HR0046 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0046 LRB097 09864 GRL 50120 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to congratulate the congregation of the Morning Star Free Will Baptist Church of Urbana on the occasion of the church's 100th anniversary; and

WHEREAS, The first Free Will Baptist Church was organized in 1727 by Brother Paul Palmer; more Free Will Baptist churches were organized throughout the 1800s, with anti-slavery as a core belief; Free Will Baptist churches began to spread throughout the nation in 1876; and

WHEREAS, The Morning Star Free Will Baptist Church of Urbana was organized in February of 1911; the church's first elected Pastor was Rev. L.W. Wilber; and

WHEREAS, The Morning Star Free Will Baptist Church's present Pastor, Elder Holmes, has presided over the church since April of 1982; during the past 29 years, Pastor Elder Holmes has helped update the church facility as the congregation has grown greatly; and

WHEREAS, Over the years, the Morning Star Free Will Baptist Church has been blessed to host musicians such as Mavis Staples and the Staple Singers, Dr. Mattie Moss Clark, Twinkie Clark, Edwin Hawkins, and the Williams Brothers; the church has also hosted a number of religious leaders, including Dr. Martin Luther King Sr.; and

WHEREAS, Today, the Morning Star Free Will Baptist Church remains a place of worship and praise through prayer and song; while the church's members are few, the church continues to look to God for His divine grace and mercy to work with those who are here and willing to work and to overcome all obstacles that are put before them; and

WHEREAS, The congregation of the Morning Star Free Will Baptist Church serves as a model of hard work, integrity, and dedication for the people of the State of Illinois; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate the congregation of the Morning Star Free Will Baptist Church of Urbana on the occasion of the church's 100th anniversary and wish them continued success and happiness in the future; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Pastor Elder Holmes of the Morning Star Free Will Baptist Church as a symbol of our esteem and respect.