Volume XXV • Number 2 • 2007 Historical Magazine of The Archives Calvin College and Calvin Theological Seminary 1855 Knollcrest Circle SE Grand Rapids, Michigan 49546 page 7 page 26 (616) 526-6313 Origins is designed to publicize 2 From the Editor 12 Our Trip to North America, and advance the objectives of Part IV; Summer 1949 4 SS Maasdam: The Battle of the The Archives. These goals Atlantic and a Dutch Sailor’s G. J. Buth, Nieuwe Tonge include the gathering, Diary organization, and study of 20 The Story of Chinese in the historical materials produced by David L. Baatenburg CRC the day-to-day activities of the Peter Szto Christian Reformed Church, its institutions, communities, and people.

Richard H. Harms Editor Hendrina Van Spronsen Circulation Manager Conrad J. Bult Book Reviewer Tracey L. Gebbia Designer H.J. Brinks Harry Boonstra Janet Sheeres Associate Editors James C. Schaap Robert P. Swierenga Contributing Editors page 30 page 38 HeuleGordon Inc. Printer 28 Disloyal Dutch? Herman 43 Book Notes Hoeksema and the Flag in 44 Book Review Church Controversy during Robert Schoone-Jongen World War I 46 For the Future Cover photo: Robert P. Swierenga upcoming Origins articles Dirk Baatenberg de Jong’s shore leave pass used while the SS Maasdam was 36 Johnny Vander Meer: 47 Contributors docked in the New York Harbor. The Dutch Master Calvin Cevaal from the editor . . .

Omaha, Peter Szto traces his parents’ names. These data come from the ministry in New York and the path records in the Archives of Heritage some Chinese-Americans followed to Hall, Calvin College, Grand Rapids, join the Reformed faith. Dr. Robert Michigan, and are available at http:// Swierenga, a frequent contributor to www.calvin.edu/hh/family_history_re- Origins, describes the controversy sources/Rilland_church.htm.D in one Holland, Michigan, church Time to Renew Your Subscription during the super-patriotic fervor News from the Archives As we have in past years, we use this that swept the United States during During the summer we organized and section of the column to notify you WW I. Cal Cevaal, another previous opened for research approximately that it is time to renew your subscrip- contributor to Origins, recounts the thirty-fi ve cubic feet of manuscript tion. An envelope for this is included baseball career of John Vander Meer, material in ten collections. Among in this issue; this saves the cost of a the only professional baseball player these materials are the papers of Dr. separate mailing for renewal notices. to pitch consecutive no-hitters. And Robert Recker and those of Dr. Carl Subscriptions remain $10 (US) per lastly, we have the next installment of Kromminga, ministers in the Chris- year. Gifts in addition to the $10 are the account by Dutch visitors to the tian Reformed Church and professors acknowledged as charitable gifts to Midwest during 1949.D at Calvin Theological Seminary. The Origins and we are grateful for this Recker papers detail his ministry in generosity.D Available On-Line and teaching of missions. Krommin- During the summer we compiled the ga’s material contains much on the This Issue membership records of the short-lived history of the denomination, his writ- As past articles in Origins have shown, (January to December 1893) Rilland, ing for The Young Calvinist, and the family has been an important compo- Colorado, Christian Reformed Church various courses he led at the seminary nent of the immigrant experience and near present-day Alamosa, Colorado. during a 36-year teaching career. We in this issue two sons write about their These Dutch immigrants were part also completed the reorganization of fathers. Grand Rapids attorney David of a larger group that were victims of the Walter Lagerwey papers, who was Baatenberg relates his father’s experi- a land swindle detailed by Peter de a leading educator of Dutch in the ence of being on a torpedoed ship early Klerk in “The Alamosa Disaster: The United States at the college level. This during WW II and the life-long impact Boldest of Swindles,” Origins (Spring collection contains both his extensive this had on his father. A member of the 1986): 22-26. Families are listed research material as well as his cur- faculty of the University of Nebraska— under both the mothers’ and fathers’ riculum fi les.

2 Volume XXV • Number 2 • 2007

Among the archival material pro- Dakota; Birnamwood, Wisconsin; collaborative effort by Origins and cessed were records from the denom- and Prairie View, Kansas, Christian the Historical Series of the Reformed inational Chaplaincy Ministries, back Reformed Churches were translated, Church in America (see book review to the 1970s, but the bulk of the and by the time this issue goes to section). Published by William B. records date to the 1990s, including press the minutes of the Central Av- Eerdmans, it is available for $28, but information on the individuals who enue CRC in Holland, Michigan, will to subscribers for $22 at the Origins served as chaplains. Also among the also have been translated. Indexing offi ce.D denominational records opened to of The Banner continues, with two research are those from two discon- volunteers now hard at work having Staff tinued ministries: Comstock Park, completed approximately two-thirds Richard Harms is the curator of the Michigan, CRC (1930-2007, with of the years 1985-1995. Another vol- Archives; Hendrina Van Spronsen organization of the congregation in unteer continues collating and key- is the offi ce coordinator; Wendy 1957), and Portage, Michigan, CRC ing into a database the information Blankespoor is librarian and catalog- (1966-1995); as well as records from on post World War II Dutch immi- ing archivist; Melanie Vander Wal is a still active congregation, Lombard, grants in Canada. And still another departmental assistant; Dr. Robert Illinois, CRC, which began in Chica- volunteer continues indexing our Bolt is fi eld agent and assistant archi- go in 1912. Lastly, thanks to a special collection of family histories. vist. Our capable student assistants endowment, we were able to pro- Since spring we have accepted fi f- are Lisa Van Drunen, Cyndi Veenstra, duce a typescript of John Vogelzang’s ty-eight cubic feet of records. Among and Dana Verhulst. Our volunteers nearly 500,000-word autobiogra- the larger transfers were twenty-nine include Willene De Groot, Rev. Henry phy originally written on fi fty-four cubic feet from the Health, Physical De Mots, Ed Gerritsen, Fred Greida- rolls of shelf paper, which details Education, Recreation, Dance, and nus, Ralph Haan, Dr. Henry Ippel, his life from his birth in Overijsel, Sports Department of the college; Helen Meulink, Rev. Gerrit Sheeres, the Netherlands, emigration to the four cubic feet from CRCNA Chap- Janet S. Sheeres, and Rev. Leonard Untied States in 1907 with his bride, laincy offi ce; the records of the De- Sweetman.D and life in Holland, Michigan, where troit Campus Chaplaincy effort, and he established a successful hardware the discontinued Comstock Park, business. Michigan, CRC. Our volunteers continue their nu- Henry J. Kuiper: Shaping the Chris- merous projects. The minutes from tian Reformed Church, 1907-1962, Manhattan, Montana; Bemis, South by James A. DeJong is the second Richard H. Harms

3 SS Maasdam: The Battle of the Atlantic and a Dutch Sailor’s Diary David L. Baatenburg

he only thing that ever really through 31 August 1942, German Tfrightened me during the war was and Italian submarines sank a total of the U-boat peril. 1,904 Allied and neutral ships.2 —Winston S. Churchill One of the Allied counter-measures was the convoy system with destroyer The Allied war effort during WW II escort to help protect merchant ships. depended upon the maintenance of The risk to merchant ships in convoy the Atlantic lifeline linking North and to those who sailed on them is America with the British Isles. Much not well reported. Dirk Baatenburg of the food and raw materials, and all de Jong, my father, sailed in several of the oil, were imported. Rather than convoys. This is an account of one— attacking the Royal Navy—the largest Convoy HX 133—particularly the in the world at the start of the War— sinking on Thursday, 26 June 1941, of Germany sought to defeat Britain by the Holland America Line’s Maasdam. attacking the merchant shipping that Maasdam, the third of fi ve with supported the island nation.1 The this name in the Holland America principal weapon used to accomplish Line, was an 8,812-ton ship that was that goal was the U-boat. The Battle of launched 21 October 1920, with a the Atlantic, the longest continuous length of 466 and a beam of 58 feet. campaign of World War II, took the Constructed at Rotterdam, she was lives of between 75,000 and 85,000 originally designed as a combina- Allied seamen. And, for the three tion cargo and passenger vessel with years beginning 3 September 1939 accommodations for 14 fi rst-class,

David L. Baatenburg is partner in the Grand Rapids law fi rm of Muller, Mull- er, Richmond, Harms & Myers. He was a history major in college particularly interested in WW II and will “watch pretty much anything that appears on TV that chronicles that war.” The rebuilt SS Maasdam, with one smokestack, entering the Havana, Cuba, harbor just before the outbreak of World War II. Photo courtesy of the author.

4 Volume XXV • Number 2 • 2007

temporarily, but the intense heat from the incendiary device he carried for only a few seconds damaged his eyes badly enough to require medical at- tention. The treating physician told my father that if he had carried the superheated bomb only a few more seconds he would have been perma- nently blinded. The ship arrived at New York at the Baatenberg de Jong’s entry for the day his ship sank, 26 June 1941, began in an understated manner, “This evening the Dutch tanker Tibia was torpedoed, but she remained as if nothing had happened. end of May and was fi lled with wheat . . .” and war material, including a pair of twin engine bombers, with wings 174 second-class, and 802 third-class crowds” and adds that “[i]n his talk loaded separately. Maasdam left New passengers in ninety cabins. She had he encourages them, telling them that York for Halifax on 11 June 1941 with a crew of eighty-nine and originally they are on their way to victory.” At a crew of forty-eight, plus thirty-two showed two funnels, but only one was that time the German Luftwaffe regu- passengers, including eleven US Ma- functioning. The ship laid up in 1933 larly bombed British targets, particu- rine Corps personnel and seventeen and overhauled the next year with the larly ships in port. For several days American Red Cross volunteer nurses. dummy funnel removed, passenger German bombers dropped thousands The marines were destined for duty cabins reduced to twenty, and crew of incendiary bombs on shipping and at the US Embassy in London and the size to forty-eight. nearby buildings. Incendiaries were nurses were scheduled to serve at the My father was born 18 September single-purpose bombs ranging in size Harvard Hospital, also in London. 1911 in Maassluis, the Netherlands, up to 500 kg (1,100 pounds), intend- Traveling with the nurses was Mrs. a Dutch fi shing village on the Maas ed to set fi res. One night—as fearful Ruth Breckenridge, who was to act as River near Rotterdam.3 At sixteen he as any in the war as far as Maasdam’s housemother to sixty nurses at Har- entered the family business—trolling second radio operator, Ernie Brown, vard Hospital. the North Sea for fi sh. Eventually he was concerned—hundreds of these Halifax was a common port from found a better-paying job as a sailor bombs fell on or near Maasdam. My which eastbound convoys formed. for the Holland America Line and was father wrote of his fears in his 4 May Maasdam arrived the evening of 13 assigned to Maasdam. On 9 May 1940 diary entry, where he recited words of June 1941. Assigned to Convoy HX she was in port in Liverpool, England, assurance from Isaiah 43:2 but added 133, she left 16 June amidst incred- awaiting return to the Netherlands “still I was often so afraid which is ibly dense fog that lasted four days, when the crew was warned not to the result of me looking too much to causing several ship collisions. On 21 return to their home country. The people and circumstances.” June the fog had lifted and HX 133 next day the German army invaded Among the ordnance were small was joined by thirty-eight ships from the Low Countries. The ship and crew Thermite bombs, particularly danger- St. Johns, Virgin Islands. The resulting were immediately militarized and ous to shipping as they quickly heated fi fty-eight-ship convoy was reduced Maasdam was chartered to the Minis- to a temperature as high as 4,000º by seven due to the collisions and try of War Transport in London. Fahrenheit and burned their way mechanical problems. One cruiser On 2 April 1941, Maasdam left through ship decking. That May eve- and four destroyers accompanied the Hoboken, New Jersey, with a load of ning numerous bombs fell and several convoy for protection. war material. The Atlantic crossing nearby ships were badly damaged or Maasdam’s small, crowded lounge and the return were largely unevent- destroyed. Maasdam crew members was the social center for passen- ful but the ship and crew saw both pushed several of these bombs over- gers and crew. The ship’s two tables danger and excitement while docked board with shovels, melting the metal were constantly occupied with card in Liverpool. In the 26 April entry to shovels in the process. When a shovel games as passengers and crew be- his diary my father recorded Prime was not nearby, my father picked up came acquainted over evening sand- Minister Churchill’s visit to the Liv- one of those bombs with his overcoat wiches and beer. The voyage began erpool docks. The diary reports that and threw it overboard. Doing this with 6,000 bottles of beer and after “Churchill is hailed loudly by the burned his forearms, though only eight days one-third of that supply

5 had been consumed, causing the courses and early the next morning Among the U-boats was U-564 head steward to lament, “I’ll be short Admiral Donitz authorized U-203 to commanded by twenty-fi ve-year- going back.”4 The weather became attack. Mutzelburg quickly responded old Reinhard “Teddy” Suhren. That rough, the seas were high and the and opened hostilities by fi ring on evening Suhren had been impatiently sailors were ordered to sleep with three large ships. He claimed sinking awaiting contact with HX 133 as part their clothes and life jackets on. Sleep two and Norwegian sources report two of a search line set up on orders from was diffi cult on the rolling ship, even of their ships—Vigrid and Soloy— German Naval Command. Upon fi nd- more so after the 23 June warning to were sunk the evening of 23-24 June, ing the convoy he ordered his chief the crew that a German “wolf pack” along with the British ship Brockley engineer to keep U-564 at periscope was in the area. Anxiety was justifi ed Hill.6 No ships were torpedoed on 25 depth (14 meters). Suhren observed because on 19 June German Admiral June and there is no evidence to show an escort ship pass by, then being Karl Donitz had scattered twenty U- that any torpedoes were fi red at any surprised to see the entire convoy boats throughout the North Atlantic. convoy ships that day. tacking starboard. As the convoy’s On the afternoon of 23 June, Rolf “June 26th was a day full of excite- turn continued U-564 literally was in Mutzelburg, the twenty-eight-year-old ment” begins—with considerable the middle of the convoy. Whisper- Kapitanleutnant (Lieutenant Com- understatement—my father’s postwar ing commands, Suhren found the lead mander) of U-203, happened upon handwritten account of the defi nitive freighter (presumably Maasdam) to HX 133 approximately 400 miles moments of his life. Like all convoys, be only 500 meters away and he had south of Greenland. The sighting was HX 133 traveled in rows and Maasdam fi ve torpedoes prepared for fi ring. As the fi rst Halifax convoy any U-boat was assigned Station 81 (eighth row, Maasdam continued to move forward, had found in thirty-fi ve days. Hav- fi rst ship). Late that evening my father Suhren’s memoirs record the ship ing caught HX 133 rather early in its was on watch on the starboard side. “now only 15m away, just beside me, voyage Donitz ordered Mutzelburg Ernie Brown was on duty in the radio high as a house and near enough to to shadow the convoy. It was Donitz’s room which was entirely sealed off touch. It nearly runs us down.”8 At intent to engage the convoy with as from any outside view of events. The 2345 hours GMT U-564 fi red torpe- many U-boats as possible. Thus was ship was traveling approximately 300 does in rapid succession. The fi rst launched an epic chase and battle that miles southwest of Iceland just south torpedo struck Maasdam’s port side would last nearly a week.5 of the Arctic Circle. At this location, at the rear of cargo hold no. 2. From Mutzelburg tracked the convoy the light just before midnight—days my father’s starboard watch post and through the afternoon and evening after the summer solstice—was es- Ernie Brown’s radio room the meaning of 23 June, sending frequent reports. sentially a twilight sky. A storm system of the shudder was unmistakable. One Other U-boats plotted intercept had moved through the North Atlantic of my father’s handwritten accounts and it was no longer mentions that “the alarm is sounded; raining. The sea was in a way it seems to be almost a relief not as rough as it had after days of tension.” Radio operator been but it still had Brown immediately set out to dispose swells.7 At nightfall of the code books using a sack weight- a half dozen U-boats ed with a chunk of scrap iron. He tied were preparing to at- the sack and was headed out the door tack HX 133 and two to toss it overboard when a second, convoy ships were more frightening, explosion rocked hit but not sunk. By the ship. 2310 hours Greenwich Immediately to Maasdam’s port side Mean Time (GMT), was the 8,700-ton Malaya II, a British 2110 hours ship’s time, freighter loaded with TNT. Another of the presence of sub- U-564’s torpedoes struck her and the marines was reported, ensuing detonation of that ship’s cargo Maasdam’s anti-subma- literally blasted it out of the North Dirk Baatenberg de Jong during the 1950s with a newspaper story of rine gun was manned, Atlantic. A winch from Malaya II was his war-time experiences. In Grand Rapids, he was a member of the Calvin College maintenance team for many years. Photo courtesy of and all crew members thrown onto another of the convoy’s the author. were on alert. ships two rows away and shrapnel

6 Volume XXV • Number 2 • 2007

began raining down on the deck of Maasdam making it impossible to walk on deck for a brief time. Many on Maasdam believed their ship had been struck with a second torpedo, but when Brown looked across the water there was a patch of smooth, wave-less water where Malaya II should have been. Amazingly, six people from this suddenly nonexistent freighter sur- vived, but thirty-eight others perished. Directly behind Maasdam was the Norwegian tanker Kongsgaard. Mo- ments later another of U-564’s torpe- does hit Kongsgaard. In a time span that may have been no more than sixty seconds Suhren had scored a hat trick on HX 133.9 Although Kongsgaard was not as seriously damaged and did not sink, the situation on Maasdam was Survivors of SS Maasdam’s torpedoing aboard SS Havprins, one of two ships in convoy HX 133 to rescue passengers and crew. Photo courtesy of the author. more desperate. Bulkheads and walls between cabins were bent and doors his chief engineer and his fi rst offi cer, sinking ship—even one in a convoy— demolished. One sailor was knocked who on a previous ship had witnessed came with no promise of rescue. The unconscious when a door—no doubt a similar torpedo attack and sink- standing convoy rule was not to stop sent fl ying by the explosion of Ma- ing, and gave the order to abandon to pick up survivors. There was good laya II—struck him in the head. For ship. Maasdam was equipped with six reason for this draconian-sounding a time some of the crew were trapped lifeboats—1, 3, and 5 on the portside rule—German U-boats loved to prey in a cabin, unable to open its door. and 2, 4, and 6 on the starboard. Two upon stragglers— explaining why Damage either from the torpedo or portside lifeboats—those closest to these submarines were called “wolf the explosion of the neighboring ship what had been Malaya II—suffered packs.” The harshness of this rule activated Maasdam’s steam whistle and damage from that explosion. Lifeboat was mitigated somewhat by the fact the control had to be cut in order to 1 had been completely blown away that the last ship in the column was stop the continuous noise. and no. 3 (which was motorized) was usually designated as a rescue ship, My father, more protected in his hanging from its davit and had to be but captains could use their own dis- watch position on the starboard side, cut away in order to launch the no. 5 cretion to carry out rescues as condi- observed several people with injuries boat.10 tions permitted. For instance, when as a result of the rain of metal. One Maasdam crew members and pas- the Norwegian ship Vigrid—a convoy passenger nearly had his heel cut off, sengers had a specifi c lifeboat assign- straggler with engine trouble—be- while the third mate, who had been on ment but under the circumstances came the fi rst casualty of the convoy the bridge with Captain Jan Pieter Bo- there was little choice other than to the night of June 23-24, four lifeboats shoff, was struck in the head near the send those assigned to lifeboats 1 and containing forty-seven people were temple and began to bleed profusely. 3 starboard to disembark there. Brown launched. It wasn’t until 5 July— Procedure required that Boshoff recently wrote that he still has “etched just as food and water supplies were order the ship’s engines stopped in his mind” a picture of the injured running low—that the occupants of and the fuel supply cut off. The port third mate, the blood streaming down the fi rst lifeboat were rescued. More shelter on the bridge was blown away his face, issuing orders to crew mem- than a week later a second lifeboat and the wheelhouse—though heavily bers preparing to launch a lifeboat; was picked up, but the other two reinforced with concrete—was also standing at his side was an American disappeared forever. Only twenty-one gone and replaced by a large hole. The nurse attempting to staunch the heavy of forty-seven people survived.12 Maasdam’s foredeck quickly dropped bleeding.11 From all reports there was to sea level. Boshoff consulted with A successful lifeboat launch from a never any panic among Maasdam’s

