The Association Historical Circle De Marne has come into possession of two old notebooks containing the minutes of the Anti-Revolutionary electoral association in Houwerzijl. The first covers the period from November 25, 1918 to January 8, 1931, the second the period from July 20, 1945 to December 18, 1953. Two interesting sources that provide a picture of an AR electoral association in the interwar period and the years of construction after the Second World War, and that in a small, predominantly Reformed village with farm workers as the largest social group. Moreover, they show how national and world politics played a role in this.
Chapters
- The minutes of the meeting dated November 25, 1918
- Topics of discussion in the meetings from 3-2-1919 to 8 January 1931
- Some current political issues in the period 1918-1931
The minutes of the meeting dated November 25, 1918
November 1918, the First World War (The Great War) has ended. In Houwerzijl a group of (undoubtedly Reformed) men meets under the leadership of Rev. Van Leeuwen. First Psalm 89:7 is sung, then the chairman (the pastor) leads the prayer. The chairman’s opening word nicely illustrates how many in our country, especially the male brothers, experienced that time immediately after the First World War. The secretary, J. Hoeksema, took minutes:
he [the chairman] pointed out the event of the last few days. Thank God we had obtained an end to the great war through the armistice, but from the turmoil of the peoples another monster emerged, namely that of the revolution.
Turning to the events in our own country, the Chairman pointed out that fortunately, due to God’s preserving hand, we were not involved in the war, but we nevertheless felt the war indirectly. Spr. calls on all to hold high the banner of the Gospel.
In our country too, attempts have been made to familiarize us with the revolution in practical terms. Fortunately, this danger has also averted, at least for the time being, but everyone should be warned because revolution is the fruit of disbelief, and thus always rears its head up boldly.
From contribution to nomination
Here we briefly pay attention to a few matters that were discussed in that first meeting after the First World War:
The treasurer of the board, S. Datema, appears to receive some money into the association treasury. But it doesn’t last. Although each member is asked to contribute a minimum of 40 cents, the vast majority of this must be paid to national, provincial and municipal bodies; the association itself will then still have 5 cents per member left.
One of the agenda items of this meeting is the nomination for the upcoming election of the Provincial Council. The draft program suggests that people from different classes, peasants, middle class and working class, should be nominated. Mr. Kopper (a schoolmaster? He does not appear on the list of teachers in the book ,Houwerzijl, a village in the Marne,, p. 122), J. Rietema, E. Musschinga and K. Koning are nominated. The secretary will pass on the names to the secretary of the Bedum constituency.
The chairman closes the meeting. The secondary of the board, J. Rietema, leads the prayer of thanks.
Topics of discussion in the meetings from 3-2-1919 to 8 January 1931
Women’s suffrage
At the meeting of February 3, 1919, it emerged that women would be allowed to vote for the first time in the upcoming municipal elections (May 20). Chairman Rev. Van Leeuwen puts it this way: our women will soon also have to go to the polls and become members of our electoral association to increase their knowledge in these matters as well.
At a meeting in 1920, secretary Hoeksema gave a speech on women’s suffrage. Previously, in his opening speech, the chairman had pointed out the commotions that are also emerging in the municipality of Ulrum; the actions of Mansholt et al., who often make themselves heard, are mentioned. He advocates that our council members arm themselves against this from the armory of our ar principles.
When the secretary gives his speech, he refers to the actions of Mansholt et al. The speaker believes that women should be admitted to the meetings of the electoral association so that they can also acquire knowledge in that field. But the vast majority of members present reject this. So Houwerzijl will not support the proposal in question at the central meeting of electoral associations that will soon be held in Ulrum.
Afterwards, during a meeting, it is agreed to invite the women to attend a meeting. In the meeting of October 10, 1921, it was discussed that, in connection with the women’s issue in politics, it must be recognized that our party may not open up passive suffrage to women.
Candidates for workers
In the minutes of February 3, 1919 we also read that the candidacy for the Provincial Council, constituency Bedum, was discussed. Some members appear to have bad opinions about the way in which the nomination was made. They believe that the workers’ candidates have been set back and that should not have happened. And it could happen because many attendees, including the representatives from Houwerzijl, had left early because it was getting so late.
The deputies defend themselves. H. Mulder points out that a delegate has to pay for everything himself, then he has to attend the meeting all day and then he would also come home late at night. Whether that complaint still played a role three years later is unclear. not clear, but it is then decided to give compensation to two men who are delegated by the AR in Houwerzijl to a meeting in Bedum. They will both receive two guilders to cover costs. You would say that that was not such a crazy amount at the time, but no, some in Houwerzijl apparently thought differently about that, because the meeting noted that this was very meager. The chairman promises that they will receive more if that proves necessary.
The social issue
In January 1924 the secretary spoke about Political and social interests. On that occasion, we urge organization in all areas of work, in order to ensure that corporate peace and our homeland flourish more and more, and that law and justice prevail.
Don’t think that employee participation in the company is something of our time, or at least something from after the Second World War. No, already in the meeting of December 21, 1926, a report was given by friend A. Meier about participation in the company. He starts by stating that it is not conceivable for a layman in this area to serve clear wine. He will have to limit himself to putting forward some broad outlines based on a speech by Mr Smeenk (an important leader at that time of Christian social action within the ARP). That the subject is considered important, at least by the note-taker in Houwerzijl, is evident from the fact that no report in that period was noted as extensively as this; its report consists of three pages.
