The Order of Ethiopians did not last long, but they had lofty goals. For more about this organization, see here, here, here, and here.

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22806

Certificate of Incorporation of

The Patriotic Order of Ethiopians of America, Inc.

This is to certify that we, the undersigned, do hereby associate ourselves into a non-stock corporation under and by virtue of the laws of the State of North Carolina, contained in Chapter 21 of the Revisal of 1905, entitled “Corporations,” and the several amendments thereto, and to that end do hereby set forth:

1. The name of this corporation is The Patriotic Order of Ethiopians of America, Inc.

2. The location of the principal office of the corporation in this state is at No. ___ Street, in the town of Wilson, County of Wilson.

3. The objects for which this corporation is formed are as follows:
(a) To promote the principles of unity, justice, order, solidarity, love, virtue, loyalty, honor, and fidelity; to raise the standard of social life; inspire race culture; reduce illiteracy; encourage morality; promote enterprise, good health, and charity.

This corporation shall have the exclusive right to establish subordinate divisions.

And in order properly to prosecute the objects and purposes above set forth, the corporation shall have full power and authority to purchase, lease and otherwise acquire, hold, mortgage, convey and otherwise dispose of any and all kinds of property, both real and personal, both in this state and in all other states and territories and dependencies of the United States, and generally to do and perform all acts which may be deemed necessary to the proper and successful prosecution of the objects and purposes for which this corporation is created.

4. The corporation is to have no capital stock.

The names and post office addresses of the incorporators are as follows:

Name	Post Office Address
Jas. Alex Mebane	Wilson, N.C.
Glenn S. McBrayer	Box 373, Wilson, N.C.
M.E. Dubissette, M.D.	Wilson, N.C.
Dan Rogers	Wilson, N.C.
W.C. Crawford	Wilson, N.C.
James Crocker	Wilson, N.C.
Levi Arrington	Wilson, N.C.
N.A. Pierce	Wilson, N.C.
J.S. Spell	Wilson, N.C.

5. The period of existence of this corporation is limited to 99 years.

6. Members may be admitted after organization upon the following plans:
By initiation or payment of a fee.

In testimony whereof, we have hereunto set our hands and applied our seals this the 20th day of January A.D. 1923.

Jas. Alex Mebane
Glenn S. McBrayer
M.E. Dubissette, M.D.
Dan Rogers
W.C. Crawford
James H. Crocker
Levi Arrington
N.A. Pierce
J.S. Spell

Signed, sealed, and delivered in the presence of
D.C. Yancey, Notary Public

State of North Carolina } ss.
County of Wilson }

This is to certify that on this 20th day of Jan. A.D. 1923, before me, a Notary Public, personally appeared Jas. Alex Mebane, Glenn S. McBrayer, M.E. DuBissette, Dan Rogers, W.C. Crawford, James H. Crocker, Levi Arrington, N.A. Pierce, J.S. Spell, who, I am satisfied are the persons described in and who executed the foregoing certificate of incorporation of The Patriotic Order of Ethiopians of America Company, and having first made known to them the contents thereof, they did each acknowledge that they signed, sealed, and delivered the same as their voluntary act and deed for the uses and purposes therein expressed.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and applied my official seal, this the 20th day of January A.D. 1923.

D.C. Yancey, Notary Public
My commission expires Sept. 20, 1924.

Filed Jan. 22, 1923.
J. Bryan Grimes, Secretary of State
State of North Carolina,
Department of State

I, W. N. Everett, Secretary of State of the State of North Carolina, do hereby certify the foregoing and attached paper writing to be a true copy of the certificate of incorporation of The Patriotic Order of Ethiopians of America, Inc., and that the same is taken from and compared with the original filed in this office on the 22nd day of January A.D. 1923.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and applied my official seal.
Done in Office at Raleigh, this 22nd day of January in the year of our Lord, 1923.

W. N. Everett
Secretary of State
(State Seal)

Corporations Book 2, page 470, Wilson County Register of Deeds Office, Wilson.