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William H. Rutgers Collection, 1927-1979

Collection Overview

Title: William H. Rutgers Collection, 1927-1979

ID: COLL/216

Creator: William H. Rutgers (1898-1980)

Extent: 23.0 Boxes

Arrangement: Folder level description

Abstract

Minister of the Christian Reformed Church, President of Grundy College, and professor of dogmatics at the Calvin Theological Seminary. The papers include biographical files; sermons; addresses; articles; correspondence; lectures; radio messages; book reviews; Seminary situation files, 1950-1953; Grundy College file, 1930; and student notes.

Biographical Note

In 1978, Dr. W. Rutgers took part in the installation service of Rev. L. Kerkstra at Kelloggsville Christian Reformed Church. He recalled the crisis time when he had accepted a call and the same congregation – in the fall of 1952. In June of that year Dr. Rutgers was one of the members of the Calvin Theological Seminary Staff involved in the “seminary situation”. Synod did not reappoint him to the chair of dogmatics. The Grand Rapids Press headlined an article reporting the action of Synod as follows: “Synod Action Ousts Four of Calvin Seminary Faculty”. Rutgers had served in the Seminary since 1944. In the brief message to the congregation of Kelloggsville he said, “Permit me to relate an experience I had with the call to this congregation several years ago, 26 to be exact. It was at a time that I had passed through a shattering Waterloo sort of experience. I guess most people, if we live long enough, will have some such low-valley experience in life. Seemingly, for me, the rug had been pulled from under my foot; for a moment, everything seemed to lie in ruins. However, God was so merciful. I say this not to be boastful, but as an experience of fact, within a month or so He provided me with eight calls. I cannot tell you how ashamed or embarrassed I was for my valley experience and the sinking of heart experience. But now where to go? But do you know, after much though and prayer before the three weeks ended, all the others were cancelled out and this call, the first to be cancelled, was the very one I accepted.”

The Seminary situation experience, although a spirit and mind shattering one, did not leave him embittered. He testified that God’s grace was all-sufficient in his bitter disappointment. He was a man with a forgiving and forgetting spirit.

William H. Rutgers began his life in Firth, Nebraska on October 26, 1898. His parents, John and Sena Rutgers moved to Lynden, Washington where William received his elementary and high school education. For a few years, he worked on the farm, in a grocery store, at a lumbermill, and served in the U.S. Navy.

When he made profession of faith at twenty-one, he was constrained to enter the ministry. His preparation included studies at Calvin College and Seminary, Princeton Theological Seminary and the Free University in Amsterdam where he received his doctor’s degree with a thesis on Premillennialism in America.

After graduation from the Free University, he became president of Grundy College and pastor or the Grundy Center and Holland, Iowa Churches. In 1933, he moved to Cicero, Illinois to serve the First Cicero congregation. He remained there for ten years. A farewell program gave thanks “for capable and effective leadership, for consecrated service, for nobility of character, for diligence and patience, for comradely fellowship in joy and sorrow.”

The Synod of 1943 elected Dr. W.H. Rutgers as alternate to the chair of Dogmatic Theology at Calvin Theological Seminary. When Dr. Cornelius Van Til declined to occupy the chair, William Rutgers accepted this call of the denomination and served from 1943 until 1952, when his teaching was terminated.

From 1952-1958 Dr. Rutgers served as pastor of Kelloggsville, Michigan CRC; from 1958-1964 he was minister if Bethany CRC in Bell Flower, CA; and from 1964-1969 his ministry was at 2nd Highland CRC in Illinois. During his retirement years, delegates at various classes heard William Rutgers enthusiastically speak about the work of the American Bible Society and the Evangelical Literature League. He wore the two hats capably.

Dr. W. Rutgers’ wider ministry included delegation to seven Synods, member of the Board of Trustees of Calvin College and Seminary and of the Board of home Missions, and synodical representative to the National Association of Evangelicals.

A heart attack laid him low, and after being hospitalized, he died on July 31, 1980. He was survived by his wife of 53 years, Johanna (Bloemendaal), 1 son, and 2 daughters.

