Liberty Superior Court November 19th 1888
State of Georgia, Liberty County } To the Superior Court of said County
The petition of Samuel Russell, George Walthour, Strap West, Daniel Williams & Lazarus Goodson citizens of said County, shows that a Church has been here established in said County, known as the St. Peters African Methodist Episcopal Church. Your petitioners further show that they, and their successors in office, desire to be invested with corporate authority, to enforce good order, receive donations, make purchases, and effect alienations of realty or personalty, not for purposes or trade and profit, but for the purpose of promoting the general design, and looking after the general interest of said Church. Your petitioners pray that they and their successors in office be invested with the corporate authority aforesaid and such other corporate powers as may be suitable to the said enterprise; and not inconsistent with the laws of said State, nor violative of private rights.
Your petitioners pray the granting of an order investing and clothing them and their successors in office with the corporate authority, and powers aforesaid to remain of force twenty years, unless sooner revoked by law.
And your petitioners will ever pray
Signed with our signatures this 13th day of November 1888
Samuel Russell
George Walthour
Strap West
Daniel Williams
Lazarus Goodson
Upon hearing the foregoing petition and it appearing to the Court that the petitioners named in said petition are such discreet and proper persons as to be invested and clothed with the corporate authority and powers prayed for: it is ordered, and adjudged by the Court, that the said Samuel Russell, George Walthour, Strap West, Daniel Williams & Lazarus Goodson, and their successors in office, be, and they are hereby incorporated as a private incorporation, with full power and authority, to enforce good order, receive donations, make purchases and effect alienations of realty, or personalty, not for purposes of trade and profit, but for the purpose of promoting the general design; and looking after the general interest of the Church named in this petition. It is further ordered and adjudged that the said petitioners as a corporation aforesaid and their successors in office, be and they are hereby invested and clothed with such other corporate powers as may be suitable to the said enterprise: and not inconsistent with the laws of Georgia, nor violative of private rights; to remain of force for twenty years, unless sooner revoked by law. It is further ordered that the said Samuel Russell, George Walthour, Strap West, Daniel Williams, Lazarus Goodson pay five 75/100 dollars costs of this proceedings.
Judgement signed this 19th day of November 1888
A.P. Adams, Judge S.C.E.J.C. Geo.
Source:
Superior Court minutes, 1784-1935 [Liberty County, Georgia] -> 1884-1897 records, image #157-8 (digital image accessed at
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C3H3-49LM-M?i=157&cat=332384 )