7 passengers and crew, but one of the 6 had a more desperate struggle for was eventually spotted drifting about launches nearly resulted in sudden survival. Aboard lifeboat 6, in the dim mid-ship by Eugene Plouvier, Maas- disaster when the crew member oppo- twilight, the splintered lifeboat began dam’s third engineer. Hanging from site my father began lowering his end to fi ll with water. Nurse Lillian Evans a rope ladder, Plouvier witnessed too quickly. The end my father was reported, “First it came to our knees, the efforts of several people as they lowering could not keep up with the then up to our waists. The water rose tried to rescue Breckenridge from the pace set at the opposite end and the until soon we were completely sub- water. According to the transcript of lack of coordination nearly resulted in merged.” Although the lifeboat was the deposition given by Maasdam’s everyone in that boat being dumped taking on water and would eventu- offi cers on 9 July, these attempts into the rolling ocean waves. Ameri- ally be swamped, it was designed not repeatedly failed because she was not can nurse M. Marian McGill Wood, to sink due to metal fl otation tanks cooperative and again and again had in her 1992 American History article, under its seats, but rowing became to be released due to the swells and specifi cally mentions the diffi culty in impossible. Nurse McGill Wood the motion of the tanker. Plouvier launching boat 4, “[i]t appeared as if described Captain Boshoff as standing made his own attempts to rescue the boat—lurching downward fi rst in the lifeboat, cupping his hands, and from the rope ladder. Plouvier man- at the bow and then stern—might repeatedly shouting, “Throw us a line! aged to grab hold of Breckenridge drop its occupants into the sea at any We’re sinking.”14 but he was unable to maintain his moment.”13 Eventually boat 4 splashed As the passengers furiously bailed hold. Breckenridge had a rescue rope into the North Atlantic and, while the water, swells washed away several in her hands but she made no real crew attempted to cut free, a wave occupants. McGill Wood remembers effort to grasp it, no doubt suffering slammed her against Maasdam’s hull. one large wave washing over the boat from cold and exhaustion. Plouvier The boat nearly capsized before sta- taking most occupants with it. Of the made the decision to jump into the bilizing. The other boats experienced twenty to twenty-two people Boshoff ocean and drag her back to the rope similar diffi culty during launching. testifi ed were in lifeboat 6, approxi- ladder. At that moment Havprins, The last to leave the ship, follow- mately twelve stayed with the craft in danger of colliding with the now ing standard protocol, was Captain which was drifting towards Havprins. listing but still fl oating Maasdam in Boshoff. Prior to leaving on lifeboat 6, McGill Wood and at least one other the rolling ocean water, maneuvered he made a fi nal tour of the ship during nurse stayed with the swamped boat to avoid the impending collision and which he determined that no more as did several crew members, includ- the sudden course change and turn living people were on board. He also ing the fi rst offi cer, who encouraged of Havprins’ screws seemed to create verifi ed that the secret radio/telegraph them all. McGill Wood wrote that a whirlpool that sucked Brecken- codes had been thrown overboard in they “found loops of rope secured to ridge under the water. She was not the specially weighted bag, but was the outside of the lifeboat—at that seen again and presumed drowned at unable to reach the ship’s documents moment they seemed like sea-based 0100 hours GMT, 27 June 1941.17 and confi dential papers stored in the hitching posts.”15 Others began swim- At the same time another tragedy almost totally destroyed chart room. ming to Havprins approximately 200 was unfolding alongside Havprins. The four lifeboats, carrying forty- yards away.16 The water, while cer- Chief engineer Schutter, by now eight crew and thirty-two passengers, tainly chilly, was not as brutally cold swimming towards the rescue ship, initially remained together. Small no. as expected since the convoy was in reached a fl oating drum attached to 2 and large no. 4 eventually made the relatively warmer water of the Gulf a lifeline. Several people had a hold their way through the mist and the Stream. on the drum or the rope, including rolling North Atlantic waters to fi nd Once boat 5 reached Havprins and Maxine Loomis, grasping the drum the designated rescue ship—the Cana- its occupants had boarded the rescue “in utter terror.” As the drum was dian freighter Randa. Lifeboats 5 and ship, Norwegian sailors used the life- pulled toward Havprins everyone 6 made for Havprins, stopped since its boat to rescue Maasdam survivors. On except Loomis let go of the drum as course was blocked by the damaged its way to the fl ooded boat 6, Norwe- they approached the ship. Two lines ships. Despite standing orders not to gian sailors pulled four people from and a lifebuoy were thrown to her stop and pick up survivors, Havprins the water. Still attempting to swim but Loomis, described as being in chose to stay. in the North Atlantic were Maxine full shock, continued to hold onto Boat 5 and its occupants reached Loomis and Ruth Breckenridge. Breck- the drum but “she apparently had the tanker, but the occupants of boat enridge made her way to Havprins and no notion, as she continued staring

8 Volume XXV • Number 2 • 2007

with terrifi ed wide open eyes.” As the exploding around it—was carrying being called off by Admiral Donitz. ship began to move forward, Loomis a cargo of highly fl ammable aviation According to Clay Blair’s history, the apparently fi nally let go of the fl oating fuel. The tanker hurried to rejoin the battle with HX 133 led to important drum, slipped beneath the waves near convoy and rumors claimed that its changes in U-boat strategy and tactics, the ship’s propeller and like Brecken- captain, having stopped to pick up including withdrawing U-boats from ridge drowned.18 survivors against standing convoy the area near Greenland, since this After steering clear of Maasdam, orders, would face reprimand if his area was simply too large and remote the tanker stopped again, now an ship didn’t regain its position. By the for effective convoy hunting with the even greater distance from those still afternoon of 27 June the weather U-boats available; the fuel expended bobbing in the water. In the dim light improved with the sun making its fi rst by shorter range U-boats left little appeared a lifeboat manned by sailors appearance in many days. From the time for patrolling and chasing con- from the tanker wearing black rub- deck of Havprins the survivors from voys, and consistently poor weather ber suits and yellow hoods, rowing in the night before could see that Randa, conditions, including frequent fog, perfect unison. This boat fi rst picked the designated rescue ship, had other along with the onset of the summer up survivors near the tanker’s stern members of Maasdam.21 solstice made conditions unfavorable before arriving to rescue the others My father remembered all the for effective U-boat operations.22 still clinging to Maasdam’s swamped nurses with admiration and fondness After rescue Randa brought Maas- lifeboat 6. “They’re Norwegians” but he reserved special praise for the dam’s survivors, including my father, noted Boshoff succinctly. Someone nurse who continually attended to to Reykjavik, Iceland, mainly to get else, supplementing the captain’s the third mate’s head wound. Later the seriously injured third mate better comment, added “Viking gods.”19 he called her “a brave nurse, a young medical care than what could be pro- Eventually all the remaining passen- girl with sparkles in her eyes.” She vided on a ship traveling in convoy. gers of boat 6 were taken into the life kept constant pressure on the wound, Meanwhile Havprins remained with boat, overloading it. But a motorized fi rst with one thumb, then the other, HX 133 and delivered its Maasdam lifeboat arrived shortly afterward and then back again. The assessment of a survivors at Avonmouth Docks, a all were quickly towed to Havprins later attending physician was that her Bristol suburb in southwest England, where it was still a challenge to get all actions saved the man’s life. on 4 July. the exhausted passengers and crew Convoy HX 133 continued without The deaths of Ruth Breckenridge members aboard the tanker in the Maasdam and Malaya II and the Ger- and Maxine Loomis left a scar on my rolling sea. man submarines continued to hound father that never quite healed. When Those rescued from the water were the convoy for three more days before he did speak about the events he given immediate care and dry clothes. Nurse McGill Wood was provided an odd, “motley assortment of donated clothing—sailor pants and shirt, and an oversized overcoat.” One marine approached her and gave her the bad news about Breckenridge and Loomis. “Your roommate and your house- mother didn’t make it,” he said. “They got caught in the propeller when the ship changed position. We knew what happened when we saw shreds of kapok from their life vests fl oating in the water.”20 For the fi rst time they learned the name of the rescue tanker, that it was six years old and had lost fi ve of its sister ships to German torpedoes. For those easily spooked it was no doubt even more distressing A shore leave pass used while SS Maasdam was docked in the New York Harbor. Image courtesy of to learn that Havprins—depth charges the author.

9 Epilogue Endnotes After a short stay in 1. The BBC did a series of broadcasts Reykjavik, my fa- on WW II events, including a segment ther and other crew on The Battle of the Atlantic. The DVD members were picked was released in 2005 and helpful written materials were prepared by Dr. Gary up by the Dutch ship, Sheffi eld, Senior Lecturer in the War Volendam. My father Studies Group at King’s College. Lon- arrived in London don, and Land Warfare Historian at the on 17 July 1941 and Joint Services Command and Staff Col- was required to pass lege, Shrivenham. See www.bbc.co.uk/ history/worldwars/wwtwa/baffl e_atlantic. a Merchant Navy A/A 2. Clay Blair, Hitler’s U-Boat War, 2 Gunnery Course. Just vols. (New York: Random House, 1996) days after his death vol. 1, 771. Blair’s history, written after I found that he—for access to offi cial Allied and German records became more generally avail- sixty-six years—had able, challenges the long-held belief that kept among his papers German U-boats came within a whisker the original Certifi - of defeating the Allies during WW II. cate of Profi ciency he 3. The primary source for this is my father, who immigrated to the United received which stated States after the war. My father eventu- that he was “qualifi ed ally became a janitor at Calvin College, in the fi ring and main- working there from 1954 until 1977. tenance of a Lewis, He left diaries and written accounts of his life, as well as telling me on many Hotchkiss & Marlin occasions of his war experiences. I was machine gun.” greatly aided by O. Ernie Brown, the A few days after second radio operator on Maasdam the their rescue Ruth night it sank, whom I found via his website, (http://www.spectralumni.ca/ Martin and Captain erniebrown.htm), created in memory of Boshoff parted com- his time as a radio operator aboard mer- pany with the words, chant ships during the Battle of the At- Baatenberg de Jong’s gunnery certifi cation. Image courtesy of the “We may meet again lantic. I also corresponded with Brown author. some day.” In 1955, via E-mail and we talked by telephone. 4. M. Marian McGill Wood, “Tor- the former Red Cross pedoed!” American History Illustrated never failed to mention the deaths of nurse, who had been studying at (Nov-Dec 1992), 38. In my 3 May 2007 the two women. He had other danger- London University, booked passage on telephone conversation with Ernie ous and interesting war experiences, the Holland America Ryndam to return Brown, he mentioned that one of the passengers, Mac Phillips, was a British but this was a defi ning life experience to the United States. When doing so citizen and a Hollywood actor who was for him. I believe he spoke about the she asked shipping offi cials whether returning home to join the war effort. death of these women more than any they knew where Captain Jan Boshoff 5. See Clay Blair, Hitler’s U-Boat War, other war-related event in his life, might now be. After hearing her story vol. 1, 308-316 for a detailed account of the entire attack on HX 133 the week of always with great sadness, and often they smiled, and when Martin walked 23-29 June 1941. The attack was com- with tears seemingly ready to well up up the gangplank, Ryndam’s skipper— plicated by the fact that two outbound in his eyes. Days before his death on Jan Boshoff—was there to meet her. convoys, 335 and 336, were proceeding 25 March 2007 he again described the He invited her to a champagne dinner west through the same area. Westward traveling convoy 336, with twenty-three helpless feeling at watching those un- to celebrate their survival, a dinner to ships and fi ve Canadian escorts, was folding events, ending with the phrase be enjoyed together when the Ryndam ordered to avoid the area, but the con- “those poor, brave nurses.” The sad- reached the precise location in the voy commander’s regular radio operator ness created by what he witnessed North Atlantic where Maasdam had was ill; the substitute could not decode never really left him. been torpedoed.K

10 Volume XXV • Number 2 • 2007

it and he simply laid it aside. The con- reports Suhren sank nineteen ships and convoy. Suhren described his frustra- vergence of convoys brought additional damaged four others. His successes tion at the thick cloud of black smoke ships into the killing zone. as U-boat captain protected him from and wrote “I cannot see anything, and 6. The Norwegian website (English his obstinate refusals to conform to decide with a heavy heart to dive deep.” language) www.warsailors.com is a rich the expectations of National Socialists Teddy Suhren: Ace of Aces, 108. source of additional information on all and he found acceptance at the highest 10. Besides the ship’s declaration, the WW II convoys containing Norwegian levels of Nazi power. He stayed as a details concerning Maasdam’s lifeboat ships, including HX 133. It gives a full guest of Martin Bormann at his private situation is provided by Ernie Brown list of all HX 133 ships, including those retreat near Berchtesgaden after being and Wood’s account in American History who, for one reason or another, never decorated with the Crossed Swords with Illustrated. departed or turned back. It also gives Oak Leaves. Suhren danced to a tune 11. From Ernie Brown’s E-mail dated each ship’s designated location in the with Eva Braun even though both the 24 April 2007. convoy, her nationality, cargo, destina- song and rhythmic movements had been 12. Details on convoy rules were tion, and, in several cases, a narrative of banned by Propaganda and Education provided by Ernie Brown in a telephone a ship’s fi nal disposition. Minister Joseph Goebbels as “un- interview 3 May 2007 and are also de- 7. `There is some disagreement on Germanic.” Suhren survived the war scribed on his website. both the weather and the size of ocean and one year before his death in 1984 13. McGill Wood, “Torpedoed!” swells. One of the few specifi c questions published his memoirs under the title American History Illustrated, 39. I remember asking my father was related Nasses Eichenlaub. These memoirs were 14. McGill Wood’s American History to the weather and the seas. His answer translated and published in 2006 by Illustrated narrative (page 40) mentions stated that the weather the day or two Naval Institute Press using the English- that two men worked each oar but that before 26 June had been stormy but that language title Teddy Suhren: Ace of Aces very soon one oar broke. By the time a the storm system had passed through (subtitled, Memoirs of a U-Boat Rebel). spare was unlashed the boat had already and that it did not rain on 26 June. He This pursuit of HX 133 was Suhren’s fi lled with so much sea water that fur- also said the seas were not particularly fi rst mission as captain of U-564. In ther rowing was very diffi cult. rough. Brown agrees fully with my 2000 a shoebox of 361 photographs— 15. Ibid. father’s account of the weather and the fi rst found in late summer 1944 by a 16. Ernie Brown reported to me that seas. The nurses aboard the torpedoed Royal Navy diver at the newly liberated the marines had it the easiest because Maasdam are quoted as saying it did French port of Brest—was rediscovered they were strong swimmers and also rain and that the seas were quite rough. in the British town of Staintondale, on carried their own state-of-the-art life McGill Wood’s account recalls that she the edge of Yorkshire Moors. These vests which they quickly fi lled with gas wished she had brought her raincoat fascinating snapshots of life on a WW from carbon dioxide cartridges. He also because “a heavy shower began” just as II German U-boat were those of Suhren mentioned that nurse Loomis told him she was loaded into her lifeboat to leave and U-564 on a later mission. The that she could not swim. the sinking ship. It certainly could be pictures had been taken by an onboard 17. Ship’s Declaration testimony that it didn’t rain on 26 June until about war correspondent during the summer given by 3rd engineer Eugene Plouvier the time lifeboats were launched and of 1942 and they show the U-boat in and 4th offi cer Johan Diehl given in that my father and Brown were too busy action in the Atlantic and Caribbean. London, 9 July 1941. doing other things to notice. As for the Their discovery led to the publication of 18. Brown did not observe the size of the sea swells, Brown theorizes Lawrence Patterson’s, U-Boat War Patrol: drowning of either Breckenridge or that the nurses were not used to seeing The Hidden Photographic Diary of U-564 Loomis since he was occupied try- the kind of waves common to the North (London: Greenhill Books, 2004). ing to fi nd rescue for himself. My Atlantic. Waves that appeared rather 9. The timing of events is provided father reported that he did observe the pedestrian to regular seafarers might be by the ship’s declaration given by offi - drownings—apparently from the dry described as huge by someone encoun- cers of Maasdam in London, the Norwe- lifeboat 4. tering them for the fi rst time, particu- gian account of the torpedo that struck 19. Both McGill Wood’s account and larly from a seat in a lifeboat. Kongsgaard, is supported by Clay Blair’s Ernie Brown’s recollections make the 8. Fregattenkapitan (rank is equiva- history as well as nurses’ accounts, and same comments about the Norwegian lent to US Navy commander) Suhren is consistent with Ernie Brown’s memo- sailors’ rubber suits and yellow hoods. was an irreverent and rebellious com- ry. The damage done to all three vessels 20. McGill Wood, “Torpedoed!” manding offi cer who was in constant engulfed Kongsgaard—traveling behind American History Illustrated, 41. hot water with German High Command; Maasdam, and behind and one row 21. Ibid. he claimed in his memoirs that he sank over from Malaya II—in black smoke 22. Clay Blair, Hitler’s U-Boat War, “about 33 ships” (he acknowledges from bow to stem. Suhren’s memoirs vol. 1, 312-314.24 April 2007. twenty-three confi rmed) and fi red more also describe the torpedo fi ring and its successful torpedoes than anyone in aftermath and how he was prevented the war. The website www.uboat.net from fi ring additional torpedoes at the

11 Our Trip to North America, Part IV Summer 1949

G. J. Buth, Nieuwe Tonge [Gerrit Johannes Buth – b. 16 May 1905]1

Thursday, 28 July. As mentioned we eat at one o’clock. We thought we had Translated from the Dutch by were slated to go to Canada today found a decent restaurant but were Gerrit W. Sheeres to visit Dirk Buth who, as we had greatly disappointed. The food they Annotated by Richard H. Harms learned, lived in the Tilbury area. We served was very hot, and not all that Calvin College Heritage Hall got up at 6:30 A.M. and the six of us good. Summer 2005 left for Lansing. We had quite a trip After we had eaten Uncle Pete went ahead of us, so Uncle Pete stepped on to inquire where we might fi nd Dirk the gas. We bought some candy and Buth. This appeared to not be very bananas on the way. At 11:30 A.M. we easy, and it looked as if we might run arrived in Detroit. We drove through into quite a few obstacles. The post the inner city with its tall buildings offi ce was closed. The police were and headed for the tunnel under the unable to give us any information, Detroit River that leads to Canada. and the telephone book did not make They checked us at the American us any the wiser either. So we went to side, and our passports got yet an- some of the businesses like the lum- other stamp to Miny’s delight; she is beryard, the mill, etc. But no one had very proud of them. We had another any information that would help us. thirty-four miles to go before we got Hence we decided to tour the area and to Tilbury. We stopped in a village to to inquire at farms. We also stopped at a Dutch fam- ily, but they could not help us either. Another farmer ad- vised us to go back to Tilbury and to inquire at the drugstore. They received some of his mail at times, but were unable to give us current information. It seemed to be pretty hopeless. In A native of the Lutjegast, Groningen, the meantime it the Netherlands, Gerrit W. Sheeres is had started to rain a retired pastor and volunteers in the and it was raining Archives translating records from Dutch pretty hard because into English. During the thirteen days described in this installment of the Buth travel memoir, the Dutch visitors traveled more than 1,700 miles, mostly by of a heavy thun- automobile, but some by air and rail as well. derstorm. So there

12 Volume XXV • Number 2 • 2007

we were without any solid leads and, after the weather had improved some. blue ribbons. Uncle John and Martin after some discussion, we decided to We were home at nine o’clock and Jr. also showed some excellent stock. go home with nothing to show for glad that we could sit down in a chair The weather was nice and we had a our troubles. Uncle Pete had thought and rest. pleasant afternoon with everyone do- he might be able to locate him, and it We had in mind to go to bed early ing their own thing. I took pictures of would have been better if we had fi rst to recuperate after such a long trip. A some of the animals. We were home at asked Dirk’s family on Flakkee2 for long trip like that combined with the 5:30 and Abe arrived soon afterwards his address. But we did all we could. heat does make for a tiresome day. and, as before, served us a highball. On the way back we were going to After dinner with Uncle Pete I was take the bridge into Detroit. On top Friday, 29 July. We had quite a supposed to visit Joe Markus. I had a of the bridge you have a beautiful thunderstorm last night with lots of little package for him from Holland. view. Gasoline cost thirty-nine cents rain. We left the light on for a while Fortunately we found the Markus per gallon in Canada, and twenty-fi ve thinking that Miny might want to family at home and we were received to twenty-seven cents in America. come upstairs, but we heard this most heartily. Of course, Joe is an However, the Canadian gallon is morning that Abe had taken pity on old Flakkee acquaintance because in one-fi fth larger than the American, in her. So we don’t have to worry if this 1947 he and his wife made a trip to other words 4.2 liters. In view of the should happen again. Holland. He had a nice home with all difference in the rate of exchange the In the afternoon Uncle Pete and I the comforts that American homes gasoline in Canada is about 5 percent plan to go to the “Black and White have. We had a very pleasant couple more expensive. I mention this lest I Show” in Lowell, where the best of hours together during which both forget it. Frisian Holstein cattle of this county Holland and America were the topics In Canada An looked for a cup and will be shown. There we met quite of conversation. I could share some saucer for Mother Buth, but one was a number of Buths and their wives; of his opinions in view of the fact that too crude and the next one too expen- their animals did quite well. Gert, he and his parents were not exactly sive, since we would have to add im- Uncle John’s son, received the cham- fl ush when they lived on Flakkee. port duties, so we decided to purchase pion award in the category for elderly Nevertheless, he was not aware of this later in Grand Rapids. We con- milk cows. Uncle Dirk received fi rst some of the social improvements that tinued in the direction of Lansing. We prize with two bulls and two two- had taken place in Holland. When stopped for a bite to eat in Portland year-old cows. It consisted of three we left Joe asked when we were go- ing back and asked if we would like to say goodbye before then on the Creston Farm. We were home at 10:30. We played cards for a while and then went to bed. Tomorrow, Satur- day, was going to be the last day that we would stay at Kent Hills.

