The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1860-07-04
The population we were informed are


we were informed by an American lady,
with whom We had the pleasure Of max
ing ourselves at homo, that having lived
there for twelve years, she never knew a
place so free from profanity, riot and
brawls, which are so frequently attendant
on the sale of spirituous liquors.
Tho Hollanders arc provorbially a
church going people. Their religion is
Calvinistic, of the old-school, church of
Scotland type, and their mode of worship
and church music bear n strong resem-
blance TO that which in the olden time
made the rocks and heather-clad hills Of
old Scotia resonant with the praises of
Him whose temple is space, and whose
sacrifice is q broken and contrite heart
and it is from such theology as this,
and such worship as this, that old Hol-
land, as we'll rs old Scotland derive some
of their finest "reminiscences, and some of
their most cherished records.
The church edifce of Holland Colony
measures one hundred feet by fifty, and
is filled every Sabbath with serious and
dcvout congregation. There are three
ministers in the village-Dr. VAN RAAL-
TIE, who is the patriarch, and who con-
Quoted the Colony from the fatherland
and located them in this spot, I had not
the pleasure of seeing, as he was alb
sent. Rev. GILES VANDERwALL and Rev.
PHILIP PHELPS, are the Professors in the
Academy, and preach usually in English.
There is very good Academy in tho
village, where a very thorough English,
mathematical and classical education may
be obtained. The school is chiefly do
signed as a preparatory ono for students
for tho ministry--several who finished
their preparatory studies here, arc now
in the Theological Seminary of New
Brunswick, and some arc in their senior
year there. o.@'a
We had the pleasure of being present
at the examination of all tho classes in
tho Academy. There were several min
listers of the Reformed Dutch Church
present. besides the Professors in the
Academy. Rev. w. BAILEY, Of Con-
stantine, and Rev. john WAGNER, Of
Freeport, ILL.,, were commissioned by the
Synod of Chicago to attend the examine
ton, as the Academy is under tho care
of the Synod. Besides these, there were
in attendance Rev. G. j. NYKERK, Of
Oycryssel, Rev. "A. ZwEMER, of Vries-
land, Rev. s. BoLKs, of Milwaukee, and
Rev. J. ANDERSON, of Grand Haven.
The examination continued two days
without iutermission, except for meals,
and one evening il continued after tea ,in-
til ten o'clock. There were two class
es in the Dutch language. Tho other
studies were English grammar, gcogra-
ply, anatomy, arithmetic, geometry, trig-
onometry and algebra. In Latin, Jacobs
Latin Reader, Cornelius Nepos, and the
Germania Of Tacitus. In Greek, the
Greek Reader, Arnold's Greek prose com
position, and Demosthenes De Corona.
The whole was conducted with much care
and ability. 1t was at once evident chat
whatever had been learned, had been we'll
learned. Nothing had been passed over
lightly. The classes were thoroughly
grounded in oil tho elements of study
which were the subjects Of examination,
and acquitted themselves very crcditably.
We have been present at examina-
tons in some of our scminaries of learn
ing, making fer higher pretensions than
that of Holland, where the knowledge of
language was far loss thorough, and tho
general course Of study much moro SUI
pcrlicial. 1t was evident 10 the commit
tee OF examination that Messrs. PHELPS
and VANDERwALL had taken much pains
in the training Of the young minds com
United to them.
There arc about twenty young men
who arc being educated there, having tho
ministry in view. The whole number of
pupils are thirty-sevon. The Academy is
open for the education of any who apply,
and who are sufficiently advanced in their
education. The tuition is free, and board
may be had for about twelve shillings a
week. We wonder why this school Of
the prophets is not moro known. 1t on
ly wants this To bo appreciated. Who