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Harm Henry Meeter Collection, 1909-1982

Collection Overview

Title: Harm Henry Meeter Collection, 1909-1982

ID: COLL/168

Creator: Harm Henry Meeter (1886-1963)

Extent: 17.0 Boxes

Arrangement: Folder level description

Abstract

Minister of the Christian Reformed Church and Professor of Bible at Calvin College. Correspondence, sermons, lectures, course outlines, topic files, periodicals, commitee minutes and reports. Class notes taken while a student at Calvin Theological Seminary, 1909-1911, primarily student notes of Professor L. Berkhof's lectures. Princeton Theological Seminary student notebooks of the lectures of Professor J. Gresham Machen, Geerhardus Vos, Benjamin B. Warfield, and others, 1912-1914. Material in connection with H.H. Meeter's ministry at Neland Avenue Christian Reformed Church, 1917-1926. Correspondents include: F.W. Grosheide, C. van Gelderen, J. L. den Houting, H. H. Kuyper, Catherine Kuyper, and H. G. Stoker.

Biographical Note

Born April 29, 1886, in Chicago, Illinois, Dr. Meeter received his elementary education in the public and Evangelical Lutheran schools of Lansing, Illinois.  After graduating from Calvin College and Seminary in 1911, he did post-graduate work at Princeton Seminary.

Of two fellowships offered him at Princeton, he chose the one that allowed him three years of study at the Free University in Amsterdam, from which he graduated in 1916, the first American cum laude with a doctorate in Theology from that institution.  His dissertation was titled: "The Heavenly High Priesthood of Christ: an Exegetical Study."

In January 1917, he was ordained as the first minister of the Neland Avenue Christian Reformed Church in Grand Rapids.  While at Neland, he served on the Board of Trustees of Calvin College and Seminary, on the board of the Grand Rapids Christian High School, on various synodical committees, and as chairman for several years of the Publication Committee of the Christian Reformed Church.

In 1926, Dr. Meeter began his illustrious career of teaching at Calvin College, serving there until 1956.  He was the sole teacher of Bible at Calvin until 1946.  He wrote two books, The Fundamental Principle of Calvinism and Calvinism, an Interpretation of Its Basic Ideas.  The latter book was translated into the Dutch, Japanese, and Korean languages.

Retiring in 1953, Dr. Meeter lived until July 19, 1963 and was survived by his wife, Jennie, and son, Hugh.


