RESOLUTION OF SYMPATHY

The Banner of Truth Committee mourns the loss of a dear brother, friend, and member.

MR. THOMAS MOERDYK

Who passed away February 1, 1971 at the age of 68. His gain is our loss. May the Lord comfort his beloved wife, children and grandchildren, with that comfort which only He can give to those who love Him, because He loved them first.

The Committee

IN MEMORIAM

Mr. Thomas Moerdyk

On the morning of February 1 Mr. Thomas Moerdyk, who had for many years been an officebearer of the Kalamazoo congregation, passed away. After having served the congregation for some years as a deacon, he was elected as elder, and in this capacity much of the rest of his life was devoted to the wellbeing of our denomination in general and the Kalamazoo church in particular. Through the grace of God he took a lively interest in the spiritual needs of young and old, and did his best to provide them with good reading materials. His work for our periodicals, the Banner of Truth and expecially Timothy, testified of his concern for the spiritual welfare of souls created for a never-ending eternity. Usually having a great amount of freedom to speak, he loved to converse about the things of the Kingdom of God. To have fellowship with those who loved and feared the Lord was his chief delight, and wherever he could find them he visited them in order to speak with them about the ways of the Lord. Especially the congregation of Kalamazoo owes much to him, and it is because of this that I want to write a few words to his memory, hoping that the memory of this righteous man may also be blessed.

He was born October 28, 1902, in the Netherlands, and was brought up under the instruction of a God-fearing father, who died when Mr. Moerdyk was yet young, and of a God-fearing mother. At the age of 18 he set out for America, desiring to get away from the strict religion under which he had been brought up and to get as much of worldly pleasures as he could. However, in America the Lord, Who had also elected him in His free and sovereign grace to be an heir of His salvation, called him to a halt when he was in his early thirties. Mr. Moerdyk has experienced the truth of that word of God that those who have known the way but not gone therein will be beaten with many stripes. Many have been his adversities, but by the grace of God his adversities have been blessed unto a godly sorrow that worked repentance not to be repented of. The Lord taught him by His Word and Spirit to justify Him in all His ways and dealings, and to condemn himself for his sins. Because the Lord laid also Mr. Moerdyk’s iniquities upon His Son and bruised Him instead of our former elder and friend, Mr. Moerdyk was not beaten endlessly. It pleased the Lord to heal him with the stripes of Christ. Although the Person and Work of the Lord Jesus had become precious unto his soul and he knew of times in which his soul had been comforted out of the Word of God concerning a personal interest in the Work of Christ, yet Mr. Moerdyk was tossed to and fro between hope and fear much of his life.

In the last part of November he went to the hospital for treatment of what he thought was a minor thing, but it turned out to be the start of a period of great suffering, which ended in his death on February 1. During his stay in the hospital he had times of deep spiritual darkness, even to the extent that he feared whether the Lord had ever started the good work of regeneration in his soul. However, the Lord did not leave or forsake him. Several times Mr. Moerdyk was encouraged by the application of some words of Scripture, or of a psalm or a psalter, to his soul, the last time being some hours before he suffered a heart-failure, after which he was so weak that he could not speak anymore. That morning he could do nothing but cry with the thief on the cross — “Lord, remember me in Thy kingdom.” He felt himself so miserable, so empty, so hellworthy, and it pleased the Lord to comfort him by applying to his soul the words — The Blood of Jesus Christ, God’s Son, cleanses us from all iniquity. This set his soul at liberty and afforded him much peace of mind. This peace did not leave him anymore; in it he spent some days during which he bodily suffered greatly, and then was delivered from all misery in the morning hours of February 1. At the funeral on Thursday, February 4, Rev. Lamain and I spoke some words appropriate to the occasion.

May the Lord strengthen his family, and fill the empty place in their lives and also in our congregation and denomination.

Rev. A. Elshout

Calls Extended

To Rev. A. Den Boer, Ridderkerk, the Netherlands by the Unionville, Ontario Congregation.

The Lord willing the Rev. C. Harinck plans to leave the Netherlands the week of April 11, 1971 for the United States. He hopes to be installed as Pastor of the Franklin Lakes, New Jersey Congregation that same week.

The Rev. J. Van Zweden is still quite weak; however, he is able to do some catechizing and some house visitations, but is unable to preach as of this writing. May the Lord strengthen this aged servant so that he may again take up his pastoral duties according to the wish of his heart.

The Rev. M. Romeyn, in addition to his serious illness, has been sick with influenza the past few weeks and unable to attend public services. May the Lord also remember this servant in love.

MINISTERS TO VISIT THE USA AND CANADA

The Deputies for correspondence with Foreign Churches wish to make known:

1. That Rev. A. M. Den Boer hopes to visit and serve some of the churches in the USA and Canada during the month of May 1971, the Lord willing.

2. That Rev. C. Hegeman hopes to arrive in Montreal July 8, 1971 to visit and serve some of the churches in the USA and Canada for 5 Sundays, the Lord willing.

The Deputies

Rev. J. Van Zweden

Rev. W. C. Lamain

NOTE OF THANKS

We wish to express our sincere appreciation to our friends for the many tokens of sympathy received by us after the Lord took away our dearly beloved husband, father, and grandfather, Mr. Thomas Moerdyk.

Mrs. Thomas Moerdyk

Mr. and Mrs. William Moerdyk

Mr. and Mrs. Garret J. Moerdyk

Mr. and Mrs. Cornells Blok

and grandchildren

NOTICE

The February 1971 issue of “The Banner of Truth” contained a book review of “George Whitefield” by Arnold Dallimore with a list price for the book of $7.50. Through an oversight no information was provided as to where this book could be obtained.

This book is obtainable for the list price at: —

Kregel’s Book Store

525 Eastern Ave. S.E.

Grand Rapids, Mich. 49503

It can also be purchased for the discount price of $5.25 at: —

Religious Book Discount Store Inc.

3128 - 28th Street S.E.

Grand Rapids, Mich. 49506

It undoubtedly is also available at many local religious book stores throughout the country.

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