The Secession of 1857: A Return to Psalm-Singing
This article traces the history of congregational Psalm-singing in the Dutch Reformed tradition from Calvin's Reformation reforms through the 1847 immigrant settlement of Holland, Michigan, demonstrating how the regulative principle of Scripture shaped Reformed worship practices. The author shows how Psalm-singing served as both a theological expression of sola scriptura and a vital spiritual resource for persecuted and struggling believers across centuries.
The summer of 1847 was a nightmare for Albertus VanRaalte, leader of the Dutch immigrants who had recently founded the colony now known as Holland, Michigan. The colonists had never seen rain like they saw that summer. So many people were dying they could not build coffins fast enough, and when they did have coffins available, many of the people were too weak to bury their dead. However, if you happened to be visiting this little settlement on Sunday, you would have heard a distinct sound....
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