UNREST IN CHURCH AND STATE,
EVENTS THAT LED TO EMIGRATION

For almost a thousand years the people in the little villages and hamlets of the Vechte region had worshipped together in peace and harmony. They had supported each other in their daily activities. It had been a tradition in this region to come spontaneously together in the neighborhoods, either on Sunday evenings or, if time permitted, on week days to study the Bible and have song services. During the summer those meetings were held in the open air; in the winter they met in homes. Each participant would bring his own chair, It was like in Israel of old where people would meet at the gates of the cities and the fathers would tell the deeds of the Lord to their children. Those meetings were very dear to the people, and were conducted by laymen; one of their own. Everything was spontaneous, the meeting place, the conductor; the participants sometimes as many as 200 people attended. 

During the first half of the 19th century when the knowledge of man became the central theme in the Reformed churches of the County of Bentheim, the neighbor meetings became spiritual bread for the true Christians. The church services left the hearts cold; the neighborhood meetings nourished their souls. 

The attendance you might say, flocking to those lay meetings, did not go over well with the local Reformed pastors. Many of the ordained men saw in it a competition, and with the help of the government tried to put a stop to it. (See documents). 

The participants were called separatists. The whole situation was very painful, because each person involved thought of himself as a good Christian who was upholding his faith and the Reformed tradition. 

Undoubtedly, this deep rift and the painful division it created, prepared many to leave all that was dear to them for a new land and a new beginning. 

The following documents show the particular situation under which the emigrants of 1847 left the lower County of Bentheim. They were seceders in search of a refuge, and they came to North America at their own risk without any guarantee of success or security. 

Some were also fairly well-to-do people, coming from old established families. Rev. Beuker says in his book, Umkehr und Erneuerung on page 317, "The leading elders of the Old Reformed Churches of Hoogstede and Emlichheim emigrated." 

A Grafshapper does not look at life as an adventure and one of his most striking features in his strong attachment to everything he owns. But here we find this contrast; those peace loving people could not endure the unrest anymore when they heard from Rev. van Raalte of the Netherlands, of a colony to be founded in the Midwest. They were ready to pull up stakes and make a new beginning. 

Another problem they had to deal with was the difference their church leader, Rev. B. J. Sunday, had with emigration. (See letter) There were economic problems as well; the Napoleon wars had left the County drained, and they had lean years because the River Vechte had flooded the area different times around 1845. (Oral History by Egbert Haamberg, Hoogstede)

Neuenhaus

PROCLAMATION 

For the district courts of the King in Bentheim and Neuenhaus.

Since religious private meetings in the county of Bentheim can easily lead to disorder and to the spreading of unsound doctrines, we have gotten permission, from the King's minister of religious and educational affairs, to proclaim the following regulations and laws:

1.   All meetings of religious nature which are not ordered or permitted by the church council are forbidden, if they include members who do not belong to one family.

2.   The government must enforce this and see to it that such forbidden meetings are  broken up at once.

3.   Those who lead or arrange such meetings shall pay a penalty of four to eight Reichsthaler, or if circumstances permit, serve four to eight days in jai1.

4.   he same penalty shall be enforced for those who arrange or sponsor a meeting place, be it in a sheltered or an unsheltered area.

5.   Each participant shall receive a penalty of one to four Reichsthaler or spend one to four days in jai1.

6.   If a person repeatedly disobeys, the penalty shall be doubled and if resistance prevails, shall be sharpened.

7.   The district court can issue a penalty of eight Reichthaler in money and only an eight day jail sentence. If a harsher punishment must be issued, they must leave the final decision to the undersigned.

8.   The enforced penalty in money shall go to the poor fund in each parish.

9.   The above regulation shall be enforced after this proclamation is made known, if contravene acts shall occur.

10.  The district courts have the obligation to examine and execute the above pressing affairs at once. We also oblige the officers of the courts as well as the local, supervisors and the King's police to take actions should those forbidden meetings occur, to ask the participants to leave at once, and report the incident to the local court district immediately.

Osnabruck, the 7th of May, 1838.
Administration of the King of Hanover. 

Wedel

 the 31st of December 1846, pr 910

To the esteemed register of the Count of Bentheim, office at Neuenhaus 

Among the separatists in this area there is a growing desire to prepare a mass emigration, with the aim to establish in America a separate congregation. A like minded individual from the Netherlands prepared a summons which stirred such a commotion that in the last few days 6 farms were offered for sale to the Count. The farmer Roetgers in Echtler has sold his place already. The acreage was completely dispersed. 

