HR0687 LRB096 15084 GRL 30103 r

1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3 Representatives are pleased to congratulate the congregation
4 of the Elizabeth First United Methodist Church on the occasion
5 of the church's 175th anniversary in October of 2009; and
 
6     WHEREAS, The rich history of the Elizabeth First United
7 Methodist Church began in the late summer of 1834, when Moses
8 Shunk of Pennsylvania arrived in Elizabeth to construct a place
9 of worship where services could be held; he eventually created
10 a double log house with a ground floor, which was used as a
11 dwelling house, a meeting house, and a school house; the
12 church's benches were mere slabs turned flat-side-up, with pins
13 driven into them to serve as legs; the building's construction
14 was completed on October 5, 1834, at which time a Sunday school
15 was created - the first Methodist Sunday school in Elizabeth;
16 the next day, school began with Moses Shunk as the school's
17 first teacher; the church's first minister was Rev. S.A. Sugg;
18 and
 
19     WHEREAS, In 1845, the congregation of the Elizabeth First
20 United Methodist Church built a new frame church behind the
21 church's present site; the building was later moved to the
22 Cording farm, where it remained until around 1944; the land
23 where the church's present building stands was purchased on May

 

 

HR0687 - 2 - LRB096 15084 GRL 30103 r

1 25, 1871 for $200; and
 
2     WHEREAS, In 1923, a new addition was placed on the
3 Elizabeth First United Methodist Church; during that time, the
4 church became the largest Sunday school in the county, boasting
5 over 300 pupils; the church itself was also one of the largest
6 in the county, with over 300 members; and
 
7     WHEREAS, The Elizabeth First United Methodist Church and
8 its congregation serve as shining examples of faith, integrity,
9 and compassion for the people of the State of Illinois;
10 therefore, be it
 
11     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
12 NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
13 congratulate the congregation of the Elizabeth First United
14 Methodist Church on the occasion of the church's 175th
15 anniversary and wish them continued success and happiness in
16 the future; and be it further
 
17     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
18 presented to the congregation of the Elizabeth First United
19 Methodist Church as a symbol of our esteem and respect.