Box and Folder Listing

Series 1: Calvin Seminary Courses.  Student Notebooks --- 1909-1911
Box 1
Item 1: Bijbel Geschiedenis I --- 1909
Item 2: Bijbel Geschiedenis II --- 1909
Item 3: Bijbel Geschiedenis III --- 1909
Item 4: Bijbel Studie, 5th year
Item 5: Bijbel Studie: Old Testament --- 1909
Item 6: Bijbel Studie: Old Testament --- 1909
Item 7: Bijbel Studie: Old Testament --- 1909
Item 8: Hermeneutics I --- 1909
Item 9: Hermeneutics II --- 1909
Item 10: Idolatrie I --- 1909-1910
Item 11: Idolatrie II --- 1909
Item 12: Idolatrie III --- 1909
Item 13: Isagogics I --- 1909-1910
Item 14: Isagogics II --- 1909-1910
Item 15: Isagogics.  Berkhof
Item 16: New Testament Exegesis, Romans 8 - I --- 1909
Item 17: New Testament Exegesis, Romans 8 - II --- 1909
Item 18: New Testament Exegesis, John 14 - I --- 1910
Item 19: New Testament Exegesis, John 14 - II --- 1910
Item 20: New Testament Exegesis, John 14 - III --- 1909-1910
Item 21: New Testament Exegesis, I John 1 - I, Berkhof --- undated
Item 22: New Testament Exegesis, I John 1 - II, Berkhof --- undated
Item 23: New Testament Exegesis, I John 1 - III, Berkhof --- undated
Item 24: Old Testament Exegesis, Micah --- 1909
Item 25: Old Testament Exegesis, Micah --- 1909-1910
Item 26: Old Testament Exegesis, Micah --- undated
Item 27: Old Testament Exegesis, Isaiah 54 - I --- 1910-1911
Item 28: Old Testament Exegesis, Isaiah 54 - II, Berkhof
Item 29: Old Testament Exegesis, Isaiah 54 - III, Berkhof
Item 30: Old Testament Exegesis, Psalms - I --- undated
Item 31: Old Testament Exegesis, Psalms - II --- undated
Series 2: Calvin Seminary Courses, 1909-1911; Princeton University Courses; 1912-1914.  Student Notebooks
Box 2
Item 1: Biblical Archeology, Berkhof --- undated
Item 2: Dogmatiek Ten Hoor --- undated
Item 3: New Testament Greek
Item 4: Advanced Hebrew Grammar, Dr. Prus
Item 5: Book of Acts, Prof. Burton
Item 6: Church History, Vol. I, Dr. McMillan --- 1912-1913
Item 7: Corinthians, Dr. Machen
Item 8: Galatians
Item 9: French Revolution
Item 10: Fourth Gospel, Dr. G. Vos
Item 11: Introduction to Birth, Baptism, and Temptation of Christ
Item 12: Notes on Bible History --- 1912-1913
Item 13: Patristic Fathers
Item 14: Pauline Soteriology I, Dr. G. Vos
Item 15: Pauline Soteriology II, Dr. G. Vos
Item 16: Philosophy of Religion, Dr. Spaulding --- 1912-1913
Item 17: Justification
Item 18: Renaissance
Item 19: Princeton Seminary Courses.  Student Notebooks --- 1912-1914
Box 3
Item 20: Acts (NN)
Item 21: Biblical Theology of the Old Testament, Dr. G. Vos
Item 22: Church and the Roman Empire I, Walker
Item 23: Church and the Roman Empire II, Walker
Item 24: Doctrine of Justification of Sin
Item 25: Doctrine of Justification II
Item 26: Eighth Century Prophets, Dr. G. Vos
Item 27: English Prose of the 19th Century, Rev. H. Van Dyke
Item 28: The French Revolution I
Item 29: The French Revolution II
Item 30: The Napoleanic Era I, J.W. Thompson
Item 31: The Napoleanic Era II, J.W. Thompson
Item 32: The Napoleanic Era III, J.W. Thompson
Item 33: New Testament Greek Syntax, NN
Item 34: New Testament Theology I, Dr. G. Vos
Item 35: New Testament Theology II, Dr. G. Vos
Series 3: Princeton Seminary Student Notebooks, 1912-1914; Free University Student Notebooks, 1915-1916.  University of Chicago
Box 4
Item 1: Pauline Eschatology, Dr. G. Vos
Item 2: Person of Christ, Dr. Warfield
Item 3: Teaching of Epistle to the Hebrews, Dr. G. Vos
Item 4: Amos.  Free University, Dr. Van Gelderen
Item 5: Areopagus Rede.  Free University
Item 6: Ethieks: Dutch lecture notes.  Mimeographed (NN)
Item 7: Homiletics, (NN)
Item 8: Kerkrecht.  A.A. Kuyper, Vol. 1
Item 9: Kerkrecht.  A.A. Kupyer, Vol. 2
Item 10: Kerkrecht.  A.A. Kupyer, Vol. 3
