1-1 1 1-2 SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 462 1-3 WHEREAS, The Senate of Texas takes pleasure in recognizing 1-4 the Old Baptist Church Preservation Society on the occasion of its 1-5 first meeting; and 1-6 WHEREAS, The Old Baptist Church Preservation Society at 1-7 Bedias in Grimes County seeks to preserve the First Baptist Church 1-8 at Bedias; and 1-9 WHEREAS, In 1848, the First Baptist Church was established, 1-10 and meetings were held in homes and in school; in 1859, the present 1-11 building was erected; and 1-12 WHEREAS, There was a congregational split in 1913 about 1-13 missionary policy, which resulted in an Old and a New Baptist 1-14 Church; the last year in which regular services were held was 1-15 1965; and 1-16 WHEREAS, Interested friends and supporters did restorative 1-17 work on the building, hoping that it would be returned to its 1-18 useful place as a House of God in the community it had served since 1-19 1848; and 1-20 WHEREAS, In 1974, the building and grounds were deeded to the 1-21 Bedias Cemetery Association; in 1988, necessary repairs, including 1-22 a new roof, were made on the building by a group who raised funds 1-23 to pay for it; and 2-1 WHEREAS, By 1996, the building again needed repairs, causing 2-2 the Bedias Cemetery Association to vote to destroy the building; 2-3 the bell of the church would be preserved as a memorial; and 2-4 WHEREAS, An earnest and interested group began efforts to 2-5 save the old building; the group gained permission to raise funds 2-6 and restore the old church; and 2-7 WHEREAS, The interested group organized itself into the 2-8 Old Baptist Church Preservation Society, Incorporated, and sought 2-9 bids for the necessary work; and 2-10 WHEREAS, In December, the cemetery society graciously 2-11 transferred the title to the building and grounds to the 2-12 preservation society; and 2-13 WHEREAS, After Christmas, work on securing the foundation 2-14 and bell tower was begun, other minor repairs have been effected, 2-15 and painting awaits favorable weather; now, therefore, be it 2-16 RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 2-17 75th Legislature, hereby congratulate the Old Baptist Church 2-18 Preservation Society as it begins its vital work; and, be it further 2-19 RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for the 2-20 group as an expression of the highest regard of the Texas Senate. 2-21 Ogden 2-22 ______________________________________ 2-23 President of the Senate 2-24 I hereby certify that the above 2-25 Resolution was adopted by the Senate 2-26 on April 9, 1997. 2-27 ______________________________________ 2-28 Secretary of the Senate 2-29 ______________________________________ 3-1 Member, Texas Senate