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John L. Schaver Collection, 1923-1951

Collection Overview

Title: John L. Schaver Collection, 1923-1951

ID: COLL/221

Creator: Schaver, John L. (1897-1956)

Extent: 1.5 Cubic Feet. More info below.

Arrangement: Folder level description

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

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