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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The members of the Cleburne Seventh-day Adventist |
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Church marked a milestone in the history of their church with the |
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celebration of its 135th anniversary on February 2, 2013; and |
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WHEREAS, Thought to be the second-oldest Seventh-day |
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Adventist church in Texas, the church traces its origins back to |
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1875, when three brothers from Michigan arrived in Cleburne to |
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preach at an open-air assembly; they sent for an evangelist whose |
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popular tent revivals attracted some 300 people; a new church was |
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thus formed and adopted the name of Cleburne Seventh-day Adventist |
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on February 2, 1878; and |
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WHEREAS, The leaders of the fledgling church built their own |
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sanctuary soon thereafter, but when it was destroyed by a tornado, |
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they moved to nearby Keene and established a church there; worship |
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services resumed in Cleburne in 1907, held at the local Knights of |
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Pythias Hall, and a new church was built in 1911; in the 1920s, the |
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church struggled financially and membership declined, but the |
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creation of a community outreach program and a fund for religious |
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education helped the church to resume its progress; and |
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WHEREAS, The mayor of Cleburne participated in a dedication |
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ceremony for a new church building in 1950, and the congregation |
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continued to grow; relocating to its current home in 1969, the |
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church added a family life center and a school for students in |
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kindergarten through eighth grade in the 1990s; and |
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WHEREAS, The church was led for a decade by Dr. Tony Torres, |
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who instituted a medical and dental clinic to serve the uninsured; |
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after he stepped down in 2012, Harly Charles assumed the pulpit, and |
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today, he leads a congregation of more than 500 members; and |
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WHEREAS, Over the years, many area residents have looked to |
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the Cleburne Seventh-day Adventist Church for strength and |
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inspiration, and it is a pleasure to join in honoring the church at |
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this special time in its rich history; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas |
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Legislature hereby commemorate the 135th anniversary of the |
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Cleburne Seventh-day Adventist Church and extend to the |
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congregation sincere best wishes for the future; and, be it 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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Orr |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 888 was adopted by the House on March |
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27, 2013, by a non-record vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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