[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 312 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. CON. RES. 312

 Recognizing Springfield Baptist Church as the first African-American 
 church established in the City of Greensboro, Georgia, following the 
Emancipation Proclamation and, therefore, the oldest in Greene County, 
 on the occasion of its placement as a permanent marker by the Georgia 
                          Historical Society.


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                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 30, 2010

Mr. Broun of Georgia (for himself, Mr. Kingston, Mr. Westmoreland, Mr. 
  Johnson of Georgia, Mr. Lewis of Georgia, Mr. Scott of Georgia, Mr. 
  Gingrey of Georgia, Mr. Price of Georgia, Mr. Barrow, Mr. Bishop of 
     Georgia, and Mr. Marshall) submitted the following concurrent 
   resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and 
                           Government Reform

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
 Recognizing Springfield Baptist Church as the first African-American 
 church established in the City of Greensboro, Georgia, following the 
Emancipation Proclamation and, therefore, the oldest in Greene County, 
 on the occasion of its placement as a permanent marker by the Georgia 
                          Historical Society.

Whereas during the dark days of United States history when the Nation embraced 
        slavery, there were 56 African-American members listed in the First Book 
        of Conference at First Baptist Church in Greensboro, Georgia, in 1845, 
        and those individuals were required to gain permission from their slave 
        owners in order to seek membership;
Whereas in the midst of the Civil War, African-American slaves residing in 
        Greene County identified the importance of organizing themselves for 
        better worship and establishing a church for their mutual encouragement 
        and edification;
Whereas, on January 27, 1864, Henry Porter, Frank Massey, Umply Stocks, and Jack 
        Terrell, all of whom were under the cruel institution of slavery, pulled 
        their resources together to purchase 1.25 acres of land on the southern 
        edge of Greensboro for $6.25;
Whereas soon after, the aforementioned slaves purchased the Old Georgia Depot 
        Building, converting the former train depot into a place of worship and 
        named it Springfield Baptist Church;
Whereas after the Civil War, freedmen developed a community surrounding the 
        church, identifying the neighborhood as ``Canaan'', a Biblical reference 
        to the land which God promised to his chosen people, the Israelites;
Whereas throughout the years, many distinguished guests, who were instrumental 
        in advocating for civil rights, ministered at Springfield Baptist 
        Church, including Dr. Samuel H. Archer, Dr. Charles D. Hubert, and Dr. 
        Martin Luther King, Jr.;
Whereas, on September 8, 1987, the U.S. Department of the Interior National Park 
        Service distinguished Springfield Baptist Church as a sacred edifice 
        ``worthy of preservation'' and, therefore, placed the church on its 
        National Register of Historic Places; and
Whereas the strength and compassion of the generations of families, who embraced 
        Springfield Baptist as their church home, have contributed to making 
        Greene County a stronger and more attractive community in which to live: 
        Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That Congress--
            (1) recognizes Springfield Baptist Church as the first 
        African-American church established in the City of Greensboro, 
        Georgia, following the Emancipation Proclamation and, 
        therefore, the oldest in Greene County, on the occasion of its 
        placement as a permanent marker by the Georgia Historical 
        Society; and
            (2) commends the congregation of Springfield Baptist 
        Church, including its many generations of pastors, church 
        leaders, and families, for serving as a source of 
        encouragement, inspiration, and pride for members of the 
        community for more than a century.
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