Henry Beets Collection, 1824-1981 | Heritage Hall, Hekman Library

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Collection Overview

Title: Henry Beets Collection, 1824-1981

Predominant Dates:1910-1945

ID: COLL/011

Primary Creator: Beets, Henry (1869-1947)

Extent: 34.0 Cubic Feet. More info below.

Arrangement: The collection is arranged according to record type since the material was sorted several times prior to deposit in the Archives. No indication of the original order remains.

Date Acquired: 00/00/1962

Subjects: Banner, Calvinism, Christian Reformed Church, Immigrants - North America, Missionary Monthly, Navajo Indians, Nederlandse Hervormde Kerk - History - Secession, 1834, Zuni Indians

Forms of Material: Photographs, Sermons

Languages: English, Dutch;Flemish

Abstract

Henry Beets (1869-1947) was born in Koedijk, the Netherlands. He emigrated to the United States and was a minister of the Christian Reformed Church. The collection details his theological training, his parish ministries in Pella, Iowa, and Grand Rapids, Michigan, and his interests in ecumenical contacts and mission outreach, particularly to the Zunis and Navajos of the western United States. He was a prolific writer on the Christian Reformed Church, Reformed religion, Dutch Calvinism, Dutch immigrants to North America, and related topics. The collection also contains his research notes, drafts, and final publications on these topics and a large collection of pamphlets on the Reformed churches following the secession of the State Church in the Netherlands in 1834.

Scope and Contents of the Materials

The correspondence details Beets's extensive contacts and interests in denominational and church histories. An index of significant correspondents is available. Of note are his biographical notes on Christian Reformed Church (CRC) ministers and mission efforts, particularly regarding Johanna Veenstra. The sermons reflect Dutch Reformed Calvinism as it took root in North America during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The speeches reflect a wide range of topics varying from missions in the United States, Canada, China, and Africa to arriving Dutch immigrants. There are speeches and articles on patriotism during the WW I years. His research and manuscripts present a wide range of subjects. Especially noteworthy are those on the history and development of the CRC. Beets gathered together a sizable pamphlet collection which he had bound. An alphabetical index by author is available.

Collection Historical Note

Henry Beets (b. Koedijk, Noord-Holland, the Netherlands, 5 January 1869; d. Grand Rapids, MI, 29 October 1947) graduated from Calvin Theological Seminary in 1895. He immigrated to Luctor, Kansas, in 1886. After graduating he served as a parish minister in the Christian Reformed Church. He served the congregations of Sioux Center, Iowa, 1895-1899; LaGrave Avenue, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1899-1915; and Burton Heights, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1915-1920. A prolific writer, he began his writing as the associate editor of Gereformeerde Amerikaan. In 1902 he headed a group that purchased The Banner, and served as its editor for twenty-five years. During this time the periodical became the official English-language publication of the Christian Reformed Church. Later he also became editor and publisher of the Reformed Review and De Heidenwereld (Missionary Monthly). In addition, he published a number of pamphlets and books. Interested in missions, he became the denominational secretary of the Board of Missions in 1901, a position that became full time in 1920. At the same time, he served for forty years as the denomination's first stated clerk. He also served as a member of a joint committee to revise the metrical versions of the Psalms for which he was awarded an honorary doctorate of letters by Muskingum College. In 1934 he was knighted by Queen Wilhelmina and awarded the Order of Orange Nassau for his support of Dutch culture. He retired in 1939. Beets married Clara Poel on 11 September 1895. They had three sons: Henry Nicholas, Abel Jasper, and William Clarence.

Biographical Note

Subject/Index Terms

Banner
Calvinism
Christian Reformed Church
Immigrants - North America
Missionary Monthly
Navajo Indians
Nederlandse Hervormde Kerk - History - Secession, 1834
Zuni Indians

Administrative Information

Repository: Heritage Hall, Hekman Library

Alternate Extent Statement: 72 boxes

Access Restrictions: This collection is open to research. Materials do not circulate.

