In attempting to characterize Rev. Nicholas J. Monsma for this In Memoriam I think immediately of the word stalwart. Physically he was stalwart. al· ways a dignified and impressive figure whether in the pulpit or as he appeared elsewhere in the service of the church. But it was not only his physique that always commanded my respect as a colleague and friend of N. J. Monsma, but this was true especially because he always showed himself to be a stalwart in the faith.

As a preacher of the Word, as a pastor, as a denominational leader, as an author, and as a man of God seven days a week, Nicholas J. Monsma never wavered in his loyalty to the Reformed faith which had the love of his whole heart. He was a churchman who stood like a pillar in the denomination, he was made by his God of the kind of stuff so sorely needed at such a time as this, one whom we think we can so ill afford to miss. We mourn our loss in his departure, but in our sorrow we also rejoice to know that he who contended for the truth so faithfully while in the church militant here on earth is now rejoicing in glory with the church triumphant in heaven.

Nicholas John Monsma was born as the son of John Monsma and Helen (nee Kirkstra) Monsma in Berlikum, Friesland. The Netherlands on January 30, 1892. At the age of ten he arrived in Grand Rapids, Michigan when his family emigrated to the United States in 1902. The Monsmas affiliated with the Eastern Avenue Christian Reformed Church where at the age of sixteen, Nicholas John made confession of his faith under the notable ministry of Rev. Johannes Groen which extended from 1900 to 1919. In 1921 Nick enrolled at the Preparatory School of Calvin College, he went on through Calvin College and Calvin Seminary, became a candidate for the ministry in 1922, and was united in marriage to Effie Kuiper of Grand Rapids, Michigan. They were blessed with six children, two daughters and four sons.

Ordained to the ministry in October 1922 at Hull, North Dakota, Rev. Monsma preached his inaugural sermon on the theme “Qualified for Office” based on II Corinthians 3:4–6. Two years later, in October 1924, he became the pastor of the large First Orange City, Iowa congregation. In August 1929 he was installed as the pastor of the historic Ninth Street Church of Holland, Michigan, also known as the Pillar Church or the Van Raalte Church. It was in February 1940 that Rev. Monsma began his twenty-year pastorate at the Second Church of Paterson, New Jersey, where he labored until his retirement in 1960. To minister so successfully as the minister of a large church like Second Paterson until the age of retirement is a tribute to the outstanding ability of Rev. Monsma and a monument to the blessings of his Lord whose Word he preached and whose will he ever sought to do.

Rev. Monsma was recognized as a gifted leader not only in the congregations he served but also in the denomination at large. I learned to know and appreciate him best when we served together as members of the Board of Trustees of Calvin College and Seminary, especially because of his years of experience there and also because of his leadership as the presiding officer. From 1936–1940 he was active as a member and secretary of the Executive Committee for Home Missions; from 1946~1953 he was a member and president of the denominational Committee on Education; he was delegated to Synod repeatedly: 1928, 1936, 1938, 1941, 1946, 1949; he served as president of the Synod of 1941 and as vice president in 1949. In 1946 Rev. Monsma was delegated to represent the e RC at the Synod of the Gereformeerde Kerken meeting at Zwolle in The Netherlands. As an author he wrote The Trial of Denominationalism (1932) and This I Confess (1936). For ten years he was a regular contributor to The Banner when he edited “The Reader Asks” department. Rev. Monsma was also an active member of Reformed Fellowship and is remembered for his service on the board of this organization as well as for his frequent contributions to Torch and Trumpet (now THE OUTLOOK). Moreover, he served also on the Board of Trustees of Westminster Seminary in Philadelphia.

Since 1960 Rev. Monsma continued to be active during his retirement until five years ago when his beloved help-meet became helpless due to a stroke and needed constant attention night and day. During all this time as a laying husband Rev. Monsma ministered faithfully to his wife in the conviction that this was the Lord’s will for him during their remaining years. About five weeks before he departed to be with the Lord, Rev. Monsma himself suffered a stroke and he was taken home on December 1 at the age of 81.

At the funeral services, held on December 4 at Calvin Church in Grand Rapids, Rev. George Gritter, whose assistant Rev. Monsma had been at the Fuller Avenue Church early in his retirement, and Rev. Clarence Boomsma, as pastor of the Monsmas spoke beautiful and precious words of consolation from Scripture. To Mrs. Monsma and the bereaved children and their families, to brothers and sisters and other relatives, we wish to add our condolences and also commend them into the loving care of our gracious Lord whom their departed loved one served so long and so well.