Box and Folder Listing

Series 1: Varia
Box 1
Folder 1: Papers on Student Days
Folder 2: Biographical Material: Birth Certificate from First CRC in Lynden, Washington
Folder 3: Biographical Material: Call Letters and correspondence
Folder 4: Biographical Material: Correspondence - Rev E to Dr Rutgers --- 1943
Folder 5: Biographical Material: Correspondence with family - Marilyn
Folder 6: Biographical Material: Family roots, correspondence --- 1930
Folder 7: Biographical Material: Passports --- 1927 and 1929
Folder 8: Biographical Material: Pictorial memento of visit of Dr. H. Ridderbos to US --- 1956
Folder 9: Biographical Material: Officer of Synod Press clipping --- 1960
Folder 10: Biographical Material: Rutger's reception at Grundy College, Clipping from Grundy College Messenger --- December 15, 1930
Folder 11: Biographical Material: Testimonial Dinner at Classis --- May 14, 1968
Folder 12: The Candidate: Classical sermon for Classis Ostvreisland --- 1930
Folder 13: The Ecumenist: Relationship with National Association of Evangelicals
Folder 14: The Ecumenist: Speaker in behalf of TELL and American Bible Society --- 1970s
Folder 15
Item 1: The Pastor: Addresses - Calvinism Club --- 1947
Item 2: The Pastor:  Jubilee at First Lynden --- 1950
Item 3: The Pastor: Mission Challenge --- undated
Folder 16: The Pastor: Addresses at Mount Hermon for Young People --- 1959
Folder 17
Item 1: The Pastor: Anniversary and Dedication Booklets of Holland, IA --- 1945
Item 2: The Pastor: Anniversary and Dedication Booklets of Kelloggsville, MI --- 1954
Folder 18: The Pastor: Arcadia CRC vs E Kappe, communications --- 1954
Folder 19: The Pastor: Correspondence and articles --- 1964
Folder 20: The Pastor: Farewell sermon at First Cicero CRC --- 1943
Folder 21: The Pastor: Fundamental Truths of Christianity and Five Points of Calvinism Kelloggsville --- 1955/1956
Folder 22: The Pastor: Seven Words from the Cross --- 1939-1972
Folder 23: The Pastor: Los Angeles CRC and Wm I Buiten Case --- 1959-1961
Box 2
Folder 1: The Pastor: Marriage forms and wedding notes Also see under Wedding Messages
Folder 2: The Pastor: Membership of 2nd Highland CRC, Comment on members --- 1965
Folder 3: Reviewer of books: Karl Barth, Prolegomena zur Christlichen Dogmatik --- undated
Folder 4: Reviewer of books: MR De Hann's The Blunders of Paul --- 1960
Folder 5: Reviewer of books: The New Pentecostalism, reprint from Eternity - notes
Folder 6: Reviewer of books: TF Torrence on the New Modernism of C Van Til --- 1947
Folder 7: The Student: Collected Poems
Folder 8: The Student: Doctrinal issues Papers on the Faith of our Fathers and Common Grace
Folder 9: The Student: History of Jonah Paper --- undated
Folder 10: The Student: Paper for Dr S Mathew of U of Chicago --- 1932
Folder 11: The Student: Referaat Gehouden door Den Heer D Langedijk, on Christian Education --- 1932
Folder 12: The Student: Princeton University graduate school record book --- 1926
Folder 13: The Teacher: Commencement address to Seminary graduates --- 1952
Folder 14: The Teacher: Dogmatic notes and examinations --- 1949
Folder 15: The Teacher: Introduction and outline of the Book of Galatians
Folder 16: The Teacher: Possible post-graduate courses
Folder 17: The Teacher: Seminary Situation Papers --- 1950-1952
Folder 18: The Teacher: Student papers: F Handlogten, AW Hoogstrate, John Malestein, L Sweetman, A Veltkamp --- 1945-1951
Folder 19: The Writer: in Christian School News --- 1960/1961
Folder 20: The Writer: On Kindness, A Pertinent and Personal Question and Crusaders of the Faith
Series 2: Sermons in Booklets
Box 3
Item 1: Sermons in the Heidelberg Catechism --- 1931-1932/1933-1934
Item 2: Sermons on texts in Genesis to Romans --- 1926-1934
Series 3: Sermons in Booklets and on Half-Sheets
Box 4
Folder 1: Sermons in booklets: ? Corinthians to Hebrews --- 1926-1934
Folder 2: Sermons in booklets: ? Peter to Revelation --- 1932-1934
