Speech delivered at the ninth annual meeting of the Dutch Federation of Young Men’s Associations on Reformed Principles, held in Utrecht on May 27, 1897. Kuyper addresses the youth as future “heads of Calvinist action.” He impresses upon them the importance of maintaining the pedagogical character of their association by studying history, the Bible, church order, and “what Groen van Prinsterer has sowed and planted.” He then expresses his hope that geest, geestdrift en geestkracht [spirit, enthusiasm, and fortitude] will prevail among them. Offering these words as a motto, he gives an exegesis of each in turn. This slogan later became the title of the address (see 1916.01).

At the request of the chairman of the federation, Rev. A.G. Honig (1864–1934), chairman of the Utrecht department of the federation, asked Kuyper to give an address on Federation Day 1897. He did so because Kuyper kept in touch with the Dutch Federation of Young Men’s Associations on Reformed Principles (cf. Gereformeerd Jongelingsblad, no. 38, May 25, 1938, p. 616). Moreover, as a student Honig wrote his dissertation on A. Comrie under Kuyper’s supervision. After the speech, Kuyper was offered honorary membership in the federation.