Saturday, 30 July. These two weeks went by just as fast as the previous ones. We will remember them with much pleasure The Michigan Veterans’ Facility, also known as the Soldiers’ Home, was built during the late nineteenth century for aging veterans of the US Civil War. During the 1940s, the home was one of the customers for Buth milk. Photo courtesy of and gratitude; they Grand Rapids History & Special Collections, Archives Grand Rapids Public Library. really have shown

13 us a good time. We have fi ve weeks left yet and then we hope to under- take the return trip. We stayed home so we could pack our suitcases. In the afternoon we did go to the city to get a refrigera- tor for Abe’s offi ce from J. den Hartigh. When we came home Miny was practicing driving on the road in front of Abe’s house. She is starting to get the hang of it, and it won’t take her long. Abe was home at 5:30 and served us a drink for Prior to the opening of the Mackinac Bridge in 1957, ferries carried highway traffi c across the Straits of Mackinac, the last time. After dinner northward from Mackinaw City (note the differing spelling between the straits, bridge, and the city). Image courtesy he showed us a few pho- of Grand Rapids History & Special Collections, Archives Grand Rapids Public Library. tos of our visit to Niagara Falls. Around ten o’clock we took our busy road right through it that takes suitcases it would be easier to have leave from Kent Hills. Annie and Abe you to Holland. Peter’s house is not them all at Aunt Allie’s because we had took us to the Hill, where Aunt Allie big, but it is surrounded by quite a already agreed that we would start our welcomed us back. We went to bed bit of space for expansion or perhaps trip back home from there. Uncle Pete around midnight. a new development which is what had cleaned an armed forces locker he intends to do. His garage and his which we could use in case we ran Sunday, 31 July. The weather turned workroom are built in such a way that short of space. We were quite pleased this into a nice day and we fully another house can be built onto it. with that. The Pott family can then use enjoyed our natural surroundings. Uncle Dirk, Aunt Maatje, and Gerrit it next year when they travel from Hol- During the morning hours we didn’t Markensteijn also came a bit later and land to America. We were back home do much. Martin Jr. also was at Aunt we all had a cup of tea. at one o’clock. In the meantime old Allie’s because his wife had gone up For supper we went back to the Mr. van Dale, who used to live in the north to her mother’s cottage for a few Creston Farm around 6:30. Uncle Dirk Korteweegje in Dirksland, had stopped days. In the afternoon we went to Peter and Gerrit joined us and stayed the by. He had been visiting his son in New who lives in Grandville. He is married entire evening and we had a good time Jersey this summer. to Pauline. We left at three o’clock together. They decided to go on a trip by and stopped at Mrs. Johnson’s, Aunt car and came to Grand Rapids. Once Allie’s neighbor. This lady had helped Monday, 1 August. For once we had here they wanted to meet the Buth to collect a lot of goods after the war a beautiful cool morning. The ladies family. They had gone to Uncle Dirk’s and sent them to the Netherlands. used this respite to do the laundry fi rst. Since I thought it would be nice These people live in a nice home with and take care of all kinds of odds and to meet them I quickly got into the beautiful surroundings. We saw much ends. At nine o’clock I went along car and drove to the farm. It was very old glassware and all kinds of antique with Martin Jr. on the milk truck that nice to meet him. The old gentleman stuff. had to go to the dairy and the Soldiers’ has enjoyed himself immensely in this They gave us a guided tour Home. We picked up some milk at beautiful country. He is also going back explaining everything. It was very Uncle Dirk’s because they did not have on the New Amsterdam on 7 September interesting. At 4:30 we arrived at enough for the Soldiers’ Home. At the so most likely we will meet him on Peter’s in Grandville, which is about same time we picked up our suitcase board. Due to all of this I came back twenty miles from the Creston Farm. that had been at Abe Pott’s since our home rather late and missed out on Grandville is a nice village with a very arrival. For the fi nal packing of our dinner, but Aunt Allie had saved a little

14 Volume XXV • Number 2 • 2007

bit for me and, now that it was later, it tasted even better. After I had eaten I took Miny to Annie Pott’s because she had to see the dentist for a fi lling this afternoon. They went to Dr. Verweij, a distant relative of Suus van Dyke. Annie was waiting for her. Uncle Pete was gone so I decided to drive back right away. I stopped at Uncle John’s for a while. According to custom he was taking a nap on the bench after lunch. Aunt Marie had done the wash and also took a nap to beat the heat a little. After that I went to the Broers’ farm to take a look; they were harvesting oats with the combine. It appeared to be high time for this. When you can see the clover and other weeds beginning to grow it is time to take care of the oats. When I arrived there it was raining a little, which was the reason they were getting some The State of Michigan opened the Soo Locks in 1855 primarily for copper and iron ore shipments. The locks in the St. Marys River at Sault Ste. Marie have been improved several times since 1855 green stuff with the oats; although I and have been under the ownership of the US Army Corps of Engineers since 1881. Photo courtesy think that it would spoil without dry- of Grand Rapids History & Special Collections, Archives Grand Rapids Public Library. ing. At Aunt Marie’s I had a cup of tea followed by a cup of coffee and left size after which they are planted in could carry seventy-fi ve. They had again for the Creston Farm. Uncle Pete the Great Lakes. We were going to three big ones, one of which was a was going to come as well and stay the have lunch in Traverse City, which railroad ferry, and a small one. Our night at the Hill, for tomorrow we were is located at an inlet of Lake Michi- turn came at 6:30. The crossing took going to go on a three-day trip to the gan. Martin Jr.’s wife is there visiting about forty-fi ve minutes. I took a few north country. her mother who lives in one of those pictures of that big pack of waiting The evening with the Leenheer fam- beautiful cottages. We had to do quite cars and the ships and the water. We ily was very pleasant, and it was mid- a bit of searching before we found the still had about fi fty miles to go to get night before we went home. They are right address. There are hundreds of to Sault Ste. Marie. This was going to very hospitable people and Flakkee was those small homes, totally hidden in be the farthest point north of our trip. a recurrent topic of conversation. Mrs. the undergrowth. The reception was It started getting dark by the time we Leenheer showed a few photos they very warm and the lunch tasted great. reached the city, so we fi rst started had made during their trip through An hour later we left and drove past looking for a place to stay. We already Holland last year. It was very interest- the big lake. We saw some beautiful had noticed the many cars in the city, ing. She showed some nice pictures of vistas. meaning that there were many tourists the Zeeland province and Flakkee got The fi rst thing we wanted to do in town, which proved to be true. To its share as well. The Lorredijk caught was reach Mackinaw City. We had to our disappointment, all hotels were our attention especially. take a ferry to Saint Ignace in order booked. to reach our most northern point in They tried to get some cabins for Tuesday, 2 August. We were up at Michigan.3 We were in Mackinaw City us, but that too proved to be impos- seven, for we had agreed to be ready by around four o’clock and were amazed sible. Since it was getting late we went eight. The three ladies in the back, the at the lines of cars that were waiting to the Tourist Information Center and luggage in the trunk, and we left the for the ferry. This was not going to after a lot of trouble we did get rooms farm. We stopped after about an hour be easy. Hundreds of cars were stand- in private homes that took in guests since a trout farm caught our atten- ing in line. Each crossing took one regularly during the tourist season. tion. Fish are raised there to a certain hundred cars, and the smaller ferries Aunt Allie slept in one, and the four

15 of us in another home. Fortunately it to get to Milwaukee, and from there lar to the locks at IJmuiden which, was clean and we were quite happy to to take the clipper and cross the Lake according to Uncle John, are said to be be able to rest. to Muskegon. It meant eight hours the largest in the world. We looked back on a nice day dur- of sailing. An and Miny were a bit We drove in the direction of Mil- ing which we saw much. apprehensive of a boat trip since they waukee. It was the third and last day had heard that the waters of the lake of our trip. Milwaukee is known for Wednesday, 3 August. At eight the could be rather tempestuous at times. its many large beer breweries. Many next morning we were back in the So, Uncle Pete suggested that instead farmers in the area sell their barley to Dodge and ate breakfast in town. We of taking the ferry we drive to Grand the breweries and are able to demand drove straight through the upper part Rapids via Chicago. The ladies eagerly a higher price than if they sold it for of the state of Michigan not quite agreed to this. feed. But it is the same there as it is in knowing how far we would get. The the Netherlands, the breweries insist plan was that we would try to get to Thursday, 4 August. At eight o’clock on good color and quality. The barley Milwaukee in the state of Wisconsin, on Thursday we all went into the town in this area is mowed the traditional but we didn’t know if we would make for breakfast. We began full of good way, shocked, and threshed with an that. The distance was almost too far cheer. In this area we passed a lot of ordinary threshing machine. People in to be able to take in all the beautiful beautiful farms. The farm buildings all the state of Wisconsin generally work sights. We drove through a region looked trim and neat. We stopped at their grain that way. This area was with a lot of deer, and in wintertime a mink farm where we saw hundreds of great interest to a Flakkee farmer. thousands of hunters come up here of those animals. I quickly took a Then we made our way to the city of to bag their favorite game. The region picture. Chicago and tried to bypass the center was truly beautiful with much natural Before we had left Sault Ste. Marie of the city as much as possible. Our beauty, and we found it diffi cult to we visited the big locks. These were time was getting short and Grand Rap- imagine how people could make a liv- huge structures with equally huge ids was still a long way away. ing here. Uncle Pete told us that many installations that saw to it that the big Chicago is a city of about 3 million people here work as guides for the ore boats could continue their journey inhabitants; Milwaukee has 250,000. hunters in wintertime and that they either up or down within fi fteen min- Some twenty miles past Chicago we live very simply. utes. These locks are somewhat simi- stopped at a small dinner along the Since the soil appeared to be rather poor this made sense. We stopped for lunch in Manistique and our goal was to get to Green Bay and stay there overnight. In the meantime we had crossed into the state of Wisconsin and, because of the beautiful weather, we did not really get tired even though the trip was quite long. We arrived in Green Bay at six o’clock. Uncle Pete thought we had better drive on for a while, which would be better for the next day. So we decided to continue on to Appleton which was thirty miles farther. We were there at seven o’clock and found an excellent motel. Having fi rst refreshed ourselves we went out for dinner. We fi lled the evening by driving around the city. At ten o’clock we had a drink and saw a movie in a theatre across from the motel. Before going to bed we discussed our travel Twice during the two weeks detailed in this installment, the Buths visited Milwaukee. Photo cour- plans for the next day. The plan was tesy of Grand Rapids History & Special Collections, Archives Grand Rapids Public Library.

16 Volume XXV • Number 2 • 2007

done for us to make it so. We read the letter from Mother Buth aloud after which we all quickly retired for the night since tomorrow we wanted to go to Williamston for the big Michi- gan cattle show.

Friday, 5 August. Congratulations were the fi rst order of business in the morning. An received congratulations and a gramophone played “Happy Birthday.” We started out at 9:30. An, Aunt Allie, Miny and I took Aunt Allie’s car. We were our own boss and could go as we pleased. We ar- rived at our destination at noon. The cattle at this show were of excellent quality. Uncle John, Uncle Dirk, and Opened in 1925 by the Holland Furnace Co., whose motto was “Holland Furnaces make warm Martin Jr. had taken a nice collection friends,” the Warm Friend Hotel was purchased by Resthaven Care Community in 1981 and is now a senior residence center in Holland, Michigan. Photo courtesy of Grand Rapids History & Special of animals to the show and they did Collections, Archives Grand Rapids Public Library. well. They even got blue ribbons. We had lunch right there since Aunt road. After lunch and a refreshing convinced that he was wrong we Maatje and Aunt Allie had taken drink we continued. In the mean- took a narrow, rough road that led us everything along. Around 3:30 we left time we were in the state of Illinois. back to the highway. There we saw and stopped in Portland for a glass Today we would drive through three a crop duster spraying a blueberry of beer. Just before Grand Rapids we states—Wisconsin, Illinois, and fi eld. It skimmed low across the fi eld drove to the Mast farm which is right Michigan.4 Just before Michigan we and in our estimation did a fi ne job. on the highway. The children had drove through a beautiful area with At 8:30 we stopped in Holland and, just come home from the city where big dark woods followed by deep of course, at the Holland Hotel.5 It they work in various factories. We valleys and big hills. The horizon in looked very neat and trim, and the did not get out of the car because this this entire region was hazy due to the entrance was adorned with a sign would have taken too much time, for fumes of the enormously big fac- that in Dutch read “Welkom Vreem- we were also scheduled to visit Jacob tory complexes, something that you delingen,” and a sign near the exit Vreeswijk in the evening. We decided don’t see in the Netherlands. We had read “Vaarwel Vrienden.” The dining that after visiting Uncle Dirk we’d planned to follow the big lake and room was arranged in Dutch style come back a couple of hours to hear thus reach Holland. We were going to and we even saw a few waitresses in about their experiences. eat our fi nal dinner there. Some fi fty costumes typical of Spakenburg. We We were home at six, had to eat in miles from Holland we stopped to had an excellent dinner and enjoyed a hurry, get spruced up quickly, for at stretch our legs while the ladies had a highball before and an extra one seven the Leenheer family would ar- to buy a few things for the next day. after the meal in anticipation of the rive to take us to the Vreeswyk family. An and Jan were going to celebrate upcoming birthdays. Mr. Vreeswyk is a cousin of An and their birthdays tomorrow. All of this Then we started the last leg of our has lived here in America for many took almost an hour after which we trip with the Creston Farm as our years. Leenheer knew him and knew continued our trip to Holland. After fi nal destination. We wondered if where he lived. He lived quite a ways a while we ran into a detour which perhaps we had gotten mail from the outside of town in the Grandville delayed us and caused us to get lost. Netherlands; indeed, no fewer than area. After a brief search we reached My advice based on the map could seven letters were waiting for us. The our destination and the Vreeswyk not convince Uncle Pete and thus last three days had been very enjoy- family was very happy to see us. He we got farther and farther away from able and we thanked Aunt Allie and has a pleasant wife and they have one Holland. When Uncle Pete was fi nally Uncle Pete for all the things they had daughter who lives next door. He

17 built the home they live in. He grew and we went to Belmont for lunch. I stay home. When we went to inquire in my esteem, especially because of could take Aunt Allie’s car and had to it was obvious that she would not be his workmanship and his age. get Ann Campau at four o’clock; she able to get up, so we left without An. We had a very pleasant visit and was going to come a bit earlier so she In the meantime we picked up Gerrit drove home with Leenheer at eleven could help with the party prepara- Markensteijn and later took him home o’clock. We drove through Grand Rap- tions. again. ids which is always quite interesting at We arrived at Aunt Riekje where we The dinner was excellent and well night. Such a metropolis with its many fi rst unpacked our clothes. Uncle Dan prepared. Martin Jr. took a picture and advertisements in lights, good street was still at the farm. I quickly went to another one of Miny and me. It was lights, etc., makes for an image we Uncle Dirk who lives only two min- such a pity that An did not see any won’t soon forget. When we got home utes away by car. I asked Uncle Dirk if of it. We returned home slightly after Aunt Allie had already retired for the after lunch he would be willing to take midnight. We had a really wonderful night. First we read our mail. We had me to the barber and then to go with evening together. no less than seventeen letters from me to the Campaus. He consented im- Holland, this in honor of Mother’s mediately. Uncle Dan joined also us. Sunday, 7 August. The sun shone birthday. It took us about an hour, but After lunch An did not feel too well radiantly. We stayed home. I had a we did have a pleasant hour reading because of a headache and laid down toothache that bothered me. It had all those new messages. for a while. It was really too bad, fi rst been troubling me for a couple of days. because the party was for her, and I had hoped every day that it would Saturday, 6 August. The day began secondly for all those invited. Aunt go away, but instead it gradually got with good weather. An took care of Allie also was very disappointed, she worse. I decided therefore to call Abe the clothes we would need the com- had really put herself out to make sure and ask him if there might be a dentist ing days, after which all of us went to everything would be just right—it was who would pull a tooth on Sunday. the city. Aunt Allie had to buy various a big disappointment, but it could not Miny called Abe and he asked if Dr. items for the party. We were home be helped. Genevieve stayed home Verwys, who he knew quite well, was at noon, and it was time to leave for until after supper when we retuned willing to pull the tooth. It turned out I Uncle Dan’s where we would stay for a to check up on An. If she had been was lucky. I could see the dentist at fi ve week. Miny stayed to assist Aunt Allie, able to come then Aunt Riekje would o’clock. Abe and Ann came to get me, and fi fteen minutes later the tooth was removed and I was in a different world. Before supper the children of Uncle Dan came home and I met Gert for the fi rst time. But he left before supper since he had not planned to stay. We spent the evening looking at pictures that I had taken along. The men planned a two-day trip for Monday and Tuesday. There was to be a big sale in Wisconsin and Uncle John had asked if we felt like going along. We did like the idea and so had to see to it that we would be at his place at 6:45 A.M.