Folder 3: Genesis --- 1935-1976
Folder 4: Exodus --- 1934-1968
Folder 5: Numbers to Judges --- 1933-1963
Folder 6: I Samuel --- 1934-1953
Folder 7: I Kings to II Chronicles --- 1939-1972
Folder 8: Ezra to Job --- 1936-1957
Series 4: Sermons: Old Testament
Box 5
Folder 1: Psalms --- 1934-1972
Folder 2: Proverbs - Ecclesiastes --- 1935-1974
Folder 3: Isaiah --- 1934-1971
Folder 4: Jeremiah - Lamentations --- 1935-1941
Folder 5: Ezekiel - Daniel --- 1936-1959
Folder 6: Minor Prophets --- 1933-1960
Series 5: Sermons: New Testament
Box 6
Folder 1: Matthew 1-13 --- 1931-1961
Folder 2: Matthew 13-28 --- 1933-1979
Folder 3: Mark --- 1936-1963
Folder 4: Luke 1-21 --- 1934-1975
Folder 5: Luke 21 - John 9 --- 1934-1971
Box 7
Folder 1: John 9 - John 21 --- 1934-1979
Folder 2: Acts --- 1934-1967
Folder 3: Romans --- 1935-1963
Folder 4: I and II Corinthians --- 1934-1962
Folder 5: Galatians --- 1940-1962
Box 8
Folder 1: Ephesians --- 1934-1966
Folder 2: Philippians --- 1933-1968
Folder 3: Colossians --- 1934-1968
Folder 4: I Thessalonians - II Timothy --- 1934-1980
Folder 5: Titus - Philemon --- 1935-1963
Folder 6: Hebrews --- 1939-1963
Series 6: Sermons: New Testament and Heidelberg Catechism
Box 9
Folder 1: James - II Peter --- 1934-1965
Folder 2: I John --- 1935-1965
Folder 3: James to Revelations --- 1934-1952
Folder 4: Sermons in the Dutch language --- 1943-1973
Folder 5: Heidelberg Catechism sermons, LD 26-52 --- 1934-1935
(See box with booklets for LD 1-25)
Folder 6: Heidelberg Catechism Sermons, LD 1-7 --- 1935-1936
Box 10
Folder 1: Heidelberg Catechism, LD 7-20 --- 1936-1937
Folder 2: Heidelberg Catechism, LD 22-40 --- 1937-1938
Folder 3: Heidelberg Catechism, LD 40-52 --- 1938-1939
Folder 4: Heidelberg Catechism, LD 1-14 --- 1939-1940
Box 11
Folder 1: Heidelberg Catechism, LD 16-25 --- 1940-1941
Folder 2: Heidelberg Catechism, LD 26-45 --- 1941-1942
Folder 3: Heidelberg Catechism, LD 45-52 --- 1942
Folder 4: Heidelberg Catechism, LD 1-7 --- 1943
(incomplete)
Folder 5: Heidelberg Catechism, LD 1-12 --- 1952-1953
Folder 6: Heidelberg Catechism, LD 12-19 --- 1953-1954
Box 12
Folder 1: Heidelberg Catechism, LD 1-8 --- 1956
Folder 2: Heidelberg Catechism, LD 9-20 --- 1956-1957
Folder 3: Heidelberg Catechism, LD 21-32 --- 1957-1958
Folder 4: Heidelberg Catechism, selected LD's --- 1961-1979
Folder 5: Advent Sermons --- 1934-1964
Folder 6: Ascension Day Sermons --- 1934-1968
Box 13
Folder 1: Christmas Sermons --- 1930-1975
Folder 2: Easter Sermons --- 1934-1970
Folder 3: Good Friday Sermons --- 1934-1967
Folder 4: Lenten Sermons --- 1936-1967 (?)
Folder 5: Lenten Sermons --- 1960-1976 (??)
Folder 6: Pentecost Sermons --- 1934-1964
Series 7: Preparatory and Communion Sermons
Box 14
Folder 1: Preparatory --- 1930s
Folder 2: Preparatory --- 1940s
Folder 3: Preparatory --- 1950s
Folder 4: Preparatory --- 1960s
Folder 5: Communion --- 1930s
Folder 6: Communion --- 1940s
Folder 7: Communion --- 1950s
Series 8: Communion Sermons and Series Sermons
Box 15
Folder 1: Communion --- 1960s
Folder 2: Post-Communion Sermons --- 1934-1941
Folder 3: Post- Communion Sermons --- 1942-1969
Folder 4: Series Sermons: Beatitudes --- 1943 and 1958
Folder 5: Series Sermons: Christian Armor, Ephesians 6 --- 1934
Folder 6: Series on Elijah --- 1955
Folder 7: Series on Colossians 1 --- 1961
Folder 8: Series on I Peter 1 and 2 --- 1954
Folder 9: Series on James --- 1956
Folder 10: Series on Mountain Top Experiences
Series 9: Series Sermons and Special Day Sermons
Box 16
Folder 1: Series on Revelations 4-8 --- 1962
Folder 2: Series on Ruth --- 1961
Folder 3: Series on II Peter --- 1942
Folder 4: Series on Seven Churches --- 1957-1958
Folder 5: Series on Twelve Apostles --- 1936-1937
Folder 6: Series on What Shall I Do With Jesus? --- 1935
Folder 7: Mother's Day Sermons --- 1953,  1956, and 1974
Folder 8: New Years Day Sermons --- 1935-1963
(incomplete)
