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COMMITTEE REPORT
April 6, 2017
S. 454
S. Printed 4/6/17--H.
Read the first time February 22, 2017.
To whom was referred a Concurrent Resolution (S. 454) to recognize and honor New Light Beulah Baptist Church of Hopkins and to celebrate with the pastor and members their one hundred fifty years of independence as a congregation faithfully serving their community, etc., respectfully
That they have duly and carefully considered the same and recommend that the same do pass:
JIMMY C. BALES for Committee.
TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR NEW LIGHT BEULAH BAPTIST CHURCH OF HOPKINS AND TO CELEBRATE WITH THE PASTOR AND MEMBERS THEIR ONE HUNDRED FIFTY YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE AS A CONGREGATION FAITHFULLY SERVING THEIR COMMUNITY.
Whereas, the members of the South Carolina General Assembly are pleased to learn that New Light Beulah Baptist Church at 1330 Congaree Road in Hopkins, formerly Beulah Baptist Church, will celebrate a century and a half of service to God and man; and
Whereas, Beulah Baptist Church of Richland County was established on April 26, 1806, under the leadership of Reverend Amos Dubose; and
Whereas, New Light Beulah Baptist Church secured independent rule in December 1867, when some five hundred sixty-five African Americans chose to withdraw from the white members of Beulah Baptist Church and worship on alternate Sundays; and
Whereas, the eleven-member white congregation of Beulah Baptist Church worshipped on the first and third Sundays while the black congregation of Beulah Baptist Church worshipped on the second and fourth Sundays; and
Whereas, Reverend William Weston Adams served as the first African-American pastor, and desiring to assert their independence, the members changed the church's name to New Light Beulah Baptist Church in 1870; and
Whereas, several other churches have been formed out of New Light Beulah Baptist Church: Shiloh, Zion Benevolent, Zion Pilgrim, St. John, St. Matthew, Mt. Moriah, Jerusalem, St. James, St. Peters, Siloam, Friendship, and Progressive Believers Baptist churches; and
Whereas, in 1886, New Light Beulah Baptist Church purchased two acres of land for twenty-five dollars, and construction of a church sanctuary was completed in 1889; and
Whereas, after the sanctuary of New Light Beulah Baptist Church burned to the ground in 1916, the church was rebuilt under the leadership of Rev. John Benjamin Barber; and
Whereas, New Light Beulah Baptist Church has been under the spiritual leadership of Reverend Westberry H. Neal, along with several other dedicated pastors; and
Whereas, in 2015, the members of New Light Beulah Baptist Church accepted Dr. Malcolm Taylor as their pastor, and today some three hundred sixty members worship at New Light Beulah Baptist Church; and
Whereas, in August 2017, New Light Beulah Baptist Church will be the first African-American church in the Lower Richland community to be registered in the National Register of Historic Places and recognized with a national monument; and
Whereas, the South Carolina General Assembly values the significant legacy of New Light Beulah Baptist Church, and the members congratulate the congregation on its sesquicentennial anniversary as it continues to be "A Beacon of Hope" for the State of South Carolina. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring:
That the members of the South Carolina General Assembly recognize and honor New Light Beulah Baptist Church of Hopkins and celebrate with the pastor and members their one hundred fifty years of independence as a congregation faithfully serving their community.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Dr. Malcolm Taylor, pastor of New Light Beulah Baptist Church.
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