Acquisition Source: Gift of William B. Eerdmans, 1962

Preferred Citation: [item], folder, box, Henry Beets Collection, Heritage Hall (Hekman Library), Calvin University

Other Note: Collection partly in Dutch

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Correspondence, 1875-1947],
[Series 2: Sermons, 1887-1945, undated],
[Series 3: Speeches, 1900-1940, undated],
[Series 4: Articles, 1900-1981, undated],
[Series 5: Biographical Files],
[Series 6: Research],
[Series 7: Manuscripts],
[Series 8: Christian Reformed Church Missions, 1918-1947, undated],
[Series 9: Various Organizations and Events],
[Series 10: Clippings, Miscellaneous],
[Series 11: Photos],
[Series 12: Personal Files],
[Series 13: Emigration to Canada, 1925-1932],
[Series 14: Pamphlets, 1902-1950],
[Series 15: Marriage Licenses, 1896-1913],
[Series 16: Scrapbooks, 1846- [1942]],
[Series 17: Bound Volumes],
[Series 18: Microfilm],
[All]

Series 3: Speeches --- 1900-1940, undated

Box 23

Folder 1

Item 1: Address General Synod RCA --- 1934
Item 2: Address of Welcome --- 1940
Item 3: Brave Little Holland Today --- 1934
Item 4: Breakers Ahead and How to Escape Them --- 1922
Item 5: Address, Fortieth Anniversary --- 1933
Item 6: Calvinism's Root-Principle (series Calvinism no. 1)
Item 7: Calvinists and Missions --- 1929
Item 8: Challenge of China --- 1931
Item 9: Challenge of China --- 1930
Item 10: Challenge of the Ministry to the Christian Young Manhood to America --- 1921

Folder 2

Item 1: Changing China
Item 2: China, a Country of Contrasts --- 1924
Item 3: China, a Land of Tears --- 1930
Item 4: China Mission, een Geopende Deur en vele tegenstanders --- 1933
Item 5: Christian Life Ideals and the Power to Realize Them --- 1939
Item 6: Christian High Address --- 1934
Item 7: Central Body of Men's Church Organizations --- 1921
Item 8: Christian Life Ideals --- 1927
Item 9: Composite Address

Folder 3

Item 1: Common Grace? Special Grace? Or Both?
Item 2: Contrasts-Eating
Item 3: Contributions of the Dutch toward our American Independence --- 1918
Item 4: Current Events in the Light of God's Word
Item 5: Darkness: Casting of Women
Item 6: Darkness: Medicine
Item 7: Diaconate, the Introduction --- 1933

Folder 4

Item 1: Dr. A. Kuyper as Preacher and Theologican --- 1937
Item 2: Dutch and their Achievements [1935]
Item 3: Dutch in Western Michigan --- 1935
Item 4: Excellence of the Heidelberg Catechism
Item 5: Expository Preaching --- 1916
Item 6: Famous Women of Reformation Days --- 1930
Item 7: First Struggle of Our 'Western' Pilgrims
Item 8: Funeral Address N. H. Battles --- 1933
Item 9: Funeral Address A. Dooge --- 1934
Item 10: Glory of the Missionary Enterprise --- 1925

Folder 5

Item 1: Holland's Language and Literature
Item 2: Holding the Ropes for our Missions --- 1932
Item 3: Indians of North America
Item 4: Jerusalem Communism
Item 5: Home Mission Tasks
Item 6: Kingdom to Appeal to the Men of America
Item 7: Koninginne Verjaardag --- 1940
Item 8: Life and Labors of H. P. Scholte

Folder 6

Item 1: Laborers Are Few
Item 2: Life and Labors in the Life of H. P. Scholte --- 1933
Item 3: Medical Mission Work, a Valuable Undertaking in the Kingdom of God
Item 4: Michigan Student Volunteer Union, Address --- 1933
Item 5: Missions, A Winning Cause --- 1925
Item 6: Missions and the Bible, [1922]
Item 7: Nazism in its Dangerous Religious Implications
Item 8: Necessity of Medical Mission-Work --- 1915
Item 9: Nederlandsche Stam in de V. S. en zijn Worstelingen