On account of this sale, which I like to report, I would like to ask dutifully: is this dispersIon of farms which are accessed by the government permissible? If it is and if it cannot be stopped by police regulations what shall be done to collect the taxes which are on the property?                 

In my opinion the dispersion of farms, if this becomes popular, which is to be expected, and if it is permitted, will be destructive to the thousand year old tradition of the farm relationships of Westphalia, which we practice here. It will bring on conditions which will lead to a cancer in the local hamlets.

On this occasion I like to ask also, can the new owner of a government accessed farm use his own name or must the property remain in the name of the previous owner? In former days, the later practice was used, but lately new owners have used their own name also. Undoubtedly this will lead to confusion in administration and documents etc.

Brill

Neuenhaus the 31st of December 1846

To the Administrator of the King of Hanover at Osnabruck: 

Replying to the report of the King's Administrator of the 13th of this month and acknowledging the report from the Count's Registrar at Neuenhaus, concerning the strong desire to emigrate to America among the separatists, we hereby dutifully reply that we do not share the opinion of the Counts Registrar, concerning the abolishment or modification of the restriction in public worship in order to halt emigration. 

The emigration was provoked by a summons by Rev. Van Raalte of Ommen, a place 6 hours from here. We dutifully enclose the pamphlet he wrote. Through his writings he not only inspired the members of his own congregation, but also thousands of others, in the belief that America is a paradise, bringing on a desire to emigrate to this promised land. 

In the beginning he tried, in union with other colleagues, to foster a emigration to Java. Since he could not get the State to promise not to interfere with the religious freedom of the settlers, the planned emigration failed. 

He then encouraged emigration to America, which is well received by the ignorant masses. Freedom of religion (in the Netherlands the separatists have this except in the schools) is not the cause of this planned emigration. The cause is the heavy taxation by the State. The wages are low, the people are poor and most of them belong to the working class. 

When they founded their separate congregations they had to promise that they would never ask for any funds from the Reformed Churches, neither for their pastors nor the support of their poor. 

Now they see, as a depression is at hand, that they cannot support their new churches. The leaders fear a return of many members to the mother church. Their only way out of this dilemma seems to them, to be emigration to America. 

As of October of last year, the Rev. van Raalte and a few of his colleagues emigrated, to seek out a: territory for a worthwhile settlement, as many emigrants are expected by spring. Van Raalte and his colleagues plan to buy the land, but nowhere is it said that they would be the landlords. 

The separatists here in the County keep close contact with those in the Netherlands and they follow the council of their pastors. A few have decided to follow those sisters and brothers. But they are only a few; it has become known to us that many of them had mortgaged their little farms so heavily already, that they come close to not having enough money for the trip overseas. Not the restriction of religious freedom, but a inner calling is the deciding factor in emigration. As we see

the situation, which is in no wise deciding, a modification of the summons of the 22nd of April 1843 from the Kings Administrator, which deals with the spiritual and educational matters of the local separatists, which has served well, would only kindle a dying, fire. It would not halt the desire to emigrate. The separatists would say: "Now the government sees their fault, but we will not change our mind to emigrate to another continent. As we expect the judgement of the Lord to come over our Fatherland, because the people of the Lord are persecuted, it will surely come to pass." 

In addition emigration is a sign of the times and cannot be halted by government restrictions. How many big estate holders in the Earldom of Osnabruck and in the County of Tecklenburg have sold their stately estates and settled in America. From our county other people emigrate too, who are in no way connected with the separatists. That they are among them is by chance. Many Catholics are--also emigrating and they are certainly not persecuted for religious reasons. 

We are in agreement wIth the King's Administrator that the desire to emigrate among the separatists does not stem from their restriction to congregate. We wish very much that you would uphold the restriction, which up until now keeps the movement under control. It is a stumbling block to many a serious Christian that the separatists, in their meetings, from the heights of their pious mind look down with disrespect upon the children of this world and mirror themselves as the only elect of God. 

Neuenhaus the 29th of January, 1847. 

Upper Church Council of the King of Hanover
in the County of Bentheim 

Hoogklimmer

Much beloved in the Lord! 

May the Lord bless you with faithfulness! That with you all testings may fmd you faithful. To the glory of God and the eternal well being of your soul. Amen. 

