This year’s “mission-day,” as it is commonly called in Holland, was fixed for the 1st of May. Although it was cloudy in the morning, it remained dry and warm all day. When we arrived at Irene Hall in Utrecht at 10 a.m. it was fast filling up with people. A few empty chairs could be seen from the platform at starting time. Seven thousand five hundred chairs had been rented for the occasion, and there must have been nearly that number present at 10.30 a.m.
The day’s proceedings were opened by Ds C. Smits, chairman of the Committee of the Mbuma Missionary Society. Psalm 89, verses 8-9, was sung, and Psalm 72 read. Mr Smits thereafter gave an address from Zechariah chapter 12:10: “And I will pour upon the house of David and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and of supplications, and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his first-born.”
A very hearty welcome was extended by Mr Smits to Rev. A. Ndebele, Ingwenya, and Mr A. Mpofu, Elder, Zenka, both from Rhodesia, as well as to Rev. D. M. Campbell, Shieldaig, Scotland. Verses 1 and 2 of Psalm 91 were sung.
After the singing Rev. D. M. Campbell read an address based on Mark 14, verse 6: “Let her alone, why trouble ye her, she hath wrought a good work on me.” The address was translated, and read by the chairman, Ds C. Smits. After this, part of Psalm 87 was sung, and the first collection was taken.
Ds A. de Waard read part of Acts chapter 2. He gave an address from verse 39: “For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.” Some verses from Psalm 22, verse 31 onwards, were sung.
An address was then given by Rev. A. Ndebele, Rhodesia. He spoke briefly of the situation in Rhodesia, and conveyed to the Holland people the greetings of the Mission staff, and those of the Rhodesian Presbytery, as well as the African people of the Free Presbyterian Church in Rhodesia. His address was then read in Dutch by Mr Van Waveren.
The meeting adjourned for lunch after Ds van de Poel asked a blessing on behalf of the whole gathering. When proceedings resumed, Ds A. Dorsman gave out Psalm 77:13-14 to be sung. He read Psalm 87, and returned thanks for the food.
Mr L. M. Scholten then gave an address from Romans chapter 11, verse 26: “And so all Israel shall be saved, as it is written, there shall come out of Zion the deliverer and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob.” He made a passing reference to the establishing of the state of Israel and their celebration of 30 years of independence, as well as to the fact that the Free Presbyterian Church has a Mission seeking the ingathering of the Jews. Psalm 130, verses 1-8, were sung, and a second collection was taken.
After that Ds J. van Prooijen gave an address from John 10:16: “and other sheep I have which are not of this fold, them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice, and there shall be one fold and one shepherd.” He concluded by giving out Psalm 72, verses 17-18, to be sung.
Ds S. de Jong spoke from Acts 16:25: “And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God, and the prisoners heard them, etc.” He spoke about the cessation of Paul’s work, in an apt way, I understand, referring to the situation in Rhodesia, and related the doors being opened, etc., to the prayers of Paul and Silas. Psalm 138, verses 7 to 8, were then sung.
Ds F. Mallan, as the vice-chairman, gave, as is customary there, the closing address. Both he and the chairman are strong and forthright speakers. He chose Psalm 113, and briefly commented on the first part, dwelling mostly on verses 7 and 8: “He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill, etc.” Psalm 113, verses 3 and 4, were sung, and then Rev. D. M. Campbell, on behalf of the Foreign Mission Committee, and the Free Presbyterian Church, thanked the gathering for their hearty liberality, quoting 2 Cor. 9:10.