Monday, 8 August. We got up at 5:30 A.M. Aunt Riekje and Miny drove us. There was a heavy fog which made driving diffi cult, but we did arrive on time and Gert, son of Uncle John, ar- The Grand Rapids Airport was located on an old fairgrounds south of 32nd Street at Madison Av- rived shortly thereafter. I have to add enue. Due to the longer runway needs of jet aircraft, in 1963 it was replaced by the Gerald R. Ford International Airport east of the city. Image courtesy of Grand Rapids History & Special Collec- that we were going to go to Chicago tions, Archives Grand Rapids Public Library. by plane and from there by train. The

18 Volume XXV • Number 2 • 2007

fl ight turned out satisfactory and refreshed ourselves. The dinner was at only a brief moment we were above because of the nice weather we had my expense this time because we had the Great Lake which we had to cross some beautiful vistas. After a fl ight of made a bet about Gert and Uncle John’s in order to get to Muskegon. A nice about an hour we landed at the big weight, which I had gloriously lost. fl ight attendant served us coffee and Chicago airport. It had gotten quite The important thing was that we had a sandwiches. In about an hour we land- warm in the meantime. We quickly delicious meal; the service was excel- ed in Muskegon and ten minutes later put our jackets in the suitcase and lent. Later in the evening we went to a took off again for the last leg to Grand rolled up our sleeves. A taxi took us to movie house because the air condition- Rapids. When we were above the city the train, which was a half-hour ride. ing there makes for enjoyable tempera- it started to get dusk and you could However, at this station there was no tures. Around midnight we bought an see the city lights quite distinctly. We quick connection, so we tried our luck ice cream cone and sat on the bench had a nice fl ight and I am glad to have at another station nearby. Even there it in front of the hotel for a while after also experienced this in America. took about one and a half hours before which we went to bed. It was terribly It was a good thing Mother did not we could board a train. We freshened hot in the bedroom. It did not seem to know about it otherwise I might have up a bit and ate our lunch in the wait- bother Uncle Dan, for he quickly fell been in for a scolding. However, it was ing room of the station. sound asleep and did not wake up until too tempting not to do it. Miny and It was nice and cool there and when eight in the morning. Uncle John slept Richard were at the airport to welcome the train arrived we could sit down in another room and Gert slept in the us back. Having thanked Uncle John with a full stomach. The cars were hallway on a cot with a screen around most heartily for this enjoyable trip we wonderfully roomy and had excellent it. quickly went home. When we arrived ventilation; it was pleasantly cool. Abe and Ann were at Aunt Riekje’s. This train was about a kilometer in Tuesday, 9 August. I was outside al- An also was quite happy that we were length, I believe. You could barely see ready at seven. Something had gotten back home and we celebrated with a the last car. The trains in America are into my eye which bothered me, but good glass of beer. also very clean and have a club car it was gone in a few hours. At fi rst I I will not easily forget this trip for where you can buy all kinds of drinks. thought I might have to see a doctor, I learned quite a bit, and we saw that We arrived at Watertown around noon but fortunately that was not the case. Wisconsin has a lot of beautiful farms and a taxi took us to our hotel. This At ten o’clock we left for the sale in Mr. with good equipment. The corn there hotel, Hotel Washington, was small Smith’s car. Uncle John had called the also looked very good.K but very clean; the only negative was Milwaukee airport to see if they had that it was quite warm upstairs. After room for four passengers to Grand Rap- we had unloaded our suitcases and ids, but they had room for only three. Endnotes 1. Buth refers to his family in the handed them over, we left with the We decided that we would see what USA as uncles and aunts, but he was same taxi for the sale which was about things looked like once we were there, their second cousin; in age they would nine miles from Watertown. hoping it would work out somehow. have been the age of his uncles and When we arrived at the sale it had We stayed at the sale until around aunts. He and his wife Anna (An) already been in progress for an hour, two. An acquaintance of Gert took Geertrudi van Es and their daughter Jacomina Anna (Miny) born in 1929 but we were able to fi nd seats in the us to the city where we retrieved our made this journey accompanying his big tent that was built specifi cally suitcases. We fi rst had a drink in second Cousin Peter Buth who had for this purpose. When we entered Watertown and then rode to the sta- been visiting the Netherlands. Gerrit someone gave us a catalogue in which tion in the same car that had taken us Johannes was a successful farmer on Sommelsdijk, and operated the Buth one could fi nd all the cows that were to the sale. The train for Milwaukee family farm “Dijk zicht” later “Sunny on sale with many pictures and the left at 2:55. We arrived there at four Home.” yield of milk, butter, etc. Gert, Uncle o’clock, had lunch, and then hurried 2. The Island in the Netherlands. John’s son, explained various things by taxi to the airport, which also took 3. Isle Royale is the most northern point of Michigan, while Copper Har- to me. It was stifl ing hot in the tent half an hour. We found out right away bor is the most northern point of the with swarms of fl ies. The fi rst sale day that there were indeed only three seats Upper Peninsula. closed at 5 P.M. after which we rode available on the airplane. Gert decided 4. Buth forgot to mention that they back to Watertown in Mr. Smith’s car. therefore to travel via Chicago and would also travel through Indiana. 5. Warm Friend, now a senior resi- He is one of the sale’s managers. would not be home until ten o’clock. dence development. Before we went out to eat we The plane took off at 6:45 P.M. and after

19 The Story of Chinese in the CRC Peter Szto

he story of Chinese in the the Great Commission by sending the TChristian Reformed Church fi rst CRC missionaries overseas. In (CRC) may be unfamiliar to many of 1920 it adopted the following grounds those of Dutch heritage, but the story for doing so: of how Chinese immigrants entered 1. The rich language and literature of and embraced the CRC involves three the Chinese. concerns. First, location in China infl uenced which Chinese immigrated 2. The wholesome climate. to America. The regional orientation 3. The relatively good opportunity for of early Chinese immigrants plays an communication by telegraph. important part in understanding why they left their ancestral home for a 4. The strategic importance of the new, far away land. Second, the urban land and people of China. and cosmopolitan character of the 5. Good opportunities for the educa- Chinese immigrants once settled in tion of children of missionaries. the United States was a factor in their 6. The conservative intellectual spirit affi liation with the CRC. And fi nally, of the Chinese that harmonizes how the emergence of CRC Chinese more with the character of our own ministries in the United States and people than the emotional nature Canada adds to the diversity within of the African natives.1 the CRC. The CRC Synod felt China offered The CRC in China before 1950 fewer obstacles to the young Dutch- The 150th anniversary celebration American missionaries it would send in 2007 of the CRC offers a unique to Shanghai—the Rev. and Mrs. John opportunity to refl ect on how God De Korne, Dr. and Mrs. Lee Huizenga, has blessed the CRC. The CRC has a and the Rev. and Mrs. Harry Dykstra. theological heritage deeply rooted in This fi rst effort to evangelize China Reformation life and thought. More- foreshadowed the work among the over, it has established institutions to Chinese in America some thirty years pass its core theological beliefs from later.2 generation to generation. Providen- The CRC missionaries entered tially, the Chinese people were early China during a period of political tur- recipients of the CRC’s theology—fi rst moil and transition. When civil war in China and more recently in North erupted in the 1930s no one anticipat- America. In its early history the CRC ed that in 1949 the Communist Party Peter Szto joined faculty of the School focused its mission efforts exclusively would emerge victorious to establish of Social Work at the University of on the Dutch, and then later expand- a new government. The new regime Nebraska at Omaha in 2004. He previously taught at several other col- ed to Native Americans. However, immediately set out to liberate China leges and universities and served as a China, the world’s most populous from all foreign elements that had Regional Director of Race Relations for nation, begged the question of CRC semi-colonized China since the nine- the Christian Reformed Church. involvement beyond North America. teenth century. The regime’s goal was Synod responded to the challenge of to create a modern nation-state rooted

20 Volume XXV • Number 2 • 2007

in socialist ideology, as opposed to were uneducated, western Christian ideals. Ridding common laborers who the country of “foreign oppression,” lived in Chinatowns. including CRC missionaries, would The newer Chinese allow China to modernize on its immigrants were edu- own terms. In 1950 CRC missionar- cated, middle-class, ies reluctantly left China along with and cosmopolitan thousands of Chinese nationals who in outlook. Taking feared communist reprisals. advantage of this Leaving China created an unfore- mission opportunity, seen opportunity to evangelize the the CRC strategically growing number of Chinese coming refocused its overseas to America. The United States Chi- ministry on a home nese Exclusion Law in 1882 had in- missions effort among hibited legal immigration for decades. the Chinese immi- In 1890 the number of Chinese was grants. 107,488; due to the Exclusion Law, by 1920 the number had dramati- Chinese Immigrants cally dropped to 61,639. Repeal of The Chinese who im- Left to right: An unidentifi ed friend, Isaac Jen, and Paul Szto at West- minster Theological Seminary. Both Jen and Szto graduated from the Exclusion Law in 1943 sparked a migrated to America Westminster in 1952 and became ordained ministers in the Christian return to a steady infl ux. In 1952 the represented the vast Reformed Church. Photo courtesy of the author. US Congress passed the McCarran- regional and socio- Walter Immigration and Nationality cultural differences in China. The America, in “Gold Mountain,” the Act, a law that intentionally allowed dialects they spoke, the foods they name affectionately given to America. Chinese to immigrate and naturalize. ate, and their educational levels dif- The fi rst wave of southern migra- This legislation admitted approxi- fered according to their origins in tion began in the late 1840s when mately 30,000 Chinese, including at China. The fi rst wave of immigrants gold was discovered at Sutter’s Mill least 5,000 scholars who were strand- came from China’s far south—the in California. The Chinese embarked ed in American universities due to province of Guangdong. During the from small villages in and around the 1949 communist take-over. This eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, Canton to board ships bound for latter group was comprised of “young because of its coastal location, Guang- America from Hong Kong. Although scholars, former government offi cials, dong afforded convenient access for many did not see riches from the top fi nancial managers, diplomats, foreign merchants and missionaries gold rush, the Chinese continued to and generals.”3 Prior to the 1950s arriving by sea. Maritime trade was far out-migrate, helping to build Amer- most Chinese in the United States more profi table than the treacherous ica’s fi rst transcontinental railroad. land route over the infa- Completion of the railroad in 1865 mous Silk Road. The city led to a dispersion of Chinese laborers of Canton (Guangzhou), from San Francisco to New York City. in particular, thus became The former laborers settled in China- the main port of arrival for towns—ethnic enclaves common to foreigners, as well as the all immigrant groups, providing safety principal point of depar- and security in numbers. The Chi- ture for Chinese bound for natowns were distinctly Cantonese America. and working-class in character. They During the nineteenth provided continuity with the southern century Chinese began culture they had left in China. leaving southern China Joining these laborers came a sec- due to social unrest and ond wave of immigration at the turn Like early services among the Dutch Reformed in the Neth- erlands, the early worship services of the Queens Christian economic insecurity. Men of the twentieth century. This group Reformed Church were held in a home. Photo courtesy of the in particular left land and included intellectuals from through- author. family to try their luck in out China looking to the West as a

21 of Canton. Nestled of Cornelius Van Til, in particular, among plush rice shaped his understanding of the Bible fi elds and low-rolling in relation to the modern world. hills, for centuries Van Til emphasized the relevance of its inhabitants led Reformed apologetics for contextual- quiet peaceful lives. izing a biblical world and life view, a Subsistence farming perspective that would have lasting and strong family ties infl uence on Szto’s ministry with the provided a harmoni- Chinese. It was at Westminster that ous way of life. Life a relationship with the CRC was also on this good land born through the encouragement of yielded seasons of several professors. Cornelius Van Til and Paul Szto; their teacher/student relation- prosperity and peace. Upon his graduation from West- ship and friendship at Westminster introduced Szto to the Christian Unfortunately, later minster Seminary in 1952, Szto Reformed Church. Photo courtesy of the author. threats of poverty explored his options for ministry and occasioned some to denominational affi liation. In 1952, means to modernize. They came to migrate to nearby Canton, or to the on a weekend visit to a CRC church study Western science and technol- bustling island of Hong Kong, or to in Paterson, New Jersey, the late Rev. ogy in order to develop China from America. Chek Hom was the birth- Dr. Oren Holtrop challenged Szto to its feudal past. This group settled place of Paul Szto who in 1928 left for minister among the Chinese living near American universities, mostly Hong Kong at age four. He eventually in New York City. Since China was in large urban centers. Thus, by the made his way to America in 1947 to closed to the Gospel after the Com- 1950s there were two distinct groups become in 1957 the fi rst Chinese pas- munist takeover in 1949, Holtrop’s of Chinese in America—a labor tor to be ordained in the CRC. challenge was very appealing. A class, holding positions in laundry subsequent visit to the CRC Synod in shops, restaurants, and import-export Chinese Ministry in New York City Grand Rapids, Michigan, further con- companies; and an educated elite, as Szto had left China to enroll at vinced Szto to affi liate with and seek either students or university profes- Westminster Theological Seminary in ordination in the CRC. Most impor- sors. Philadelphia. His interest in theology tantly though, he felt theologically at Of the countless villages that sent was inspired by the vision of estab- home in the CRC and looked forward their own overseas, the village of lishing an evangelical seminary in to developing a ministry among his Chek Hom is unique for its contri- China. He entered Westminster Semi- fellow ex-patriots. bution to the CRC. Chek Hom is a nary in 1947 and Union Seminary in The CRC selected New York City remote farming village southwest New York City in 1950—commuting as the place to start its work among between the the Chinese in America—because of two cities and the city’s sizeable Chinese population. seminaries. According to the 1950 US Census, the The theol- Chinese population in America was ogy taught at 117,629 (not including Hawaii and Westminster Alaska), approximately .08 percent of Seminary the entire population. Although the captured majority lived in California, by the Szto’s mind 1960s, New York City had become the and heart, cre- primary destination for Chinese im- ating a deep migrants, with up to 15,000 living in commitment its Chinatown at any one time.4 The to the historic perception in China was that Manhat- Reformed tan’s Lower East Side provided a safe faith and its enough haven with its vibrant urban In 1968 worship services of the Queens Christian Reformed Church had moved from a home into its own sanctuary, here pictured in the late 1970s. Photo creeds. The environment in which to live, work, courtesy of the author. teachings and play.

22 Volume XXV • Number 2 • 2007

The late Rev. William Heynen of The next step of Third CRC in Paterson, New Jer- affi liation was sey, saw the strategic importance of ordination. On establishing a ministry among New 6 October 1957, York’s growing Chinese population. in Ocean City, He persuaded his congregation to New Jersey, Szto provide seed money to support the became the fi rst ground-breaking ministry in New Chinese or- York City. For two years Szto diligent- dained into the ly labored, seeking to gather con- CRC ministry. verts from among his fellow Chinese Reaching intellectuals. His work began in his the Chinese apartment near Columbia Univer- with Reformed sity. It was a ministry of hospitality theology and to Chinese intellectuals. As a native the limited Chinese himself and naturalized US resources were Isaac Jen (far left) and Paul Szto (second from right) and two unidentifi ed people visiting the denominational headquarters at 2850 Kalamazoo Avenue citizen, Szto was keenly aware of the concerns of both in Grand Rapids. Photo courtesy of the author. emotional and cultural needs foreign- Szto and the ers experience when away from home Home Missions Board. A difference too much fl ux. The fact that many for extended periods. He pursued a in vision emerged over pursuing are students, or refugees, and mission strategy sensitive to Chinese an urban student-focused ministry have family relatives in the Orient ways and cultural habits. His goal was versus developing a parish-oriented proves this point. to contextualize the Reformed faith approach based on suburban middle- The likelihood of being able to as a church development principle to class sensibilities. Szto advocated a establish a Chinese church there is evangelize the Chinese. Familiar food student-focused ministry as a means very remote. and a common language experienced to instill Reformed ideas and values through friendship were essential ele- in receptive minds. He believed that Perhaps the most strategic service ments of the ministry, as were Bible establishing relations with Chinese that can be performed for these study and preaching. The Szto apart- intellectuals and persuading them to Chinese is Christian social service to help them meet their problems ment provided a safe space for social embrace the advantages of Reformed 5 support and the nurture of spiritual thinking was strategic to reaching as refugees. fellowship. But the ministry focused Chinese in their life situation. The no- The authors of the report could on both Chinese studying at Colum- tion of a biblical world-and-life view not see the benefi t of contextualiz- bia University and on blue-collar was good news for foreign intellectu- ing Reformed ideas among students workers working in Chinatown. In- als looking to explain their displace- and instead favored a parish-style spired by the success of Billy Graham ment. The strategy proved effective as model of church development. With crusades, open-air evangelism meet- countless hours of discussions fi lled strong prodding from the Home Mis- ings were held in Chinatown. The Szto’s Upper West Side apartment. sions Board, Szto shifted his student strategy proved effective, especially The EHMB, however, did not support ministry focus towards developing a when the Gospel was preached in this long-term strategy of relationship suburban middle-class congregation the southern dialect of Toishan—the building and nurturing leaders. In a in Queens. major dialect of Chinatown. 26 January 1955 report on Chinese In 1955 he moved the student In 1954 the Eastern Home Missions missions, the EHMB made four criti- ministry from Manhattan’s Upper Board (EHMB) took over the super- cal observations of the New York City West Side to the middle-class Jamai- vision of the Chinese ministry from Chinese ministry: can neighborhood in the borough of Third CRC in order to provide more Queens in New York City. The change The constituency there is not large fi nancial support. Synod mandated from urban to suburban was dra- enough for a fruitful Home Mis- the General Committee for Home matic. Manhattan had been vibrant, sions fi eld. Missions to supervise the growing energetic and full of students from New York City ministry and formally The student constituency there is China. Queens was predominantly designated Szto as a home missionary. characterized by instability and Jewish and full of leafy residential

23 to reach out to Chinese in Queens, attendance in the new house church congregation steadily increased. The table on this page illustrates the rapid growth of the Queens CRC ministry. By the mid 1960s the congregation began talk of building its own sanctu- ary on the property. Within ten years the number of families and communi- cant members doubled. After prayer, planning, and outreach, a church building was erected in 1968 to house the ministry. Cultural differences eventually aggravated the tensions that arose between the congregation, its council, pastor, and the EHMB. Still carrying the burden to reach newly arriving immigrants and intel- lectuals, Szto shared his vision for expanding the CRC ministry to the Chinese in the 17 June 1960 issue of In 1954 Isaac Jen went to the Chicago area on behalf of the denomination’s Home Missions Board. A the Banner: congregation was formed the next year and is here pictured in October 1962. Photo courtesy of the Archives, Calvin College, Grand Rapids, Michigan. The Queens Church has started some mission work in Chinatown and up- neighborhoods. Fortunately Szto dis- Queens the focus on student ministry town Manhattan and deserves some covered a handful of young Chinese receded and creating a family ministry help from our board and churches. The Chicago Mission has obtained families living close to the relocated preoccupied Szto’s energies. By 1956 a building so that it can better carry ministry. His hope was that these Szto had established the fi rst Manda- out the work. And we trust the Lord same families could potentially sup- rin-speaking house church in Queens. will continue to bless these fi elds and port a parish-oriented model. Once in An effective leadership team was laborers as they become more inte- formed and in grated into our denomination. The Queens CRC 1958 a CRC second thing we can do is to explore congregation was the possibility of carrying on mission activities among the Chinese in San Year Families Communicants Total Council formally estab- Francisco or Los Angeles on the West 1960 11 31 51 4 lished. It received Coast, where there is great concen- organized status 1961 11 40 64 4 tration of Chinese immigrants and in the CRC in students.8 1962 11 41 65 4 1960.6 To the 1963 12 44 71 4 surprise of many, Szto was well aware of the chang- the congregation ing demographics of the Chinese 1964 13 49 79 4 quickly outgrew population and the need for the 1965 12 45 69 4 the rented house denomination to plan strategically. 1966 13 46 70 4 in Queens. A Despite the denomination’s focus on large house with parish ministry, Szto’s passion for stu- 1967 16 51 78 4 ample land was dent ministry never subsided and he 1968 18 53 80 4 purchased with took advantage of every opportunity the generous to evangelize Chinese students. As a 1969 21 60 91 6 support of Home result, he helped organized Chinese 1970 25 68 104 6 Missions. As congregations in Chicago, Los Ange- Szto continued les, and San Francisco.

