| Author: G. A. Aldus
- I. Snoek. (with the kind permission of Mrs. Han Versluys-Aldus,
daughter of Mr. Aldus)
First, brief background information about
Mr. G. A. Aldus. Gerard Adrianus Aldus was born on January 22,
1883 at Barnevelt. At the age of 19 years, he became a teacher
and worked successively in two urban and three rural schools.
October 14, 1915 was a milestone in his life. On that day Bartimeüs,
a new school for the blind and the teaching of braille, of which
he was the founder, was opened in Zeist. The name Bartimeüs
is a reference to the blind man Bartimaeus who was healed by
Jesus (Mark 10: 46-52). The school was officially approved by
Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands on January 27, 1916. Gerard
Adrianus Aldus was the first director and he had more than his
hands full with the administration of the school, giving lessons,
building a Braille library, monitoring the printing of books
... and much more. As a result of his hard work Bartimeus soon
became an institute with a fine reputation. Due to his peaceful
and friendly nature he had soon, according to a biography many
good friends and acquaintainces. In spite of a busy life, the
loving care of a family with children and a poor health, G.
A. Aldus saw the opportunity to produce several publications.
His known works include: Blinde Hendrik (The Blind Hendrik),
Het lichtloze land (The land with no light), De Wildernis in
(Into the wilderness), Door god verworpen? (Rejected by God?)
and In het Land van de Bijbel (In the Land of the Bible).
Gerard Adrianus Aldus died unexpectedly on April 26, 1933
in Zeist. He was 50 years old.
Bartimeüs still exists. It is now a foundation for
the blind and vision-impaired people. It employs no less than
2,200 employees and 650 volunteers!
The book: here we found God's name.
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