Page 64 - Poat_to_Poot_Engels

The more extreme conservatives, such as F.M. Ten Hoor believed that the
Reformed Church had become a false church and only extreme measures
had any hope of making it into a Christian church. Ten Hoor moved to
America and became a forceful voice in the controversy over whether
members of popular oath bound societies, such as Freemasons, Odd
Fellows, and Knights of Labor should be denied church membership. He
also argued for a ban on the singing of hymns in church.

In the Netherlands, many social reforms were successful. However, many
blame the failure to reform the national church as one major reason for the
severe decline of the protestant religion there during the 20th century.
During that period it declined from overwhelming dominance to a minority
3rd place status after agnostics and Catholics.

Meanwhile, the ministers found themselves in a condition of turmoil. Some
had to change churches, some backed away from the reforms to stay with
the national church, and others left for America where evangelism was
strongly received. This is the atmosphere in which Jan Poot's ministry
proceeded.

- Religious Turmoil - page 7 -