Hendrik de Cock

Hendrik de Cock was born in the city of Veendam, Groningen, the Netherlands on 12 April 1801. His father was Regnerius Tjaarda de Cock and his mother was Jantje Kappen. His grandfather Regnerus Tjaarda de Cock was a minister in the Dutch Reformed Church around 1750. His parents were associated with the Dutch Reformed Church. Shortly after de Cock's birth his family moved to Wildervank, Groningen. In 1824 he married Frouwe Venema (b 1803 - d 1889). ==Education==

He entered into the University of Groningen to study to become a minister of theology; in 1823 he graduated from this university. ==History==

In 1829, Hendrik de Cock (who is also known as the father of the Secession) became minister of the Dutch Reformed Church in the town of Ulrum, The first two years under de Cock saw the formation of over 200 churches that quickly developed out of local Bible studies called, "oefeningen," with a leader who served as the "oefenaar," that were meeting in homes. Here believers had been reading together from the "Old Writers" (17th century Further Reformation" pastors and theologians) who emphasized not only mindful apprehension of Reformed doctrine but also personal appropriation of these Calvinist truths. Other churches also left the Dutch Reformed Church to join Hendrik de Cock in the Christian Reformed Churches in the Netherlands (CGKN). These churches and their members would be called the "Secessionists" or "Seceders". ==The Secession (Afscheiding)==

The Dutch Reformed Church and the Dutch government made the Seceders suffer terribly for their convictions. Their meetings were often broken up by mob violence; they were fined and imprisoned. On 25 October 1834 a company of infantry (104 soldiers) were sent by the Dutch government to Ulrum and to other places where the Seceders had established separate congregations and were billeted in the homes of the seceders. These people were usually rather poor, which also why the other clergymen held them in contempt; yet they were forced to feed and shelter the soldiers, tend to their needs, and live their lives with the soldiers always present. The soldiers stayed there until the end of January 1835, and even then, half of them remained until 7 July 1835. As a counter-measure to the Secession, the Dutch government reinstated an old French law from the time of Napoleon, that forbade any assembly of more than 20 people. This made it difficult, if not impossible, for the Seceders to gather to worship. If any regulations imposed on them were broken, they were fined vast sums of money. If they were unable to pay the fines, their possessions were sold in Sheriff's sales and the proceeds paid to the government; if even this did not suffice, they would be imprisoned. De Cock was himself fined 150 florin (guilders) and spent three months in prison, separated from wife and family. Not until under King William II in 1841 would this counter-measure and the religious persecution end. ==Later years==

De Cock was passionate in his support of using Biblical psalms rather than later hymns and wrote at least one pamphlet on the subject. He is buried in Groningen at the Southern Cemetery (Zuiderbegraafplaats) in a well marked (and maintained) grave. He was survived by his wife and five children, (son), Eelbrina de Cock (daughter) and Jantje de Cock (daughter) (born 20 January 1836). == Publications ==

• The friendly question from a circle of friends, answered from Damear • Collected Writings • A contribution to the right understanding of ecclesiastical separation A number of his papers are held at Calvin University. == See also ==