24 Volume XXV • Number 2 • 2007

Chicago The Hyde Park CRC was established by Rev. Isaac Jen in 1955. Jen was born in Shang- hai and left China in 1952 to study at Westminster Seminary in Philadelphia. At Westminster, Jen and Szto met and became fast friends who shared a passion for Reformed theology and interest in developing ministry among their fellow Chinese. While still in seminary, Szto encour- aged Jen to pray about serving in the CRC. In 1954, Jen went to Chi- cago and was instru- Rev. George Lau leads an early outdoor meeting of the Crenshaw Church for Chinese-Americans in the Los Angeles area. mental in persuading a Photo courtesy of the Archives, Calvin College, Grand Rapids, Michigan. Chinese congregation there to affi liate with the CRC. The through a ministry of hospitality, group that called me. All the rest of group had initially started as a small discipleship and Bible study. It was the people who attend our church student fellowship near the University predictable that the urban and cos- now have been newcomers since the of Chicago. It grew into a large Bible mopolitan character of the Chinese fall of 1955.10 study and children’s vacation Bible would lure them to big cities like Jen’s commitment to Reformed school. Chicago. Jen labored diligently and doctrine however cannot be mea- The pattern of growth in Chicago soon the Banner reported in 1960 how sured against numerical growth as was similar to that of the ministry in the Chicago Mission had “obtained depicted in the table on this page. He New York City. Chinese university a building so that it can better carry explained: students were receptive to the Gospel out the work.”9 In a report published There is a great need for mission by the Women’s Missionary Union of work to reach these Chinese intellec- Hyde Park CRC Grand Rapids, Jen wrote: tuals in the United States. Outwardly, At the invitation of a small group they seem to be content, having Year Families of Chinese in Chicago who have higher degrees, good jobs and salaries, 1962 10 organized as a church, our Home and families. But sometimes when 1963 12 Missions Committee agreed to call you talk to them, you sense that they and support me to work among these unknowingly agree with the words 1964 12 people. At present our average atten- of the Ecclesiastes, “Vanity of vani- 1965 12 dance is about thirty-fi ve, including ties; all is vanity.” Deep down in their about eight children. Our peculiar hearts, there is loneliness and distur- 1966 12 diffi culty in this work is the high rate bance. We must reach them with the 1967 12 of transiency. Of the people we came Gospel of Comfort, of God’s love, and 1968 12 to serve two years ago, only two and of the only way of salvation, to bring one-half families will move away in them back to God’s family.11 1969 12 the very near future. In other words, Jen understood all too well the na- 1970 12 in two years’ time, there will shortly ture of Chinese immigration and thus be only one family left of the original the need for wisdom and patience. His

25 Szto after meet- San Francisco Crenshaw CRC ing at a 1957 Billy The fourth Chinese congregation es- Year Families Communicants Total Council Graham Crusade tablished in the CRC was located in 1964 14 in New York City. San Francisco. The founding pastor At the time Jung of the Golden Gate CRC was Peter 1965 14 was a student at Yang. Rev. Yang was born in China 1966 15 the Toronto Bible and raised in Hong Kong. He immi- College and was in grated to the United States in 1958 1967 18 39 60 5 New York to attend to attend St. Paul Bible College in 1968 19 48 77 5 the crusade. Szto Minneapolis, Minnesota. That same 1969 19 60 83 8 persuaded him to year Szto was visiting Minneapolis stay in New York to conduct research for his doctoral 1970 16 52 70 7 to help develop dissertation. Learning of Chinese the Queens CRC students studying at the local Bible summer ministry college, he visited the college, met Golden Gate CRC program. His ex- Yang, and invited the young student Year Families Communicants Total Council perience with the to visit the CRC ministry in New CRC was positive. York. Yang was impressed with the 1968 3 When he moved Queens ministry and returned to 1969 5 to Los Angeles in serve every summer until 1963. With 1970 5 1958 to pursue a the support of Szto, Yang enrolled business career he at Calvin Seminary in 1959. After visited the Cren- graduation in 1963, he spent a year patience bore fruit when the Chicago shaw church. A gifted individual, Jung as an intern at Crenshaw CRC before ministry formally organized in 1974. eventually became pastor of the Cren- developing a church plant in San shaw church and helped enfold it into Francisco. In 1965 the fi rst service Los Angeles the CRC in 1966. After several years at was conducted in the living room of CRC Chinese ministry in Los Angeles Crenshaw, Jung accepted a call to pas- Rev. Yang’s home, a pattern already began through the support of Rev. tor the Chinese church in Vancouver, observed in New York and Chicago. Szto. According to “Under Our Roof,” Canada. Sixteen people were in attendance. a Home Missions report by Marvin C. Baarman, “Several years ago, Rev. Paul Szto made contact with a group of Orientals worshiping in the Crenshaw district of Los Angeles, California. The group was looking for an eccle- siastical roof under which it could grow into an expanded ministry.”12 It took months of negotiation between Szto, the Crenshaw group, and the Home Missions Committee of Clas- sis California before denominational affi liation took place. When it did, the new congregation called Rev. George J. Lau as its fi rst pastor. The church began with thirteen families and soon found itself looking for its second pastor. In 1962 Stephen Jung became that second pastor. Born and raised in Hong Kong, Jung was introduced Installing offi cers in the Golden Gate CRC in San Francisco. Photo courtesy of the Archives, Calvin to Reformed theology through Rev. College, Grand Rapids, Michigan.

26 Volume XXV • Number 2 • 2007

Future Opportunities Endnotes 6. Richard H. Harms, comp. and ed., The story of Chinese in the CRC 1. H. Boer, Discontinuity and Continu- Historical Directory of the Christian Re- has been a tale of immigration and ity in Christian Reformed Missions at formed Church (Grand Rapids: Historical redemption. Within fi fteen years of Mid-Century, in Roger S. Greenway, ed., Committee of the CRCNA, 2004), 68. the initial Home Missions effort in Lengthened Cords, (Grand Rapids: Baker 7. Yearbooks of the Christian Book House, 1975) 67-77. Reformed Church, 1960–1970 (Grand 1952 four unique ministries had been 2. For a discussion of this experi- Rapids: Denominational Offi ce, 1961- established in New York, Chicago, Los ence see: Kurt D. Selles, “ ‘Many Points 1971). Angeles, and San Francisco. These of Contact’: The Story of Christianity in 8. P. C. H. Szto, “Mission Opportuni- fi rst four ministries bear testimony Rugao, 1921 -1966,” Ph.D. dissertation ties Among the Chinese in the USA,” not only to faithful servants but to (Vanderbilt University, 2005). Banner, (17 June 1960) 13. 3. P. Kwong, The New Chinatown 9. 17 June 1969, 13. bold vision. Eventually, Chinese (New York: Hill and Wang, 1987) 59. 10. “Women’s Missionary Union of congregations emerged in Iowa City, 4. Ibid, 25. Grand Rapids, Our Chinese Neighbors” Vancouver, Toronto, and Abbotsford, 5. P. C. H. Szto, “A Model of (Women’s Missionary Union of Grand British Columbia. All these con- Covenantal Church Renewal and Rapids, Christian Reformed Church, Inter-Church Relations — The Develop- n.d.). gregations, although largely on the ment of a Reformed Urban Ministry in 11. Ibid. periphery of mainstream denomina- New York City.” Unpublished doctoral 12. M. C. Baarman, “Under Our tional life, marked the fi rst steps after dissertation. Westminster Theological Roof,” Home Missions pamphlet, n.d. World War II that the denomination Seminary: Philadelphia, PA, 1987. took towards embracing people from all nations, tongues, and tribes into the CRC denominational family.K

27 Disloyal Dutch? Herman Hoeksema and the Flag in Church Controversy during World War I

Robert P. Swierenga

he First World War sparked a Twave of hyper-patriotism in the United States that impacted ethnic institutions with broadly Germanic roots. The federal government, under President Woodrow Wilson, set off the nativist campaign by having Congress create the War Propaganda Committee whose purpose was to promote pa- triotism in the citizenry and ferret out “traitors” with pro-German sympa- thies. Since Dutch, linguistically a Low German language, was confused in the popular mind with Duits or Deutsch (High German), Netherlanders tended to be painted with the same brush. The Netherlands remained neutral Rev. Herman Hoeksema as he began his ministerial career in 1915. Photo courtesy of during the War and this led some the Archives, Calvin College, Grand Rapids, Americans to conclude that the Dutch Michigan. were sympathetic to Germany. Dutch immigrants were also known to harbor Twenty-seven states enacted anti-British sentiments lingering from sedition laws far more severe than the Anglo-Boer War (1899-1902). Fur- the national model, most targeting ther, many Dutch immigrants came in Germans. Iowa Governor William the last big wave before the War and Harding in May 1918 unilaterally is- had not applied for American citizen- sued a “Language Proclamation” that ship, so they were exempt from the prohibited the use of any tongue but military draft. That they prospered English on the streets, in stores, in in the booming war economy while telephone conversations (all phones neighbors went off to fi ght aroused were then open party lines), and in all A frequent contributor to Origins, considerable animosity. The clannish worship services. The latter proviso Robert Swierenga is the Albertus C. Van Dutch not only prospered, but farmers presented the greatest hardship for re- Raalte Research Professor at the A. C. willingly paid premiums for nearby cent Dutch immigrants and their cler- Van Raalte Institute, Hope College, and farmland to keep their adult chil- ics, who could only preach in Dutch. professor emeritus of history at Kent dren close. The expanding enclaves Under the governor’s edict they had State University, Ohio. He is currently researching the history of Holland, pressured American neighbors, who to struggle to use English or stand Michigan. resented having to give way to the down. Most chose the former course sturdy Dutch. and fumbled for words. The Iowa

28 Volume XXV • Number 2 • 2007

governor later offered one concession; board immediately suspended classes Protestants, who lived in close physi- clerics could provide parishioners and county authorities ordered the cal proximity but in entirely separate with English translations of sermons. school to remain closed. Some weeks social worlds.3 In Sioux County ministers of the later state education offi cials rescind- Hollanders elsewhere also found Reformed Church in America (RCA), ed the order as illegal and allowed the themselves at risk during the war- an English-speaking denomination, school to reopen. time hysteria. In Holland, Michigan, collectively took the step of pledging Dutch leaders saw the troubles Edward Reimink was ousted by a to “address their [immigrant] con- rooted in old and deep-seated jeal- unanimous vote of the members of gregations henceforth ‘in the English ousies due to their prosperity. Dutch the North Laketown Farmers’ Club language and in the presence of the farmers around New Sharon received because of “alleged pro-German utter- Stars and Stripes.’”1 threatening letters in the mail to ances.” In Little Falls, New Jersey, the Such conciliatory gestures did not “leave or be burned out.” American Rev. Sidney Zandstra, a graduate of assuage hyper-patriots bent on root- farmers, it was reported, hired thugs Hope College and Western Theologi- ing out disloyalty. War hysteria gave to set fi res for $50 or $100 per “job.” cal Seminary in Holland, Michigan, the nativists the opportunity to even The big barns of two farmers, G. Vos was forced to resign his pastorate after the score. In some locales anti-Dutch and an unidentifi ed church elder, who he inadvertently failed to doff his cap sentiment boiled over into mob ac- had two sons serving in the army, during the playing of the national tion. Ministers found burning crosses were burned down one night. Another anthem at an outdoor rally. The US on parsonage lawns and farmers lost Hollander lost a new house he was Secret Service was called to investigate barns to the torch. In the vicinity of about to occupy. At the deepest level, the disloyal Dutch dominie, but he Pella, Iowa, in 1918, several Christian it was a cultural clash between Dutch was found innocent.4 schools were set afi re in what became Reformed immigrants and Yankee Among Dutch Reformed immi- known as the “Hollander Fires.” Sup- grants, members porters managed to extinguish the of the Christian fl ames at the Sully Christian School, Reformed Church leaving only minor damage, but the (CRC) were more Peoria Christian School and adjacent vulnerable than those Christian Reformed Church burned of the RCA. The CRC to the ground. In nearby New Sharon, had long prided itself the Reformed Church was set ablaze for being the “Dutch and the pastor, Edward Huibregtse, church,” whereas found dynamite under the parsonage the historic RCA that had failed to explode because of a boasted of being an defective fuse.2 “American church.” Events in Peoria took a further It had dropped the ugly turn in May 1918 when a young word “Dutch” from thug brutally beat James Hietbrink, its offi cial name in the Christian school principal, as he 1867 and was well walked home from the village gen- assimilated into eral store. The fl ash points, appar- American Protestant ently, were decisions to not unfurl culture. The CRC did the American fl ag over the school, not delete the name buy war bonds, or sign food pledges. “Holland” from its The school was bursting at the seams, title until 1894, and due to the high birthrate among the then it acted out of Dutch, while four nearby public respect for its many schools were “almost without pupils” German Reformed and three “will shortly be closed.” members and not Birthrates among the Americans were Organized in 1902, the same year this structure was designed by J. H. as an affi rmation of Daverman & Son, Fourteenth Street was the fi rst English-language as low as among the Dutch they were Christian Reformed congregation in Holland, Michigan. Photo cour- Americanization. high. Following the attack the school tesy of the Archives, Calvin College, Grand Rapids, Michigan. The “Dutchness”

29 of the CRC caused major problems the American president. The dominie Third Reformed one better. During during the First World War. In Janu- stood his ground for a time and even the regular morning worship service ary 1918 The Anchor, the Hope Col- fi led a suit for slander against the it dedicated its “beautiful silk fl ag” lege student newspaper, editorialized News, which was unsuccessful. But with a special litany, including a that “the average Dutch settlement in the public pounding induced him to rendition of the national anthem. The America is a hotbed of disloyalty.” By accept a call to the First Chicago con- congregation also posted to its bul- average Dutch settlement, the edi- gregation and he left in a huff.6 letin board the names of all the “boys tors clearly meant CRC strongholds. In nearby Holland, Michigan, Rev. in active service of the government.” The Grand Rapids labor newspaper, Herman Hoeksema of the Fourteenth That same morning Hope Reformed Michigan Tradesman, touted the same Street CRC “stirred up a hornet’s Church, the “College church” since theme, calling Calvin College, the nest” in 1918 when he barred the 1862, unfurled Old Glory above the denominational school of the CRC, “a American fl ag from his church sanctu- pulpit and promised to display it for bed of pro-German ideas, prejudice, ary. The congregation was the fi rst the duration of the War. The congre- and propaganda,” and staffed by “Ger- English-speaking body of that de- gation boasted that its fl ag was the man sympathizers” for its refusal to nomination in town and proud of its “most beautiful banner in the city.” stop teaching German.5 Americanizing ways. But, according Trinity Reformed, First Reformed, and Also in Grand Rapids, Rev. Dr. to Hoeksema’s logical mind, unfurl- St. Francis Catholic churches simi- John Van Lonkhuyzen of the Alpine ing the nation’s banner in church larly hung fl ags and service banners in Avenue CRC, who in June 1915, was conceding too much to Caesar’s impressive ceremonies of blessing.9 before the United States had entered realm.7 At St. Francis Church, the Right the war, wrote a letter to the editor of During World War I it was cus- Reverend M. J. Gallagher of Grand the Grand Rapids News that criticized tomary to display both the American Rapids, bishop of the diocese of President Wilson’s handling of the and the Christian fl ags in front of Western Michigan, came to preach Lusitania sinking by a German U- the sanctuary. The Holland City News “an appropriate sermon, bless the boat. Van Lonkhuyzen, a recent émi- frequently reported the raising of fl ag, and give a solemn benediction” gré to the United States, believed that the American fl ag in local congrega- at a special Sunday evening service. Wilson failed to live up to US neu- tions. The infl uential Third Reformed The local press gave his hour-long trality laws by siding with the Brit- Church, the congregation of many “address” extensive coverage. Gal- ish in the crisis. Editor Edwin Booth professors at nearby Hope College lagher stressed the hyper-patriotism printed the Dutch dominie’s letter in and Western Seminary, both denomi- of Catholics who “sent to the colors a black-lined box on page one and in national schools, was fi rst to be so double their proportionate share.” an adjacent column castigated the for- recognized in May 1917.8 Six weeks Catholics totaled only one-sixth of eigner for having the gall to criticize later Grace Episcopal Church went the American population, but made

From left to right, the Peoria Iowa Christian school, church, and parsonage. When the pastor, Rev. Jacob Weersing felt threatened, he rode his horse to neighboring pastor Cornelius De Leeuw to hide using an arranged knock on the door so that the De Leeuws would know it was he and not turn on any light. A neighbor of the De Leeuws came to take care of the horse. Photo courtesy of the Archives, Calvin College, Grand Rapids, Michigan.

30 Volume XXV • Number 2 • 2007

up 35 percent of the Army, 40 percent under the headline, “Pastor Asked to pen before levying one more broad- of the Marines, and over 50 percent Explain by Committee.”11 According side; he charged the Dutch dominie of the Navy. “If necessary,” Gallagher to the newspaper “a spirited discus- with poisoning the “minds of men” concluded in a spirit of frenzied emo- sion ensued” and the dominie would by raising the “adder of disloyalty.” tion, “the church would give its all, not yield an inch. Hoeksema insisted Cheff concluded, “I believe I voice the and would even sell its churches and that the Christian church, “as the sentiment correctly when I claim that its plate[s] to give to the government manifestation of Christ’s body on the best element feel aggrieved and the means to be used ‘that this nation earth, is universal in character; hence somewhat humiliated by the acute of the people, for the people, and by the church as an institution could situation which has developed in our the people would not perish from the not raise the American fl ag nor sing midst.”13 earth.’” What better way to close than the national hymns.” The fl ag could Within the week Gerrit J. Diekema, to quote Abraham Lincoln’s Gettys- be fl own in the church edifi ce dur- former Fifth District US Congressman burg Address, America’s sacred text.10 ing choir concerts, Christian school and Holland’s leading citizen, took his The growing practice of linking graduation exercises, and similar best shot at the CRC cleric. Diekema God and country and blessing the events, but not during worship told a large assembly at Winants American fl ag in worship services was services. Members should also raise Chapel on the Hope College campus, too much for a strict Calvinist like the fl ag at home, on the streets, and which had gathered to witness the un- Rev. Hoeksema. To honor the nation on all public and Christian school veiling of the Hope Service Flag and more than God smacked of a civil buildings. Hoeksema insisted that his the reading of the Hope Honor Roll of religion, not Christianity. The issue congregants, as Christian citizens, servicemen, that Hoeksema’s rationale was joined for Hoeksema on Sunday “are duty bound to be loyal to their was not only “theological hair-split- morning, 10 February 1918, when he country” and to answer the call when ting” but bordering on treason. That entered his pulpit and saw a fl ag on a needed for military service. Finally, he Diekema used the word “treason” in staff in the front corner of the sanctu- declared, “anyone who is pro-German his “thrilling address” raised the ante ary. He said nothing until after the in our time has no right to the name considerably, especially when the service when he asked the consistory of Calvinist and is a rebel and traitor audience greeted his remarks “with to have it removed before the eve- to his government.”12 a loud and prolonged applause.” ning service. They complied and that Rev. Peter P. Cheff, minister of Diekema, who had two sons in the evening in the course of his sermon Hope Reformed Church, jumped into military, almost worshiped the fl ag. Hoeksema explained to the congrega- the fray immediately by penning a In his eulogy he declared, “If the fl ag tion that the fl ag “had no place in a piece for the newspaper that chal- stands for all that is pure and noble church and that the national anthem lenged his colleague’s contention that and good, it is worthy of being un- should not be sung there.” Some the universal nature of the church furled in any building on the face of congregants did not agree with their precluded honoring the American the earth. The very portals of heaven dominie and they broadcast his views fl ag. Hoeksema’s “proposition is illogi- would welcome such an emblem.”14 far and wide. Understandably, in the cal and wrong,” Cheff declared. “Does The attacks on his patriotism charged atmosphere of the War, this this universality exclude nationalism? forced Hoeksema to respond with a brought an immediate public outcry. Cannot a man love humanity and be a long letter, which the paper published Three local men—Frank Lede- patriot just the same? Isn’t it perfectly in its entirety alongside Cheff’s letter. boer, a physician; Jacob Geerlings, proper to show one’s colors and not at “Every citizen has a right to abso- a mail carrier; and Bert Slagh, a all clash with the universal character lutely fair treatment,” declared the storekeeper—appointed themselves of the church? If theology makes a Holland City News editor sanctimo- a committee of three, and within man ‘neutral’ while in the house of niously. But he gave Diekema equal two days they called on Hoeksema prayer on the Sabbath, God deliver us space for a refutation that immedi- to “discuss” his beliefs and let him from such theology.” Cheff continued, ately followed Hoeksema’s defense. know that “some indignation had “The life of the church is interwoven Doubtless, the editor saw the newspa- been aroused” around town by his with the life of the world so that you per war of words as a boon to sales. rumored remarks. The trio took cannot separate the universal aspect Hoeksema responded with three along a reporter for the Holland Daily of Christianity from the local colors.” main points, modeling the structure Sentinel, so that Hoeksema’s words Having dismissed Hoeksema’s argu- of his sermonizing, and he insisted could be fodder for a front-page story, ment, Cheff would not lay down his he was speaking in defense both of

