The Hudsonville Young People’s Society is honored to be the host society for the 15th annual convention of the Protestant Reformed Young People’s Federation.
This year’s host society is the largest society that Hudsonville has ever had; having a membership of twenty-six young people. Ever since the first of the year, we have been busy doing the work of the convention. We have been working with the goal of making this the best convention that has ever been held in the history of our churches.
We are very proud of our church and our village. You will find that the people of our church are very friendly and we know you will enjoy our hospitality. The village of Hudsonville is small, but, like all Dutch communities, is clean and the property well kept up. It also enjoys the prosperity of the nation which is evident from the many new houses that have been built since the war. It is mainly a farming community growing celery and onions, and many new enterprises have been attracted to this community. Hudsonville is only twenty minutes’ drive from either Grand Rapids or the beaches at Lake Michigan. The village has a very large percentage of people who attend church, which makes for a wonderful environment for us, as well as for the convention.
The society has tried to incorporate three distinct ideas in this year’s convention.
- Inspirational
The Theme, The Gospel of the Promise, is certainly appropriate for these times, and with all that has been written in the Standard Bearer and discussed in our societies, should be of great interest to all our young people. We also have two guest speakers who have never addressed us at any of our conventions before, which should certainly provide us with inspiration as well as variety. With our leader, the Rev. H. Hoeksema, (and we thank the Lord that he may again address us), we should fulfil the main idea of our convention, which is Inspiration.
- Fellowship
This year, for the first year, we will have a get-acquainted hour. We hope that the Young People will take advantage of not only this time, but of the whole convention to make new friends and renew old acquaintances. With all that we have in common, The Protestant Reformed Truth, we certainly should make everlasting friendships that will stand the rigors of time and the world.
- Entertainment
We have planned an outing at Spring Lake, a spot where, as a convention, we have never been. They have facilities for quite a few sports which we hope you will find enjoyable. A pancake breakfast and other activities have been planned to make this a memorable time.
We wish to thank the other societies for their acceptance in taking part in the various special numbers for the convention. Be sure to attend this convention and enjoy the best one ever held. See you there!
Postscript by the president of the Hudsonville Society (Rev. Gerrit Vos):
When the request came to me to write an article for our Beacon Lights anent our forthcoming convention, I referred this to our capable Vice President, Mr. Gerald Vander Kooy. It seems to me that most of our young people know why I did this. In March I suffered a heart attack, and I had to limit my activities.
Shortly after our 1954 convention the machinery was set in motion here to prepare for the 1955 convention which would be held in our church with us as the host society.
I appointed five committees, and divided the work among them. I was advisor of the committee that would suggest the Theme, and Mr. Vander Kooy was advisor of the rest. And I assure you that he has done a remarkable job. Although much of the credit also goes to our energetic secretary, Miss Agalene Lubbers.
But when I was stricken, the burden fell mostly on Mr. Vander Kooy.
Time and again he met with the heads of the various committees and much preparatory work has been done under his guidance.
And so, young people of our churches, we hope that all this work may come to glorious fruition next August.
Let’s make this, under God’s benign blessing, the best ever!