Folder 9: Old Years Day Sermons --- 1934-1976
(incomplete)
Folder 10: Prayer Day Sermons --- 1935-1972
(incomplete)
Series 10: Addresses and Messages
Box 17
Folder 1: Anniversary Messages (churches and schools) --- 1937-1978
Folder 2: Christian Education Messages (Commencements, etc) --- 1930-1959
Folder 3: Christian Education Messages (Commencements, etc) --- 1960-1973
Folder 4: Church Special Events addresses (farewells, etc)
Folder 5: Funeral Addresses --- 1930s
Folder 6: Funeral Addresses --- 1940s
Folder 7: Funeral Addresses --- 1950s
Box 18
Folder 1: Funeral Addresses --- 1960s
Folder 2: Funeral Addresses --- 1970s
Folder 3: Funeral Address for Dr S Volbeda --- May 1953
Series 11: Addresses and Messages
Box 18
Folder 4: Installation Messages --- 1939-1969
Folder 5: Mission Rally Addresses --- 1935-1968
Folder 6: National Holiday Messages --- 1943-1976
Folder 7: Reformation Day Addresses --- 1941-1974
Box 19
Folder 1: Society (Men's and Women's) Messages --- 1935-1965
Folder 2: Special Speaking engagements, (Kiwanis, etc)
Folder 3: Sunday School Rallies --- 1932-1958 and undated
Folder 4: Thanksgiving Day messages --- 1934-1962
Folder 5: Wedding messages --- 1945-1969
Folder 6: Youth Rally addresses --- 1937-1962
Folder 7: Papers: various occasions
Folder 8: Papers relating to the Belgic Confession
Folder 9: Prayers
Series 12: Miscellaneous
Box 20
Folder 1: Syllabus: Evidence of Christianity Princeton --- 1925-1926
Folder 2: Press clipping: Rutgers, Pres Of Grundy College --- 1930
Folder 3: Paper: “Premillennialistic Conception Concerning Israel and the Church” --- undated
Folder 4: Theology: NT Biblical Theology by G Vos Princeton Notes added
Folder 5: Radio Messages, WHFC, Genesis-Nehemiah --- 1939-1943
Folder 6: Radio Messages, Psalms-Proverbs --- 1939-1943
Folder 7: Radio Messages, Isaiah-Habukkuk --- 1939-1943
Series 13: Radio Messages --- 1939-1943
Box 21
Folder 1: Radio Messages, Matthew-John
Folder 2: Radio Messages, Acts-Galatians
Folder 3: Radio Messages, Ephesians-II Timothy
Folder 4: Radio Messages, Titus-Revelation
Folder 5: Radio Messages, Calvin's Institutes  Seminary class notes
Folder 6: Dogmatics: Theology Proper ?
Series 14: Seminary Courses --- 1944-1952
Box 22
Folder 1: Dogmatics: Theology Proper ?? Outlines and notes
Folder 2: Dogmatics: Anthropology Outlines and notes
Folder 3: Dogmatics: Christology Outlines and notes
Folder 4: Dogmatics: Soteriology ? Outlines and notes
Folder 5: Dogmatics: Soteriology ?? Outlines and notes
Folder 6: Dogmatics: Soteriology ??? Outlines and notes
Box 23
Folder 1: Dogmatics: Ecclesiology Outlines and notes
Folder 2: Dogmatics: Eschatology Outlines and notes
Folder 3: Introduction to Dogmatics Outlines and notes
Folder 4: History of Dogmatics Outlines and notes
Series 15: Seminary Courses --- 1944-1952
Box 23
Folder 5: The Kingdom of God in Modern Thought and Life --- 1945
Folder 6: The Knowledge Man can have of God Paper
Folder 7: Symbolics Mimeographed copy --- Sept 1948-Jan 1949
Folder 8: Symbolics Mimeographed copy undated
Series 16: Oversize
Box 24
Item 1: Calvin Theological Seminary diploma --- 1926
Item 2: Calvin College Diploma --- 1926
Item 3: Princeton University diploma --- 1927
Item 4: Free University of Amsterdam admission --- 1927
Item 5: Free University of Amsterdam lecture schedule --- 1928-1929
Item 6: Free University of Amsterdam Drs diploma --- 1929
Item 7: Classis Ostfriesland doloma --- 1930
Item 8: Gundy College promissory notes --- 1932-1934
Series 17: Photographs
Box OS 33
Item 1: Princeton University Students --- c 1927
Item 2: Synod --- 1943
Item 3: Synod --- 1948
Box 24
Item 9: Synod --- 1936
Item 10: Synod --- 1960
Item 11: Synod --- undated
Item 12: National Association of Evangelicals --- 1946
Item 13: Group of young men --- undated
Item 14: Calvin College Preseminarians --- 1914
Item 15: Calvin College Drama Club --- 1918
Item 16: Calvin College, Glee Club --- 1920