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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Members of the First United Methodist Church in |
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Troup marked a milestone in their history with the celebration of |
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the 100th anniversary of the dedication of their church building in |
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2014; and |
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WHEREAS, The Troup Methodist church traces its beginnings |
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back to 1873, when a small group of Methodists began holding |
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services beneath a large oak tree in the area; seven years later, |
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church trustees bought a parcel of land on East Calvert Street from |
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the Texas Land Company, and members soon erected a one-room |
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sanctuary on the property; and |
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WHEREAS, By 1912, the congregation had outgrown its modest |
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building and planned to construct a more accommodating place of |
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worship; the following year, the church received as a gift the deed |
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to several lots of land, and its members held numerous fund-raisers |
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and collected donations for a new building; the sanctuary was |
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completed in early 1914, and congregants held its dedication |
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service that Easter Sunday; and |
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WHEREAS, The new church was praised as one of the most |
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beautiful and modern in the area, and its spacious 500-seat |
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sanctuary was enlisted to host music and civic events as well as the |
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Texas Annual Conference for the United Methodist Church for several |
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years; and |
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WHEREAS, Over the ensuing decades, First United Methodist |
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underwent a multitude of other renovations, including the addition |
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of a fellowship hall and an education building; in 2013, the |
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congregation commemorated its 130th anniversary with the |
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dedication of a Texas Historical Marker from the Texas Historical |
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Commission and the Smith County Historical Society; and |
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WHEREAS, Numerous generations of area residents have looked |
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to First United Methodist Church-Troup for spiritual enrichment and |
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guidance, and its continued existence is a tribute to the |
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unwavering commitment of its members, both past and present; now, |
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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 100th anniversary of the |
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dedication of the First United Methodist Church building in Troup |
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and extend to its clergy and congregation sincere best wishes for |
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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. |