some related activities. It was called catechism. The catechism
program was good. It was an educational experience and a time to see
and interact with the other kids of the church. In catechism student
participation was good. Both the Elders of the church and the parents
worked to make it a success because visitation by the Pastor and
Elders made a cooperative effort to get the kids to the church for the
catechism sessions. We studied the Compendium of the Heidelberg
Catechism. It served to open up the Biblical truths of Sin,
Salvation, and Service (gratitude) for the Lord's Grace and Mercy. I
have good memories of those classes. Rev. Andrew De Vries was my
favorite teacher. He gave some graphic illustrations of biblical
events. He did the best pantomime of John the Baptist eating locusts
and wild honey that I have ever heard or seen The Elders were good
teachers too and fulfilled their teaching responsibilities with
devotion and love for the Lord. I remember their work.
of the church. Two stand out in my memory. First,our gathering in
Vollink's store before and after the catechism classes. We usually
had a little money in our pockets. Five or ten cents for the offering
and two to five cents for candy or soda at Vollink's store. I think
it was a brisk business opportunity for Lew Vollink (the brother who
usually ran the store while his brother Sime ran the peddle wagon).
Lew was a nice guy, friendly and good natured. But, one thing
aggravated him. The kids would buy their candy and soda and then hop
up and sit on the counter. This was a "no-no" for Lew. He was busy
and wanted to help his customers and kids hopping up on the counter
were in his way. He would say "off the counter guys" but his words
were ineffective So! - he had an ingenious idea. He strung a wire
just under the edge of the counter; the place where the
counter-hoppers gripped their hands when they sat on the counter. Lew
cleverly connected the wire to a couple of telephone batteries with a
switch that sent an electrical charge through the wire when the
counter hoppers were up on the counter. The "jolt" really worked! It
cleared the counter with a flip of the switch and the kids got the
message. Lew was not only a good shop-keeper but also a telephone
technician who knew all about telephone batteries and their electrical
charge. And he knew how to interact with the kids of the church.
Catechism class. Across the road to the west was a hatchery. During
the hatching season a trash heap was made outside the hatchery. It
was the place where the unhatched eggs were dumped. That trash heap
with the unhatched eggs caught the attention of some of the boys
leaving the church after catechism class. They walked over to check it
out. One idea led to another and soon there was an egg throwing
contest. It went from bad to worse and got out of hand and was a bad
experience for everyone. It happened just once and everyone was
convinced I think, that once was enough.
To my knowledge the hatchery closed its operation after a very short
business venture in Borculo. It must have closed because business
slowed; it couldn't have been because of the catechumens.
All in all, catechism was a blessing for me and the social activities
associated with it were good for us farm kids who needed the
interactions with the other kids of the community. Life was simple
but good in the 1930's.
Nelson Gebben