2017-2018 Bill 514: Long Cane AME Church - South Carolina Legislature Online

1 South Carolina General Assembly 2 122nd Session, 2017-2018 3 4 S. 514 5 6 STATUS INFORMATION 7 8 Senate Resolution 9 Sponsors: Senator Nicholson 10 Document Path: l:\council\bills\gm\24940sa17.docx 11 12 Introduced in the Senate on March 7, 2017 13 Adopted by the Senate on March 7, 2017 14 15 Summary: Long Cane AME Church 16 17 18 HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS 19 20 Date Body Action Description with journal page number 21 3/7/2017 Senate Introduced and adopted ( Senate Journalpage 7) 22 23 View the latest legislative information at the website 24 25 26 VERSIONS OF THIS BILL 27 28 3/7/2017 29 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 A SENATE RESOLUTION 10 11 TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR LONG CANE AFRICAN 12 METHODIST EPISCOPAL (AME) CHURCH OF ABBEVILLE 13 AND TO CELEBRATE WITH THE PASTOR AND MEMBERS 14 THEIR FAITHFUL SERVICE AS A CONGREGATION TO 15 THEIR COMMUNITY FOR ONE HUNDRED FIFTY YEARS. 16 17 Whereas, the members of the South Carolina Senate celebrate the 18 century and a half during which Long Cane African Methodist 19 Episcopal (AME) Church has served God and man; and 20 21 Whereas, organized in 1867, Long Cane AME Church held 22 services in a brush arbor nearly ten years before erecting its first 23 sanctuary used 1877 to1885, a frame building only forty feet by 24 fifty feet with a gallery in the rear. The second structure, similar 25 but ten feet longer and ten feet wider, was in use from 1885 to 26 1903; and 27 28 Whereas, in 1905, Philip Rosenberg and George Visanski deeded 29 the church two acres on Long Cane Creek seven miles from 30 Abbeville for fifty dollars, where the church built a new sanctuary. 31 Church members hewed by hand the logs used to construct the 32 edifice, which measured thirtyfive by fiftysix feet and featured 33 fourteen rectangular windows and a high narrow steeple; and 34 35 Whereas, the men of God who led the congregation during that 36 time included Reverends Edgar Bibbs, C. B. Gillard, G. T. 37 Shelton, Shaw, E. Williams, Nance, Lindsey, L. F. Vance, D. M. 38 Wardsworth, Burgess, Simon Thomas, and R. H. Hampton; and 39 40 Whereas, in 1938, Long Cane AME Church joined with Cedar 41 Grove AME to form the Cedar Grove Circuit, an association that 42 lasted until 1962 when the church joined with Cypress Chapel; and

[514] 2 1 2 Whereas, in 1948, the estate of Mary Etta Harper deeded the 3 church one acre of land for one hundred fifty dollars. Under the 4 leadership of Reverend James Louden and Elder C. G. Glover, the 5 structure from the old site where attendance had begun to dwindle 6 was torn down and moved by trucks to the new triangular site 7 nearer to the City of Abbeville where it was rebuilt; and 8 9 Whereas, once again attendance flourished under the succeeding 10 pastors: Reverends J. S. Johnson, P. B. Burts, W. M. Dubose, M. 11 Massey, and Spearman. Under the leadership of Reverend 12 Massey, the church added a building that housed a pastoral study, 13 a dining area, two classrooms, and two bathrooms; and 14 15 Whereas, in 1969, the church provided its first parsonage for 16 Reverend James J. Robinson and his family, and Long Cane AME 17 Church was made a station church; and 18 19 Whereas, Reverend Dr. R. A. Brown became pastor in 1971, 20 followed by Reverend Henderson Louden, who directed additions 21 of a fellowship hall, a brick exterior, and two bathrooms. He was 22 followed by Reverend Harold Hunter and Reverend Efferson C. 23 Bryant, during whose tenure the current parsonage was built; and 24 25 Whereas, the Reverends James Pope; William Utsey; Dr. James 26 Stokes, Jr; Adrien R. Kollock, Sr.; and currently Dr. Julius 27 Johnson followed. From the congregation, Reverends Wayman 28 Coleman III, Phillip Washington, Willie Black, Annie M. Wims, 29 Kenneth Aiken, and the late Emmanuel Coleman, as well as Sister 30 Mary Louise Wright, have been licensed to preach; and 31 32 Whereas, in 1997 under the leadership of Reverend Kollock, the 33 church prospered financially and spiritually, as well as through 34 increased membership. The church’s history was recorded that its 35 posterity might understand the faith of those who have gone before 36 and the foundation of Jesus Christ on which they built; and 37 38 Whereas, on November 20, 1999, the congregation broke ground 39 for a new edifice, and less than a year later, the first church school 40 service in the new family life center and the first worship service 41 in the new sanctuary were held; and 42

[514] 3 1 Whereas, in order to meet needs in the community to provide for 2 the hungry, the sick, and the shutin, the congregation launched the 3 Soup Kitchen in 1999, a project which has blessed many. During 4 20052006, the church initiated a Men’s and Women’s ministry, 5 and the congregation stepped out on faith to launch a radio 6 ministry; and 7 8 Whereas, the South Carolina Senate values the significant legacy 9 of Long Cane AME Church, and the members congratulate the 10 congregation on its sesquicentennial anniversary as it continues to 11 minister for God’s glory in the Palmetto State. Now, therefore, 12 13 Be it resolved by the Senate: 14 15 That the members of the South Carolina Senate recognize and 16 honor Long Cane African Methodist Episcopal Church of 17 Abbeville and celebrate with the pastor and members their faithful 18 service as a congregation to their community for one hundred fifty 19 years. 20 21 Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to 22 the church pastor, Reverend Dr. Julius Johnson. 23 XX 24

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