Afrikaans: Louis Ernst Brandt wat op 21 Oktober 1873 te Zoeterwoude in
Nederland gebore is, het tussen 1904 en 1939 'n groat bydrae
tot die Suid-Afrikaanse kerklike en openbare lewe gemaak.
Hy het onder besonder bevoorregte omstandighede in Velp
groat geword, waar sy vader die amp van burgemeester beklee
het. Sy skoolopleiding ontvang hy tuis en aan die Stedelike
Gimnasium van Arnhem.
Vanaf 1893 tot 1898 studeer hy teologie aan die Universiteit
van Utrecht, waar hy in aanraking kom met 'n teologie wat
grootliks deur die Nederlandse etiese rigting van die
negentiende eeu bepaal is. Prof J J P Valeton jr ( 1848 -
1912) was een van sy vernaamste mentors. Brandt was 'n
eminente student wat veral op kulturele en sportgebied
uitstaande prestasies gelewer het.
Na voltooiing van sy universit~re studie word hy die eerste
voltydse sekretaris van die NCSV waarvan hy 'n leidinggewende stigterslid was.
Vanaf 1900 tot 1903 is hy predikant van die Nederlandse
Hervormde Kerk, gemeente Niezijl. Op 28 Augustus 1902, tree
hy in die huwelik met Johanna van Warmelo van Transvaal, 'n
gevierde Afrikaner-heldin gedurende die Engelse Oorlog van
1899 - 1902.
In 1904 verhuis die gesin na Transvaal waar Brandt
agtereenvolgens
Nederduitsch
in die volgende gemeentes van die
Hervormde Kerk van Afrika dien:-
Zoutpansberg/Waterberg, Johannesburg, Vereeniging/Heilbron
en Kensington/Turffontein. Sy bydrae wat hy gelewer het tot
opbou van die Kerk na die ontwrigting van die oorlog en die
bewo~ twintiger en dertiger jare wat daarop gevolg het, kan
nie te hoog waardeer word nie.
Afgesien van talle kerklike kommissies waarop hy gedien het,
was hy vir 21 jaar voorsitter van die Algemene
Kerkvergadering. Die vernaamste vrugte van sy ewewigtige
leierskap was die vestiging van 'n deeglike kerklike infrastruktuur,
die teologiese fakul tei t aan UP en sendingwerk
onder die heidene.
Hy vereenselwig hom volkome met Afrikaner-nasionalisme.
Onvermoeid bevorder hy die ideaal op die terrein van die
onderwys, kul tuur en ekonomiese opheffing. Hy beywer hom
doelbewus vir die verbetering van tussen-kerklike
betrekkinge en speel in die verband 'n beduidende rol.
Op 23 Junie 1939 sterf hy op 66-jarige ouderdom.
English: Louis Ernst Brandt who was born at Zoeterwoude in the
Netherlands on October 21, 1873, made noteworthy
contributions between 1904 and 1939 in Church and public
life in South Africa.
He was brought up under very favourable circumstances in
Velp where his father was mayor. He received his schooling
at home and at the City Gymnasium of Arnhem.
From 1893 to 1898 he studied theology at the University of
Utrecht where he carne into contact with a theology which was
mainly determined by the Netherlands Ethical direction of
the nineteenth century. Prof. J J P Valeton jr (1848 - 1912)
was one of his most important mentors.
Brandt was an eminent student who produced outstanding performances especially in the cultural and sports areas.
After completion of his University studies he became the
first full-time secretary of the NCSV - an organisation of
which he was a founder member.
From 1900 to 1903 he was minister of the Netherlands
Reformed Church in the parish of Niezijl. On August 28, 1902
he married Johanna van Warmelo of Transvaal, a famous
Afrikaner heroine during the English war of 1899 to 1902.
During 1904 the family moved to the Tra~svaal where Brandt
consecutively served the Nederduitsch Hervormde Kerk in the
following parishes: Zoutpansberg/Waterberg, Johannesburg,
Vereeniging/Heilbron, Kensington/Turffontein.
His contribution to the restructure of the church after the
disruption of the war and the miserable twenties and
thirties which followed, cannot be overestimated.
Apart from his service on numerous Church Commissions he was
chairman of the General Assembly for 21 years. The most
important fruits of his well-balanced leadership were the
founding of a thorough church infrastructure,the theological
faculty at Pretoria University and mission work amongst the
heathen.
He identified himself completely with Afrikaner nationalism.
Tirelessly he furthered this ideal in the fields of
education, culture and economic upliftment.
He purposely did his best to improve inter-church relations.
