Teylers Eerste Genootschap

The main activity of the society is to discuss theological issues, and annually announce contests with a relative high prize compared to similar contests by other societies (400 guilders for the 1778 edition).

Because of the different religious backgrounds of the directors compared to the society members, conflicts over the outcome were not unheard of.

[2] This became especially visible in 1805, when Jacob Haafner submitted an essay on the question "What did the mission bring us so far, and what can be expected" which answered it in a negative sense - much more liberal than the directors would allow, while the jury members were deeply impressed.

Until 1796 the answers had to be submitted in Latin, Dutch or French, after 1796 also English and German were allowed.

The most recent contest is from 2011, asking for "research on the formation and/or change of the Dutch perception of Islam in the years 1990-2010" which will run through 2014.

Kleine Herenkamer (Smaller Boardroom) in Foundation House , where the society meets annually
Prize medal awarded in 1784 by Teylers First Society to William Laurence Brown. The design was made in 1778 by Johann Georg Holtzhey , who stamped the medals for all winners. After his death, the press was bought by the Stichting and Teylers still stamps the prize medals in the same way.
Title page of Haafner's award-winning submission on Christian mission, in Verhandelingen van Teylers Godgeleerd Genootschap (Proceedings of Teylers Theological society) XXII, Haarlem, 1807.