CONCISE HISTORY OF THE APOSTOLIC CHURCH.

Part 9

He was born on April 11, 1815, in the year when the destiny of Napoleon was cemented by the defeat at Waterloo.

His birthplace was Sardschau, a small village in West-Prussia. He wanted to be a missionary and studied therefore in Berlin where he learned to know the testimony of the Apostolic Church, and which he joint enthusiastically.

In 1850 he was called by the word of prophecy to the office of priest and already some words indicated that he would once serve the Lord as an Apostle.

In 1858 he became Overseer of the parish of Hamburg and served there that office under the Angel of the parish in Berlin, the already mentioned Mr. Rothe who has been the instigator in the subsequent case of separation. Under the guidance of the Assistant-Angel Schwartz the parish in Hamburg was very extended up till finally the already described schism started its fatal work.

We have informed how Schwartz was called on White Monday 1863 in Hamburg to Apostle for the Netherlands and how he arrived in Amsterdam September 24th of that year.

Many prophecies which were brought at his calling and sending out spoke of great struggle and difficulty, but also of blessing on the work. Both have been fulfilled. He had to combat in the beginning terrible objections. Think for instance in what way the foreign language had to be a hindrance in the spiritual struggle.

Before Apostle Schwartz came in the Netherlands, three evangelists had been sent ahead by the parish in Hamburg, who have realised preparatory work. These were the brethern: Mijersam, Hubner and Allihn, who distributed in large number house to house concise confessions of faith in which the main items of the doctrine were explained. Owing to financial difficulties these evangelists were forced to return to Hamburg, and Apostle Schwartz was left alone.

When he came in the Netherlands,still prevailed over a large part of Europa the after-effect of a powerful,spiritual generation, so-called Reveil. She turned in particular against all new ways of thinking of the modernism,but also against the dead orthodoxy of those days.Especially among big ones of the world she found her supporters and mentors.In a way the poet Bilderdijk can be considered in the Netherlands the father of that movement.Diligent advocates were o.a. Isaac da Costa and his bosom friend Abraham Capadose-(the father of Isaac Capadose, the subsequent Coadjutor, about whom we already wrote)--, Groen van Prinsterer and the Rev. De Liefde.

Allard Pierson writes of him in his beautiful writing: "Older Contemporaries",the following: "Perhaps from his entire group he was,I do not say the most accessible for,but certainly the most under the impression of the attacks which were done against the supernaturalisrn.For sure I know,doubt was not his part;but indeed sorrow,and strongly touching sorrow,about the small conclusive force of those evidences which were sufficient for him personally,to prevent the doubt.That God had once,in a literal way,spoken to mankind,stood firm to him,but why was this so many hundreds of years ago? Why did nowadays never tore the curtain of the clouds? Was it to-day not more needed,not more indispensable than ever,with the daily growing number of unbelievers? Such questions rushed his mind; and that with increase according as young men from the own group of the Reveil came forward who were unable to embrace the belief of the parents. If the Almighty still once spoke from His heaven like in the days for a long time past,!!"

We see here described a devout person like we have encountered them in England in the days of Irving, honestly enough to moan about the insufficient situation of the Church which they served.

With this Rev. de Liefde who was at the same time a creditable poet and composer, Apostle Schwartz came in contact. He knew, for instance, how the clergyman often prayed for the pouring out of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, even sometimes interrupted his prayer in order to wait, whether the Lord wished to speak through the word of prophecy. He knew in what way this seeker lived to perfection in the hope of the Return of the Lord. Apostle Schwartz obtained the freedom to proclaim in the chapel of this clergyman in the Barndesteeg the word of God by which many came to listen, also from the highest ranks who at that time still not felt ashamed to listen to the word of God. Some listeners were even so much convinced of the truth of the preaching that they let themselves seal.

However,this initial interest has not delivered much fruit and the relation with Rev.De Liefde was broken.

But very much the attention to Apostle Schwartz was drawn because the Lord confirmed his testimony by very large signs which people gladly would have denied. But it did not work that way, and therefore another weapon was looked for: insinuation.

