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