Hendrik de Cock protested against the perceived theological liberalism in the Netherlands government-controlled Dutch Reformed Church in the 19th century.

[4] In 1829, Hendrik de Cock (who is also known as the father of the Secession)[5] became minister of the Dutch Reformed Church in the town of Ulrum,[6] near the city of Groningen.

One of the members gave him the Canons of Dordt to read; this, plus his own discovery of John Calvin's Institutes of the Christian Religion, led to a great change in his preaching.

They could not, in good conscience have their babies baptized in their own churches, partly because the old Baptism Form had been replaced with, in their view, other heretical practices and liturgy, and partly because if the old Form was still used they could not answer "Yes" to the question whether they "believed the doctrine taught in their church was the truth of God's Word".

[4]Hendrik de Cock submitted to his suspension and stayed off his pulpit, but tensions continued to rise.

Heinrich Scholte (later to settle and establish a colony in Pella, Iowa), who was known to be friendly to him, was forbidden to preach in Hendrik de Cock's church.

[4] Hendrik de Cock refused to recant, and finally, with his congregation, officially parted (seceded) on 13 October 1834 from the Dutch Reformed Church.

[7] The first two years under de Cock saw the formation of over 200 churches that quickly developed out of local Bible studies called, "oefeningen," with a leader who served as the "oefenaar," that were meeting in homes.

As a counter-measure to the Secession, the Dutch government reinstated an old French law from the time of Napoleon, that forbade any assembly of more than 20 people.

If they were unable to pay the fines, their possessions were sold in Sheriff's sales and the proceeds paid to the government; if even this did not suffice, they would be imprisoned.

[6] De Cock was himself fined 150 florin (guilders) and spent three months in prison, separated from wife and family.

[8] In 1837 De Cock was called to the city of Groningen to be minister of the Reformed Church (Gereformeerde Kerk) there; he served this congregation until his death.