A minister of the Darbists, a certain Rev. Voorhoeve, wrote a very hostile brochure against Apostle Schwartz, on which he replied dignified with a writing, named: "A word of defence". Voorhoeve writes among other things that: firstly that Schwartz who is an Irvingian, preached a false Christ, like Irving himself. Further: "The missionaries---(he means with that the already mentioned three brethren who accompanied Apostle Schwartz)---, and he himself cured some sick people, but not all who came as sick people to him. therefore it is a witchcraft of the devil which God permits: because the magicians in Egypt were able to do some miracles, but not all. The missionaries and he as Apostle say to the sick people: "In the Name of Jesus, get well again.!". However, now are some not getting well again, and the Spirit of God makes Himself not ludicrous. Where He says: "Get welt again.", there people got well, and by this God shows, that He allows the devil much, but not everything".

Apostle Schwartz answers on this in his "word of refutation":

In these wordings Mr. Voorhoeve completely harmonises with the so-called Irvingians-(who he also describes as by the devils possessed ones)--, because those also say that the devil performs through us the miracles. However, would here not apply the words which the Lord spoke in Matthew 12:24-30.? I am of the opinion, yes. I, however, also want to refute this assertion and answer the following:" Which judgement from Mr. Voorhoeve would strike the nine Apostles--Matthew 17:14-21-- because they were unable to cure the child, although they certainly had tried it in the Name of Jesus?.". "Why", they asked the Lord, "are we unable to cast him out?" If Mr. Voorhoeve wants to be consistent, then he had to let the Lord answer: "Because you are magicians and wizards, and misused My Name"; God shows by this, that He allows the devil a lot, hut not everything. He let here in His goodness fail your trick, so that it is clear- that it is not His Spirit to everybody who wants to see it, that it is not His Spirit who realises these miracles!!". However, the Lord did not speak like this. "Because you have so little faith", was His answer: "I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain: Move from here to there! and it wilt move. Nothing wilt be impossible to you". And this blame the missionaries and me as Apostle, as also directed to us, we accept from our Lord; because also to us that complete sound belief is often lacking to us, and it is us to shame and sadness that we through our belief cause defamation to the Name of the Lord. But is the Lord Jesus in the Holy Spirit able to do more through Mr, Voorhoeve and those who look like him and slander with him. ? It would be good and praiseworthy and cheerful that they revealed a better belief and did more, however, nobody hears or sees something of it that the Lord realises through them more and larger things. The Apostle Paul had to leave sick behind his co-worker Trofimus at Milete---2 Tim, 4:20---. Paul was unable to cure him. Has he laid the hands on him in the Name of Jesus, which has to he believed, then it has gone with it as our missionaries. In James 5:14-16 the first Christians were said: "Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the Name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will raise him up". As a rule everybody, before he dies, becomes ill, which is a well-known fact. Also the first Christians will have been it. Certainly most of them have complied with their admonition, because who wants gladly to die ?. Therefore they have called the elders to anoint them, and to pray for them in faith. However, it is an established matter that all those first Christians, and also the elders have passed away. Which judgement would have passed Mr. Voorhoeve over them, if he had lived in that period of time ?. Nothing else than what he in his Warning has passed over us; because the first Christians were anointed and anointed,let pray and prayed in the Name of the Lord Jesus and........they died. They cannot possibly have had the Spirit of God, and have acted in His Name, because, Mr. Voorhoeve says: "The Spirit of God does not make Himself ridiculous". Which rational answer will, however, in such a case give a rationai Christian ? Certainly only this: The servants of the Lord, in case they believe and have the gift, have to act according to the command of God and the sick people have the right, to use the by the Lord established discipline. However, the Lord in heaven does with the sick one like He is willing."

Mr. Voorhoeve writes: "The missionaries and he as Apostle demand faith from the sick one, and that the elders and the Apostles of the beginning have not done". Admitted for a moment that they did not demand it, and did not found it necessary with the sick people. But the Lord Jesus Christ, our Lord and Master, however, demanded it really, like can clearly be seen from these scriptural passages: Matthew 9:28; Luke 8:50; Mark 9:23 and others. When we therefore demand from a sick person faith, and that with a in this respect such an unbelieving generation as the actual one, then we do like our Lord Jesus Christ has done, and act in this certainly not wrongly. Whether such sick people who have not become healthy, are also to blame due to their unbelief, the Lord will once judge.

Mr. Voorhoeve writes: "The in the Bible mentioned miraculous gifts belonged in the beginning to the adornments of the Parish. In that first period of time they had been the evidence of the power of God; however, where in our time such miraculous works take place, they are an evidence of the spirit of the antichrist.

