Jan Lion Cachet

Jan Lion Cachet, 1938-1912. Jan Lion Cachet is considered one of the "fathers" of the Reformed Church. He was born on November 29, 1838, the son of Jewish parents Salomon Lion Cachet and Rachel Aletta Hamburger. In 1849, the family converted to Christianity under the leadership of Isak da Costa.  The young Jan Lion Cachet went to school in the school of Isak da Costa. He trained as a missionary and teacher at the Vrije Skotse Kerk in Amsterdam. Cachet decided to come to South Africa after a request from Dr William Robertson as there was a need for spiritual labourers. He taught for a short time in the Cape but in 1862 he moved to Natal where his brother Frans was minister of the Dutch Reformed Church at Ladysmith. Here he again taught but also studied several languages including French and German. However, he had a inclination towards Calvinism and moved to the Reformed Church. He met Rev. Dirk Postma and through private study, under the direction of Rev. Postma, he was admitted as minister on July 27, 1868. Began his ministry career in various congregations including Rustenburg, Burgersdorp, Phillipstown and Steynsburg. During this time he also served as part-time lecturer at the Theological School in Burgersdorp. From 1894 to 1911 he was full-time professor at the Theological School of the Reformed Church. Cachet strongly identified with the fate and existence of the Afrikaner. In the 1880s he managed Die Afrikaanse Patriot (newspaper), and was also a campaigner in the First Afrikaans Language Movement to elevate Afrikaans from spoken language to written language. Several articles and also poems appeared from his pen. The best known are, among others, “Sewe Duiwels” and what they did; “Het huisgezin van den Hugenot en Getrouw tot den dood.”   His abilities and involvement in the church and community did not go by unnoticed. He was widely recognised as a quiet, well-read leader who made a difference in the political, educational and cultural spheres. In 1909, during the 50th anniversary of the Reformed Church, Cachet received the 'Officiers' Cross in de Orde van Oranje -Nassau', from Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands, It is awarded to persons who have proved themselves exceptionally deserving. In 1905 the Theological School moved from Burgersdorp to Potchefstroom where he was also one of the founders of the Preparatory School (Seminary) in Potchefstroom. Prof. Cachet requested retirement at the Synod of March 1911 and on 14 April he delivered his farewell address with the theme and content: 'Wie veracht den dag der Kleine dingen' (Zech.4:10). Cachet died in 1912 and with it brought to a close the period of the 'Fathers' namely Postma and Cachet.