Introduction to the primary source written by James G. Basker, from James G. Basker (editor) with Nicole Seary, Black Writers of the Founding Era: 1760–1800, New York: Library of America, 2023: 504.
“In 1794, the same year that his friend and fellow civic leader Absalom Jones founded St. Thomas African Episcopal Church, Richard Allen founded the African Methodist Episcopal Church in Philadelphia, the first black Methodist church in America. Despite its modest beginnings (its early meetings held in a blacksmith shop) and relative poverty, Allen’s church would go on to be the parent of all AME congregations to the present day. In 1796, Allen and eight of his church elders filed their ‘Articles of Association’ with the Attorney General of Pennsylvania, excerpted below.”
THE Subscribers, Trustees and Members of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, called “Bethell Church” having associated themselves together for a religious purpose, and being desirous to acquire and enjoy the powers and immunities of a corporation or body politic in law, beg leave to exhibit to Jared Ingersoll, Esquire, Attorney General for the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and to the honorable the Judges of the Supreme Court of the said Commonwealth, the following instrument of writing, wherein is specified the objects, articles, conditions and name or title under which they have associated; in pursuance of a law of this Commonwealth, entitled, “an act to confer on certain associations of the citizens of this Commonwealth, the powers and immunities of corporations or bodies politic in law.”
August 23d, 1796.
JOHN MORRIS (his mark),
WILLIAM HOGAN (his mark),
ROBERT GREEN,
JUPITER GIBSON,
WILLIAM JONES,
JONATHAN TRUSTEY,
PETER LUX (his mark),
PRINCE PRUINE,
RICHARD ALLEN.
Source: Articles of Association of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, of the City of Philadelphia, in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia: John Ormrod, 1799, p. 14, as printed in James G. Basker (editor) with Nicole Seary, Black Writers of the Founding Era: 1760–1800, New York: Library of America, 2023, pp. 504–505.