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| 3 | 4 | | |
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| 4 | 5 | | R E S O L U T I O N |
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| 5 | 6 | | WHEREAS, The members of Bethlehem African Methodist |
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| 6 | 7 | | Episcopal Church in Old Ocean are celebrating the 150th anniversary |
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| 7 | 8 | | of their church's founding on June 11, 2017; and |
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| 8 | 9 | | WHEREAS, This historic institution traces its roots back to |
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| 9 | 10 | | the end of the American Civil War when, shortly after news of the |
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| 10 | 11 | | Emancipation Proclamation issued by President Lincoln arrived in |
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| 11 | 12 | | Texas, five former slaves, Abraham Kennedy, Calvin Parks, Saul |
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| 12 | 13 | | Harris, Charlie Lee, and Charles Allison, purchased a 600-acre |
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| 13 | 14 | | tract of land in the Chances Prairie community on which to build |
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| 14 | 15 | | homes for their families; and |
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| 15 | 16 | | WHEREAS, Looking ahead, the men also reserved an acre of this |
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| 16 | 17 | | tract as a future church site, and in 1867, the first church, a log |
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| 17 | 18 | | building, was erected on the property; under the guidance of its |
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| 18 | 19 | | inaugural pastor, Father Hayward, the church aligned with the AME |
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| 19 | 20 | | denomination in 1880, and it later merged with Brazoria and Cedar |
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| 20 | 21 | | Break churches; and |
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| 21 | 22 | | WHEREAS, In 1916, the original edifice was destroyed by a |
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| 22 | 23 | | storm, but members soon banded together to fund a new sanctuary |
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| 23 | 24 | | constructed by E. O. Viola; that facility housed the congregation |
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| 24 | 25 | | until 1940, when the Reverend E. A. Thomas successfully spearheaded |
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| 25 | 26 | | an effort to purchase and build the present-day building; and |
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| 26 | 27 | | WHEREAS, Over the years, Bethlehem AME has benefited from the |
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| 27 | 28 | | able leadership of many dedicated clergymen, and that tradition of |
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| 28 | 29 | | service is continued today by the Reverend Fred P. Blair Jr., who |
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| 29 | 30 | | assumed the pulpit in 2010; the church has long played a vital role |
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| 30 | 31 | | in the community through numerous ministries and outreach programs, |
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| 31 | 32 | | including its annual Trustee Rally and Memorial Day celebration; |
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| 32 | 33 | | and |
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| 33 | 34 | | WHEREAS, For the past century and a half, Bethlehem AME |
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| 34 | 35 | | Church has served as a source of inspiration and guidance to those |
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| 35 | 36 | | who worship there, and its continued existence is a testament to the |
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| 36 | 37 | | unwavering commitment of its members and clergy, both past and |
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| 37 | 38 | | present; now, therefore, be it |
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| 38 | 39 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas |
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| 39 | 40 | | Legislature hereby commemorate the sesquicentennial of Bethlehem |
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| 40 | 41 | | African Methodist Episcopal Church and extend to the congregation |
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| 41 | 42 | | sincere best wishes for many more years of shared prayer and |
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| 42 | 43 | | fellowship; and, be it further |
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| 43 | 44 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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| 44 | 45 | | prepared for the church as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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| 45 | 46 | | House of Representatives. |
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