[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 55 (Monday, May 8, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E668]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                IN MEMORY OF REVEREND RUDOLPH S. SHOULTZ

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JOHN SHIMKUS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, May 8, 2000

  Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, I share an article from the March, 2000 
issue of the Pure News, published in Springfield, Illinois, by T.C. 
Christian.

                     But He Tried To Help Somebody

                        (By T.C. Christian, Jr.)

       It would be wonderful if I could remember and name all the 
     wonderful people who have made a difference in my life, but 
     that just can not be done. Part of the problem is that there 
     have been too many to count and no matter how good my 
     intentions may be, somebody would undoubtedly be missed.
       However, death has a way of refreshening our memory by 
     placing yesterday's faces, deeds and conversations on a giant 
     screen where we can all watch the previews at the same time.
       Such was the case in hearing about the death of Reverend 
     Rudolph S. Shoultz, pastor of the Union Baptist Church in 
     Springfield, Illinois. His death refreshened my memory that 
     life is but a book, sometimes a short story, sometimes 
     several chapters, sometimes a happy beginning and sometimes a 
     sad ending.
       After reading and listening to all the different tributes 
     paid to this man whom some even called the ``Godfather,'' a 
     stranger would have to conclude that ``this preacher must 
     have helped somebody.'' In one chapter of the ``Life of 
     Reverend Rudolph S. Shoultz,'' somebody called him a civil 
     rights leader who fought in the trenches, another writer said 
     he not only fed his members with religion but fed them with 
     state jobs, one minister said the good Reverend adopted him 
     as his son and just before we get to the final chapter, there 
     was recognition of the awards he received and how he provided 
     housing for senior citizens.
       In reminiscing about yesterday, I decided to review another 
     book yet to be published. This book's title is ``The Life of 
     T.C. Christian, Jr.'' This book contains several chapters 
     about Reverend Shoultz.
       In chapter one, the author (yours truly, of course) is 
     introduced to the Reverend and a friendship develops.
       In another chapter, which was written and dated November, 
     1983, Reverend Shoultz appears on the front page of the very 
     first issue of The Pure News. Also in that chapter, the 
     author describes how Reverend Shoultz provided personal 
     assistance to help maintain the existence of the newspaper 
     you're now reading.
       The chapter in the middle of the book describes the wedding 
     of the author which was also performed by Reverend Shoultz. 
     And in ``telling it like it is,'' in that same chapter (as a 
     result of the Reverend's political connections) the author's 
     newly wedded bride was soon to be employed in the Governor's 
     office.
       And incidentally, we did not agree on everything which 
     gives credence to a statement made by one minister during the 
     funeral when he said, ``If two people think just alike, one 
     of them is not necessary.''
       Reverend Rudolph S. Shoultz, who died on March 3, 2000 at 
     the age of 81, was a living legend. Perhaps his legacy can 
     best be remembered as a preacher who was always trying to 
     help somebody.

     

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