[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 203 (Monday, December 11, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1193-E1194]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  RECOGNIZING THE HISTORIC SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH ON CELEBRATING THEIR 
        175TH YEAR OF SERVING THE GREATER NEW ORLEANS COMMUNITY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. TROY A. CARTER

                              of louisiana

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, December 11, 2023

  Mr. CARTER of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to the 
Historic Second Baptist Church as they celebrate their 175th year of 
serving the Greater New Orleans Community.
  In the year 1848, the Second African Baptist Church was originally a 
group of Negroes who congregated under the guidance of the white 
members of the Coliseum Place Baptist Church, for the purpose of 
rendering praise and honor to God in their own modest way. The church 
was later incorporated, and in 1857 the First Baptist Church of New 
Orleans turned over Lot 4 (which they purchased in 1852) to four 
churches, all of which operated at 2525 Melpomene Avenue.
  In 1861, Rev. Thomas Miles took over the church. Shortly thereafter, 
the First African Baptist Church came back and the two operated 
together until Second Baptist incorporated in 1866. Since that time, 
this church as an institution has been in continuous existence and has 
served its congregation without interruption. Even more important than 
age is the history of the congregation's growth. It has had a steady 
growth, and its service to the community has grown with time.
  During the entire span of its life, the church has had only seven 
ministers--namely: Reverends Willis, Racks, Steptoe, Brown, Hubbs, late 
Pastor, Rev. Thomas Nelson Washington, and present pastor, Rev. Robert 
Bryant Jackson, who was elected in January of 1997. The late Pastor, 
Rev. Thomas Nelson Washington, served the congregation for 53 years, 
while his immediate predecessor, Rev. Ambrose Hubbs, was the pastor for 
39 years. This is an indication of not only fine pastoral leadership, 
but lay leadership as well.
  In September of 1961, the church grounds at 2525 Melpomene Avenue 
were purchased

[[Page E1194]]

by the New Orleans Housing Authority. Through the kindness of Rev. C. 
H. Hayes and the members of Wesley Methodist Church, they worshiped in 
their church edifice up until March 1, 1964, when they moved to their 
current edifice at 2505 Marengo Street. The fine Christian spirit and 
friendship that was exhibited by this pastor and congregation will 
always be remembered with grateful hearts by those members of their 
church who experienced this display of Christian charity. May God 
forever bless them.
  Over the years, God has made Historic Second a Beacon Light of Gospel 
Truth to this community and communities beyond. In respect to its 
witness to communities beyond, God not only gave our late Pastor 
Washington a vision to broadcast the Gospel Message over the airwaves, 
but also provided sufficient grace to keep the broadcast for 55 years 
through August 28, 2005. Begun in 1950 on WWEZ, the radio airwaves 
carried our services live from 10:00-11:00 p.m. People in all areas of 
the city began to follow the Radio Broadcast of Historic Second Baptist 
Church and its dynamic young pastor. As a result of these many years of 
broadcasting, many members were added to the church.
  As a much-respected spiritual force in this city, Historic Second 
Baptist Church has worked to educate, equip, and empower its members 
and our city's residents to perform their civic duties and 
responsibilities. In the 1960's, under the leadership of Pastor 
Washington, voter registration classes were held at the church to teach 
citizens of color how to register to vote. Their famed Radio Choir 
desegregated the Municipal Auditorium with its Annual Musicals, 
successfully fulfilling 21 contracts. Each time 5,000 to 8,000 people 
gathered to hear Pastor Washington and the Radio Choir at its best. One 
year, the Radio Choir was accompanied by the New Orleans Philharmonic 
Orchestra--a night long to be remembered. And it was their own late 
Rev. Avery C. Alexander who was dragged up the steps from the basement 
of City Hall, as he attempted to desegregate the City Hall cafeteria. 
The importance of Historic Second Baptist Church is felt to this day in 
our community, as countless individuals seeking public office still 
make their way to the church on Sunday mornings to appeal to this 
congregation for their support.
  Through the years, Historic Second Baptist Church has stood as a 
symbol of pure idealism in the sense of what Jesus of Nazareth 
characterized in His teachings. As an institution and a definite entity 
of the Church Universal, this assembly, in golden purposes and 
architectural design, represents the fulfillment of the need for the 
true spirit of the changing times of this ultra-modern age--that is, 
the promotion of institutionalized Christianity to meet the needs of 
children, young people, and adults.

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