HR1484 LRB095 22191 KXB 52497 r

1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The First Presbyterian Church of Chicago will be
3 175 years old on October 14, 2008; and
 
4     WHEREAS, The pastor and congregation of First Presbyterian
5 Church will celebrate on October 11, 2008 at the International
6 house at the University of Chicago; and
 
7     WHEREAS, The First Presbyterian Church of Chicago laid the
8 foundation of the church on June 26, 1833 in the carpentry shop
9 of the second Fort Dearborn on the south bank of the Chicago
10 River; the young parishioners were led by Reverend Jeremiah
11 Porter, who encouraged the new church family to work toward
12 temperance and to avoid profanity and cursing; and
 
13     WHEREAS, The first building, located on the corner of Clark
14 and Lake Streets, served as a town hall, an arena used for
15 debates, a venue for Chicago's first amateur concerts, and as
16 host of the Chicago Lyceum, center of the village's cultural
17 life; the church's Ladies Aid Society funded the first 18
18 months salary of Miss Eliza Chappel, the first public school
19 teacher in Chicago and eventually the bride of Reverend Porter;
20 and
 
21     WHEREAS, The church withstood only a part of the Great

 

 

HR1484 - 2 - LRB095 22191 KXB 52497 r

1 Chicago Fire in 1871, with only the official records, the
2 communion service, the library, and the spirit of the
3 congregation of the church intact; the church made its current
4 location, at 64th Street and Kimbark Avenue; home on October
5 14, 1928; and
 
6     WHEREAS, The church has remained committed to the
7 neighborhood of Woodlawn throughout the years, with after
8 school programs, a community garden, the reestablishment of the
9 Woodlawn Ministerial Alliance, and a weekly Food For Life
10 program that feeds about 300 meals each week; and
 
11     WHEREAS, The First Presbyterian Church of Chicago is
12 currently being served by interim pastor, Reverend James
13 Roghair; therefore, be it
 
14     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
15 NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
16 congratulate the pastor and congregation of First Presbyterian
17 at this special time; and be it further
 
18     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
19 presented the congregation of First Presbyterian Church of
20 Chicago as a symbol of our respect.