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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3Representatives are pleased to congratulate the congregation
4of Salem First Baptist Church on the occasion of the church's
5175th anniversary; and
 
6    WHEREAS, The beginnings of Salem First Baptist Church can
7be traced to the ministry of Dr. John Mason Peck, who, in 1832,
8first visited Salem in order to establish "a Sunday school in
9these parts"; and
 
10    WHEREAS, Despite being chased by dogs and being met with
11bitter antagonism from natives, Dr. Peck returned months later
12and secured permission to conduct a Baptist Sunday school
13organizational meeting in the county's log courthouse; and
 
14    WHEREAS, On November 9, 1837, Dr. Peck, W.F. Boyakin,
15Nathan Arnot, and Mary P. Rand held an organizational meeting,
16where Salem First Baptist Church was organized with 12 charter
17members; and
 
18    WHEREAS, The founders of Salem First Baptist Church have
19passed down a rich heritage of people willing to meet a
20challenge through shared sacrifice; and
 

 

 

HR1256- 2 -LRB097 23158 GRL 71980 r

1    WHEREAS, Salem First Baptist Church has the vision to
2become a growing family of committed believers with an
3increasing passion for God, passion for people, passion for
4spiritual maturity, and a passion to serve; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Salem First Baptist Church will celebrate their
6175th anniversary on October 6 and October 7, 2012, while
7glancing gratefully to the past and looking prayerfully to the
8future; therefore, be it
 
9    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
10NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
11we congratulate the congregation of Salem First Baptist Church
12on their 175th anniversary and wish them all the best in the
13future; and be it further
 
14    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
15presented to Salem First Baptist Church as a symbol of our
16respect and esteem.