R E S O L U T I O N
 1-1           WHEREAS, The congregation of St. Paul African Methodist
 1-2     Episcopal Church White Rock in Dallas is observing its Founders'
 1-3     Day Celebration on May 6, 2001; and
 1-4           WHEREAS, Organized in the early 1880s on the farm of Mack
 1-5     Thomas, the church drew the interest of area citizens who initially
 1-6     met for worship under a thatched roof arbor; Father Joshua served
 1-7     as the congregation's first minister and advisor and he was
 1-8     assisted by the church's inaugural board of trustees, including
 1-9     Washington Daniels, Taylor Turner, William Moses Jackson, Mack
1-10     Clinton, and Mack Thomas; and
1-11           WHEREAS, In 1886, Mr. and Mrs. Daniels donated a half acre of
1-12     land for a church site and when that site became too small, the
1-13     couple donated a one and one-half acre tract of their farm to serve
1-14     as the new site; under the leadership of the Reverend Henderson, a
1-15     one-room church was erected and when the Reverend A. V. Brown came
1-16     to St. Paul's in 1918, he organized a choir, bought a piano, and
1-17     played a leading role in the organization of the missionary
1-18     society; and
1-19           WHEREAS, The church has been blessed with inspired leadership
1-20     through the years, and today the Reverend Derwin Harris shares his
1-21     wisdom and counsel with his faithful congregants; and
1-22           WHEREAS, For more than a century, St. Paul African Methodist
1-23     Episcopal Church White Rock has remained attuned to the changing
1-24     needs of the community it serves and it is a tribute to the
 2-1     dedication and hard work of its members, past and present, who have
 2-2     devoted their time, energy, and financial resources to ensure its
 2-3     continued existence as a house of God; now, therefore, be it
 2-4           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 77th Texas
 2-5     Legislature hereby honor the Reverend Derwin Harris and the members
 2-6     of St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church White Rock and
 2-7     extend to them sincere best wishes for a meaningful and memorable
 2-8     Founders' Day observance; and, be it further
 2-9           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
2-10     prepared for the church as an expression of high regard by the
2-11     Texas House of Representatives.
                                                                    Giddings
                                             _______________________________
                                                   Speaker of the House
               I certify that H.R. No. 871 was adopted by the House on April
         25, 2001, by a non-record vote.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Chief Clerk of the House