Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-09-01
IT is NOW READY
The Holland Theological Sem
mary Viii Be
DEDICATED NEXT WEDNESDAY
A Sketch Of th= Institution From Its
Foundation in iS7e-lts ohjsct
and support.


theological seminary W.ll DC dedicated.
IL Is an educational institution or
which the general public knows little,
yet Is dong an lnealeulabie amount OF
good. Its object Is tie education OF
young men TOR the ministry Of the
Holland Christian Reformed church.
Previous 10 1867 the supply OF minis
ters for this denomination was OBJ
tanned exclusively from the Neither
lands. The church then began 10
realize the necessity of training some
OF her own young men, which resulted
in placing few under the instruction
OF the Rev. ID. j. Van der Nerp. then
pastor AT Graafschsp, Allegsn county.
The lnfrmitles of Old age grew upon
the instructor, ana the students were
transferred 10 the hands OF the Rev.
u. l.. Boer, then pastor OF the Spring
street church " this city. These
l2bors additional TO the pastoral care
of large parish proving too burden
some, the General synod, ia session at
Chicago IN February, 1876, formally es-
tablished the seminary and elected the
Rev. Boer its professor. On the even
llle vi 4lC hk0
augurai address, TINS being the formal
opening of the institution.
Used It's Parish school.
The Spring Street church had given
the synod for the free use OF the sec
ond story Of It's parish school house on
Williams street for this purpose, con-
tnuing the gift up TO the present time.
The first students there prepared for
the ministry were c. Bode, G.. Broene,
q. Hocksema, II. Temple and c. Worst.
AS the denomination had no college
this seminary has a preparatory depart
ment or literary course, winch has
from time to time been heightened IN
til II now covers four years, 10 be fol-
lowed by three years IN the theological
studies. Instruction IS given IN both
English and Dutch. In 1884 a second
professor was elected III the person OF
the Rev. q. Hemkes OF Nriesland,
Mich, but as the demands were still in
creasing the curriculum prolonged and
a higher standard of qualification for
its ministry desired, the sy- ~. IN 1886
elected the Rev. q. Nos, L D., the
third professor. A call has also been
extended to Prof. d. X. Wrlienga, pro-
fessor of church history in the theolog-
zeal school of the Reformed Church OF
the Netherlands at Kampen, Neither
lands. The professor Is now IN the
west, having already visited this city.
He has not yet determined TO accept
the call and will visit his family III the
old country before deciding.
Subjects Taught.
Exegetical and practical theology;
| classic languages and literature; He
brew and moral philosophy; systematic
| theology and natural sciences and
| other studies are taught in the semi
| nary. Each one of the professors pre-
| sides in turn for one year. There is a
small but good library, and the num-
Der of volumes is rapidly increasing.
The institution is maintained by the
| free gifts Of the Reformed churches IN
| America, each church society guaran
| teeing stated sum and raising it in
| the most convenient matter.
Two years ago the project of col
| lege building was agItated, and one
year later work began on Il site facing
| Madison and Fifth avenues and Brad
| burn street. There are five lots in
| cluded and the location is pleasant
and slightly. There were no corner
stone exercises, but work has been
pushed expedltiously, and the build
ing, which cost about 5000, is now
ready for occupancy, the dedication
having been set for Wednesday, Sep
TENDER Z, at 1880 p. m. There has
been a satisfactory growth in the use,
| fulness of the school.
There are now forty-two students in
the theological and literary depart
ments divided as follows:
theological Students-T. Baker, B.
II. Einink, G.. Ham, H. Walkotten, q.
| Berkhof, NJ. Boer. 5. Brockstra, l..
Collin, j. Van der Mel.
Literary Students-H. Beets, II.
Borduin, J. Brink, ID. Drukker, J. b.
Hulst, T. Pei, j. Smitter, ]. Thinner
man, II. Wolfns. d.. Boswinkel, n.
Ramps, II. Friellng, 5. Van der Werf,
q. Westenberg, I. Van der Ark, II.
Frieling, w. DeGroot, +. korrelaar, ID.
Nande Wagon, w. Nande Werp, j.
Wiebenga, II. Ahnis, 5. Bouwina. A.
Vande Velde, j. DETROIT, 5. Holke-
boer, w. Kole, ID. Nande Ploeg, NJ,
Wander Ven, Z. Jonker.