[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 118 (Tuesday, September 10, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1274]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             TRIBUTE TO THE HISTORIC PILGRIM BAPTIST CHURCH

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DANNY K. DAVIS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 10, 2013

  Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, the Pilgrim Baptist 
Church was founded in September of 1916, as a part of the dreams and 
work of the Union Grove Prayer Meeting Club who met in the home of 
Deacon John A. Finnie at 242 East 42nd Street. Because of its steady 
growth the club was constantly seeking larger space and after three 
months the founder and first Chairman of the Deacon Board, Mr. John A. 
Finnie, his wife, Juanita, Georgia Hansberry, L. Whitley and S.S. 
Harkness joined together to organize a Church. The group asked for and 
received help from several ministers. Mrs. Finnie suggested the name, 
Pilgrim Baptist Church and organized the Pilgrim Senior Choir.
  The Church immediately took off and in January 1917, Reverend Jessie 
D. Luck of New York became its first Pastor. Pilgrim experienced great 
growth and in 1922 Pilgrim Baptist Church purchased Kehilath Anshe 
Ma'ariv Synagogue located at 3301 S. Indiana Avenue. This edifice had 
been constructed in 1891, and designed by the famed architect Louis 
Sullivan and engineer Dankmar Adler. The initial drawings were prepared 
by draftsman Frank Lloyd Wright. Upon the passing of Reverend Watson, 
Reverend R.T. Schell and Assistant Pastor, Reverend C.L. Franklin 
carried on until the Pulpit Committee found what they considered to be 
the right man who could handle the continued growth and expansion of 
the Church. That man was masterful, the Reverend Junius Caesar Austin, 
a nationally known pulpiteer pastor, financier, organizer and 
Convention President. He liquidated the debt, renovated the structure 
and bought a house for the church's founder, built a community center, 
gymnasium and housing project and established missions in Africa.
  In 1931, Thomas A. Dorsey known as the ``father of Gospel Music'' 
joined Pilgrim and organized the Pilgrim Baptist Church Gospel Chorus 
at the request of Pastor Austin. Some of the members of that chorus 
were legendary singers such as Mahalia Jackson, Sally Martin, Roberta 
Martin and Clara Ward.
  During Pilgrim's ninety-six year history nine Pastors have served:
  Jessie D. Luck--January 1917-July 1917
  J.E. Jones--July 1917-October 1919
  Samuel E.J. Watson--May 1920-July 1925
  Junius C. Austin, Sr.--January 1926-August 1968
  Junius C. Austin, Jr.--February 1969-December 1991
  Floyd W. Davis--February 1992-April 1999
  Hycel B. Taylor--November 2001-May 2005
  Keith E. Gordon--January 2007-March 2010
  Tyrone E. Jordan--October 2010 to Present
  The Historic Pilgrim Baptist Church has been home to many renowned 
and distinguished people, among them are:
  Ministers: Reverend Clarence Cobbs, Reverend J.B. Felker, Reverend 
Elmer L. Fowler, Reverend Stroy Freeman, Reverend Louis Rawls, Reverend 
Richard Keller (Pastor of Pilgrim Jr. Church).
  Entrepreneurs: Oscar Brown, Attorney/Real Estate, Delois Barrett-
Campbell, Barrett Sisters, Bessie Coleman, First Black Woman Aviator, 
S.B. Fuller, Fuller Products Company, Mahalia Jackson, Gospel Singer, 
Sally Martin, Gospel Singer, Lee Randolph, Professor, Jack Johnson, 
First Heavyweight Boxing Champion, Claude Holman, President Pro-Tem of 
the Chicago City Council.
  Outstanding Artists who have performed at Pilgrim: James Cleveland, 
Aretha Franklin, The Edwin Hawkins Singers, The Staple Singers, 
Albertina Walker, Inez Andrews.
  Pilgrim was actively involved in the Civil Rights Movement and on 
many occasions the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King delivered sermons at 
the church.
  In 1973, Pilgrim Baptist Church was listed on the National Register 
of Historic Places by Chicago's City Council and was later designated a 
Chicago Landmark on December 18, 1981. In December 2001, the Church was 
placed on the National Ten Sacred Places to save list by Partners for 
Sacred Places, a Philadelphia based religious preservationist group.
  In January 2006, the Historic Pilgrim Church was ravaged by fire. The 
fire virtually destroyed the interior; but the exterior walls are still 
standing.
  In 2010, designs were unveiled to raise Pilgrim Baptist Church, a 
historic architectural landmark from ashes. Pilgrim has been rolling 
for 97 years and will keep on rolling. I salute you.

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