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Collection Overview
Abstract
Minister of the Christian Reformed Church. Sermon outlines and topical files.
Biographical Note
John L. Schaver was born in Chicago on January 28, 1897. When he was still very young the Louis E. Schaver family moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan. He attended Oakdale Christian School, and later attended Calvin College and Theological Seminary. After graduation from the seminary, he was ordained in 1927 and accepted a call to New Era Christian Reformed Church in New Era, Michigan. Our collection has a "self-evaluation" sheet covering that period of his ministry.
His ministry at Lucas Christian Reformed Church began in November of 1932, and he served that congregation until 1945. His last congregation was in Oak Lawn, Illinois, where he ended his active ministry in 1951 due to ill health. The years of his retirement were spent in Detroit, Michigan, where he died on Friday, May 4, 1956. He was survived by his wife, Florence (Boonstra), and their five children.
For a number of years, the name Schaver was almost synonymous with Church Order. He authored The Polity of the Church in two volumes. One volume contains the Church Order of the Christian Reformed Church and the decisions of previous synods. The third edition was copyrighted in 1947. John Schaver also wrote a catechism book entitled Compendium Studies in 1939. He also served on the Board of Foreign Missions and as stated clerk of Classis Chicago North.
Our collection includes written notes on subjects ranging from Abraham to Mohammedanism (articles beyond "M" were not in his papers), notes on a few sermons, his notes of Bible books, and clippings for various magazines.
Box and Folder Listing
Browse by Series:
[
Series 1: Miscellaneous Papers, 1923-1951],
[
Series 2: Notes and Polity of the Churches Material, 1937-1947],
[
Series 3: Miscellaneous Papers, 1925-1947],
[All]
- Series 1: Miscellaneous Papers --- 1923-1951
- Box 1
- Folder 1: Calvinism notes and press clippings
- Folder 2: Catechism: Compendium Studies book for young people --- 1938, 1939
- Folder 3: Catechism questions and answers (notes)
- Folder 4: Communications on methods of calling ministers in other denominations --- 1945
- Folder 5: Conversion: To be a Christian, Must One Know the Date of Conversion? Paper for Federation Messenger --- January 1931
- Folder 6: Correspondence on Church Order matters --- 1950-1951
- Folder 7: Criticism of self: Evaluation by young people for New Era Christian Reformed Church --- July 1932
- Folder 8: Dedication Address: Lucas Christian Reformed Church --- August 20, 1941
- Folder 9: Dedication of Oak Lawn Christian Reformed Church and cornerstone laying address --- 1950
- Folder 10
- Item 1: Divorce: Our position --- February 1946
- Item 2: Letter of Frederick Nymeyer --- June 1946
- Folder 11: Education Speech: "Wacht U! Leg uw wapen rustug niet af!"
- Folder 12: Emeritus Fund: proposed fund critique, correspondence --- 1936
- Folder 13: Indigenous Mission Polity, John L. Schaver, co-author --- April 1950
- Folder 14: Letter of condolence to William Schaver --- December 12, 1934
- Folder 15: Life insurance issue: communications on pros and cons --- 1934
- Folder 16: Love notes and press clippings
- Folder 17: Minister's task: papers and press clippings
- Folder 18: Mission motives: notes and press clippings
- Folder 19: Modern critical discussions in The Aftermath series --- 1923-1924
- Folder 20: Handwritten notes on subjects Abraham to Christ; some with press clippings
- Series 2: Notes and Polity of the Churches Material --- 1937-1947
- Box 2
- Folder 1: Handwritten notes on subjects Christian virtues to Missouri Synod
- No papers in collection beyond M
- Folder 2: The Polity of the Churches, handwritten copy, index
- Folder 3: The Polity of the Churches, Part I, handwritten manuscript --- 1937
- Folder 4: The Polity of the Churches, Part II, handwritten manuscript --- 1937
- Folder 5: The Polity of the Churches, Part I, original manuscript, handwritten --- 1947
- Folder 6: The Polity of the Churches, Part II, original manuscript, handwritten --- 1947
- Series 3: Miscellaneous Papers --- 1925-1947
- Box 3
- Folder 1: The Polity of the Churches, handwritten copy of University of Chicago bibliography
- Folder 2: Sermonic material:
- Item 1: Ascension – Luke 24:51
- Item 2: Christian Companionship
- Item 3: Contentment – Philippians 4:11b, 12
- Item 4: Death – Psalm 39:10
- Item 5: Easter Thoughts
- Item 6: Holy Spirit – Ephesians 4:30
- Item 7: Rejoice, Young Men – Ecclesiastes 11:9
- Item 8: Worthy Communion - I Corinthians 11:28
- Folder 3: Speech notes:
- Item 1: Foundation Stones of the Christian Schools, Lucas, 1940
- Item 2: Life, Oak Lawn, February 1946
- Item 3: Onward and Upward, March 20, 1946
- Item 4: The Spade and the Bible I and II
- Item 5: Vitamins for the Spirit, 1947, Oak Lawn
- Folder 4: Study notes on Ephesians, press clippings
- Folder 5: Study notes on I Corinthians for Ladies' Aid and Men's Society; Dutch, Exegesis in English
- Folder 6: Study notes on I John, outline from Federation Messenger; clippings --- 1936
- Folder 7: Study notes on Genesis, press clippings, Aalders on Genesis 2 and 3
- Folder 8: Study notes on Galatians, notes and press clippings
- Folder 9: Study notes on Hebrews, notes for New Era Men's Society, press clippings --- 1930-1932
- Folder 10: Study notes on Isaiah, exegesis of Isaiah 54:9-15 --- 1925
- Folder 11: Study notes on John's Gospel, notes and press clippings; outline from Federation Messenger
- Folder 12: Study notes on the Gospel of Mark, press clippings
Browse by Series:
[
Series 1: Miscellaneous Papers, 1923-1951],
[
Series 2: Notes and Polity of the Churches Material, 1937-1947],
[
Series 3: Miscellaneous Papers, 1925-1947],
[All]
