HR1212 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1212 LRB095 20860 GRL 49693 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to congratulate the congregation of the Greater Shiloh Baptist Church in Danville on the occasion of the church's 100th anniversary on April 27, 2008; and

WHEREAS, The Greater Shiloh Baptist Church was originally founded in 1908 as the Shiloh Baptist Church by Sisters Iona Derrickson, Etta Rosell, Martha Smith, and Lena Hutchinson, and Brother William Anthony; seeing the need for a place of worship on the eastern end of Danville, they began what they called the "Mission"; on April 27, 1908, the "Mission" was organized as an independent church and was named the Shiloh Baptist Church; and

WHEREAS, In 1910, under the direction of its first pastor, Reverend W.L. Banner, the Shiloh Baptist Church moved into a house at 529 E. Harrison Street in Danville, where it would serve as a place of worship for the next 73 years; in 1924, the word "Greater" was added to the church's name; and

WHEREAS, Under Pastor Sykes, the Greater Shiloh Baptist Church added its first educational annex, which housed Danville's First Acceleration Reading Center; the annex later housed a Head Start center and the Helping Hand food pantry; and

WHEREAS, On January 4, 1981, the Greater Shiloh Baptist Church purchased the edifice from the Second Church of Christ; the churches held a joint service marking the final days that the church would spend in its former home; the Greater Shiloh Baptist Church held its first morning worship service in its new sanctuary on the second Sunday of March in 1981; and

WHEREAS, Under the Reverend H.L. Reed, the Greater Shiloh Baptist Church organized the President's Council Auxiliary, a new children's nursery, the Winnie Mandella Missionary Society and Nurses Guild Auxiliary, the Willing Worker's Club, and Monday Night Youth Classes; and

WHEREAS, The Greater Shiloh Baptist Church has a magnificent musical history; the church's first choir was created in 1911 under the leadership of Reverend L. Evans; subsequent ministers added other choirs, such as the "Singing Angels" children's choir, which was organized by Reverend C.G. O'Bannon; the "Inspirational Choir", which was organized by Reverend Ben E. Cox Jr. and reorganized by Pastor H.L. Reed, who renamed the choir the "Sounds of Shiloh"; and the "Male Choir", which was organized by Pastor H.L. Reed; and

WHEREAS, On April 7, 2002, Reverend U. Pete Williams was called to be the Pastor of Greater Shiloh Baptist Church; during his tenure, the church has completed a project for additional parking, added a new roof for the Educational Administrative wing, created a continuous Five-Year Plan, completely refurbished the sanctuary, and added new classrooms; and

WHEREAS, The Greater Shiloh Baptist Church serves as a model of piety, charity, and community involvement for the people of the State of Illinois; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate the congregation of the Greater Shiloh Baptist Church in Danville on the occasion of the church's 100th anniversary and wish them continued success and happiness in the future; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Greater Shiloh Baptist Church Reverend U. Pete Williams as a symbol of our esteem and respect.