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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Members of Four Mile Lutheran Church in Van Zandt |
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County are marking the 165th anniversary of the founding of their |
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congregation in 2013; and |
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WHEREAS, Believed to be the oldest Lutheran house of worship |
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in Texas, Four Mile Lutheran Church traces its roots to Johan |
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Reierson and a small group of fellow Norwegians who immigrated to |
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the United States in the 1840s; they landed at New Orleans, then |
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traveled on to Texas, originally settling in Henderson County; two |
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years later, Mr. Reierson and his family continued another 30 miles |
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farther north and established a settlement known as Four Mile |
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Prairie, or Prairieville; and |
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WHEREAS, The first services were held in 1848, with members |
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gathering outdoors or in private homes, and Mr. Reierson himself |
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served as director of the church; two acres were soon deeded to the |
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congregation for a cemetery and a permanent place of worship, and a |
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log sanctuary was built in 1853; Pastor Anders Fredrickson arrived |
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from Norway the next year to guide the community of faith; and |
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WHEREAS, Following some destruction by termites, the church |
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building was rebuilt in 1875 and improved in 1941, and it continues |
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to serve the congregation today as the location for adult Sunday |
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school classes; a vacant structure was purchased in Mabank and |
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moved to the site in 1956; following repairs and remodeling, it |
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became the main sanctuary, and a new parish hall was later added; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Four Mile Lutheran Church has long served as a |
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source of inspiration and guidance to those who worship there, and |
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its continued existence is a tribute to the unwavering commitment |
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of its members, both past and present; 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 165th anniversary of Four Mile |
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Lutheran Church and extend to the congregation sincere best wishes |
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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. |