society season. Young people, are you all society members? How wonderful that we may exercise the communion of saints in this way, and that we have the privilege of studying God’s Word. If you are members, do you attend regularly? If you begin to place other activities above your society life, each time it becomes a little easier for you to “skip”. Finally, do you take an active part in your society? Yes, it’s easy enough to make some small obvious remark during Bible discussion to give the appearance of taking part, but if you study and meditate on His Word and then you will experience the real joy of society life.
Also on September 3rd (that seems to be a popular date in this issue) Rev. and Mrs. Geo. Lubbers met with an accident near Randolph, Wisconsin. Although their car was quite extensively damaged, neither of them was hurt seriously.
Adams School Athletic Association again has made plans for a pancake supper – this one to be held on Saturday, November 7th.
The Young People’s Society of Hull hopes to sponsor a Reformation Day program on Sunday evening, November 1st. The speaker will be Rev. G. Van Baren.
Candidates for the 1975 P.R.Y.P. Convention: Mr. and Mrs. George Hoekstra have a new daughter (Hull). Mr. and Mrs. J. Van Dyke of Kalamazoo also have a girl. Mr. and Mrs. D. Knoper (First Church) are the parents of a new daughter too. We hope it won’t be an all-girl convention in 1975!
Both Hope and Adams Schools have already had paper drives sponsored by their respective Alumni and Athletic Societies.
Hudsonville to the rescue! I just noticed on one of their bulletins that a boy has been added to the denomination. He is Thomas David, son of Mr. and Mrs. G. Young.
The young people of Oak Lawn sponsored a Singspiration on Sunday evening, October 18th. The collection received was to reduce the debt on their new piano.
The Ladies’ Society of Oak Lawn changed their time of meeting from Wednesday to Thursday evening in order that Rev. Vanden Berg may teach catechism in South Holland on Wednesday evenings.
Holland’s bulletin announces a new trio consisting of Rev. G. Lanting, Rev. G. Vanden Berg, and Rev. G. Lubbers.
Here’s a follow-up on the Open Letter of Rev. Woudenberg on page 1 of the last issue of Beacon Lights:
On September 15th a meeting was held at Southwest Church for those interested in establishing a Protestant Reformed High School. A crowd of two hundred gathered there, comprised of parents from the Grand Rapids area, Holland, Hudsonville, and Grand Haven. Mr. James Sward opened with Scripture reading and prayer and introduced the speaker – Rev. C. Hanko. Rev. Hanko prefaced his speech with remarks as to the momentous nature of the occasion which will be remembered for decades to come. He then spoke on the necessity of a High School; the possibility of it, and the procedures necessary to its attainment. He emphasized that the necessity of a high school caused the crowd to gather at the meeting. Also, according to the baptism vow which the parents have taken, it is doctrinally necessary. Present high schools are steeped in common grace and other errors. High school age is an extremely formative age for children. Teenagers tend to trust teachers more than parents or ministers, due to the former’s proximity and fluency with scientific subjects. Also, we must have our own high school in order to create harmony between school, home, and church. The necessity is upon us: we have no choice!
As to its possibility – the number of our children of high school age by 1965 will already total over 100. A survey also indicated a supply of competent teachers already available or in training. Financially Adams and Hope schools are exceeding the fondest hopes of early supporters, and since our people are pouring large sums of money into the existing high schools, we may certainly believe the financial obligations can be met.
As to procedure, the first step has already been taken by the forming of the Steering Committee. The second step is this meeting and the formation of a society. The third, continued support in gifts, time, money, and prayers.
After Rev. Hanko’s speech, a society was formed, consisting of 94 members. Also the Steering Committee was empowered to appoint a constitution committee who would also act as school board until an official board could be elected.
So, young people, it certainly looks as if we’re on our way to Protestant Reformed education – not only on the grade school level, but also where it is so sorely needed – in high school!
Originally Published in:
Vol. 19 No. 7 October-November 1959