31 himself and his entire denomination. on patriotism and war, and hope- feet” and the “fate of humanity hangs He began on a questionable point, fully disarming his critics, Hoeksema in the balance.” At a time when “our however, by asserting that the Protes- developed his second point on the sons and daughters are sinking to the tant Reformation turned on the issue biblical and doctrinal necessity of bottom of the sea, are dropping from of religious liberty and the principle citizens to support and pray for their airships, crushed to earth, and are of the separation of church and state, government. He referred to historic baring their breasts to German bombs which was embodied in the “laws of Calvinism and the Heidelberg Cat- and shrapnel, anyone [who] wastes our own dear country.” This placed echism which Diekema and Cheff, as his time in theological hair-splitting, the emphasis on political theory, Reformed adherents, were also duty rather than sincere patriotic effort . . rather than Luther’s cardinal theologi- bound to uphold. In the third and . is guilty of conduct which is next to cal points of salvation by grace alone fi nal part of his statement Hoeksema treason. . . . ‘If the shoe fi ts’ Hoeksema and sola scriptura. 15 asserted his beliefs about the spiritual must ‘wear it.’”18 In his fi rst point, Hoeksema took nature of the church. “In the church Diekema then “hit below the belt” the typical debater’s tactic of insist- of Jesus Christ, we raise no fl ag, and by quoting reactions of Hoeksema’s ing that his critics misunderstood the sing no national anthems. . . . The own congregation to their pastor’s distinction he made between posting church and state are separate, must sermon. “My blood ran cold,” said the fl ag during divine worship and be separate, and if you do not keep one. “I wanted to leave the church but at other times. He only opposed the them separate, it is you who stab at seemed frozen to my pew.” Another former, not the latter. “You may be the heart of all true liberty. Then you averred that his pastor was “such a surprised to [fi nd] Old Glory even in will either come to the domination good preacher but seems to be such my own church building sometimes.” of church over state, as is the ideal of a poor American.” A third was more Not only did he honor the fl ag, he Roman Catholicism, or to the subju- nuanced in his reaction. “I do not was willing to die for his country. “I gation of the church to the state, as believe he is so wrong at heart but he am fully prepared to give my life for was the condition in Old England, is unfortunate in his expressions.” the country,” said the dominie, but “I at the time of our Pilgrim Fathers.” That Hoeksema caused his parish- am no less prepared to do the same Hoeksema thus cleverly appealed to ioners pain and distress was bad for the truth of the Word of God.” the anti-Catholicism of his readers enough, said Diekema, but that he The War was just, Hoeksema noted, and he tied his wagon to the revered gave comfort to the enemy was totally and he fully supported the president. Pilgrims, whom Diekema himself unacceptable. Further, Hoeksema He had never condoned the German held up as precursors to the Dutch wrongly asserted that he spoke for his tactics of sinking merchant ships and Seceders who had founded Holland entire denomination, when his fellow mercilessly marching through Bel- in 1847. Both groups had been driven CRC pastors, Marinus Van Vessum of gium. These views are well-known out of their homeland under persecu- First Zeeland, John H. Geerlings of in the community, the cleric insisted. tion.17 North Street Zeeland, and chaplain “How the gossip could spread that I Diekema enjoyed a fi ght as much Leonard Trap at Camp Custer near was pro-German I fail to understand, as Hoeksema. In Diekema’s mind, Battle Creek, all had recently deliv- unless for ecclesiastical differences, the “self-delusional” cleric had ered “wonderful patriotic addresses” the ‘wish was father to the thought.’ displayed an “utter hopeless lack of in a Zeeland church. No, Mr. Diekema, you are hopelessly good sense.” During war is no time Diekema concluded with a ringing mistaken if you call my attitude one for community leaders to waffl e on endorsement of unbridled patriotism. of approximate treason: and mistaken patriotism. Everyone must together “This is a Christian nation. Our fl ag you are again . . . if you try to pres- fi ght the Kaiser and his master, the represents God and Country. It is ent matters as if a certain college and devil. The German “beast, armed the emblem of Purity, Truth, Loyalty, a certain church had a monopoly of with the greatest and cruelest military Sacrifi ce, Liberty, and Justice. You patriotism.” Christian Reformed folk machine the world has ever seen,” is cannot banish it from a church build- are “not the people that raise riots and bent on “world domination through ing, for although you may carry it out, insurrections, we are not the people terrorizing humanity with murder it remains in all its glory engraved in that perform the work of spies, but we and rape.” This beast had already the hearts of the people.” Although are loyal, obedient people on whom devoured millions, Diekema contin- Diekema had vented his spleen and our country can rely!”16 ued as he warmed to his work, and displayed his debating skills, he Having stated his personal views “the very earth is trembling under our missed Hoeksema’s point entirely. The

32 Volume XXV • Number 2 • 2007

dominie welcomed the fl ag in church, just not during worship services.19 In addition to giving Cheff and Diekema space to refute Hoeksema, the Holland City News ran two more stories on the “fl ag in church” con- troversy. One noted that the Satur- day evening edition of the Holland Sentinel had sold out as soon as it hit the streets and that at least two congregations—Hope Reformed and the Methodist Episcopal Church—had burst into spontaneous applause dur- A Grand Rapids critic of the Wilson Adminis- ing Sunday morning worship services tration’s neutrality policy, which he felt favored when their pastors mentioned the the British, Rev. John VanLonkhuyzen, like A graduate of Hope College and the law depart- Hoeksema, became the object of public criticism ment of the University of Michigan at Ann rightness of fl ying the fl ag in church. Arbor, Diekema was a member of the Michigan The other story favorably reported by residents and one newspaper editor when the US entered World War I. Photo courtesy of State House of Representatives, 1885-1891, an “out-spoken” oration on the “fl ag the Archives, Calvin College, Grand Rapids, mayor of Holland in 1895, and also served as in church” controversy by editor Michigan. Michigan’s 5th Congressional District to the Sixtieth Congress, 1907-1911. He had been a Booth of the Grand Rapids Press in a candidate in the 1916 primary for Michigan well-attended Sunday evening service publicly that the great bulk of the governor. Photo courtesy of the Joint Archives of at the Methodist Episcopal Church charges of pro-Germanism among us Holland, Hope College, Holland, Michigan. in Holland, in which the American consists of unwarranted exaggeration, and congregational service fl ags were based upon one-sided information, the basement door and hung a huge unfurled. Booth had earlier driven Van or at least on misunderstanding, or American fl ag behind the pulpit. Lonkhuyzen out of Grand Rapids. The both.” The apparent pro-Germanism When the dominie and consistory fl ag is the emblem of sacrifi ce, Booth is “in reality nothing but anti-British entered the sanctuary for the morn- declared. “Sacrifi ce is the center of sentiment, created by historical condi- ing service they were shocked to fi nd civilization, and to the extent that the tions, some of them going back to the Old Glory fi lling the alcove from American fl ag stands for great sacri- days of Cromwell and Charles II, and fl oor to ceiling. The sight “created no fi ce, to that extent it has a right to be some of it dating from the Boer War.” unusual stir during the services,” the placed in our Christian churches.”20 Give the Dutch a little time “to get City News editor noted in the under- Within a month of Hoeksema’s their bearings on the changing sea of statement of the year. He went on to “fl ag in church” sermon, he declined world politics,” and they will over- report that Rev. Hoeksema, amazingly, letters of call from three congrega- come their psychological inertia and carried on the service as usual, but tions, two in Grand Rapids and one “change their mind.”21 only after informing the body that in Paterson, New Jersey. For a strong- That leading voices in the Grand “the decorations were placed there willed man who relished a fi ght and Rapids CRC would not back the unbeknown to him or members of was determined to defend the integ- young cleric in Holland was not unex- the church consistory.” In the con- rity of the Christian faith, this was no pected, given that they had not done gregational prayer he “made a fervent time to cut and run. Hoeksema even so for Van Lonkhuyzen. But little did prayer for the soldiers,” but he also had to ward off criticism from fel- Hoeksema expect that some members asked God to forgive those who com- low CRC leaders. Rev. Henry Beets, of his own congregation would act to mitted “an act of rowdyism.”22 Having pastor of the Burton Heights CRC embarrass him publicly and under- made their point, or perhaps in pangs in Grand Rapids and the infl uential mine his crusade. Early on a Sunday of guilt, the pranksters just as craft- editor of the denominational weekly, morning in mid-July 1918, just three ily re-entered the church that Sunday the Banner, scored Hoeksema for months after the third letter of de- afternoon and removed the national placing “Our People’s Loyalty Under cline, led by James Dyke Van Putten, emblem before the evening service. a Cloud,” as he titled an editorial on a future political science professor The newspaper report failed to note 14 March 1918. Beets addressed the at Hope College, some young people that atop the pulpit Bible that morn- broader issue. “We want to claim here sneaked into the church through ing, Hoeksema had found a note,

33 no further news accounts of the at bay, was better able to hold the line controversy appeared in the local against the worship of national icons. press. The public war of words was The Reformed Church, on the oth- over. Fifteen months later, in January er hand, was thoroughly acculturated 1920, Hoeksema announced that he by 1917 and saw no confl ict between had accepted the call extended to him American Christianity and America by the Eastern Avenue CRC of Grand as a Christian nation. Indeed, it had Rapids.25 been common for a century or more That Herman Hoeksema was right, for Reformed churches to hold special biblically and theologically, to chal- patriotic worship services on the lenge unbridled patriotism within Sundays around Memorial Day and the walls of the Christian Church, the Fourth of July. Worshipers today is beyond question. But Hoeksema’s fi nd the American fl ag and other red, Unlike Rev. Hoeksema, Rev. John P. Battema and the council of nearby Maple Avenue Christian analysis was surprisingly simplistic. white, and blue banners prominently Reformed Church had no objection to plac- He drew on the patristic tradition to displayed; they sing patriotic “God ing an American fl ag in the sanctuary. Photo argue for the universality of the Chris- and country” songs; veterans rise and courtesy of the Archives, Calvin College, Grand tian church, but made no attempt receive ovations; children’s sermons Rapids, Michigan. to develop a doctrine of the church celebrate the blessings of freedom; in relation to the state such as, for and church bulletins boldly display signed by the American Protective example, his contemporary Rienhold the national colors. Some pastors League that read: “This fl ag must Niebuhr did. In Niebuhr’s typology, might even sport a stars-and-stripes and shall remain in this place.” It is Calvinists believed in transforming tie.26 reported that the “ensuing uproar, culture, not being made captive by it. As CRC citizens have American- especially among the better folk in But the dominie lost the propaganda ized, many now also display fl ags in town, prompted [Rev. Hoeksema] to war. In a time of national crisis most church sanctuaries during worship carry a pistol, which he threatened to Americans equated God and country services and have adopted other pa- use one night on some vigilantes near and saw Christianity and patriotism triotic gestures, with little thought to his home.”23 to be one and the same holy crusade the theological implications. But some Hoeksema’s principled position against German totalitarianism and members, especially immigrants of against civil religion was further militarism. the 1950s, recognized the myopia and undermined the same week when a One of the remarkable aspects of challenged this mixing of God and sister church, Maple Avenue CRC, at a the controversy was the contrast- country. They reminded fellow believ- congregational meeting voted “with a ing views of Reformed and Christian ers that they belong to a heavenly great deal of enthusiasm” to place the Reformed believers. The two churches kingdom that is not of this world. In- American fl ag in their sanctuary along shared a common ethnic and reli- deed, in 1984 the Worship Committee with a congregational service fl ag. The gious heritage yet the differing rate of of the Fourteenth Street CRC decided decision clearly had the approbation Americanization kept them apart. The to remove all fl ags from the sanctu- of the consistory and the pastor, Rev. “Dutch” Christian Reformed Church, ary and when a member objected the John P. Battema.24 which had gathered in most of the im- elders stood behind their committee.27 Following the July 1918 fl ag un- migrants since the 1880s and sought On this point, at least, Hoeksema was furling at Fourteenth Street Church to hold American cultural infl uences fi nally vindicated.K

34 Volume XXV • Number 2 • 2007

Endnotes Reformed Church, Holland, Michigan College (1930-33), had “standing,” and 1. Holland City News, 11 July 1918; 1902-2002 (Holland, MI: 2002), 13-14; his views set forth the “offi cial” position letter of Rev. Sytze De Bruine, De Hol- Holland City News, 14 February 1918; of the CRC establishment (Banner, 6 landsche Amerikaan (Kalamazoo), 3 June Holland Daily Sentinel, 13 February June, 13 June, 20 June 1918, 418-19, 1918 (translation by Nella Kennedy); 1918; Michigan Tradesman, 6 March 432-33, 452-53). James P. Dahm and Dorothy Van Kooten 1918. 22. Holland City News, 18 July in Peoria, Iowa: A Story of Two Cultures, 8. Holland City News, 17 May 1917. 1918; Jacob E. Nyenhuis, “A Century With an In Depth Look at the Hollander 9. Ibid, 28 June 1917; 7 March, 14 of Change and Adaptation in the First Fires (rev. ed., Pella, Iowa: 1993), 80-81. March, 21 March, 30 May 1918. English-Speaking Congregation of the 2. Jacob Van Hinte, Netherlanders in 10. Ibid, 14 March 1918. Christian Reformed Church in Holland, America: A Study of Emigration and Set- 11. Gertrude Hoeksema, Therefore Michigan,” 188, in Nyenhuis, ed., A tlement in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Have I Spoken: A Biography of Herman Goodly Heritage: Essays in Honor of the Centuries in the United States of America, Hoeksema (Grand Rapids, MI: Reformed Reverend Dr. Elton J. Bruins at Eighty 2 vols., Robert P. Swierenga, general ed., Free Publishing Association, 1969), (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2007). Adriaan de Wit, translator (Grand Rap- 81-82, which extensively quotes the Whether due to the fl ag “break-in” or ids, Baker Book House, 1985), 760-63. Holland Daily Sentinel articles of 13-18 not, the consistory of the Fourteenth 3. Holland City News, 13 June, 20 February 1918. Street CRC did not renew janitor Kroze’s June 1918; Chas. Stuursma, “About the 12. Holland City News, 14 February contract in 1919 and he was “asked to Peoria Incident,” Banner, 13 June 1918; 1918. resign” as of 1 May (consistory minutes, Van Hinte, Netherlanders, 761-63. 13. Ibid. 10 March 1919, quoted in Nyenhuis, 4. Holland City News, 2 August 1917; 14. Ibid, 21 February 1918. Centennial History, 73). 25 April 1918. 15. Ibid. 23. James D. Bratt and Christopher 5.The Anchor (Hope College), Janu- 16. Ibid. H. Meehan, Gathered at the River: Grand ary 1918; Michigan Tradesman, 16 Janu- 17. Ibid. Rapids, Michigan and Its People of Faith ary 1918, both cited in Henry Beets’s 18. Ibid. (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans, editorial, “Our People’s Loyalty Under a 19. Ibid. 1993), 119. Cloud,” Banner, 14 March 1918, 180-82. 20. Ibid. 24. Holland City News, 18 July 1918. 6. Van Lonkhuyzen, “Speelen met 21. Ibid; Holland City News, 28 Feb., 25. Ibid, 22 January 1920. Vuur” [Playing with Fire], De Wachter, 14 March, 11 April 1918; Beets, “Our 26. Brian Brooks, Hudsonville, 16 June 1915, translated by William People’s Loyalty Under a Cloud,” 180- Mich., letter to the editor, Church Her- Buursma; Grand Rapids News, 3 July, 29 81. Beets also published a lecture of Rev. ald, Jan. 2006, p. 6. July 1915; Grand Rapids Press, 3 July, 4 R. B. Kuiper of the Sherman Street CRC 27. Fourteenth Street CRC, consis- November 1915; Holland City News, 4 of Grand Rapids, entitled “Christian tory minutes, 28 March 1984, as quoted November 1915. Patriotism,” which he had delivered in Nyenhuis, Centennial History, 133. 7. Jacob E. Nyenhuis, Centennial at Calvin College on 11 April 1918. History of the Fourteenth Street Christian Kuiper, the future president of Calvin

35 Johnny Vander Meer: The Dutch Master Calvin Cevaal

t promised to be a big baseball Babe Ruth was an invited guest, as Inight for fans of the Brooklyn was Jesse Owens who would run an Dodgers. On 15 June 1938 Ebbets exhibition race against an outfi elder Field would play its fi rst night game from each team, who would get a under the newly-installed lights. And, head start. to top that, the starting pitcher for The Dodgers had oversold the game with close to 39,000 fans in the stadium, which had a seating capac- ity of 32,000. At a pregame ceremony Vander Meer was presented a watch by the mayor of Midland Park. The fi re department had to be called in to clear the aisles and try to control the crowd. The game was delayed for so long that the two pitchers warmed up three times. Years later John said about being feted by his hometown: “That’s a jinx right there. You usually don’t get by the third inning.”2 After the delay of more than an hour the umpire fi nally called out the familiar “Play ball!” About the only player in the Bees’ lineup that today’s average baseball fan might recognize was Vince DiMaggio, the brother of Joe. The Bees’ manager was a different matter; he was the crafty Casey Stengel, who would become legendary manager of the NY Yankees. Vandy’s3 catcher was one of A copy of the autographed images from one of Vander the premier catchers in the league— Meer’s baseball cards. Photo courtesy of the author. Ernesto “Schnozz” Lombardi. He was large and slow-footed but had an the opposing team, the Cincinnati outstanding batting average of .342, a Reds, would be the southpaw Johnny fi ne throwing arm, and could handle Vander Meer, who had pitched a no- pitchers well. His batting average Calvin D. Cevaal and his wife live in hitter against the Boston Bees1 just might have been higher had he had North Carolina in retirement. He has any speed on the bases. previously written about the Cevaal four days previously. and Kranendonk families, both from Over fi ve hundred fans from The Reds were managed by Bill Oostburg, Wisconsin. He travelled to Vander Meer’s hometown—Midland McKechnie. Vander Meer’s mound New Jersey while doing research for Park, New Jersey—planned to attend, opponent was Albert “Max” Butcher this article. including his parents, sister Garberdi- with a record for the year of fi ve wins na (Gerry), and fi ancée Lois Stewart. and four losses. The Reds threatened

