R E S O L U T I O N

 1-1           WHEREAS, This year, the members of First United Methodist

 1-2     Church in San Marcos will celebrate 150 years of faithful service

 1-3     to the spiritual needs of their community, and this remarkable

 1-4     milestone is indeed worthy of praise and recognition; and

 1-5           WHEREAS, The church was organized in 1847 by Pastor A. B. F.

 1-6     Kerr and nine charter members at the home of John D. Pitts, and the

 1-7     site would serve as the congregation's meeting place for two years

 1-8     until a permanent structure to house the church could be completed;

 1-9     and

1-10           WHEREAS, The church's current house of worship was built in

1-11     1893 on land donated by the Pitts family; the edifice underwent

1-12     extensive restoration in 1980 and 1981, and for more than a

1-13     century, its lovely Carpenter Gothic sanctuary has served as a

1-14     peaceful oasis for the congregation; and

1-15           WHEREAS, Many believe that the church's bell may be the

1-16     oldest artifact in the community, dating back to a chapel

1-17     established in 1806 in Macon, Georgia; the church also boasts the

1-18     town's first pipe organ, which was installed in 1912, and its

1-19     lovely original curved walnut pews, pulpit, and altar rail still

1-20     serve church members well today; and

1-21           WHEREAS, Through the years, First United Methodist Church has

1-22     played a vital role in the San Marcos community, and it currently

1-23     offers a variety of innovative and successful programs targeted to

1-24     the diverse needs of its members, including youth groups, a United

 2-1     Methodist Women organization, a Mother's Day Out program, and the

 2-2     popular Logos after-school program for children; and

 2-3           WHEREAS, Throughout its proud history, the First United

 2-4     Methodist congregation has provided outstanding spiritual

 2-5     leadership and moral guidance to the San Marcos community; the

 2-6     church stands today as a tribute to the dedication and hard work of

 2-7     its members, past and present, who have devoted their time, energy,

 2-8     and resources to ensure its continued existence as a house of God;

 2-9     now, therefore, be it

2-10           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 75th Texas

2-11     Legislature hereby honor First United Methodist Church on the

2-12     occasion of its sesquicentennial and commend the Reverend Bernie

2-13     Sandberg and his congregation for the many significant

2-14     contributions they have made to the betterment of their community;

2-15     and, be it further

2-16           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be

2-17     prepared for First United Methodist Church as an expression of high

2-18     regard  by the Texas House of Representatives.

                                                                      Rhodes

         Laney                   Gutierrez                Oliveira

         Alexander               Haggerty                 Olivo

         Allen                   Hamric                   Palmer

         Alvarado                Hartnett                 Patterson

         Averitt                 Hawley                   Pickett

         Bailey                  Heflin                   Pitts

         Berlanga                Hernandez                Place

         Bonnen                  Hightower                Price

         Bosse                   Hilbert                  Puente

         Brimer                  Hilderbran               Rabuck

         Burnam                  Hill                     Ramsay

         Carter                  Hinojosa                 Rangel

         Chavez                  Hirschi                  Raymond

         Chisum                  Hochberg                 Reyna of Bexar

         Christian               Hodge                    Reyna of Dallas

         Clark                   Holzheauser              Rhodes

         Coleman                 Horn                     Rodriguez

         Cook                    Howard                   Roman

         Corte                   Hunter                   Sadler

         Counts                  Hupp                     Seaman

         Crabb                   Isett                    Serna

         Craddick                Jackson                  Shields

         Cuellar                 Janek                    Siebert

         Culberson               Jones of Lubbock         Smith

         Danburg                 Jones of Dallas          Smithee

         Davila                  Junell                   Solis

         Davis                   Kamel                    Solomons

         Delisi                  Keel                     Staples

         Denny                   Keffer                   Stiles

         Driver                  King                     Swinford

         Dukes                   Krusee                   Talton

         Dunnam                  Kubiak                   Telford

         Dutton                  Kuempel                  Thompson

         Edwards                 Lewis of Tarrant         Tillery

         Ehrhardt                Lewis of Orange          Torres

         Eiland                  Longoria                 Turner of Coleman

         Elkins                  Luna                     Turner of Harris

         Farrar                  McCall                   Uher

         Finnell                 McClendon                Van de Putte

         Flores                  McReynolds               Walker

         Gallego                 Madden                   West

         Galloway                Marchant                 Williams

         Garcia                  Maxey                    Williamson

         Giddings                Merritt                  Wilson

         Glaze                   Moffat                   Wise

         Goodman                 Moreno                   Wohlgemuth

         Goolsby                 Mowery                   Wolens

         Gray                    Naishtat                 Woolley

         Greenberg               Nixon                    Yarbrough

         Grusendorf              Oakley                   Zbranek

                                             _______________________________

                                                   Speaker of the House

               I certify that H.R. No. 189 was adopted by the House on April

         24, 1997, by a non-record vote.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Chief Clerk of the House