Item 11: Kerkrecht.  A.A. Kuyper, Vol. 4
Item 12: New Testament Exegesis, Professor Grosheide
Item 13: New Testament Exegesis, Romans 8
Item 14: New Testament Exegesis, Professor Van Gelderen
Item 15: Old Testament Exegesis, Professor Van Gelderen
Item 16: Notebook I: Conversations with Dr. Bavinck and others
Item 17: Notebook II: Notes on readings
Item 18: Notebook III: Notes on Bavinck's Dogmatics
Item 19: Notebook IV: Notes on readings
Item 20: Notebook V: Outlines
Item 21: University of Chicago: Notebook on course on Essay
Item 22: University of Chicago: Notebook on readings
Item 23: Manual of forms --- 1912
Series 4: Publications: Background Material
Box 5
Item 1: Apologetics: Mimeographed Material in Two Volumes.  No author
Item 2: Allis, Oswald: "The Low and the Prophets."  Brochure --- 1925
Item 3: Beattle, Francis: "Calvinism and Modern "Nought" --- 1902
Item 4: Beknopte Beschrijving van Critas' Bijbelsche Modellen.  Booklet
Item 5: Berkouwer, Dr. G.C. "Wereldoorlog en Theologie" --- 22-Oct-45
Item 6: Bloemlezing vit Nederlandsche Dichters --- 1884
Item 7: Brolund, Erik "What is the Essential Difference Between Lutheranism and Calvinism?"  Paper read at Minister's Association --- May-36
Item 8: Centennial Celebration.  Reformed Churches in the West.  "Flowering Wilderness,"  Twenty Articles in booklet --- 1947
Item 9: Den Hartogh, G.M.  "De Tucht over Doopleden," Van den Brink, Zutphen
Item 10: Den Hartogh, G.M.  "Hot Eeuwige leven in het Kennen Van God en zign Christus."  Sermon on John 17:3 --- 13 Mei 1945
Item 11: Den Houting, W.H.  "De Erkenning Van den Doop, Buiten eigen Kerkverband Bediend." Kok, te Kampen.  Booklet --- 1936
Item 12: Du Plessis, L. J.  "Die Calvinisme in sy Aktualiteit Gehandhaaf" in  Koers --- Jun-44
Item 13: English Reformed Church of Amsterdam --- 1907
Item 14: Ferwerder, T.  "Wat moet de Kerk doen on haat invloed on het volksleven to handhaven."  Booklet --- 1919
Item 15: Geesink, W.  "De Dogmatische Grondslag Den Veije Universiteit Te Amsterdam."  Rede --- 1904
Item 16: Gereformeerde Kerkbode van Huizun --- 25-Jun-37
Item 17: Grosheide, F.W., "Kernvorming."  Toesprack --- 9-Oct-45
Item 18: Grosheide, F.W., "Nationaal en Internationaal Naat de Schrift." in Schild en Pijl --- 1920
Item 19: Grosheide, F.W., "Schriftgezag" in Schild en Pijl --- 1918
Item 20: Hoeksema, H.  "The Biblical Ground for the Baptism of Infants." Pamphlet
Item 21: Holl, Karl.  "Die Frage des Zinsnehmens Und. des Wuchers in der reformierten Kirch."  from a "fest gabe" --- 1922
Item 22: Honig, A.G.. "Godgeleerdheid en Wijsbegeerte." Rede --- 8-Apr-03
Item 23: Hospers, G.H.  Apologetics: "A Study and a Critique."  Brochure
Item 24: Hyma, Albert: "Calvinism and Capitalism in the Netherlands, 1555-1700." Reprint from The Journal of Modern History --- Sep-38
Item 25: Hylkema, G.W.  "The Free Christian School."  Booklet --- 1918
Item 26: Janssen, Dr. R.  "Het Synodale Vonnis en Zijne Voorgeschie den is Kerkrechtelijk Beoondeeld."  Brochure --- 1922
Item 27: Die Kerkbode.  Suid-Arika --- 1847-1949
Item 28: Kringschetsen.  Bond van Meisjesveveenigingen --- 1933
Item 29: Kuper, A.  "De Bautholongeusnacht."  Booklet --- 1872
Item 30: Kuyper, A.  "De Meiboom in de Kap."  Speech --- April 24, 1913
Item 31: Kuyper, A.  "De Aarde het Middelpunt van het Heelal." in Schild en Pijl --- 1919
Item 32: Maand Blad --- April 1937 - June 1937
Item 33: La Maison de Calvin (Calvin Memorial) a Noyon Council of the Huguenot Society of Paris --- 1925
Item 34: Ons Kringleven: Bond van Meisjes veveenigingen --- 1934
Item 35: Patton, Francis Landey, Benjamin Breckinridge Warfield.  A memorial Address --- 1921
Item 36: Pieters, V.D.M.  Why We Baptize Infants.  Brochure --- 1929
