By: Ratliff S.C.R. No. 163 SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 1-1 WHEREAS, The Legislature of the State of Texas is pleased and 1-2 proud to congratulate the First Baptist Church of Marshall, Texas, 1-3 which will celebrate 150 years of ministry and proclaiming the 1-4 gospel on May 21, 1995; and 1-5 WHEREAS, At the time of Texas' annexation into the United 1-6 States of America, Baptists in Marshall were meeting regularly for 1-7 worship; and 1-8 WHEREAS, Although the church has traditionally celebrated 1-9 1845 as its date of beginning, research shows that the Baptist 1-10 Church of Marshall was officially organized with 12 charter members 1-11 in May, 1847, by John Bryce, a native Virginian and Southern 1-12 Baptist missionary in Texas; and 1-13 WHEREAS, Early meetings of the Marshall Baptist Church were 1-14 held in a log schoolhouse; later the congregation worshipped under 1-15 a brush arbor erected on the property of James McCown; baptisms 1-16 took place in nearby creeks; and 1-17 WHEREAS, In 1848, Mr. McCown donated the tract of land in 1-18 Marshall's original town site which continues to be the location of 1-19 the church today; and 1-20 WHEREAS, Marshall Baptist Church built its first permanent 1-21 building in 1849; the oblong frame structure with a belfry was used 1-22 for worship by other denominations and for lectures, concerts, and 1-23 school commencements; and 2-1 WHEREAS, In 1890, after 40 years of use, the original 2-2 building was moved to the corner of the block to make room for a 2-3 new Gothic sanctuary; the 600-seat edifice was completed in 1893; 2-4 and 2-5 WHEREAS, In 1904, the church helped organize the Second 2-6 Baptist Church; Bethesda Baptist Church had been the first church 2-7 to come out of the Marshall Baptist Church in 1867; the First 2-8 Baptist Church has been instrumental in founding eight missions; 2-9 and 2-10 WHEREAS, In 1953, the First Baptist Church built its third 2-11 sanctuary, a red brick Georgian Colonial structure; two years 2-12 later, a Children's Building was constructed; a new educational 2-13 building, to replace the 1928 Frazier Hall, and a chapel were added 2-14 in 1972; and 2-15 WHEREAS, Under the distinguished leadership of the present 2-16 pastor, H. Hollie Atkinson, a renovation and refurbishing of the 2-17 sanctuary was completed in 1987; and 2-18 WHEREAS, Today, the First Baptist Church in its second 2-19 century celebrates the faith of its fathers as it anticipates its 2-20 future; now, therefore, be it 2-21 RESOLVED, That the 74th Legislature of the State of Texas 2-22 hereby salute the First Baptist Church of Marshall, Texas, on its 2-23 150th anniversary and wish it many more years of devoted service to 2-24 its members; and, be it further 2-25 RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be prepared for the 3-1 congregation of First Baptist Church as a memento of this grand 3-2 occasion.