The Reverend Benjamin Laman
By Jan Drolen

After the sudden death of our third pastor, the Reverend Frank DeRoos, Bethany was without a pastor for two years although the church and the Sunday School continued to grow in membership. The Reverend Benjamin Laman accepted Bethany's call and was installed as our fourth pastor on June 7, 1923.
Benjamin Laman was born February 28, 1890 in Muskegon, Michigan. He attended the public schools there and later lived in Morrison, Illinois where he worked on a farm. On September 11, 1911 he enrolled in the Hope College Preparatory School at the age of 21. He entered college in 1915 after graduating from the preparatory school, but then left in 1916 as a sophomore for two years of military service. He fought in World War I and spent one year of his service in Russia. In 1918, upon his return from the Great War, as it was called then, he married the former Hazel Mouw of Holland, Michigan. He returned to his college studies and graduated from Hope College in 1920, and then attended Western Theological Seminary. He earned his Master of Divinity Degree in 1923 and began his service to Bethany almost immediately after his graduation.
Significant events in Bethany's history occurred during the Reverend Laman's years of service. Plans were formulated for our present church, the land having been purchased in 1920. In 1930, Bethany celebrated its 25th anniversary with special events held on September 18 and 19, and a concluding worship service on Sunday, September 21. The Reverend Laman helped write a special pageant for the Friday evening service called The Spirit of Bethany. The program describes it as "A portrayal of the beginnings of Bethany Reformed Church, as reviewed before Father Time, the Queen of 1930, her royal court, in three Episodes." Laman also served during this time as a state chaplain for the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
The Reverend Laman's last official service to Bethany was taking part in the laying of the cornerstone of the present church on October 13, 1931. Several current Bethany members remember hearing him speak on the steps in front of the church on a cold, rainy night while he was suffering from a severe cold. Sometime later, he underwent an operation, and he was too ill to preach any longer, but he watched the church being built from the parsonage window. The church, designed and built by the Kingscott Company at a cost of $65,000, was formally dedicated during special services April 5, 6, and 7, 1932, but the Reverend Laman was too ill to participate. He died on May 31, 1932, never having preached in the sanctuary that he helped plan. He was survived by his wife, Hazel and their four children: Esther, 10; Harvey, 8; Beatrice, 4; and Howard, one. He was also survived by his parents, three brothers (two of whom were also ministers), and three sisters.
During his nine years his nine years of service, Bethany grew to a membership of 178 families and 348 communicant members. Bethany members who were children then remember him fondly as an outgoing and friendly man who liked being around kids. He had a good sense of humor, and children liked him. He taught their catechism classes in the chapel of the old church and made the lessons fun. Other members remember him playing softball at the Sunday School picnics at Long Lake and teaching them how to swim.
The Reverend Laman would certainly have continued to influence the lives of these young members if he had not died at such a young age. But Bethany members were indeed blessed by his almost nine years of faithful and devoted service to our church, and he remains a beloved figure in our rich history.
Memorial for the Reverend Benjamin Laman
"Whereas the Reverend Benjamin Laman, pastor of the Bethany Reformed Church, has departed this life and gone to his Home in Glory, we desire to pay a brief tribute to his faithful work among us.
"One of the characteristics of Reverend Laman was his humility. No home was too humble for his to visit, and no man, woman or child was too humble to receive his attention and it can be said of him as it was said of his Master that the common people heard him gladly.
"We want to bear witness to the earnestness of his preaching and his faithful work among us.
"To the family of the departed we express our heartfelt sympathy and trust that God who gave them the grace they needed in the time of sickness and death will give them the grace they need in their loneliness.
"A copy of these resolutions was ordered sent to the family of Reverend Laman and also a copy to The Leader and The Christian Intelligencer.
By the Consistory of Bethany Reformed Church
Samuel P. Mullie
Edward C. Kriekard--Committee
1932"
© 2013 Bethany Reformed Church of Kalamazoo, Michigan. All rights reserved.
Benjamin Laman was born February 28, 1890 in Muskegon, Michigan. He attended the public schools there and later lived in Morrison, Illinois where he worked on a farm. On September 11, 1911 he enrolled in the Hope College Preparatory School at the age of 21. He entered college in 1915 after graduating from the preparatory school, but then left in 1916 as a sophomore for two years of military service. He fought in World War I and spent one year of his service in Russia. In 1918, upon his return from the Great War, as it was called then, he married the former Hazel Mouw of Holland, Michigan. He returned to his college studies and graduated from Hope College in 1920, and then attended Western Theological Seminary. He earned his Master of Divinity Degree in 1923 and began his service to Bethany almost immediately after his graduation.
Significant events in Bethany's history occurred during the Reverend Laman's years of service. Plans were formulated for our present church, the land having been purchased in 1920. In 1930, Bethany celebrated its 25th anniversary with special events held on September 18 and 19, and a concluding worship service on Sunday, September 21. The Reverend Laman helped write a special pageant for the Friday evening service called The Spirit of Bethany. The program describes it as "A portrayal of the beginnings of Bethany Reformed Church, as reviewed before Father Time, the Queen of 1930, her royal court, in three Episodes." Laman also served during this time as a state chaplain for the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
The Reverend Laman's last official service to Bethany was taking part in the laying of the cornerstone of the present church on October 13, 1931. Several current Bethany members remember hearing him speak on the steps in front of the church on a cold, rainy night while he was suffering from a severe cold. Sometime later, he underwent an operation, and he was too ill to preach any longer, but he watched the church being built from the parsonage window. The church, designed and built by the Kingscott Company at a cost of $65,000, was formally dedicated during special services April 5, 6, and 7, 1932, but the Reverend Laman was too ill to participate. He died on May 31, 1932, never having preached in the sanctuary that he helped plan. He was survived by his wife, Hazel and their four children: Esther, 10; Harvey, 8; Beatrice, 4; and Howard, one. He was also survived by his parents, three brothers (two of whom were also ministers), and three sisters.
During his nine years his nine years of service, Bethany grew to a membership of 178 families and 348 communicant members. Bethany members who were children then remember him fondly as an outgoing and friendly man who liked being around kids. He had a good sense of humor, and children liked him. He taught their catechism classes in the chapel of the old church and made the lessons fun. Other members remember him playing softball at the Sunday School picnics at Long Lake and teaching them how to swim.
The Reverend Laman would certainly have continued to influence the lives of these young members if he had not died at such a young age. But Bethany members were indeed blessed by his almost nine years of faithful and devoted service to our church, and he remains a beloved figure in our rich history.
Memorial for the Reverend Benjamin Laman
"Whereas the Reverend Benjamin Laman, pastor of the Bethany Reformed Church, has departed this life and gone to his Home in Glory, we desire to pay a brief tribute to his faithful work among us.
"One of the characteristics of Reverend Laman was his humility. No home was too humble for his to visit, and no man, woman or child was too humble to receive his attention and it can be said of him as it was said of his Master that the common people heard him gladly.
"We want to bear witness to the earnestness of his preaching and his faithful work among us.
"To the family of the departed we express our heartfelt sympathy and trust that God who gave them the grace they needed in the time of sickness and death will give them the grace they need in their loneliness.
"A copy of these resolutions was ordered sent to the family of Reverend Laman and also a copy to The Leader and The Christian Intelligencer.
By the Consistory of Bethany Reformed Church
Samuel P. Mullie
Edward C. Kriekard--Committee
1932"
© 2013 Bethany Reformed Church of Kalamazoo, Michigan. All rights reserved.