# Jan Rudolph Slotemaker de Bruïne

Jan Rudolph Slotemaker de Bruïne (6 May 1869 – 1 May 1941) was a Dutch theologian and politician of the Christian Historical Union (CHU).

## Early life and education

Jan Rudolph Slotemaker de Bruïne was born in Sliedrecht on 6 May 1869, to Nicolaas Ahasverus Cornelis Slotemaker, a soliciter, and Hendrika Gerardina de Bruine. He attended lower education in his place of birth and gymnasium in Haarlem. He subsequently started studying Theology at Utrecht University in June 1889, and completed his study in July 1894 with a dissertation entitled De eschatologische voorstellingen in I en II Corinthe. He later got a doctorate as a Doctor of Theology in June 1896 and a Doctor of Philosophy in July 1898.

## Ministry and academic career

Slotemaker started working as a Minister of the Dutch Reformed Church in August 1894. He chose Haulerwijk in rural Friesland as his first congregation due to what he perceived as "religious decline and social disarray" in the area. His experience with social injustice and the rise of socialism led him to believe that the church should not remain aloof with respect to the social question. During his ministry in Haulerwijk, which lasted until May 1897, Slotemaker managed to reawaken interest in religion among the local impoverished population, and he quickly gained a reputation as a devoted minister and a gifted orator. This led to requests from across the country, and Slotemaker subsequently served as a minister in Beilen from May 1897 until January 1900, in Middelburg from January 1900 until September 1903, in Nijmegen from September 1903 until December 1907, and in Utrecht from December 1907 until March 1916.
From 1895 on, Slotemaker wrote articles and brochures about ecclesiastic and social affairs. He expressed his support for a presbyterian polity in which each neighbourhood would have its own minister and church council, and sought to put this concept into practice during his ministry in Utrecht. Regarding the social question, Slotemaker believed that social misery was caused not just by changes in the means of production, but also by the receding of Christian norms and the dominance of an extreme liberalism encouraging limitless competition. He argued for the integration of the industrial working class into society through a labour movement and trade unions.
Slotemaker de Bruïne also worked as editor of the newspaper De Voorzorg from April 1903 until November 1921 and was co-founder and editor-in-chief of Christian magazine Stemmen des Tijds from January 1911 until May 1941. Slotemaker de Bruïne worked as a professor of Theology and the History of Christianity and at Utrecht University from March 1916 until April 1925. Slotemaker de Bruïne also worked as editor-in-chief of the party newspaper De Nederlander from February 1921 until May 1941. Slotemaker de Bruïne was elected to the Senate after the 1922 Senate election, taking office on 25 July 1922. Slotemaker de Bruïne also served as Chairman of the Christian Historical Union from 15 April 1925 until 20 September 1926.

## Political career

On 11 November 1925 the Colijn I cabinet fell and continued to serve in a demissionary capacity until the 1926 cabinet formation when it was replaced by the De Geer I cabinet with Slotemaker de Bruïne appointed as Minister of Labour, Commerce and Industry, taking office on 8 March 1926. Slotemaker de Bruïne was elected to the House of Representatives after the 1929 general election, taking office on 17 September 1929. Following the 1929 cabinet formation Slotemaker de Bruïne was not giving a cabinet post in the new cabinet, the De Geer I cabinet was replaced by the Ruijs de Beerenbrouck III cabinet on 10 August 1929 and he continued to serve in the House of Representatives as a frontbencher. Slotemaker de Bruïne also served again as Chairman of the Christian Historical Union from 5 January 1932 until 30 June 1933. After the 1933 general election Slotemaker de Bruïne was appointed again in the post as the newly renamed Minister of Social Affairs in the Colijn II cabinet, taking office on 8 June 1933. Slotemaker de Bruïne served as acting Minister of Education, Arts and Sciences from 18 May 1935 following the resignation of Henri Marchant and dual served in both positions. The Colijn II cabinet fell on 23 July 1935 and continued to serve in a demissionary capacity until the 1935 cabinet formation when it was replaced by the Colijn III cabinet with Slotemaker de Bruïne appointed as permanent Minister of Education, Arts and Sciences, taking office on 31 July 1935. After the 1937 general election Slotemaker de Bruïne returned as a Member of the House of Representatives, taking office on 8 June 1937. Following the 1937 cabinet formation Slotemaker de Bruïne continued as Minister of Education, Arts and Sciences in the Colijn IV cabinet, taking office on 24 June 1937.
After a railway strike in 1903 he realised that the Church holds important social obligations and since then he has also participated in politics. In 1926 he became minister of labour, in 1933 and 1935 minister of social affairs and education. On 1 May 1941 Slotemaker de Bruine died in Wassenaar.

## Decorations

Honours :
| Honour | Country | Date | Comment |
| Knight of the Order of the Netherlands Lion | Netherlands | 31 August 1921 | |
| Grand Cross of the Order of the White Lion | Czechoslovakia | 29 April 1937 | |
| Grand Officer of the Order of Orange-Nassau | Netherlands | 30 July 1939 | Elevated from Commander (5 September 1929) |