HR1340 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1340 LRB096 22614 KXB 41935 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to congratulate the congregation and staff of Bethel A.M.E. Church in Chicago on their 148th anniversary; and

WHEREAS, Bethel was formally organized as a Mission by Bishop William Paul Quinn in April of 1862; overcrowding at Quinn Chapel A.M.E. Church led to the organization of Bethel; Reverend John B. Dawson, a local preacher, was appointed as shepherd of Bethel until a regular minister could be sent; and

WHEREAS, In June of 1862 Reverend Eamos McIntosh was assigned as the first pastor; in 1865 the Reverend Frederick Myers held services in Trinity Mission while looking for a new and permanent location for the church; and

WHEREAS, In 1870 the main auditorium was completed; the Chicago fire of 1874 destroyed Bethel and services were held in the old Railroad Chapel; in 1875 the second Bethel church building was erected and dedicated under the pastorate of Reverend J.W. Malone; and

WHEREAS, Ground was broken in 1890 for the third Bethel building and the cornerstone was laid in September of that year; and

WHEREAS, The Federation of Colored Women's Clubs was formed by Mrs. Codelia West and later became a part of the Illinois and National Association of Colored Women; the Afro-American Fellowship movement, under Mrs. Ida B. Wells Barnett began in the Bethel church as well; and

WHEREAS, Both the Big Sisters Association and the Big Brothers Association were organized at Bethel, leading to the organization of the Southside Boys Club; in September of 1949 Dr. C. Baker Pearle completed the church building at its present site and the march and dedication were held on June 10, 1951; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate the congregation and staff of Bethel A.M.E. Church on their anniversary and wish them continued success in their ministry; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Reverend Philip L. Ware, current pastor of Bethel A.M.E. Church, as a symbol of our respect and esteem.