Rev. John Y. Newton

from - The Oglethorpe Thur, June 28

"We the subscribers do hereby declare to have joined ourselves together as a religious society for the support of the preaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ ... and further:

We do mutually agree that the place of meeting shall hereafter be known by the name of Beth-Salem. And we the members of the said Beth-Salem Society do now promise to pay, each for himself, unto Mr. John Newton, the several sums annexed to our names; on condition that he, the said John Newton, shall give unto us the twp-thirds of his labors for one year, which will be thirty-five Sabbaths.

In witness whereof we do hereunto set our hand the 20th day of December, A.D. 1785.

[ sixty-four signatures were affixed ]"

The amounts subscribed in terms of English money, our American government being still in formative stage, was equilavent to approximately $250.00 in Federal money.

The original document is in the possession of Mr. C.H. Newton, 892 Prince Ave., Athens, GA; a direct descendent of Rev. John Newton.