Mr. Voorhoeve,however,says himself at John 14 that the Lord Jesus expressively has said that the Holy Spirit would remain and the Apostle Peter says Acts 2:39--: "The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off - for all whom the Lord our God will call". Is this true, not less true is it that among those gifts of the Spirit certainly the same, one Holy Spirit has to be understood; because there is no other one. Like He revealed Himself in the first parish. He can and wishes to reveal Himself in the certainly up to the end. That this did not happen to-day, that He in after years was not revealed in His different gifts and in His full power, the devil and the unbelief are to blame.

And when all faithful Christians thought, like Mr. Voorhoeve, and those who slander with him, do, then those gifts could not possibly be revealed, because the Lord would have to fear. To see His gifts slander as powers of the devil, Nevertheless these gifts have been given from time to time to such Christians who in sincerity desired these and lately revealed through Blumhart, Dorothea Trudel and others. This will certainly not be unknown to Mr. Voorhoeve. As far as so many know, also not all the sick people, however are cured by them.

Has then also the devil entered into these Christians and to look for the antichrist.? Slandering against the gifts of God without an equal."

We have quoted this part of the brochure from Apostle Schwartz in order to show in which way he had been opposed--(and which is stilt done to us)--, but also -to show once how dignified and prepared for a quick action, he acted and how he used in the struggle scriptural foundations alone. At the same time the here quoted one can serve so that also with suffering children of God a better understanding has been given concerning the sacrament of anointing of which there is not always a sound notion.

The "Oude Ordening"---(Old Ordination)--, also tried to still aggravate the life of Apostle Schwartz, because her most educated leading man, Professor Thiersch, let insert a letter to the editor in "The Herald" which was of course gladly published.
It was a letter to a certain Rev. A.H.W. Brandt, who rejoiced very much that "The Herald' warned against Apostle Schwartz and who by a letter of Thiersch, addressed to him, wanted to cooperate to fasten suspicion on the work of the "Apostolic Mission", as it was named at that time. Although he, of course did not want to hear also anything of the "Old Ordination", he speaks in the in-troduction to the article about Thiersch as the respectable Evangelist of the Irvingians. The letter of Thiersch is dated November 13 1863, and figures in "The Herald" of November 13, 1863.

The letter does not once mention the name Schwartz, well the name Geyer and finishes: "We have to warn each Christian, to let himself be involved in that matter. We pray God that He soon makes an end to this and especially, that He protects Amsterdam and the Netherlands for the intrusion of this false work. I am perfectly satisfied when you make use of this communication at each opportunity. and thank you for this if you do so!!!".

The editorial staff of "The Herald" was so honest to insert a reply of Apostle Schwartz in the publication of December 11, 1863. In that reply Apostle Schwartz deals with the dismissal, of Geyer and the departure of the English Apostles from the original doctrines, and finishes: "We missionaries want gladly to be the by them---(that means Irvingians)---despised, but at the same time the assisting brethren in the entire Church in order to belong to her and the Lord Jesus, but not to the so-called Irvingians".

The editorial notes herewith: "We have published this letter for the sake of fairness, but hardly need to say that we assent the doctrines of the separated Irvingians---(who name themselves the Apostolic Mission)---no more than those of the Irvingians.

Noteworthy is that already soon thereafter, in 1865, the Apostle of the "01d Ordination" for the Netherlands and Denmark, John Henry King-Church, passed away. He had already in cooperation with an evangelist, Symes in 1851 made endeavours to found parishes in the Netherlands, but these all failed.

Now Apostle Schwartz acted in the Netherlands, one of her most capable co-operators was sent by the "01d Ordination" in order to oppose him. It was the diligent von Pochhammer who we have already mentioned. He was kindly taken up in the house of the already mentioned Mr. I. Capadose who later joined the Catholic Apostolic Church, and was one of the two latest Coadjutors. ---(I learned some time ago in Berlin that Dr. Heath, the latest Coadjutor, would also have passed away)---.

The German word "pochen". means "knock" , and enemies said mockingly: "He has knocked and hammered so long that he finally has built a Church".

Professor Gunning later on professor in Leyden, was very much interested in the work of the English Apostles and he regretted that a schism had arisen. He wanted to make an attempt to reconciliation and for this he invited Apostle Schwartz and von Pochhammer so that they could explain their opinions. Apostle Schwartz appealed to the original writings of the Church, against which von Pochhammer was unable to bring up something and run off under the pretence that he did not want to cooperate that Apostle Schwartz would sin still more.