36 Volume XXV • Number 2 • 2007

in the fi rst inning with runners on inning, but neither scored. The new minor leagues for six years while he fi rst and third but Lombardi fl ied out pitcher for the Dodgers, Vito Tamulis, was a rookie, he was twenty-three, to end the inning. Johnny walked a did a superb job in the ninth getting his trouble was wildness. He couldn’t fi nd the plate. He suddenly walked man in Brooklyn’s fi rst but routine the Reds one-two-three. Babe Phelps, and Phelps gave way for outs brought the inning to a close. And so the stage was set for the a pinch-runner named Goody Rosen, In the third inning, with two men on last of the ninth. Much has been as Burleigh Grimes, the then Dodger base, the Reds’ fi rst baseman Frank written about that last bat the Dodg- manager, made a move. McCormick connected for a homer ers had, and it has to go down as So the next batter up is the dangerous in the left fi eld stands. Lombardi then one of the most exciting nail-biting Harry “Cookie” Lavagetto, and he was walked and after two more singles, experiences ever witnessed by a walked. And now two men are on, Lombardi scored. This was all for baseball fan. Who better to call the and Vander Meer seems to be almost Butcher, who was replaced by Tot inning than the old redhead himself, out of control himself. Dolph Camilli, an even more dangerous hitter, came Presnell, who had a 4-3 record in Red Barber, the famous voice of the up. Vander Meer throws him a strike 1938. Shortstop Billy Myers struck Brooklyn Dodgers. The game was not and then four balls. Now he has out to end the inning. Both the Reds broadcast in 1938 and what follows loaded the bases, he has walked three and the Dodgers went out in order in is a recreation of the inning, play by straight men. But still with one out in the fourth and fi fth innings and noth- play. the ninth inning, he hasn’t given up a ing happened in the sixth. By the sev- base hit . . . . Vander Meer goes through the eighth Now the batter coming up is Ernie enth inning the crowd—now aware inning and this huge crowd at Brook- Coy, a big right-hand hitting outfi eld- that the Dodgers were hitless—was lyn now is roaring for Vander Meer to er who played fullback at Texas and paying more attention to every pitch do it. In the last half of the ninth in- he can run like a deer. Vander Meer is ning, the fi rst batter up for the Dodg- thrown by Vandy. The Reds scored ready to go, McKechnie going back to ers was Buddy Hassett, and he hits twice in the seventh increasing their the dugout . . . . lead 6-0. In the bottom of the inning a little ground ball on the fi rst base side and Vander Meer, like a hungry Ernie Lombardi, “Big Schnozz,” sit- Vander Meer experienced a touch of cat, swept off the mound, grabbed it, ting back of the plate, was ready to wildness, walking Harry “Cookie” La- and tagged Hassett out himself. One give the sign. One out. Vander Meer vagetto and Dolph Camilli. Brooklyn out. And then Vander Meer’s trouble pitches and fi res a strike. No balls and fans had a glimmer of hope for a big that had caused him to be in the one strike. The infi eld is back . . . Coy swings, and it’s a ground ball half speed going down to third. Riggs charges, he’s got it, and his only play is to the force at home. Two outs but the bases remain loaded. Vander Meer now is just one out away, and the hitter coming up is Leo Durocher, a right-hand hitter, a loose-footed hitter, and a dangerous man in the pinch. Vander Meer goes to the rosin bag, throws it away, the big left-hander steps on the mound, looks around, the outfi eld is straight away. He delivers, it’s a strike. No balls, one strike. Leo is going to get ahead if he can. Leo’s ready, so is Vander Meer. The runners take their leads. Two down. Here’s the pitch. Strike two. Vander Meer ready. Lombardi sets up the target. The left-hander deliv- ers, Durocher swings, it’s a hard line drive going down the right fi eld line and it’s foul, just by a few feet, in the John Vander Meer attended Midland Park Christian School where he played on the school baseball right fi eld corner. Durocher gets back team, the “Obadiah Nine.” Photo courtesy of the Archives, Calvin College, Grand Rapids, Michigan. in again, Vander Meer rubs up a new

37 ball. He pitches and it’s a high fl y ball going into medium center fi eld. Harry Craft runs under it, sets, and takes it and it’s a double no-hitter for Vander Meer!4 Of course, bedlam erupted on the fi eld. Big Ernie Lombardi rushed to Johnny and lifted him off of the ground. Babe Ruth, who was seated in the Reds’ dugout, greeted him with “nice going, kid.” A group of team- mates formed a protective barrier around him to protect him from the fans who had overcome security and who would have torn the clothes from his body. Some loyal friends from Midland Park waited hours for him to emerge from the clubhouse and escort him home. Early the next morning Vander Meer was off fi shing for bass, but the The Midland Park Rangers, which became a semi-professional team in New Jersey. Vander Meer is biggest surprise of the day turned seated in the front row, at the far left. Photo courtesy of the author. out to be a visit to the Vander Meer home by Babe Ruth. His sister, Gerry, John started playing baseball in to make as much as fi fteen dollars a collected dozens of fl ash bulbs left grade school at the Midland Park week pitching for semi-pro teams in by photographers and kept them as Christian School for the “Obadiah the Paterson vicinity. souvenirs. Congratulatory telegrams Nine,” named after their Bible Soci- I had pitched five no-hit, no-run games in the summer of 1932 in semi- started pouring in. The ones saved ety; the team later became the Rang- pro games around Paterson. I pitched were from President Franklin D. ers. After grade school John and his one for the Vaughans of Paterson, an Roosevelt and National League Com- father disagreed over which high eight-inning affair that I didn’t even missioner, Ford Frick. Letters arrived school to attend. His father insisted win. It ended in a 0-0 tie because of from J. Edgar Hoover, Head of the on a Christian high school while darkness. I pitched three for the Mid- FBI, as well as the Mayor of Cincin- John saw more opportunity to ad- land Park Rangers, winning them all. The other one I pitched and won for nati, and baseball announcer Red vance his baseball career in the public the Prospect Park Prospects, a seven- Barber. high school. When they reached inning twilight game. Vander Meer was born on 2 No- an impasse, John decided to forego I don’t want to raise any animos- vember 1914 the second son and school and his father got him a job ity among those who claim to have middle child of Jacob and Katie. Their at the United Piece Dye Works. He discovered me, but Fred Pridmore, older son, Martin, had been born in apprenticed as an engraver and after of Pompton Lakes, New Jersey, an 1912 and would become a semi-pro- a couple of years was earning $22 per oil salesman who was an avid base- ball fan and who had major league fessional catcher and a battery mate week. All during this time he was the 5 connections, was the fi rst to believe for John. Their daughter, Gerry, was star pitcher for the Rangers and local enough in me to try to get me a try- born in 1922. Jacob Vander Meer’s semi-pro teams. out. entire working life was at the United He described his developing base- Pridmore was sold on my possibili- Piece Dye Works in Paterson where ball career during these years as: ties and he got me a three-day tryout he became a maintenance foreman. In with the Giants in late September, 1918 the family moved approximately The fi rst money I received for play- 1932. I reported to the Polo Grounds ing ball was thirty cents an inning for at ten o’ clock on a Saturday morning, fi ve miles from the Borough of Pros- pitching for the Midland Park Rang- expecting to see Bill Terry, my boy- pect Park to the Borough of Midland ers. Sometimes I made as much as hood hero, who had succeeded John Park where they purchased a wood- three dollars a week extra. My pitch- McGraw as manager of the Giants framed house on Rea Avenue. ing improved and soon I was able that season. Terry wasn’t there. I

38

Volume XXV • Number 2 • 2007

worked out and nobody paid much was his Christian Reformed Church pitching in either the Polo Grounds attention to me. congregation, many of whose mem- or Ebbets Field, an usher would go Later I dressed and sat in the left fi eld bers objected to playing baseball to his car and tune into a radio sta- stands and watched the Giants play on Sunday. Dick Jeffer and Vander tion. They didn’t broadcast games but the Cardinals and began to wonder. Meer were in grade school together would give the scores on the top of Sunday, I sat in church, still wonder- and both were on the Rangers’ team. the hour. He would then write it on ing. “I was his best friend,” said Jeffer, a piece of paper and bring it to me I didn’t wonder on Monday. I went 10 “and the feeling was mutual. It lasted at the organ.” We both had a good to work at my old job at the United 7 Piece Dye Works, in Paterson, at until he died.” Jeffer never missed a chuckle over that one. $22.50 a week.6 game when Vander Meer pitched in As for his baseball career, ask any the New York area and always was player who came up in the minors Vander Meer got his big break his hunting and fi shing companion. in the thirties and they will all tell when Joseph Walsh, a producer for He characterized John as an average you the same story: low pay; long Pathe Films in New York City, came guy who was always gracious and road trips in old, non-air conditioned to see National League President John accommodating to his fans. When buses; cheap motels; terrible food; Heyden about an idea he had for a asked about the controversy caused and often poor playing conditions, baseball fi lm. Dave Driscoll, Business in the church, “It was the times,” said with even poorer dressing facilities. Manager for the Brooklyn Dodgers, Jeffer. “You know how it was in the John spent six years in the minors, was also in the offi ce. Walsh wanted thirties—you couldn’t even ride your starting with the Dayton Ducks and to make a fi lm about an all-American bike on Sunday if you were a member then two years in Scranton, Pennsyl- boy who tries out for a major league of the Christian Reformed Church,8 vania. It was there in 1935 that he team. The boy had to have a good but as far as I know the church met Lois Stewart who would become chance of succeeding and had to never started any disciplinary action his wife. His fi rst three years in the come from an average family with against Johnny.” But reaction from minors were not spectacular, with religious tones and an unblemished individual church members was dif- control being the main problem. character. ferent. Vander Meer’s Driscoll told Walsh about Vander sister Gerry recalls, Meer. Driscoll had watched Vander “The church treated Meer pitch that summer and did a Johnny terribly,” and background investigation with a view she still harbors hard to offering him a contract with the feelings against some Dodgers. Heyden bought the con- people who were cept and Vander Meer arrived at the critical of John for Brooklyn Dodgers’ training camp playing on Sunday.9 in Miami in 1933 to star in the fi lm Jeffer remarked on the called “Typical American Boy.” Joe S. hypocrisy of some of Haute, a former Cleveland Indians Vander Meer’s critics pitcher, introduced him to some of who didn’t hesitate to the techniques of becoming a better go to the games to see pitcher. They worked on how to toe all those Sabbath Day the rubber and develop a curve ball desecraters play ball. to supplement his fast ball; up to that Jeffer was organist time his pitching arsenal was limited at the Midland Park to the fast ball. After the completion Christian Reformed of the fi lm John was offered a contract Church and he tells by the Dodgers for $125 a month me with a mischie- and was sent to the “A” farm team in vous twinkle in his Dayton, Ohio. It was a start, but the eyes, “I’ll tell you how The Vander Meer family were members of the Midland Park Chris- inauspicious start of most profession- baseball crazy we were tian Reformed Church, whose members took a dim view of his play- ing professional baseball on Sundays, though some went to watch al baseball players at the time. in those days. When him play. Photo courtesy of the Archives, Calvin College, Grand One problem for Vander Meer Johnny would be Rapids, Michigan.

39 strategy dictated that he go with a right hander. The Reds won the series and Vandy was voted a half-share of the series money purse since he had only spent a little over a month with the team. His record for 1939 was fi ve wins and nine losses. Arm trouble plagued him again in 1940 and he only pitched forty-eight innings and only won three games. He came back strong in 1941 winning sixteen and losing thirteen. He had a low ERA of 2.82. He was the “strikeout king” of the National League with 202 but also gave up 126 walks. His wildness was still not un- der control. John was again selected for the All-Star Game and pitched three outstanding innings with six strikeouts, tying the great Carl Hub- Vander Meer’s baseball card from the Bouwman Gum Co., which closed in the late 1950s but was at one time the leading producer of baseball cards. Note that the card lists Vander Meer as a right- bel’s all-star record. The next two handed pitcher when actually he was a left-hander. Photo courtesy of the author. years, 1942 and 1943, were outstand- ing ones for John—33 wins against 20 losses, but with a slightly higher In 1935 he had 88 strikeouts but Famers he faced were Joe DiMaggio, ERA of 4.15. walked 90. In 1936 he was sent to Charles Gehringer, Jimmy Fox, Bill In the spring of 1944 he joined the Nashville club to consult with Dickey, Joe Cronen, and Lou Geh- the Navy, reporting to the Sampson Dr. Lee Jensen, a noted sports doctor, rig. His mound opponent was Lefty Naval Training Center in New York, who specialized in treating injuries to Grove, who would have six wins and for basic training. After the comple- the arm. Vander Meer was diagnosed no losses in the World Series play. tion of training he was ordered to as having an injury that involved a John pitched three excellent innings the Pacifi c Theater and duty at Pearl muscle behind his shoulder and, after and received credit for the National Harbor. Admiral Chester Nimitz had a series of treatments and exercises, League win that year. managed to assemble around forty his arm started to heal. He was sent John signed with the Reds again in major league players divided into two to Durham, North Carolina, and 1939 for $13,000 but his arm trouble teams, which island-hopped playing fi nished the season with nineteen all year resulted in a dismal fi ve wins exhibition games for the troops. The wins and only six losses and a low and nine losses record. In 1940 he tour ended in Guam and Vander Meer ERA (earned run average) of 2.65.11 was sent down to the AAA Indianap- was able to visit with Tunis Nywen- He was named Minor League Player olis club so he could begin treatment ing, who had married his sister Gerry. of the Year by Sporting News and was for his arm again with Dr. Lee Jensen. Vander Meer was discharged in told to report to the Cincinnati Reds The arm again started to respond to time to join the Reds in 1946, but in Tampa, Florida, for spring training the treatments and the velocity of his compiled a lackluster record of ten in 1937. pitching gradually started to improve. wins and twelve losses. Things did The next year was the turning He was called back to Cincinnati not improve in 1947 with only nine point in his career. He fi nished with and pitched thirteen innings in a wins and fourteen losses and a high fi fteen wins and ten losses with a nineteen-inning game he won that ERA of 4.40. But in 1948, when many very respectable ERA of 3.12. This clinched the pennant for the Reds. fi gured his career was over, he racked record, along with his successive That propelled them into the World up seventeen wins against fourteen no-hitters, gained him a spot in the Series against the Detroit Tigers. John losses with a respectful ERA of 3.41. 1938 All-Star Game as the starting was scheduled to pitch the fourth The 1949 season, for all practical pitcher. Some of the future Hall of game but Manager McKechnie’s purposes, was his last. In 1950 his

40 Volume XXV • Number 2 • 2007

contract was sold to the Chicago York, team with a hefty annual salary ing the speed of pitches in those Cubs for $30,000. Manager Frankie of $14,000 and a two-year contract. days, but players and his managers all Frish used him mainly in relief and But, after the fi rst year, manage- thought his pitches were in the 100 he only pitched seventy-three innings ment brought in a new manager and mph+ range. the whole year. He did manage to Vander Meer had to fi le a grievance Throughout his career Vander win three and lose four. In 1951, he with the league to collect on his con- Meer often returned to Midland Park was traded to the Cleveland Indians. tracted salary. He won the grievance to renew family ties and seek out This would be John’s fi rst time in provided he served as pitching coach old friends. During the off-season the American League. He was used for the second year. He resigned and he would pitch exhibition games to in a relief role again but the starting started to work for Schlitz full-time in benefi t local charities. A Little League pitchers for the Indians—Bob Feller, sales and public relations, a job that fi eld was dedicated to him in recog- Early Winn, Bob Lemon, and Mike lasted eighteen years. In 1982 he was nition of several thousand dollars in Garcia—did not need much relief. able to retire with a very comfortable donations. In one of his many let- By mid-season he had pitched only baseball pension. That same year he ters to Dick Jeffer he mentioned that three innings. He was released and lost his wife Lois to a stroke and his he would like to donate some of his he fi nished the season with the AAA daughter Shirley died as a result of baseball memorabilia to the Midland Oakland team in the Pacifi c League. complications from diabetes.12 Park Library. A beautiful, solid oak Vander Meer knew his playing Among the honors Vander Meer display case in the library contains days in the majors were over, but cherished most was his induction baseballs from his back-to-back no- he had to fi nd work to support his into the Cincinnati Reds Hall of hitters, a photo of him in the White wife and two daughters, since he Fame. He, along with Ernie Lom- House with President Nixon, an invi- was still years from being eligible to bardi, was among the fi rst to be tation to visit from the Queen of the collect from his baseball pension. To honored. The Brooklyn Dodgers, in Netherlands, and one of his baseball his surprise, he received a call from a unique display of sportsmanship, uniforms. his old friend Gabe Paul in the Reds’ also inducted him into their Hall of Vander Meer passed away on 6 organization, who offered him a job Fame. In thirteen seasons, he had October 1997 from an aneurysm. A as manager of the Tulsa, Oklahoma, won 119 games against 121 losses. service was conducted in the Meth- club. He accepted and was both In 1942, he started in 33 games and odist church by Bishop Knox and manager and player, winning eleven fi nished 21. With relief pitching interment was held at the Garden of games with a nice 2.30 ERA. In 1953, today starting pitchers rarely fi nish a Memories on the outskirts of Tampa. he managed the Burlington, Iowa, game. He struck out 1,294 batters but His boyhood friend, Dick Jeffer, and team of the Three-I League. From he walked almost as many— 1,132. many former baseball players were there he managed the Petersburg, They did not have devices for record- the honorary pall bearers.K Virginia, team in 1954 then went on to Daytona Beach and the Palatca Club in the Florida State League. From Florida it was back to Topeka, Kansas, but his wife Lois was get- ting sick of the long absences but, more importantly, he was not making enough money to adequately support his family. He began working part- time for the Joseph Schlitz Brewing Company in public relations and was thinking of giving up baseball. But in 1961 he was offered the job manag- ing the Tampa team of his adopted city. He was home most nights and the longest road trips were to Miami John Vander Meer, a baseball pitching legend, with Babe Ruth, a baseball batting legend. Photo and Daytona Beach. In 1962, John courtesy of the Archives, Calvin College, Grand Rapids, Michigan. The provenance of the print is was hired for the AAA Syracuse, New unknown but this image had been reproduced elsewhere.

41 Endnotes to him by Vander Meer. There are auto- 9. In a letter in the author’s posses- 1. The Boston Bees, later became graphed baseballs, photographs, bats, sion, Gerry declined my request for the Boston Braves, then the Milwaukee gloves, and his prized possessions— an interview because Origins is part of Braves, and fi nally the Atlanta Braves. three large scrapbooks fi lled with clip- Calvin College, which is owned, in part, 2. Mike Celizic, The Bergen Record, pings from every game in which Vander by the Christian Reformed Church. April 1996, 1. Meer pitched. There are clippings from 10. Rev. Donald Wisse, a friend of 3. His teammates called him Vandy. every National League city of that time both Jeffer and the author, told me that After pitching his second no-hitter, in addition to comments by sportswrit- Dick once made a bet with a friend that some sports writers called him “The ers on Vander Meer’s games. Although he could play “When It’s Springtime in Dutch Master.” in his mid-nineties, Jeffer is alert and a the Rockies” as a prelude with so many 4. Paul Lightman, The Dutch Master walking encyclopedia on Vander Meer’s frills and fl ourishes that no one would (New York: Vantage Press, 2001), 56, life and career. I was privileged and recognize it. He lost the bet. 57. most grateful to be able to spend an 11. Widely used index to determine 5. The fi rst son, also named Martin, entire day with Jeffer and be permitted a pitcher’s effectiveness by how many died at the age of two. access to these resources. earned runs are scored against him in a 6. Excerpts from a scrapbook article 8. The Christian Reformed Church nine-inning period. from the Saturday Evening Post, August had no offi cial policy on Sabbath 12. A daughter, Evelyn, had died in 1938. observance; such decisions were made 1975. 7. Jeffer’s living room in the Holland at the local, congregational level, and Christian Home, North Haledon, New varied from one region of the country to Jersey, is fi lled with memorabilia given another.

