Bill Text: IL HR0025 | 2013-2014 | 98th General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Congratulates the congregation of the Original Providence Baptist Church in Chicago on the occasion of the church's 150th anniversary.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2013-01-30 - Resolution Adopted [HR0025 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2013-HR0025-Introduced.html

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HR0025 LRB098 07440 GRL 37508 r
HOUSE RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
Representatives wish to congratulate the congregation of the
Original Providence Baptist Church in Chicago on the occasion
of the church's 150th anniversary; and
WHEREAS, The rich history of the Original Providence
Baptist Church began in 1863, when a small group of former
slaves started holding services at 26 North Irving Avenue in
Chicago; within a few years, the founders were joined by other
faithful souls who united with them to form a band of nearly
300; in time, they were able to raise enough money to purchase
a lot and build their first church; the congregation's fruits
of their labors became evident, both physically and
spiritually, through the efforts of the church's pastors,
Thomas L. Johnson, William Belay, R.E. Jackson, B.B. Hillman,
John Pope, A. Newsome, A.L. Harris, and Robert Darden; and
WHEREAS, In 1911, the congregation of the Original
Providence Baptist Church, under the pastorate of the Rev. S.L.
Frances, built a larger edifice at 217 North Leavitt at the
cost of $40,000; after Rev. Francis' pastorate ended in 1915,
he was succeeded by the Rev. Boston Prince and Rev. J. Wesley
Carter, the latter of whom served from 1922 until 1929; from
1929 to 1957, the Rev. R. Wendell Phillips served as pastor; in

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June of 1958, Rev. Edgar T. Thornton took over as pastor,
serving until his retirement on June 30, 1996; in February of
1999, Rev. James A. Missick began serving as pastor, where he
served until December of 2008; on October 18, 2009, Rev.
Cleophus J. Lee took leadership of the pulpit of Original
Providence Baptist Church, where he continues to serve the
church's parishioners today; and
WHEREAS, In the last 55 years, the congregation of the
Original Providence Baptist Church has grown greatly; the
church also relocated numerous times, from Leavitt Street to
Jackson Boulevard to Washington Boulevard, before moving to its
present location on 515 North Pine Avenue; and
WHEREAS, The congregation of the Original Providence
Baptist Church serve as models of hard work, integrity, and
dedication for the people of the State of Illinois; therefore,
be it
RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
we congratulate the congregation of the Original Providence
Baptist Church on the occasion of the church's 150th
anniversary and wish them continued success and happiness in
the future; and be it further

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RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
presented to the Original Providence Baptist Church as a symbol
of our esteem and respect.