| 1 | 1 | | SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 690 |
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| 2 | 2 | | WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to |
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| 3 | 3 | | join the Robertson County Historical Commission in celebrating |
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| 4 | 4 | | the dedication of an Official Texas Historical Marker in honor of |
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| 5 | 5 | | New Hope Missionary Baptist Church; and |
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| 6 | 6 | | WHEREAS, During Reconstruction after the Civil War, former |
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| 7 | 7 | | slaves and freedmen throughout the South set out to establish |
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| 8 | 8 | | their own homes, communities, schools, and churches; a rich culture, |
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| 9 | 9 | | strong family values, and deep-rooted religious faith played a |
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| 10 | 10 | | vital role in helping to sustain African American families during |
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| 11 | 11 | | those turbulent times; and |
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| 12 | 12 | | WHEREAS, The original New Hope Missionary Baptist Church |
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| 13 | 13 | | was founded around 1830 and was located in the woods west of the |
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| 14 | 14 | | Spring Creek settlement; in the mid-1890s, Sam and Lucy Bell |
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| 15 | 15 | | Stubbs Mitchell, former slaves from the state of Georgia who had |
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| 16 | 16 | | moved to Texas, donated two acres of their land for a permanent |
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| 17 | 17 | | home for the church; and |
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| 18 | 18 | | WHEREAS, In 1911, church members took apart the existing |
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| 19 | 19 | | building and moved its various components to the church's present |
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| 20 | 20 | | location in Wheelock, where it was reconstructed to look the same |
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| 21 | 21 | | as the old building; through the years since its founding, the |
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| 22 | 22 | | church has served the area's African American community as a site |
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| 23 | 23 | | for such events as educational gatherings, reunions, and |
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| 24 | 24 | | Juneteenth celebrations; and |
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| 25 | 25 | | WHEREAS, Throughout its history, New Hope Missionary Baptist |
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| 26 | 26 | | Church has been a source of strength and solace for its members |
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| 27 | 27 | | and a place of fellowship for the community; it is truly fitting |
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| 28 | 28 | | that it be recognized with an Official Texas Historical Marker; |
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| 29 | 29 | | now, therefore, be it |
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| 30 | 30 | | RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 85th |
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| 31 | 31 | | Legislature, hereby commend the Robertson County Historical |
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| 32 | 32 | | Commission on its commitment to preserving the area's history and |
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| 33 | 33 | | extend best wishes to all for a memorable historical marker |
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| 34 | 34 | | dedication ceremony for New Hope Missionary Baptist Church; and, |
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| 35 | 35 | | be it further |
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| 36 | 36 | | RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared in honor |
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| 37 | 37 | | of this special occasion. |
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| 38 | 38 | | Schwertner |
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| 39 | 39 | | ________________________________ |
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| 40 | 40 | | President of the Senate |
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| 41 | 41 | | I hereby certify that the |
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| 42 | 42 | | above Resolution was adopted by |
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| 43 | 43 | | the Senate on April 27, 2017. |
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| 44 | 44 | | ________________________________ |
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| 45 | 45 | | Secretary of the Senate |
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| 46 | 46 | | ________________________________ |
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| 47 | 47 | | Member, Texas Senate |
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