[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 17]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 22897-22898]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




    HONORING THE 200TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BETHEL BAPTIST CHURCH OF 
                               CASEYVILLE

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JERRY F. COSTELLO

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 29, 2009

  Mr. COSTELLO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues to 
join me in recognizing the 200th anniversary of Bethel Baptist Church 
of Caseyville, Illinois.
  The year 1809 was important in the history of our Nation and the 
State of Illinois. While James Madison was inaugurated as our young 
Nation's fourth President and Robert Fulton received a patent on his 
new invention, the steam boat, the Illinois Territory was formed by an 
Act of Congress and Abraham Lincoln was born in the backwoods of 
Kentucky. At the same time, a group of Christians who had concerns 
about the pro-slavery position of some members of their former church 
formed the Baptist Church of Christ, Friends to Humanity, which would 
later become Bethel Baptist Church of Caseyville.
  James Lemen, Sr., was the first pastor of the new church and the 
congregation would meet in the houses of members, traveling up to 36 
miles by horseback to attend services. As the congregation grew, the 
need for a permanent church structure became apparent and the first 
meeting house was built in 1825.
  During the church's early years, members continued to hold strong 
abolitionist positions. The church building was used as a station along 
the Underground Railroad, with fugitive

[[Page 22898]]

slaves hiding in a crawl space under the church floor. To commemorate 
this important period, when a new floor was installed in the 1940s, a 
trap door was installed so the original trap door, through which the 
fugitive slaves would enter their hiding place, could be seen.
  Many changes occurred during the history of the church, many of which 
mirrored what was going on as our Nation grew. Wars and economic 
disasters took their toll on the congregation and, for a period during 
the Great Depression, the church was closed. During that time, 
concerned parishioners would gather the children of the area into their 
homes to continue to spread the Word of God.
  Responding to the needs of the flock, the church membership was 
reorganized and the church reopened in 1938. Due to the efforts of many 
in the congregation, the church rebounded and membership grew.
  As they celebrate their past during this historic anniversary year, 
the congregation of Bethel Baptist Church of Caseyville also looks 
forward to the future. Their strong commitment to their faith, their 
families and their community is reflected in their invitation for their 
bicentennial observance, ``Celebrate God's Goodness with Us!''
  Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the 200th 
anniversary of the Bethel Baptist Church of Caseyville and wishing them 
the best for many years to come.

                          ____________________