42 Volume XXV • Number 2 • 2007

book notes

A Doorkeeper in God’s Household: The Memoirs of War Memories: World War II John B. Hulst as I Saw It John B. Hulst Peter Buma Sioux Center: Dordt College Press, 2005 2007 ISBN 978-0-932914-61-3 available at: Pooh’s Corner, $17.00 Breton Village, 1886 1/2 Breton SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49506 $10.00

43 book review

Rev. Herman Hoeksema. He retired as grant ancestors, he was convinced the the church processed social upheavals purest form of the Christian religion churning in the wake of the Second bubbled to the surface in the Nether- World War, especially in the area of lands during the Protestant Reforma- race relations. Between these book- tion. In his view, his chief task as a ends he left very visible thumbprints church leader lay in keeping the old on the denomination’s stance against tradition in tact. Untidiness had no worldly amusements and its uniform place in Kuiper’s cosmos. Disagree- order of worship that prevailed until ments and challenges were threats. well into the 1970s. It was this need to keep things in James A. DeJong’s appreciative carefully defi ned packages that drove biography sets out to rescue H. J. Kuiper’s ministerial career. DeJong’s Kuiper from a pall of obscurity that book looks at this from basically has descended upon him during three angles: Kuiper’s early years and recent years. In this book we see pastorates, his role as denominational Henry J. Kuiper: Kuiper promoting a militant denomi- leader (particularly his services to Shaping the Christian nationalism that is a bit too narrow classes, synods, educational and ecu- Reformed Church, for contemporary tastes. We are re- menical efforts), and his twenty-fi ve introduced to his pronouncements on years as editor of the Banner. At times 1907—1962 church issues that might lead some to this structure obscures the chrono- James A. DeJong long for a golden age when one leader logical connections. We see Kuiper Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans, provided the church’s authoritative in compartments that are not always 2007. The Historical Series of the voice. But in the wake of the church’s adequately ventilated. For instance, Reformed Church in America, in recent upheavals DeJong’s story also what Kuiper understood about the cooperation with Origins, Studies in reminds us that even Kuiper had crit- meaning of being “distinctively Re- Dutch-American History, No. 55. ics within the tightly-knitted confi nes formed,” while referred often in the 248 pages, paperback of the denomination. However, from early chapters, is not delineated in $28.00 his position as editor of the Banner, detail until the latter chapters, which Kuiper always had the fi nal word on summarize the recurring themes of any issue. his editorials. To scrutinize the life of Rev. Henry For over twenty-fi ve years Kuiper’s What does clearly emerge in these J. Kuiper is to understand the middle opinions penetrated into the bosom of pages is a portrait of Henry J. Kui- third of the Christian Reformed most Christian Reformed households. per as the defender of a Christian Church’s history. From the time of his His words were accorded a unique Reformed Church he believed rested ordination in 1907 until his retire- status—one that sanctioned them on three unifying pillars: doctrine, ment in 1956 he tirelessly shaped the as Sunday afternoon reading among governance, and worship. He played a denomination’s practices and identity, the faithful. Everything in the Ban- major role in defi ning all three for his through sermons, editorials, and over- ner, from the news and editorials to era. He ferreted out those who devi- tures that addressed an astounding the advertisements and illustrations, ated from the doctrinal norms—pre- array of topics and issues. During his received his careful scrutiny. Noth- millennialists, supralapsarians, and early years he heartily concurred in ing appeared in its pages without his higher critics—regarding them as the ouster of three of the denomina- approval. His sense of his church’s concessions to unwarranted “Ameri- tion’s contentious fi gures: Rev. Harry (and his) rightness bordered on the canization.” Kuiper often fought these Bultema, Prof. Ralph Janssen, and self-righteous. Like his Dutch immi- climactic battles on the fl oor of classes

44 Volume XXV • Number 2 • 2007

or synods, where he excelled as an tied the Christian Reformed Church during the war, but he could not. ecclesiastical infi ghter. In his mind to the Netherlands. To lose them, And so James DeJong’s story of the the aim of the struggles remained he thought, would lead to either the great leader gives us a portrait of a internal harmony. That ideal was most swamps of American fundamentalism man who was long on opinions and clearly expressed in a common form or the desert of theological liberalism. short on introspection. He defi ned the of worship he largely developed. A His voice would lead the denomina- world in terms of his own experience, united church was a uniform church. tion along a middle way, as he under- which was largely confi ned to West In the opening chapters DeJong stood it, preserve the denomination’s Michigan, except for brief forays to spotlights Kuiper’s upbringing within unique character, and ensure its rural Kansas and Dutch Chicago. He the ethnic fastness of Dutch Grand continuing role as a model for other saw himself playing the role of Old Rapids. A foray into the broader churches to follow. Testament prophet, standing in the world of Central High School in When the Second World War gap against evil, hands raised with Grand Rapids, Michigan, convinced disrupted his tidy world, wrenching palms forward, his voice resounding. Kuiper that purity lay in cultural iso- sons and daughters from the enclaves But this is the Henry J. Kuiper of the lation. His Calvinism taught him sin and placing them in military camps, pulpit and editor’s desk. We are left resided in all of creation; his Dutch- defense factories, and battlefi elds, with a clear view of the parsonage’s ness convinced him that sin was more Kuiper proved largely incapable of study. But what transpired in the highly concentrated in other neigh- fathoming its implications or under- house’s other rooms, the ones closed borhoods. And so he became a specta- standing the need to adapt. The war- to visitors, remains a mystery. Pul- tor who looked at the world from his driven encounters with life beyond pits, parsonages, and ethic enclaves side of the wall. For the most part he the Christian Reformed bailiwicks could be isolated places. But H. J. spoke to and wrote for likeminded inevitably raised questions and chal- Kuiper found them comfortable ones. folks. He helped them build a meticu- lenges to Kuiper’s categories. He This book is a good reminder of both lously prescribed world. Cohesion was not ready for them, and did not the strengths and weaknesses of a life depended upon the ethnic bonds that handle them well. The world changed lived in a fortress.K Robert Schoone-Jongen

45 for the future The topics listed below are being researched, and articles about them will appear in future issues of Origins.

Onze Reis naar N. Americak [Our Trip to North America] by G. J. Buth concludes The Dutch on America’s West Coast by Howard Spaan Meindert De Jong; Two Childhoods, One Literary Career in Two Worlds by Richard Harms The Dutch Come to the Hackensack River Valley by Richard Harms The memoir of James Koning, who came from the Netherlands as a teenager, translated by Eltine De Young-Peterse, with Nella Kennedy Rev. Howard Spaan, the longest, continuous serving classical stated clerk in the Christian Reformed Church, details the settlements of Dutch-Americans on the West Coast.

Yes, I wish to join the “Friends of the Archives.” Yes, I would also like a gift subscription for:

Name ______Name ______Address ______Address ______

Subscriber $10.00 My Name ______Contributing Member $50.00 Address ______Contributing Sponsor $100.00 ______Contributing Founder $500.00 ______

Send to: Origins, Heritage Hall, Calvin College, Send to: Origins, Heritage Hall, Calvin College, 1855 Knollcrest Circle SE 1855 Knollcrest Circle SE Grand Rapids, MI 49546 Grand Rapids, MI 49546

46 Volume XXV • Number 2 • 2007

Mr. and Mrs. Melvin Alsum, Loveland, CO Dr. Cornelis Van Nuis, Grand Rapids, MI contributors Mr. and Mrs. Jay A. Anema, Seattle, WA Mr. and Mrs. Allan J. Van Popering, Grand Rapids, MI John and Maria Bajema, Lowell, MI Mr. Adrian Van Sledright, Caledonia, MI James H. and Diane Bloem, Louisville, KY Mr. and Mrs. Max B. Van Wyk, Grand Rapids, MI Origins is designed to publicize and ad- John and Sharon Bouma, Holland, MI vance the objectives of the Calvin College Mr. and Mrs. Earl R. Visser, Muskegon, MI Sid and Virginia Bouma, Visalia, CA and Seminary Archives. These goals in- Bill and Pat Waanders, Grand Rapids, MI clude the gathering, organization and study Mr. and Mrs. Conrad J. Bult, Grand Rapids, MI Will and Dina Wichers, Bradenton, Florida of historical materials produced by the day- Mr. and Mrs. John Buursma, Holland, MI to-day activities of the Christian Reformed Mr. and Mrs. Teunis Witte, Byron Center, MI Dr. and Mrs. James A. De Jong, Grand Rapids, MI Church, its institutions, communities and Mr. and Mrs. F. A. Wybenga, Tallmadge, OH people. We invite you to support the con- Dr. and Mrs. Robert G. den Dulk, Cannonsburg, MI tinued publication of Origins by becoming Mary Zwaanstra, Grand Rapids, MI Dr. and Mrs. Jan De Vries, Berkeley, CA “Friends of the Archives.” Mr. and Mrs. Richard T. Dykema, Laurel, MD Contributing Members John H. and Marcia R. Evenhouse, Westmont, IL Dr. and Mrs. John D. Beebe, Alto, MI Enabling Contributor James and Rosemarie Evenhuis, Novi, MI Miss Ruth E. Berkompas, Grand Rapids, MI Mr. and Mrs. John Meyer, Palos Park, IL Roger and Evelyn Feikema, Bradenton, FL Dr. and Mrs. Kenneth J. Betten, Kalamazoo, MI Dave and Connie Fennema, Durham, NC Ms. Grace A. Betz, Kalamazoo, MI Friends of the Archives Endowment Fund Builders Harold and Nancy Gazan, Holland, MI Dr. and Mrs. Allan Bishop, Ripon, CA AEGON Insurance Group, Cedar Rapids, IA Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Hogeterp, Grand Rapids, MI Mr. and Mrs. Henry Boersma, Marne, MI Dr. Harmon S. Boertien, Houston, TX Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth J. Baas, Grand Rapids, MI Mr. and Mrs. Lester Hoogland, Zeeland, MI Dr. and Mrs. Robert Bolt, Grand Rapids, MI Robert and Jane Baker Foundation, Kalamazoo, MI Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth A. Hoving, Oak Brook, IL Mr. and Mrs. Arnold S. Boomsma, Schererville, IN Duane D. Binns, Oak Park, IL Rich and Carla Huizenga, Seattle, WA Mr. Melvin S. Boonstra, Zeeland, MI Mr. and Mrs. Roger W. Boer, Grand Rapids, MI Mr. John Kapteyn, Phelpston, ON Rev. and Mrs. Peter Borgdorff, Kentwood, MI Dr. and Mrs. Richard H. Harms, Grand Rapids, MI Mr. and Mrs. Bastian A. Knoppers, Oak Brook, IL Carl and Betty Botting, Ada, MI Holland American Wafer Company, Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Korthuis, Lynden, WA John and Beth Bouws, Holland, MI Grand Rapids, MI Mr. and Mrs. Martin LaMaire, Oak Park, IL Dr. and Mrs. Harvey J. Bratt, Grand Rapids, MI Mr. Peter Huizenga, Oak Brook, IL Arthur and Nellie Lucas, Coopersville, MI Rev. and Mrs. Paul L. Bremer, Grand Rapids, MI Dr. William Huizingh, Scottsdale, AZ Tom and Greta Newhof, Ada, MI Mr. and Mrs. Bart J. Bremmer, Midland, MI Estate of Dick and Dena Kortenhoeven, Highland, IN Mr. and Mrs. William Noordhof, Lacombe, AB Dr. and Mrs. Herman H. Broene, Grand Rapids, MI Meijer, Inc., Grand Rapids, MI Bill and Evelyn Pastoor, Grand Rapids, MI Connie and Roger Brummel, Holland, MI Mr. Gerald W. Meyering, Denver, CO Mr. and Mrs. Neal Peters, Hudsonville, MI Ralph and Elaine Bruxvoort, Bloomer, WI Drs. Kornelis J. Storm, Aerdenhout, the Netherlands Mr. and Mrs. Roger Riewald, Thousand Oaks, CA Mr. and Mrs. Conrad D. Bult, Northport, MI Jay and Betty Van Andel Foundation, Mr. and Mrs. A. Charles Schaap, Holland, MI Grand Rapids, MI Jacob and Sandra Bulthuis, La Grange, IL Ms. Kathryn R. Schlamm, Lynden, WA Mr. and Mrs. Claude J. Venema, Jackson, MI Peter and Mildred Buma, Grand Rapids, MI Mr. and Mrs. P. John Shooks, Grand Rapids, MI Mr. and Mrs. Gary J. Vermeer, Pella, IA William and Althea Buursma, Grand Rapids, MI Mrs. Doris Smedes, Grand Rapids, MI Mr. and Mrs. Will Byker, Hudsonville, MI Dr. and Mrs. Robert P. Swierenga, Holland, MI Contributing Founders Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Clousing, Shoreline, WA Mr. and Mrs. James P. Terborg, Minden, NV Peters Import Marketplace, Grandville, MI Mr. and Mrs. Ronald W. Corstange, Hudsonville, MI Mr. and Mrs. Leo Peters, Grand Rapids, MI Bill and Judy Terpstra, Schererville, IN Dr. Ivan E. Danhof, Grand Prairie, TX Clara and Leonard Sweetman, Kentwood, MI Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Vander Kooi, Luverne, MN Dr. and Mrs. Frank E. De Boer, Park Ridge, IL Mr. and Mrs. John Zonneveld Sr., Laton, CA Mr. and Mrs. George Vander Laan, Grand Rapids, MI Robert L. and Frances De Bruin, Mt. Pleasant, MI Mr. and Mrs. George J. Vande Werken, Highland, IN Mr. and Mrs. Frederick J. De Ruiter, Waxhaw, NC Contributing Sponsors Dick and Joyce Van Konynenburg, Hughson, CA Ms. Barbara De Witt, Greenville, TN Charles and Gail Alles, Byron Center, MI Bern and Patti Van Lonkhuyzen, Kalamazoo, MI Henry and Shirley De Witt, Chino, CA

47 Jim and Gerry Doezema, Grand Rapids, MI Mrs. Betty L. Kuipers, Whitinsville, MA Mr. and Mrs. Richard Vandenakker, Ripon, CA Mrs. Minnie C. Dykstra, Lansing, IL Mr. John W. Lamain, Voorthuizen, the Netherlands Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Vander Ark, Grand Rapids, MI Mr. and Mrs. Mark W. Dykstra, South Holland, IL Mrs. Ardene Lambers, Grand Rapids, MI John and Jane Vander Heide, Grand Rapids, MI Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Engel, Ripon, CA Mr. and Mrs. Loren J. Lemmen, Lansing, MI Rev. and Mrs. George D. Vanderhill, Holland, MI Martin and Sandra Everse, West Blocton, AL Dr. and Mrs. Kenneth E. Lobbes, Grand Rapids, MI Mr. and Mrs. James A. Vander Leest, Westlock, AB Mr. and Mrs. John Feikens, Grosse Pointe Park, MI Mr. and Mrs. Douglas R. Maddox, Mission Viejo, CA Gary and Janice Vander Meer, DeKalb, IL Dr. and Mrs. Melvin J. Frieswyk, Holland, MI Mr. and Mrs. Charles A. Mast, Jenison, MI John and Donna Vander Meer, Grand Rapids, MI Mr. and Mrs. Albert J. Griede, La Mesa, CA Dirk and JoAnn Mellema, Walnut Creek, CA Mr. and Mrs. David Vander Ploeg, St. Joseph, MI Astrid and Mike Griffi n, Chattanooga, TN Mr. Gerald Meyer, Holland, MI Mr. and Mrs. David P. Vander Veen, Ada, MI Dr. Ted and Mrs. Tena Minnema, Grand Rapids, MI Mrs. Wendlena Groen, Manteca, CA Mrs. Catherine Van Eck, Lansing, IL Dwight and Lois Monsma, Grand Rapids, MI Benno Groeneveld, St. Paul, MN Dr. Dick and Carol Van Eldik, Atlantis, FL Drs. George and Ellen Monsma, Grand Rapids, MI Carl and Sandy Gronsman, Grand Rapids, MI Mr. Art Van Groningen, Ripon, CA James E. and Janice S. Monsma, Medford, MA Dan and Ruth Gronsman, Grand Rapids, MI Mrs. Esther Van Haften, Midland, MI Mr. Michael Muilenberg, Brookline, MA Mr. and Mrs. Andrew J. Haagsma, Grandville, MI Dr. and Mrs. Lambert J. Van Poolen, Mr. and Mrs. Ulrich Haasdyk, Calgary, AB Mrs. Hilda Ormel, Abbotsford, BC Grand Rapids, MI Mr. and Mrs. William Post, Grand Rapids, MI Ms. Adelene Haverhals, Lynden, WA Mr. Carl J. Van’t Hof, Tinley Park, IL Rev. and Mrs. Gerald J. Postma, Grand Rapids, MI Dirk and Gladys Hoek, Modesto, CA Mr. and Mrs. Richard J. Van Tuinen, Longmont, CO Quentin and Harriet Remein, Bethesda, MD Caroline and Henry J. Hoeks, Ada, MI Dr. and Mrs. Peter D. Van Vliet, Grand Rapids, MI John and Esther Robbert, Grandville, MI Mr. and Mrs. Paul D. Hoeksema, Holland, MI Mrs. Ann Vellekoop, Brampton, ON Dr. Frank and Mrs. Doris Roberts, Grand Rapids, MI Bill and Caroline Hoekstra, Oakdale, CA Mr. and Mrs. Gerard Vellekoop, Dyer, IN Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Scheeres, Grand Rapids, MI Mrs. Dewey Hoitenga, Grand Rapids, MI Frank and Sylvia Velzen, Englewood, CO Mr. and Mrs. William C. Schultze, Grand Rapids, MI Mr. and Mrs. Henry Holtvluwer, Jenison, MI Dr. and Mrs. William Venema, Grand Rapids, MI Mr. and Mrs. Ben Senneker, Lethbridge, AB Mr. and Mrs. John T. Hoogland, Zeeland, MI Mr. and Mrs. Arie Verkaik, Hudsonville, MI Carl and Cora Mae Sinke, Grand Rapids, MI Dick and Alyce Housekamp, Ada, MI Mr. and Mrs. John L. Vinke Sr., South Holland, IL Dr. and Mrs. Richard D. Sjoerdsma, Kenosha, WI Dr. and Mrs. Harvey D. Huiner, Lynchburg, VA Mr. Evert Volkersz, Stony Brook, NY Mrs. Doris R. Smedes, Grand Rapids, MI Harold and Esther Huizenga, Grand Rapids, MI Mr. and Mrs. Philip Wassenar, Uxbridge, MA Bernard and Melinda Smit, Lafayette, IN Dr. C. J. Huizinga, Jenison, MI Mr. and Mrs. Klaas Wielinga, Grand Rapids, MI Dr. and Mrs. John H. Stek, Grand Rapids, MI Mrs. Elaine Jaarsma, Pella, IA Mr. and Mrs. Leonard D. Wilkins, Grand Rapids, MI Henry and Evelyn Stevens, Tucson, AZ Mrs. Mary E. Jellema, Holland, MI Mrs. Nell Wiers, Willard, OH Mr. and Mrs. Ronald J. Talsma, Bellfl ower, CA Chaplain and Mrs. Herm Keizer, Caledonia, MI Dave and Brenda Wiersma, Tucson, AZ Dr. and Mrs. Henry ten Hoor, Holland, MI Mr. and Mrs. Hessel Kielstra, Calgary, AB Mr. and Mrs. John Teune, Shelbyville, MI Glenn and Marge Wyngarden, Zeeland, MI Mr. John E. King, Wyckoff, NJ Dr. and Mrs. Ryan Tolsma, Redlands, CA Ms. Elaine Obbink Zimmerman, Woodstock, MD Dr. and Mrs. Simon J. Kistemaker, Oviedo, FL Gil and Joanne Van Baren, South Holland, IL Mr. and Mrs. Case M. Zwart, Ontario, CA Gerald and Hilda Knol, Grand Rapids, MI Dean and Carol Van Bruggen, Grand Rapids, MI David B. Zylstra, Grand Rapids, MI Chaplain Louis and Frances Kok, Lynden, WA Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth J. Van Dellen, Mr. and Mrs. Andrew R. Kooistra, Grand Rapids, MI Grosse Pointe Park, MI

48

The Archives Calvin College and Theological Seminary 1855 Knollcrest Circle SE Grand Rapids, Michigan 49546

The Calvin College and Calvin Theological Seminary Archives contains the historical records of the Christian Reformed Church, its College, its Theological Seminary, and other institutions related to the Reformed tradition in the Netherlands and North America. The Archives also contains a wide range of personal and family manuscripts. Historical Magazine of The Archives Calvin College and Calvin Theological Seminary Volume XXV • Number 2 • 2007