In such a way the two persuasions worked in the Netherlands against each other. Apostle Schwartz who still always remained hoping that a reconciliation would be achieved, took however, care in the initial period of time of it that, where the "01d Ordination" appeared, he did not do it. He always remained to acknowledge her respectfully as the Mother. It is a pity that the Mother remained so implacable against the Daughter.

Soon Apostle Schwartz had to contend with large financial difficulties. Soon the material support from Hamburg stopped for him personally, All the correct facts of the case are unknown to me. Some people claim that enemyside would have written to Hamburg that further support was not necessary because here in the Netherlands came in sufficient money, which assertion does not appear very probably to me. More reliable appears to me the other information that Hamburg would have been dissatisfied that Apostle Schwartz had highhanded taken off his sacerdotal vestment. He acted namely the first time like he was used to it in former times in the "01d Ordination": in a white sacerdotal vestment.

But when he saw that this outward matter derogated from the work, he has changed the white cloth against the usual formal dress which we see at present still generally be borne in the Netherlands by the servants in our parishes.

In any case the situation for Apostle Schwartz and his wife became very difficult. The few followers brought weekly in a very little amount because the offering of faith had not yet been introduced. And although some well-to-do persons gradually joined, it was also here like everywhere and it is already was in the time of Paul: "Not many rich people, not many nobles". The need rose that high that the intention came into being, to return again to Hamburg which was therefore communicated to the few followers. They bound themselves, in order to prevent this to raise a fixed amount which amounted, as has been informed to me, the capital sum of nine guilders. With that no had bad thing is said of the first followers who were very few and belonged to the lower class. and who were not used to offer in their churches.

The first group did not come forward from the already mentioned church of Rev. De Liefde. It has originated as follows:
Apostle Schwartz and his three assistants distributed in Amsterdam in some towndistricts house to house a writing which contained their confession of faith. As such they came on the Brouwersgracht in the house of a certain Kroonenburg who received them friendly and brought them in contact with a friend a certain Meynders, whose wife kept a nursery-school.

In the hall used for this a group of people came together each week who belonged to various Churches, and dealt together with all kind of religious questions. It was decided to invite for the next Friday the German brethren. Mr. Meynders invited for the meeting also a friend Jan Benard. A German would speak who said to be an Apostle of the Lord. In the night before the meeting the wife of mentioned Jan Benard dreams that in her bedroom a man wanted to throw stones to her, but she was not afraid because next to her bed sat a gentleman with qrey hair who inspired her with a complete confidence. When she accompanied her husband to the meeting, she discovered to her great surprise that the grey gentleman from her dream was present there and passed himself off as an Apostle of the Lord.

This incident gave occasion to some, to let themselves guide by this preacher but also many of the group withdrew themselves.

At the next Christmas some of the followers were sealed and shortly thereafter the gifts of the Holy Spirit were revealed. In the first period they met in the Haarlemmer Houttuinen, thereafter at the Lauriergracht, then in the building "De Vereniging"---(The Society)--in the Warmoesstraat. It was not easy. Especially the gift of prophecy roused the love of mockery.

Some ministers, among whom the already mentioned sender of the article in "The Herald", Rev. Brandt and the Lutheran Rev. Lents acted very hostile. Even on their pulpits they made the work of God suspicious and stimulated the members of the young men's associations to disturb the divine services. Sometimes the police herself had to interfere.

A foul enemy became a certain Ysbrand Smit who was even a deacon. He raised with some other false brethren a revolt which made him further unacceptable. Now he wrote a filthy brochure: "Five years in the parish of the Apostolic Mission" in which he could unburden his impure mind. He found support from a certain Rev. Pogge who later got into low water and has gone to the Indies as a colonial soldier. Smit still published a second brochure: "False apostles and false prophets or old grievances and new evidences against the Apostle F. Schwartz and his sealed followers", Amsterdam 1869.

The hall in the Warmoesstraat was not appropriate anymore because it was also used as dancing and for theatrical performances. When the parish left it those interested in dancing waited already anxiously to use it and sometimes let a waiter warn that the service had now to be finalised.!

A real relief was it; when the Persian church could be rented, a very clean hall which had been used for the missionary work among the seamen. It was situated at the Kromboomsloot. It belonged to the Armenian parish and was supported by the Persian government. After a visit of the Shah of Persia to Amsterdam it had to be sold. Presumably hostile tendencies have exercised influence on that decision. In any case; It had to be sold.The amount needed could be gathered about; but however it slipped through the fingers of the Parish, because a Roman Catholic society bought if for the fitting up of a school for which purpose it still serves nowadays.