Folder 7

Item 1: New and Living Way to Heaven and the Throne of Grace --- 1934
Item 2: North American Indian
Item 3: Notes of Farewell Address CRC Board of Missions --- 1939
Item 4: Ons Wapentuig op eigen Steen
Item 5: Baker's Dozen of Reasons for Favoring Christian Schools --- 1926
Item 6: Our Affiliation with the Michigan Sundayschool [sic] of Religious Education: corrected title: Our Affiliation with the Michigan Sunday school of Religious Education

Folder 8

Item 1: Our Own Educational Grindstones --- 1918
Item 2: Our Vision of Religious Education in the Sunday School --- 1920
Item 3: Our Indebtedness to Israel --- 1915
Item 4: Patriotism in Peace Time --- 1919
Item 5: Patriotism --- 1918
Item 6: Patriotism --- 1917
Item 7: Phenomena in the Sunday School World to Put Us on Our Guard
Item 8: Prayer Needs of Mission Fields the World Around

Folder 9

Item 1: Religious Conditions among Our American Youth
Item 2: Religion We as Christian Workers Should Exemplify and Offer to Young America, the Reformation --- 1939
Item 3: Seven 'Ells' of Home Base --- 1917
Item 4: Shall We Have a Central Home Mission Organization?
Item 5: Sino-Japanese Situation and Missions
Item 6: Some Reasons for Pushing the Cause of Missions Harder Than We Have Ever Done --- 1910

Folder 10

Item 1: South America - Land of Darkness and of Dawn --- 1937
Item 2: Struggle in South Africa --- 1900
Item 3: Summer Conference Grounds for Our People
Item 4: Sunday School and Missions
Item 5: Sovereign Hand of the Lord in the Work of the Dutch
Item 6: Secession of 1834, three versions
Item 7: Sunday School and Missions --- 1917
Item 8: Supreme Life-Ideals for Christian Workers --- 1928
Item 9: Untitled

Box 24

Folder 1

Item 1: Uw Werk, 0 Heere, Behoud dat in . . . --- 1932
Item 2: Vocational Sunday
Item 3: What I Saw, Heard, Felt during Recent Trip to Europe
Item 4: What I Like and Dislike in Holland
Item 5: William the Silent --- 1933
Item 6: What the Dutch Have Done for American Independence, And What We All Should Do to Keep Our Country Free

Folder 2

Item 1: What the Dutch Think about Us and of Us --- 1933
Item 2: Who is My Neighbor?
Item 3: Why a Strong Alumni Association? --- 1924
Item 4: Why Business Boosters Should Boost the Church and How --- 1920
Item 5: Why Enthusiastic for Missions
Item 6: Why the Christian Hollanders of Kalamazoo Should Have a Holland Home --- 1923
Item 7: Why Go to Church on Sunday --- 1937
Item 8: Why Some Churches Use the Psalms . . .

Folder 3

Item 1: Why Not to Abolish the Parochial School --- 1920
Item 2: Why Our Women Should Organize a Missionary Organization
Item 3
Item 4: Why We of Dutch Descent Claim our Modest Place in the Sun of American Respect --- 1934: three versions
Item 5: 'Why We Should Favor and Foster the Sabbath School"
Item 6: Why We Should Support the US Government

Folder 4

Item 1: Why Women Should Be Enthused for Missions --- 1931
Item 2: William of Orange --- 1933: three versions
Item 3: William of Orange as the Moses of the Dutch People --- 1933
Item 4: Why We Should Oppose the Saloon
Item 5: Why We Still Should Be Enthusiastic for Missions
Item 6: William of Orange as the Washington and Lincoln of the Dutch People
Item 7: Women and the Kingdom --- 1935
Item 8: What the Dutch Calvinists Really Stand For and Why --- 1912

Folder 5

Item 1: Young People We Need to Meet
Item 2: These Dangers --- 1913
Item 3: Untitled
Item 4: Miscellaneous