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HOUSE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, The First Presbyterian Church of Chicago will be 
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175 years old on October 14, 2008; and

 
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    WHEREAS, The pastor and congregation of First Presbyterian 
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Church will celebrate on October 11, 2008 at the International 
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house at the University of Chicago; and

 
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    WHEREAS, The First Presbyterian Church of Chicago laid the 
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foundation of the church on June 26, 1833 in the carpentry shop 
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of the second Fort Dearborn on the south bank of the Chicago 
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River; the young parishioners were led by Reverend Jeremiah 
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Porter, who encouraged the new church family to work toward 
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temperance and to avoid profanity and cursing; and

 
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    WHEREAS, The first building, located on the corner of Clark 
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and Lake Streets, served as a town hall, an arena used for 
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debates, a venue for Chicago's first amateur concerts, and as 
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host of the Chicago Lyceum, center of the village's cultural 
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life; the church's Ladies Aid Society funded the first 18 
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months salary of Miss Eliza Chappel, the first public school 
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teacher in Chicago and eventually the bride of Reverend Porter; 
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and

 
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    WHEREAS, The church withstood only a part of the Great 
 


 






HR1484
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Chicago Fire in 1871, with only the official records, the 
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communion service, the library, and the spirit of the 
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congregation of the church intact; the church made its current 
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location, at 64th Street and Kimbark Avenue; home on October 
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14, 1928; and

 
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    WHEREAS, The church has remained committed to the 
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neighborhood of Woodlawn throughout the years, with after 
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school programs, a community garden, the reestablishment of the 
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Woodlawn Ministerial Alliance, and a weekly Food For Life 
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program that feeds about 300 meals each week; and

 
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    WHEREAS, The First Presbyterian Church of Chicago is 
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currently being served by interim pastor, Reverend James 
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Roghair; therefore, be it

 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE  HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
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NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we 
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congratulate the pastor and congregation of First Presbyterian 
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at this special time; and be it further

 
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    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
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presented the congregation of First Presbyterian Church of 
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Chicago as a symbol of our respect.