By:  Haley                                       S.R. No. 534
    1-1                           SENATE RESOLUTION
    1-2        WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is proud to
    1-3  recognize the First United Methodist Church of Shelbyville, Texas,
    1-4  on the grand occasion of its 150th anniversary which is being
    1-5  celebrated April 4, 1993; and
    1-6        WHEREAS, In 1825, Brother James English, a Methodist preacher
    1-7  who settled in Shelby County organized the first church; and
    1-8        WHEREAS, In 1836, Shelbyville was incorporated as a town
    1-9  and the Methodist Church had approximately 200 members; in 1842,
   1-10  the pastor of the church was George West who served until 1845
   1-11  when Orin Hatch became the local preacher; and
   1-12        WHEREAS, The first Sunday school classes were organized in
   1-13  1865 by Professor and Mrs. W. C. Huntington who came from New York
   1-14  to teach school in Texas; Mrs. Huntington also organized the Woman's
   1-15  Society and the Juvenile Society, the forerunner of Methodist Youth
   1-16  Fellowship; and
   1-17        WHEREAS, The original church building of the 1820s was
   1-18  destroyed by a storm, but the present church was built in 1897 with
   1-19  the use of cypress trees which were cut into blocks and then split
   1-20  and fashioned into boards; and
   1-21        WHEREAS, Built by architect J. M. Pigg, and one of the
   1-22  landmarks of Shelby County, the church has a New England style
   1-23  steeple, a high pitched roof, and gothic windows; and
    2-1        WHEREAS, Over the years, the First United Methodist
    2-2  Church has ministered faithfully to the needs of innumerable
    2-3  Christians; and
    2-4        WHEREAS, Due to the guidance and wise stewardship of its
    2-5  pastors, and the outstanding leadership of its current pastor,
    2-6  Reverend James Hawkins, the church has continued to grow and to
    2-7  undertake many worthy projects within the community; and
    2-8        WHEREAS, The First United Methodist Church has become
    2-9  an invaluable source of strength for church members during their
   2-10  hardships and in times of bereavement; and
   2-11        WHEREAS, The celebration of its 150th anniversary is an
   2-12  expression of the church's enduring commitment to its holy mission
   2-13  and its dedication to tradition and unity among Christians; now,
   2-14  therefore, be it
   2-15        RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,
   2-16  73rd Legislature, hereby extend best wishes to the clergy and
   2-17  members of First United Methodist Church of Shelbyville on the
   2-18  jubilant occasion of its 150th anniversary; and, be it further
   2-19        RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for
   2-20  the church as a token of esteem from the Texas Senate.
   2-21                                 _____________________________________
   2-22                                        President of the Senate
   2-23                                      I hereby certify that the
   2-24                                 above Resolution was adopted by
   2-25                                 the Senate on April 1, 1993.
    3-1                                 _____________________________________
    3-2                                        Secretary of the Senate
    3-3                                 _____________________________________
    3-4                                         Member, Texas Senate