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<br /> MOUNT BRIGHT MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH ON ITS 150TH ANNIVERSARY
<br /> WHEREAS, prior to the emancipation of African-American slaves, a group of"coloured" men
<br /> and women held membership and worshipped at the former Hillsborough Baptist Church, now
<br /> the First Baptist Church of Hillsborough; and
<br /> WHEREAS, London, a slave of S. Moon, was the first African-American accepted for
<br /> membership at Hillsborough Baptist Church; and
<br /> WHEREAS, the African-American congregation continued to meet at the church from 1866
<br /> until April 1868, when they voluntarily withdrew their fellowship to form a church of their own;
<br /> and
<br /> WHEREAS, minutes from the First Baptist Church records read: "The coloured members of the
<br /> church with the exception of Bro. Lewis Jenkins having voluntarily withdrawn their fellowship
<br /> from us for the purpose of organizing a church of their own, therefore, we recommend that
<br /> their names be stricken from the roll and that we recognize them as a separate and distinct
<br /> church"; and
<br /> WHEREAS, twenty [20] members subsequently formed a congregation under the leadership of
<br /> Reverend Alfred E. Bright, hence the name, Mount Bright Baptist Church, and they met in the
<br /> homes of one another; and
<br /> WHEREAS, in 1845, Susannah W. Graham, widow of William Graham, former governor of
<br /> North Carolina, donated land to build the first church structure, and which was erected in 1906;
<br /> and
<br /> WHEREAS, the original members of Mt. Bright Baptist Church included: Mars Whitted, Ed
<br /> Bolden, George Smith, Jim Thompson, George Craig, Mark Long, Marsh Dixon, London
<br /> Robinson, Martin Whitted, Anderson Henderson, Alston Whitted, Daniel Latta, Sr., Annie
<br /> Alston, Julia Craig, Peggie Clemons, Beanie Moore, Millie Robinson, Peggie Faribault, Jane
<br /> Whitted and Fannie M. Whitted; and
<br /> WHEREAS, when the first building had to be demolished, church members constructed and
<br /> dedicated a new structure in 1979, at 211 West Union Street in Hillsborough, North Carolina;
<br /> and
<br /> WHEREAS, through the years, the Mt. Bright Missionary Baptist Church congregation has
<br /> contributed to the social well-being of Orange County, and continues to hold special events to
<br /> provide needed resources to individuals and families throughout the Orange County
<br /> community;
<br /> NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Orange County Board of County
<br /> Commissioners commends the services and achievements of the members, past and present,
<br /> of the Mount Bright Missionary Baptist Church over the past 150 years; and
<br /> BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Orange County Board of County Commissioners
<br /> congratulates the members of Mount Bright Missionary Baptist Church on their
<br />
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