Item 37: Pieters, A.  "The Christian Attitude Towards War" --- 1932
Item 38: Pine, F.W. The Farewell Address of George Washington.  American Book Company, N.Y. --- 1911
Item 39: Post, J.S. "De Schrijver van den Hebreerbrief."  Jaargang Aflevering
Item 40: Spiering, A.M.  "Eventjes" in het Volle leven.  Booklet
Item 41: Stoker, H.G.  Die Problema Tologie Van Die Tydsvorme.  Reprint
Item 42: De Taak en het werk der Propagandiste for Young Women's Societies in the Netherlands --- 1935
Item 43: Ter Borg, Catechismus op ondenwijzing.  Brochure --- 1923
Item 44: Uit en Voorde Practijk.  Booklet of Bond van Meisjesveveenigingeu --- 1935
Item 45: Vanden Berg, B.  "Ons Kringleven" --- 1934
Item 46: Vollenhoven, D.H.Th.  "De Beteekenis van het Calvinisme voor de Reformatie van de Wijsbegeert.  Reprint from Anti-revolutionaire Staatkunde
Item 47: Van Lonkhuyzen, J.  Article from Onze Toekmost --- 1924
Item 48: Van Lonkhuyzen, J.  "lets over geref."  Kevkrecht.  Reprint from Gereformeerd Theologisch Trjdschvift. --- January 1931
Item 49: Van Lonkhuyzen, J.  Press clippings --- 1925
Item 50: Warfield, B.B.  "Calvin als Theoloog en de stand van het Calvinisme in Onzentijd."  Kok, Kampen --- 1919
Item 51: Warfield, B.B.  "The Bible, the Book of Mankind."  Paper at World's Bible Congress --- 1915
Item 52: Warfield, B.B.  "The Bible Doctrine of Inspiration."  Reprint Christian Thought --- 1893
Item 53: Warfield, B.B.  "The Confession of Faith as Revised in 1903."  Reprint
Item 54: Warfield, B.B.  "Het Godsdienstige Leven van den Theologischen Student."  Kok Te Kampan" --- 1920
Item 55: Warfield, B.B.  "Calvin's Doctrine of the Creation."
Item 56: Warfield, B.B.  "Four Hymns and Some Religious Verses." --- 1910
Item 57: Warfield, B.B.  "Jesus's Mission" in The Princeton Theological Review, October --- 1915
Item 58: Wernie, D. Paul.  "Johannes Calvin."  Vortrag --- 1909
Item 59: Wirtz, J.C.  "In Dagen van Crisis."  Kok,  Kampen --- 1918
Item 60: Yearbook of Vrije Universiteit --- 1926
Box 6: Apologetics.  Defense of Christian Theism.  Two Volumes:
Item 1: Volume 1 - Wezeman, F.H.  "Project Studies in the History and Literature of the Israelitish People."  Manuscript used in Chicago Christian High School --- undated
Item 2: Volume 2 - Wezeman, F.H.  "Project studies in the life and Teachings of Jesus."  Mimeographed manuscript used in Chicago Christian High --- undated
Series 5: Sermons --- 1917 - 1924
Box 7: Preached while at Neland Avenue Christian Reformed Church of Grand Rapids, Michigan.  They cover the whole scope of the Church Year, including sermons on the Heidelberg Catechism and sermons for special days
Box 8: Preached while at Neland Avenue Christian Reformed Church of Grand Rapids, Michigan.  Mostly special day sermons for Christmas, New Year's, Prayer-day, Funerals, Lord's Supper, etc.
Box 9: Preached while at Neland Avenue Christian Reformed Church of Grand Rapids, Michigan.  More special day sermons, including Christian Education, Pentecost, Good Friday, etc.
Box 10
Item 1: A small box of sermon outlines frequently preached according to the dates and places on each sermon.  Favorite Texts
Folder 1: Hand-written or typed sermons, including several funeral sermons, as well as regular sermons
Series 6: Correspondence --- 1911 - 1958
Box 11
Folder 1: Alphabet index of correspondence --- 1911-1958
Folder 2: Correspondence --- 1911-1913
Folder 3: Correspondence --- January-April 1914
Folder 4: Correspondence --- 1914
Folder 5: Correspondence --- July 1917-May 1919
Folder 6: Correspondence --- 1919
Folder 7: Correspondence --- 1920-1928
Folder 8: Correspondence --- 1930-1934
Folder 9: Correspondence --- 1935-1939
Folder 10: Correspondence --- 1940-1942
Folder 11: Correspondence --- April 1943-August 1946
