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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The members of Ebenezer Baptist Church in Austin are |
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celebrating the 140th anniversary of their church's founding on |
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February 15, 2015; and |
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WHEREAS, Also known as Third Baptist Church, this venerable |
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house of worship traces its history to February 1875, when the |
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Reverend C. Ward and 18 charter members gathered in the home of |
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Elisa Hawkins, and the congregation soon built a frame structure a |
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few blocks away, at the corner of Catalpa and Curve Streets; and |
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WHEREAS, Within its first decade, the church outgrew that |
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initial building, and in 1885 the membership completed construction |
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of a new home at East 10th and San Marcos Streets, the same location |
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Ebenezer Baptist occupies today; the present Gothic-style |
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limestone and brick sanctuary dates to the early 1950s, and the |
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tower features the same bell that was used in the church's early |
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years; and |
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WHEREAS, Ebenezer Baptist Church has nurtured a rich |
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tradition of musical excellence, due in large part to the efforts of |
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Virgie Carrington-Dewitty, who served as director of music for more |
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than a half-century; it was under her direction in 1938 that the |
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Ebenezer choir became the first African American gospel group to be |
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heard on a commercial radio program in Texas; and |
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WHEREAS, Over the decades, Ebenezer Baptist Church has |
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benefited from the dedicated efforts of a number of outstanding |
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members of the clergy, including its current pastor, the Reverend |
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Dr. Ricky Freeman, who has ably led the congregation since 2012; a |
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centerpiece of the local community, the church offers a variety of |
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commendable programs, including those focused on mission outreach |
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and youth development, and its scholarship committee annually |
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provides financial assistance to the congregation's college-bound |
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members; moreover, the church formed the East Austin Economic |
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Development Corporation in 1988, an initiative that has partnered |
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with other organizations and businesses to revitalize underserved |
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areas of the city; and |
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WHEREAS, Countless Austin residents have looked to Ebenezer |
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Baptist Church for spiritual guidance during its long history, and |
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the congregation is indeed deserving of special recognition as it |
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marks this special anniversary milestone; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas |
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Legislature hereby commemorate the 140th anniversary of the |
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founding of Ebenezer Baptist Church and extend to the church's |
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congregants sincere best wishes for the future; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the church as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |