HR1615

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HOUSE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of 
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Representatives are pleased to congratulate the congregation 
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of the Dutchtown Church of the Brethren on the occasion of the 
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church's 150th anniversary on September 20, 2008; and

 
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    WHEREAS, The Milledgeville Church of the Brethren was first 
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organized in the fall of 1858 by a group of Pennsylvania Dutch 
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who had settled in the area; after purchasing land from the 
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government for $1.50 an acre, a Love Feast was held at the 
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church's inaugural organization meeting; the church originally 
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consisted of 30 charter members; charter member Henry Myers, 
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originally from Maryland, was instrumental in organizing the 
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church, with him and his family traveling by horse and wagon, a 
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cargo boat, and train to get to Dutchtown; and

 
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    WHEREAS, The Dutchtown Church of the Brethren's first 
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church services were held in Henry Myers' home and later were 
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held in a schoolhouse; around the year of 1860, the ground was 
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dedicated for the first dedicated church and cemetery, with the 
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church building finished in 1866; the church that was first 
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built, a 30 by 66 foot building, still stands to this day with 
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some additions, namely a remodeling project in 1915, another 
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extensive remodeling project in 1955, and a remodeling project 
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currently in progress; and

 
 


 






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    WHEREAS, Today, the Dutchtown Church of the Brethren serves 
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families from the areas of Milledgeville, Shannon, Lanark, 
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Chadwick, Sterling, Polo, and Rock Falls; the church has a 
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strong ministry for children and youth, as well as junior and 
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senior high youth groups; the church also has church camp 
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services, coffee hours on Sundays, choir services, group meals, 
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a Young at Heart class that meets regularly and invites those 
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who do not attend church, the Women of Dutchtown Banquet, and 
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traveling groups that help rebuild homes that have been ruined 
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in natural disasters, all led by the church's current pastor, 
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Pastor Rick Koch; and

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

 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE  HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
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NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we 
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congratulate the congregation of the Dutchtown Church of the 
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Brethren on the occasion of the church's 150th anniversary and 
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wish them continued success and happiness in the future; and be 
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it further

 
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    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
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presented to the Dutchtown Church of the Brethren as a symbol 
 


 






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of our esteem and respect.