I received your letter from the 23rd of February in well being and write you this letter as an answer! You complain about the different directions among you in explaining the doctrines and that this causes differences among you. This is painful for me to hear. But it is a comfort to the upright that David says in Psalm 25, "The Lord will instruct the sinners". If we only could see that we need the Lord's instruction, asking him with our whole heart for counsel, then the Lord will be faithful to us! Peace is a lovely and dear possession, but we may not buy it if we shortchange the truth. Like the prophet says in Zachariah 8 vs 1 9, "Therefore love the truth and peace!" Through the grace of our Lord we enjoy truth and peace! 

The Lord will instruct his faithful children who fight against their sins, who cleave to him in their spiritual and physical life. Those who are prayerfully ashamed of their sins of unthankfulness, lack of love, world conformity, and forgetting their creator and redeemer. 

Luther was afraid in his time that the church in Germany would fall as a result of three things 

1. Unthankfulness to the Lord and his blessings.

2. Satisfaction with themselves.

3. Accepting the wisdom of the world.

may the Lord spare us, that we will not accept those above things and give us thankfulness and humility all our days in order to live for him. 

Our church here is really not growing. Last year six to ten new members were accepted. The upright among us long for and believe that the Lord will remember his weak Zion. I am still not ordained and can not administer the sacraments. The reason is that we are not in agreement with our government. All our written complaints were in vain. But we see it as our obligation to unite ourselves with the Gereformeerde Kerk. We together with them will fight for the truth of God's Word. By the grace of God, until death, if we cannot get permission to hold our meetings, and the restrictions worsen as I report this, I am in prison on account of preaching the Word. Our enemies say are we disobeying the government and the laws of the land in performing our own services. In addition to this, they claim to be champions of the Reformed faith. Their actions show that the truth about the universal church is not in their camp, but in ours. They know no higher

government than that which is appointed by the law of the land, and threaten our service through penalties of money or jail sentences. It is a comfort to the people of the Lord that he reigns. May the Lord enlighten the government of our land and let them see his almighty hand that they may give freedom to our people, that the heavy hand of the Lord that has been upon us in the last few years in agriculture may be lightened. Surely the Lord will redeem his people. He may bring forth for this purpose judgement upon the earth. I will expect even more of it if there is no conversion. 

In my bondage, I have the comfort of the Lord. I rejoice that I am worthy to suffer for his name, and that I have kept the faith. The congregation keeps on praying for me about my release, which makes me glad. It shows they value the word, which I bring. I also trust that the Lord will hear them and in his time will release me. 

On the subject of emigration to America, I will report the following. As much as is known to me, only Rev. van Raalte emigrated to America, the only one of the separated preachers. At present there are several families from the lower county of Bentheim who plan to emigrate. Here in the upper county we are not for this. The people who have God's church at heart, plan on staying here and I myself agree fully with their decision. Not that I dare to judge other people's motives, but in general I believe that it is the will of the Lord for us not to leave Europe, but to serve it a with the eight or ten households which the Lord has entrusted to me in this county, to work here for the upbuilding of his church. Those words come from my innermost heart, without any fear that I will regret them. Although on the basis of God's Word, the people of Europe have to expect great judgement unless there will be a great conversion. 

Yet the Lord has promised he will build his church here too! Those who expect more piety and less blasphemy in America might be in for a surprise. Millions of emigrants who left Europe for America were not the best of citizens here. Could they have changed that much in another country? Three letters from America which I read have strengthened me in this belief, that they have not. I read that there are many who do not work and many who work all day long whose wives spend their earnings on fine clothing that if they would appear here with them, they would be made a laughing stock for their appearance. He says also there are daily fireworks and horse racing and all Sorts of entertainment which is held in high esteem. Now I believe that those things are in contrast with the spirit of the Lord. We cannot say it is God's will to leave here, when we read the motives which the just emigrated preacher used in his pamphlet: high taxes, and the wrath of God over the wrong doings of the government. Now it is not contrary to God's Word to leave one place for another if circumstances force us to do this. At the end of VanRaalte's pamphlet he comes to the conclusion, that each one should prove himself, if it was the will of the Lord for them to emigrate. 

