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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of 
3Representatives wish to congratulate  the congregation of the 
4Original Providence Baptist Church in Chicago on the occasion 
5of the church's 150th anniversary; and
  
 
6    WHEREAS, The rich history of the Original Providence 
7Baptist Church began in 1863, when a small group of former 
8slaves started holding services at 26 North Irving Avenue in 
9Chicago; within a few years, the founders were joined by other 
10faithful souls who united with them to form a band of nearly 
11300; in time, they were able to raise enough money to purchase 
12a lot and build their first church; the congregation's fruits 
13of their labors became evident, both physically and 
14spiritually, through the efforts of the church's pastors, 
15Thomas L. Johnson, William Belay, R.E. Jackson, B.B. Hillman, 
16John Pope, A. Newsome, A.L. Harris, and Robert Darden; and
  
 
17    WHEREAS, In 1911, the congregation of the Original 
18Providence Baptist Church, under the pastorate of the Rev. S.L. 
19Frances, built a larger edifice at 217 North Leavitt at the 
20cost of $40,000; after Rev. Francis' pastorate ended in 1915, 
21he was succeeded by the Rev. Boston Prince and Rev. J. Wesley 
22Carter, the latter of whom served from 1922 until 1929; from 
231929 to 1957, the Rev. R. Wendell Phillips served as pastor; in 
 
 
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1June of 1958, Rev. Edgar T. Thornton took over as pastor, 
2serving until his retirement on June 30, 1996; in February of 
31999, Rev. James A. Missick began serving as pastor, where he 
4served until December of 2008; on October 18, 2009, Rev. 
5Cleophus J. Lee took leadership of the pulpit of Original 
6Providence Baptist Church, where he continues to serve the 
7church's parishioners today; and
  
 
8    WHEREAS, In the last 55 years, the congregation of the 
9Original Providence Baptist Church has grown greatly; the 
10church also relocated numerous times, from Leavitt Street to 
11Jackson Boulevard to Washington Boulevard, before moving to its 
12present location on 515 North Pine Avenue; and

  
 
13    WHEREAS, The congregation of the Original Providence 
14Baptist Church serve as models of hard work, integrity, and 
15dedication for the people of the State of Illinois; therefore, 
16be it
  
 
17    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
18NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 
19we congratulate the congregation of the Original Providence 
20Baptist Church on the occasion of the church's 150th 
21anniversary and wish them continued success and happiness in 
22the future; and be it further
  
 
 
 
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1    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
2presented to the Original Providence Baptist Church as a symbol 
3of our esteem and respect.