H.R. No. 73
R E S O L U T I O N
1-1 WHEREAS, The First United Methodist Church of El Campo
1-2 commemorated a century of contributions to the spiritual and social
1-3 well-being of its community with a special centennial celebration
1-4 held on October 25, 1992; and
1-5 WHEREAS, In May 1892 Methodism had its distinguished
1-6 beginning in El Campo when the Swedish Episcopal Church organized a
1-7 20 by 20 foot schoolhouse to hold its first services while a church
1-8 was being built; and
1-9 WHEREAS, The Victoria circuit had organized six Swedish
1-10 settlers into a congregation and, with a $200 grant from the Church
1-11 Extension Services, the group built a church capable of housing 200
1-12 worshipers and a small parsonage; and
1-13 WHEREAS, With 10 charter members, the Methodist Episcopal
1-14 Church South came into being in 1896 and met for services in the
1-15 school building until acquiring their own house of worship, a small
1-16 frame building, in 1897; and
1-17 WHEREAS, In 1912 the members of the Methodist Episcopal
1-18 Church raised their voices in song with the organization of the
1-19 first church choir in Wharton County and 14 years later, the First
1-20 Methodist Church built a new structure at the corner of Hillje and
1-21 Fahrenthold streets; and
1-22 WHEREAS, During the 1920s and into the Great Depression, the
1-23 women's organization, the Sunday School, and the Epworth League
1-24 worked diligently to serve their community by engaging in such
2-1 worthy activities as fund-raising to help retire the church debt,
2-2 supplying food and clothing to needy families, and purchasing a
2-3 piano for the congregation; and
2-4 WHEREAS, In the 1950s the church's growth expanded to better
2-5 meet the needs of its growing congregation; in 1956 a new church
2-6 was built on Avenue I and, to enhance the new church's appearance,
2-7 a Methodist Church Garden Club was organized for the purpose of
2-8 landscaping the grounds; and
2-9 WHEREAS, Church membership continued to grow, totaling 868 by
2-10 1964 and, in 1968, education and administrative facilities and a
2-11 chapel were added to the physical plant of the church; and
2-12 WHEREAS, The year 1968 also saw a historic merger between the
2-13 Evangelical United Brethren Church and the Methodist Episcopal
2-14 Church to form the United Methodist Church; and
2-15 WHEREAS, Maintaining a separate congregation, the local
2-16 Evangelical United Brethren Church later became St. Paul United
2-17 Methodist Church while the Methodist Episcopal Church became the
2-18 First United Methodist Church; and
2-19 WHEREAS, A child care center was opened by the First United
2-20 Methodist Church in 1969 and the United Methodist Women sponsored
2-21 numerous other worthy projects to benefit the congregation; and
2-22 WHEREAS, A celebration was held when the church became
2-23 debt-free in 1977, with all living ministers attending to witness
2-24 this joyous occasion; and
2-25 WHEREAS, To mark the church's centennial in 1992, the
2-26 Reverend Don Delaplain conducted services, after which there was a
2-27 covered dish dinner and a brief program on the history of Methodism
3-1 in El Campo; and
3-2 WHEREAS, The First United Methodist Church of El Campo stands
3-3 today as a tribute to the dedication and hard work of its members,
3-4 past and present, who have tirelessly devoted their time, energy,
3-5 and financial resources to ensure its continued existence as a
3-6 house of God; now, therefore, be it
3-7 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 73rd Texas
3-8 Legislature hereby honor the First United Methodist Church of El
3-9 Campo on its 100 years of service as a house of worship and commend
3-10 the Reverend Don Delaplain and the members of his congregation on
3-11 the many significant contributions they have made to the betterment
3-12 of their community; and, be it further
3-13 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
3-14 prepared for the First United Methodist Church of El Campo as an
3-15 expression of esteem by the Texas House of Representatives.
3-16 prepared for the First United Methodist Church of El Campo as an
3-17 expression of esteem by the Texas House of Representatives.
3-18 Saunders
3-19 H.R. No. 73
3-20 _______________________________
3-21 Speaker of the House
3-22 I certify that H.R. No. 73 was adopted by the House on March
3-23 11, 1993, by a non-record vote.
3-24 _______________________________
3-25 Chief Clerk of the House