In the meeting of December 18, 1930, C. Huizenga speaks about the question of why the laxity in our party and more specifically in our departments. The school struggle, he says, had forged our people together. After that struggle, lethargy developed. And all this while
a new struggle has developed, namely the social struggle. Dr. Kuyper had pointed this out early, but he was left standing alone. The speaker points out that in this area too we must follow Christ who has preceded us in this. After this introduction, a vigorous discussion ensued. Yet this conversation once again showed that knowledge is gained by exchanging ideas.
Revolutionary upheavals
As we saw in the minutes of the first meeting (November 1918), the threat of revolution was a hot topic in the period immediately after the First World War. It was apparently still relevant the following year, because on May 22, 1919, de Vries (undoubtedly master I. de Vries, who was a teacher at the reformed primary school in Houwerzijl in the years 1921-1923) gave a lecture on Revolutionary turmoil.
After the speech (of which nothing else has been recorded), a discussion ensues about what a revolution actually is. Reference is made to the 80 Years’ War and Cromwell’s war of freedom to prove that a government must indeed be put aside, namely if it does things that go against God’s word and violate privileges. And we have already pointed out that the stirrings are also taking place in Ulrum in the paragraph above about women’s suffrage, in which we wrote how the actions of Mansholt et al. were discussed at a meeting in 1920.
The AR in the council of Ulrum
At the meeting of February 3, 1919, in which the municipal election of May 20 that year was discussed, a list for those elections also had to be drawn up. It is expected that the majority of two members could drop to one. In that context, it is considered advisable to grant the candidate of the other Protestant Christian party in the municipality of Ulrum, the Christian Historical Union, a place on the AR list. (That candidate is Mr. Loots.) The central AR electoral association in the municipality of Ulrum appears to have once decided to help the CHU candidate in the council if the CHU group itself were unable to come up with its own list . However, the AR electoral association in Ulrum has not kept to that agreement; Houwerzijl will do that, it is decided.
In January 1931, Mr. Dorst van Zoutkamp spoke about an AR municipal program. There isn’t, but it should be there. Points that should be included include Sunday rest, public morality, alcohol control, public health, public housing, school affairs, agricultural workers law, social affairs and unemployment.
The AR Party – national
In the meeting of January 17, 1921, the chairman reports on the party day held in Groningen. Mr Colijn and Idenburg were speakers there. This is where, among other things, the multimillion-dollar plan was unfolded. This plan involved raising money for a Kuyper lectern to teach the AR principles developed by Dr. A. Kuyper (Kuyper had died in the autumn of 1920). A committee is set up to organize the collection in Houwerzijl. (Afterwards, NLG 900 was collected in the village.)
The program; the principles
- Kuyper’s views did not disappear with his death. For example, J. Rietema – he became chairman after the departure of Rev. Van Leeuwen from Houwerzijl – speaks about the anti-thesis during his opening of the meeting on January 17, 1922, in connection with the approaching election battle. We must, he states, put aside our differences [as Christians] to defeat the common enemy, it may be, in the name of the Lord. (By the way, the elections in 1922 turned out well for the Christian parties.)
In the meeting of December 1925, concern was expressed about the undermining of marriage by the unfaithful men. We must arm ourselves against this, it is said. A problem with this is that many of our men consider the Chr. Press is not read. The men are encouraged to do so.
In November 1926 the draft program for the state elections was discussed. In art. 4 it is advocated that the mentally ill or mentally ill be cared for in institutions that are in accordance with their philosophy of life and confession. Isn’t that a task of the church? it is asked. No, says Chairman Rietema, it is a task of the government, because it has to ensure public safety and tranquility.
During the meeting of January 1928, teacher Pool spoke about art. 15 of the AR program, which deals with a) corpse burning and b) vaccination. The question is whether burning of the body should be allowed in a Christian country (it does happen). It is concluded with the hope that this lawlessness will soon no longer be observed. The AR has always been against vaccination. The speaker hopes that the law imposing compulsory vaccination will be inactivated.
Some current political issues in the period 1918-1931
The Fleet Act
In the meeting of December 14, 1923, the head of the school, S. de Jonge, spoke about The Rejection of the Fleet Act. The speaker believes that a strong fleet is needed to strengthen the Indies. There are two motives for this: prosperity and the spread of religion.
The legation to the Pope
The cabinet fell because the CHU voted with the SGP against the continued existence of the Dutch legation to the Pope (November 1925). This event is discussed by the AR electoral association in Houwerzijl by master M. van der Veen (head of the school from 1925-1961). He supports the national AR policy; he considers the continued existence of the legation necessary.
Disarmament
During the meeting of January 8, 1931, a letter from the ARP central committee was discussed warning against unilateral disarmament. A brochure is attached. The board will order the brochure, read it and request some copies after approval.
read more
- AR Electoral Association in Houwerzijl 1945-1953
- Reformed churches in Houwerzijl
- Mennonites in Ulrum and Houwerzijl – reduction in numbers
- Old Flemish people in northwest Groningen (Ulrum-Houwerzijl)
- Hendrik de Cock – Cycling junction route