Now it had to be looked out for another accommmodation and with much difficulty another building, on the Prinseneiland, could be obtained, where a chicory warehouse was bought and fitted up to a Churchhall. Popularly it was called "The Chicory church". It was consecrated September 27; 1874, thus eleven years after the arrival of Apostle Schwartz in the Netherlands. The building bore officially the name: "Chapel of the Apostolic Mission". Later on it was moved to the all of us known church, also on the Prinseneiland; larger and better fitted up and where we have stayed till 1927.

Little by little the work had extended itself and various brethren had been called to the office of priest. Besides the already mentioned Rev. F.W. Menkhoff were successively called through the word of prophecy on December 6; 1868 the brethren: Ruys as pastor; Ansingh as prophet; Kroonenburg as evangelist; Gildemeester as reigning elder. They were all called for Amsterdam.

In 1869 were called the brethren F, Lankamp as overseer; J. Kofman as evangelist; E. Smit as prophet and A, Frankfort as pastor of the parish in Enkhuizen. The latter one, however; withdraw himself soon. In his place the Lord called on December 12; 1869 T. Korff.

In the same year was also called as pastor for Amsterdam yet H. Meynders who, however; was not earlier than 1882 consecrated in his office.

In 1876 followed the calling of J. Vleck as prophet for the same parish who assumed his office in 1883.

For Haarlem had been called brother Groot; later replaced by N.J. Verkruisen who was called to the office of pastor in 1880 and assumed his office in l882. After the decease of evangelist Kroonenburg; evangelist de Vries became his successor.

Besides in Enkhuizen and Haarlem parishes came into existence in Hoorn, for which L. Hoekstra was called as evangelist who had been active there as minister with an Evangelization Society. Further in Den Helder and IJmuiden.

The two last parishes were guided by deacon-evangelists while they were regularly visited by the Apostle and the other priests.

Moreover there lived in various cities of our country small groups of individuals who tried to spread the light of the Apostolic testimony. We cannot say that the Netherlands were a pre-eminently fruitful soil for the work of the Lord.

Yet diligently was worked. Also written work was carried out. Apostle Schwartz wrote his important work "The Book for our time, or the Revelation of John, readable for the Parish", of which the first edition was published in 1872 and the second one in 1894. It appears from various writings of opponents that they often draw light from that book.

A sister told me once how she heard years ago a future sermon of a very known minister. At that time she was not yet Apostolic. She found the sermon very beautiful. Such a thing she had never heard yet. When she after some years joined us and read the "Book for our time", she saw how that entire sermon had been quoted from that book. Also in publications in magazines which occupy themselves with the Maran-Atha message, sometimes pronunciations are read which are founded on the explanations in that book. A very keen-witted booklet from the hand of Apostle Schwartz is: "Apostles or not".

Moreover there were published smaller booklets, such as "The doctrine of election taught in the Scriptures, but not understood". "The Substitute", "Biblical essays", "An explanation of the Song of Songs", etc.

An important progress was the joining of Mr. F.L. Anthing to the Church. He was Vice-President of the Supreme Court in Batavia. He was a very devout man who did a lot for the mission. He spent yearly a very large part of his income for the work of the mission among the Mohammedans at Java. He even set up a school to educate gifted natives, in order to come into contact better with the population. To the pupils of that school belonged a very talented young Chinese, Lim Tjoekim, who was a native doctor, Mr. Anthing himself had no peace in the faith which he knew. When he learned that in England existed an Apostolic Church, he examined that work on a leave journey found there much truth however, was not completely satisfied. In Amsterdam he came into touch with prophet Ansingh, and soon thereafter he joined the Church. He was called in 188O as Apostle for the Dutch East Indies---(the tribe Zebulon).

A fatal accident made an end to his life. On a certain day he wanted to jump om an already riding steamtram which is for everybody, but especially for somebody at great age very dangerous. He fell under it and paid his imprudence with the death. Great dismay raised the news of this accident among the brethren and sisters in the Netherlands where he had won all the hearts by his great singleness anci childlike faith.

It is perhaps for the parish in Enkhuizen a nice special feature that he consecrated in November 1879 the marriage of the pastor T, Korff and his second wife.