Dear Young People: –

From the land “where the beauty of the hills meets the bounty of the plains,” I would like to write a few lines in connection with your convention in our midst next August.

First of all, we wish to assure all of you, delegates and visitors, that our people are eagerly anticipating the opportunity to meet and serve you.  For this there are a number of good reasons.  Surely they take an interest in all that pertains to the future of our churches.  In a certain way you young people are that future.  And therefore, Loveland’s congregation wishes much to be in contact, even now, with that future church and in that contact they wish to serve you as best they can.  That is the conscious effort in respect to the youth and seed of the church locally, as witnesses the ardent support of and effort to have proper education for its own children; that is the hope of the congregation and local Society with a view to the denominational youth, as we hope to show at the time of the Convention.

Another reason for anticipating this Convention is that this flock with its young people is rather isolated geographically from the rest of our churches, and added to this the fact of quite recent affiliation with our denomination . . . It will be clear that this event may well serve to become better acquainted with each other.  Perhaps here, more than in some of our larger Eastern congregations, the need of becoming acquainted with youth of the same faith is so keenly felt because of the limited number of associates.

And, undoubtedly, we are anxious and glad to show others the marvelous beauty of our “mile-high,” or nearly so, city and its scenic surroundings.  (Better come well equipped camera-wise!).  We believe to be located in the HEART of “Colorful Colorado” and wish others to witness, even though it be but briefly, that handiwork of God and majestic beauty of the “everlasting” (?) hills, which are the privilege of our continual view.  And this all is written without the urge of any Chamber of Commerce!  The exuberance about this locality is powered by the deep conviction that our God has so prepared these things for His Own glory thru our adoration of Him.  Our God is truly the GREAT GOD!  Come and see.

Of course we do not wish to reduce the Convention to a mere social occasion or pleasure jaunt.  Enjoyment of the scenery is and MUST remain incidental and the making of new acquaintance of renewing of the old, secondary to the main objective.  We realize that the main purpose is the spiritual solidarity and confirmation in the truth particularly given to US.  We surely deem this to be a God-given opportunity to receive impetus to live the “peculiar” life in the midst of and over against the world, wherever we are to labor.  Because of this we call attention to two-fold:  the anticipated programs and the hoped-for conduct of all of those attending.

As to the program:  We are very happy to have obtained three speakers to unfold for us the riches of the Scriptures in respect to the chosen theme:  ‘THE BEAUTIES OF HOLINESS.”  First of all we are glad to have the first evening’s speaker, Rev. H. Hoeksema address us.  This not because his appearance on “opening evening” is almost an institution with our conventions, also we are more than glad to continue and be able to continue that custom for another year, but because our beloved H.H. has never been in these parts nor met the majority of this congregation.  Personally we have hinted that this would be a good place for a vacation but it never came to an acceptance.  Jokingly we said to him that this perhaps would be the only way to get him here.  We hope for its realization and look for a truly “inspirational” address.

The second speaker procured, a son of the former and first speaker, is our only full-time Professor at our Seminary, Rev. H. C. Hoeksema.  Though, as a rule, men are quite advanced in age, who hold such a position, Rev. H.C. is young enough to remember and appreciate the needs of the youth and will undoubtedly be able clearly to “speak your language” in providing his part of edifying instruction from the Word.

The last speaker, banquet night, is Rev. H. Veldman of our Redlands, California, congregation.  There was a hint from the Federation Board to try for one of the men from the “far West.”  How literally we followed that advice can be seen by looking at the map.  Any farther West would have necessitated marine travel.  Also this servant of the Word is well known among us.  Perhaps some of the delegates and visitors will conjure an image of his work with them when they were still in Adams Street School.  His should be a memorable message, one to go home with.

And all of this speaking will be augmented by different numbers by various societies.  I am not able to tell details of this, and perhaps would not be allowed to do so, even if I were, but I certainly hope all of you trust it will be worthwhile any effort to be here for it.  And we also certainly hope that thru this program-line the theme of the Convention may find significance in our lives.

For as the programs emphasize doctrinally, we hope that practically may be lived and manifested our separateness, spiritually.  Therefore allow me just a wee bit of warning and advice.  The warning to not succumb to the desire to be on the “loose.”  There is always the danger that we can do “from” home what would be out of the question “at” home.  Let’s bury that one!  We advise behavior of such character that a reflection be made favorable to the name of our Lord and Master.  Certainly we can and SHOULD have an enjoyable time with each other, but then, to be truly so, it must be sanctified enjoyment.

Finally, we hope for your safe journey hither; an enjoyable stay among us and a lasting profit for all for years to come.