Folder 12: Correspondence --- September 1946-1949
Folder 13: Correspondence --- 1950-1958
Folder 14: William Trapp correspondence with H.H. Meeter
Folder 15: correspondence --- undated
Folder 16: Personal correspondence, between family and friends; Call letters from various churches; letters of recommendation for others; miscellaneous letters --- 1914-1950
Folder 17: Classical and Synodical reports and correspondence regarding Herman Hoeksema case --- 1924
Folder 18: Correspondence --- 1909-1955
Series 7: Calvin College Period --- 1926 - 1969
Box 12
Folder 1: Academic matters pertaining to his Calvin College teaching --- 1928-1955
Folder 2: Addresses delivered --- 1930-1945
Folder 3: Basic Ideas of Calvinism --- 1957-1969
Folder 4: Bible as a Book, The
Folder 5: Bible History
Folder 6: Book reviews by H. Henry Meeter --- 1931-1955
Folder 7: Calvin, John, Life of. --- undated
Folder 8: Calvinism, Article on. --- undated
Folder 9: Calvinism, Bibliography
Folder 10: Calvinism, Lectures; Basic principles of
Folder 11: Calvinism, Lectures; International Law
Folder 12: Calvinism, Lectures; Literature, Bibliography of
Folder 13: Calvinism, Lectures; Missions
Box 13
Folder 1: Calvinism, Lectures; 19th Century
Folder 2: Calvinism, Lectures; Revival of
Folder 3: Calvinism, Lectures; Society
Folder 4: Calvinism, Lectures; Today, its spread
Folder 5: Calvinism, Lectures; War
Folder 6: Calvinism, Syllabus; Fundamental Principles of --- 1947
Folder 7: Calvinism, Syllabi; Life of John Calvin, 2 copies --- 1947
Folder 8: Calvinism, Syllabus; Politics
Folder 9: Calvinism, Syllabus; Theology
Folder 10: Christ's Miracles; Evidences --- 1925-1926
Folder 11: Christian Ethics, Dr. C. Bouma notes
Folder 12: Christian Evidences
Folder 13: Church History, Manuscript by D.H. Kromminga
Folder 14: Church History, Book Reviews, papers on
Box 14
Folder 1: Hebrew culture (1), Geography
Folder 2: Hebrew culture (2)
Folder 3: Hebrew culture (3), Student papers
Folder 4: Institutes, articles on the
Folder 5: Introduction to the Books of the Bible, Old Testament
Folder 6: Introduction to the Books of the Bible, New Testament (2 copies)
Folder 7: Notes on reading (3), plus listing of books donated to Sioux Center Junior College --- 1957
Box 15
Folder 1-4: Reformed Doctrine Lectures
Folder 5: Revelation, Outline --- 1937-1938
Folder 6: Stone Lectures, Comments on --- January 4, 1949
Folder 7
Item 1: Student papers --- 1908
Item 2: Bound Material: Old Testament and New Testament Syllabus
Folder 8: Calvinism Book Reviews
Series 8: Varia --- 1918-1982
Box 16
Folder 1: Address of Fifteenth Anniversary of Neland Ave. CRC --- December 17, 1930
Folder 2: Condolence Letter on the death of Mrs. H.H. Meeter --- March 9, 1925
Folder 3: Dedication Program for H.H. Meeter Center for Calvin Studies --- May 5, 1982
Folder 4: Farewell Chapel Talk delivered to Calvin Students --- May 9, 1956
Folder 5: Genealogical material
Folder 6: Indexes on Subjects Studied
Folder 7: Letter to men in the service --- December 3, 1918
Folder 8: Neland Ave. CRC Annual Reports.  Incomplete
Folder 9: Notebooks with jottings on family visitations
Folder 10: Notice of death of H.H. Meeter in Centraal Weekblad --- August 17, 1963
Folder 11: Packet of Sermons (Dutch) of Contemporary Pastors
Folder 12: Personal material
Folder 13: Record of Sermons Preached in Neland Ave. CRC
Folder 14: Trip to Bethesda in Denver, Colorado
Folder 15: A visit to H.H. Meeter reported in Chimes --- May 8, 1931
Folder 16: Index cards:  Calvinism
Box 17
Folder 1: Diploma, Calvin Theological Seminary --- 1911
Folder 2: Diploma, Princeton Seminary, B.D. --- 1913
Folder 3: Diploma, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam --- 1919