But the religious restrictions in the Netherlands are nothing today compared to what they endured during the struggle with Spain in the olden days. When they grabbed the babes out of their mother's arms and killed them and the wives would gladly die with their husbands because life was one great misery. Their churches and homes were burned to the ground, still God preserved his people. Those who without a calling from the Lord flee into another country must believe that the Lord is not wise or loving. They must not understand their duties toward their homeland. As for me, I will not flee in spite that I write this from prison! I heard that they bought some land and plan to live all by themselves without interchanges with other people. Now I read and reread the Bible, but nowhere did I read that you have to live all by yourself under the New Testament law. Quite the contrary. The Lord Jesus says in Matthew 5:14, "You are the light of the world." The apostle Paul says too, to let your light shine among a crooked and perplexed generation". In Jeremiah 23 - 37, he promised his people who are imprisoned that if conversion takes place, he will restore and bring them into Canaan, which is also fulfilled. Now if we take this text and think of it in New Testament terms, then we can say with Malachi 1:11, "From the rising to the setting of the sun. In every place incense and peace offerings will be brought to my name!" In Psalm 139:8 that God is all over in earth and in heaven, we cannot flee from him. We have to be converted as it is told on every leaf of the Bible, believe in the promises of the Lord. Mter Psalm 91 , the Jews could not be spared. When the Babylonians came over them, they had to flee to the Caldeans, but they had prophets to lead and guide them. Those we don't have here! 

The second thoughts which we have against the person of Van Raalte. I will . give them to you in context and then let each one judge for himself. Maybe you know that from the beginning on, two parties emerged in the separatists in the Netherlands. VanRaalte's party was the smaller one and from this party came, on several occasions, new ideas which not only brought disturbance in the congregations, but which also stunted its growth. This is something not to be taken lightly, experience has taught me this. In 1846 I attended the synod of the separate churches in Groningen. The articles which were brought up at that synod by Van Raalte and his followers were not at all for the upbuilding of the church! Van Raalte is put on a level with Scholte. The brethren of North Holland put those articles in a lengthy letter. But Scholte is much more conservative than Van Raalte, he at least sticks to the canon of Dortrecht. I have visited with him at his house four years ago and heard those statements from his own lips. 

Van Raalte is not in accord with the separate churches when I met him in 1843 in the synod in Amsterdam. He had to sign the form of subscription. He did too, but shortly afterwards again he had difficulties, believing in the canons of Dortrecht. Such limping on both sides is a great hinderance to the church and also a shame to the world around us. The Lord says, you shall love each other and the world shall know that you are my disciples. May sinners be brought in through love. Or if they leave us, the church may find rest and God have the glory. 

The news about Van Raalte and all that go along with it finds no rapport here. Van Raalte lost most of this money in a tile factory and his last church in Arnheim was only able to pay half of his salary. If such a cut in his income was the reason for his immigration, each one judge for himself. 

It is a peculiar question, this subject of immigration, and if someone feels he has to talk about it, we have to counsel them that in earnest prayer he has to bring this subject before. the Lord and ponder if it is the Lord who calls them to go. If not, we should encourage them to stay here. If those who hold on to the idea that God has a plan to build his church in America, then I would like to know why? Van Raalte went there, but as much as I know, the other preachers who hold to the canons of Dortrecht are not for it. Do we hear that there is hunger for the word of the Lord? Do we hear there is a voice from Macedonia like it came to Paul come over and help us? We have not heard such things. In the booklet by Van Raalte and also in letters from the separatists from America, we hear about the very good soil, splendid pastures, and that you can eat your bread there, without persecution, they invite us to join them and also to share in those benefits. They praise the government of their new land. They mention things that will entreat people who seek a different lifestyle and a worldly Canaan. But those believers who are satisfied with their daily bread here who seek a heavenly calling will wait for a heavenly calling before they take the step towards immigration. I might add this too, if some people were as full of God's spirit and of God's love as they are full of going to America, you would surely find them in heaven afterwards. We are ruled by the State here, and have a set of government restrictions over us, but they are given over to us by the Lord. It is oppressive to live under these rules, but think of Israel of old, how their sins made them bow down (Deut.32:5). But the Lord used those oppressions to bring them back from their wicked path. A path which they had travelled when things would go in their favor! Each one who has a believing heart will say with Paul: "Whom the Lord loved, he will chasten. Deuteronomy 32:5 also says this. Is this a time, Elisha says, to get lovely clothes and vineyards? 

I did not write these words to give someone a command, that they would condemn emigration altogether. This I would not like to do. But let everyone who reads this think about it! If he thinks ab'out emigration, let him not do so in a light manner! Let him bring it before the Lord that the Lord may protect him from walking in his own path. I would bring up much more against the subject of emigration, but it would require a special letter. 

Again brothers, be of good courage. Work that you may be made whole. Be confident, be of one mind: live in peace and the Lord of love and peace shall be with you. Amen 

All the children of Zion greet you! 

Greeting from J .B.Sunday in whose name I written the above letter. 

I sign myself, your very beloved brother in the Lord. 

J .B.Sunday

J.B. Sunday was imprisoned twenty-eight times in the castle of Bentheim.