HR0687

LRB096 15084 GRL 30103 r





  
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HOUSE RESOLUTION

  
 
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    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of 
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Representatives are pleased to congratulate the congregation 
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of the Elizabeth First United Methodist Church on the occasion 
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of the church's 175th anniversary in October of 2009; and
  
 
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    WHEREAS, The rich history of the Elizabeth First United 
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Methodist Church began in the late summer of 1834, when Moses 
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Shunk of Pennsylvania arrived in Elizabeth to construct a place 
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of worship where services could be held; he eventually created 
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a double log house with a ground floor, which was used as a 
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dwelling house, a meeting house, and a school house; the 
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church's benches were mere slabs turned flat-side-up, with pins 
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driven into them to serve as legs; the building's construction 
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was completed on October 5, 1834, at which time a Sunday school 
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was created - the first Methodist Sunday school in Elizabeth; 
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the next day, school began with Moses Shunk as the school's 
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first teacher; the church's first minister was Rev. S.A. Sugg; 
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and
  
 
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    WHEREAS, In 1845, the congregation of the Elizabeth First 
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United Methodist Church built a new frame church behind the 
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church's present site; the building was later moved to the 
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Cording farm, where it remained until around 1944; the land 
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where the church's present building stands was purchased on May 
 


 






HR0687
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LRB096 15084 GRL 30103 r




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25, 1871 for $200; and
  
 
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    WHEREAS, In 1923, a new addition was placed on the 
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Elizabeth First United Methodist Church; during that time, the 
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church became the largest Sunday school in the county, boasting 
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over 300 pupils; the church itself was also one of the largest 
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in the county, with over 300 members; and
  
 
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    WHEREAS, The Elizabeth First United Methodist Church and 
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its congregation serve as shining examples of faith, integrity, 
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and compassion for the people of the State of Illinois; 
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therefore, be it
  
 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
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NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we 
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congratulate the congregation of the Elizabeth First United 
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Methodist Church on the occasion of the church's 175th 
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anniversary and wish them continued success and happiness in 
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the future; and be it further
  
 
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    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
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presented to the congregation of the Elizabeth First United 
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Methodist Church as a symbol of our esteem and respect.