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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Members of Mt. Shiloh Baptist Church in Quitman are |
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celebrating the 150th anniversary of their church's founding in |
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2011; and |
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WHEREAS, Mt. Shiloh Baptist Church is thought to be the |
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oldest African American church in Wood County and was organized |
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around 1861 under the leadership of the Reverend Austin Davis, the |
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church's first pastor, and the Reverend Jeff Warlick; the members |
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originally met and conducted services outside, beneath a brush |
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arbor, but in the fall of 1861 Bob Johnson, Sr., donated land where |
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the church cemetery is now located; a church edifice was built by |
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the Reverend Henry Brown, and the congregation continues to possess |
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a bench and a bell that were part of the original church fixtures; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Through the decades, Mt. Shiloh has benefited from |
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the dedicated efforts of many outstanding members of the clergy; in |
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the early 1960s, the Reverend C. Alexander became the pastor, and |
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during his tenure he restructured the morning services and planned |
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an evening service and other functions; he was succeeded by the |
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Reverend Beverly Montgomery, who assisted the church in securing |
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new pews and remodeling the entrance and sanctuary, as well as in |
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organizing the Baptist Training Union; and |
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WHEREAS, Numerous other area churches began as branches of |
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Mt. Shiloh, which is led today by the Reverend Troy Miller, who has |
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served as pastor for more than two decades; he is the grandson of |
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the late Reverend Alexander, while his wife, Yolanda Miller, is the |
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granddaughter of the late Lee A. Mabry and Fleetie Mabry, both |
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longtime members of Mt. Shiloh; and |
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WHEREAS, On June 26, 2011, the church marked its |
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sesquicentennial anniversary with a special celebration featuring |
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guest speaker Linda McCullough of Brocks Chapel United Methodist |
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Church in Quitman; and |
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WHEREAS, Mt. Shiloh Baptist Church has long served as a |
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source of spiritual enrichment to those who worship there, and its |
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continued existence is a tribute to the unwavering commitment of |
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its members, both past and present; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas |
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Legislature, 1st Called Session, hereby commemorate the 150th |
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anniversary of the founding of Mt. Shiloh Baptist Church and extend |
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to the congregation sincere best wishes for the future; and, be it |
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further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the church as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |
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Hughes |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 290 was adopted by the House on June |
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28, 2011, by a non-record vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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