Vriesche Doopsgezinde Sociëteit in Noordholland
The Vriesche (Friesche) Doopsgezinde Sociëteit in Nordholland was a conference of Mennonite congregations of the (Old) Frisian branch in the Dutch province of North Holland. It was founded about 1628 to assist in maintaining the old Mennonite principles and practices. In 1639 twelve articles were drawn up—somewhat altered and augmented in 1697—which summarized these principles. Until 1729 these articles were regularly read at the sessions of the Conference and always "adopted without comment." After 1729 the reading was omitted.
Another purpose of the Conference was to organize the preaching, baptism, and communion services in the member congregations. For this purpose conference elders (called Landsdienaren), usually two, visited the congregations. After about 1730 three "commissarissen voor den predikdienst" organized the services in congregations where there was no minister. The third, and from about 1730 the most important, business of the Conference was to give financial support to weak congregations.
The Conference was presumably established by the Old Frisian congregation at Hoorn and particularly its Elder Pieter Jansz Twisck. The following 19 congregations were members: Amsterdam Frisian congregation (when this congregation merged in 1752 with the Zonist congregation the latter became a member), Aalsmeer aan de Uiterweg, Hoorn, Medemblik, Alkmaar (Ridderstraat congregation), Edam, Zaandam-West (Oude Huys), Westzaan op 't Zuid, Wormerveer op 't Zuid, Oosthuizen (later called Beemster), Middelie and Axwijk, Venhuizen, Twisk and Abbekerk, Lange and Koedijk, Oude Niedorp, Barsingerhorn and Kolhorn, Huisduinen and Den Helder, Burg and Waal on the island of Texel, Hippolytushoef and 't Stroe on the island of Wieringen. Purmerend was a member in the 17th century and again after 1793. Amsterdam withdrew in 1802.
Until 1798 meetings were held annually, at first on various dates, and after about 1740 on the second Wednesday of June. After 1798 the meetings were held only every two years. Originally they met at different places, then for a long period at Edam, 1709-1719 in Alkmaar, and 1719-1804 in rotation at Hoorn, Alkmaar, Amsterdam, Zaandam, and Wormerveer, and 1806-1818 in Alkmaar. After 1818 no meetings were held. In 1841 the Conference merged with the Rijper Sociëteit.
Bibliography
Cate, Steven Blaupot ten. Geschiedenis der Doopsgezinden in Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht en Gelderland, 2 vols. Amsterdam: P.N. van Kampen, 1847: v. II, 70-81, 223-28 (containing the twelve articles).
Doopsgezind Jaarboekje (1935): 34-45; (1940): 59 f.
Doopsgezinde Bijdragen (1872): 53 f.
| Author(s) | Nanne van der Zijpp |
|---|---|
| Date Published | 1957 |
Cite This Article
MLA style
Zijpp, Nanne van der. "Vriesche Doopsgezinde Sociëteit in Noordholland." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. 1957. Web. 21 Nov 2024. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Vriesche_Doopsgezinde_Soci%C3%ABteit_in_Noordholland&oldid=109002.
APA style
Zijpp, Nanne van der. (1957). Vriesche Doopsgezinde Sociëteit in Noordholland. Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 21 November 2024, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Vriesche_Doopsgezinde_Soci%C3%ABteit_in_Noordholland&oldid=109002.
Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 3, p. 909. All rights reserved.
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