Editing Reformed Political Party (section)

===Foundation===
[[File:GHKersten.jpg|thumb|left|Founder of the SGP, [[Gerrit Hendrik Kersten]]]]
The SGP was founded in 1918 by orthodox Protestants led by [[Yerseke]] [[minister (religion)|pastor]] [[Gerrit Hendrik Kersten]], some of which originated from the Protestant [[Anti-Revolutionary Party]] (ARP). After the [[Pacification of 1917]], [[compulsory voting]] and [[proportional representation]] was introduced in the Netherlands. The founders did not want to vote for existing parties, but saw an opportunity for a smaller party because of proportional representation.{{sfn|Vollaard|Voerman|2018|pp=19-24}} The party first participated in the [[1918 Dutch general election|1918 general election]]. The hastily organised campaign focused on the ARP and its support of what SGP called state coercion, such as [[compulsory vaccination]] and insurance law. Because some might object to him combining being polician and pastor, Kersten was not a candidate, but instead Barend Lemans and Pieter Gijze. The party received over 5,000 votes, not enough for a seat.{{sfn|Vollaard|Voerman|2018|pp=27-29}}

Despite not winning a seat, the SGP continued its activities In 1919, the party board started a [[petition]] against the {{ill|Invaliditeitswet|nl}} (Disability Act), which forced workers to pay premiums to insure against disability. It received 4,800 signatures. The party encouraged its members to send back their stamp cards which tracked their premiums. In December 1920, the Senate passed a law that would accommodate their conscientious objections. A similar petition against compulsory vaccination received 27,059 signatures in 1922, but sorted no effect.{{sfn|Vollaard|Voerman|2018|pp=30-31}}