H.R. No. 400

	R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, The members of Ebenezer Baptist Church in Austin are
	celebrating the 140th anniversary of their church's founding on
	February 15, 2015; and
	WHEREAS, Also known as Third Baptist Church, this venerable
	house of worship traces its history to February 1875, when the
	Reverend C. Ward and 18 charter members gathered in the home of
	Elisa Hawkins, and the congregation soon built a frame structure a
	few blocks away, at the corner of Catalpa and Curve Streets; and
	WHEREAS, Within its first decade, the church outgrew that
	initial building, and in 1885 the membership completed construction
	of a new home at East 10th and San Marcos Streets, the same location
	Ebenezer Baptist occupies today; the present Gothic-style
	limestone and brick sanctuary dates to the early 1950s, and the
	tower features the same bell that was used in the church's early
	years; and
	WHEREAS, Ebenezer Baptist Church has nurtured a rich
	tradition of musical excellence, due in large part to the efforts of
	Virgie Carrington-Dewitty, who served as director of music for more
	than a half-century; it was under her direction in 1938 that the
	Ebenezer choir became the first African American gospel group to be
	heard on a commercial radio program in Texas; and
	WHEREAS, Over the decades, Ebenezer Baptist Church has
	benefited from the dedicated efforts of a number of outstanding
	members of the clergy, including its current pastor, the Reverend
	Dr. Ricky Freeman, who has ably led the congregation since 2012; a
	centerpiece of the local community, the church offers a variety of
	commendable programs, including those focused on mission outreach
	and youth development, and its scholarship committee annually
	provides financial assistance to the congregation's college-bound
	members; moreover, the church formed the East Austin Economic
	Development Corporation in 1988, an initiative that has partnered
	with other organizations and businesses to revitalize underserved
	areas of the city; and
	WHEREAS, Countless Austin residents have looked to Ebenezer
	Baptist Church for spiritual guidance during its long history, and
	the congregation is indeed deserving of special recognition as it
	marks this special anniversary milestone; now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas
	Legislature hereby commemorate the 140th anniversary of the
	founding of Ebenezer Baptist Church and extend to the church's
	congregants sincere best wishes for the future; and, be it further
	RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
	prepared for the church as an expression of high regard by the Texas
	House of Representatives.
	Dukes
	Straus Guerra Otto
	Allen Guillen Paddie
	Alonzo Gutierrez Parker
	Alvarado Harless Paul
	Anchia Hernandez Peña
	Anderson of Dallas Herrero Phelan
	Anderson of McLennan Howard Phillips
	Ashby Huberty Pickett
	Aycock Hughes Price
	Bell Hunter Raney
	Blanco Isaac Raymond
	Bohac Israel Reynolds
	Bonnen of Brazoria Johnson Riddle
	Bonnen of Galveston Kacal Rinaldi
	Burkett Keffer Rodriguez of Bexar
	Burns Keough Rodriguez of Travis
	Burrows King of Hemphill Romero, Jr.
	Button King of Parker Rose
	Canales King of Taylor Sanford
	Capriglione King of Uvalde Schaefer
	Clardy Klick Schofield
	Coleman Koop Shaheen
	Collier Krause Sheets
	Cook Kuempel Sheffield
	Craddick Landgraf Simmons
	Crownover Larson Simpson
	Dale Laubenberg Smith
	Darby Leach Smithee
	Davis of Dallas Longoria Spitzer
	Davis of Harris Lozano Springer
	Deshotel Lucio III Stephenson
	Dukes Márquez Stickland
	Dutton Martinez Thompson of Brazoria
	Elkins Martinez Fischer Thompson of Harris
	Faircloth McClendon Tinderholt
	Fallon Menéndez Turner of Collin
	Farias Metcalf Turner of Harris
	Farney Meyer Turner of Tarrant
	Farrar Miles VanDeaver
	Fletcher Miller of Comal Villalba
	Flynn Miller of Fort Bend Vo
	Frank Moody Walle
	Frullo Morrison White of Bell
	Galindo Muñoz, Jr. White of Tyler
	Geren Murphy Workman
	Giddings Murr Wray
	Goldman Naishtat Wu
	Gonzales Nevárez Zedler
	González Oliveira Zerwas
	______________________________
	Speaker of the House
	I certify that H.R. No. 400 was adopted by the House on February
	11, 2015, by a non-record vote.
	______________________________
	Chief Clerk of the House