Organization

1st Annual Convention of the MSTA

The Organization and Structure

The Moorish Science Temple of America is a legal and lawfully chartered organization, national in its scope with a Rotarian complexion as it relates to Branch Temples. The principles of the said Moorish Science Temple of America as herein set forth by the Divine Prophet, Noble Drew Ali, are fundamental and divinely true, representing our ancient forefathers creeds and principles in Islam, Love, Truth, Peace, Freedom, and Justice.

The purpose is to uplift fallen humanity and warn the nations to flee from the wrath of Allah, and teach our people to become better citizens. Since the work of the Moorish Science Temple of America was largely religious, the organization has been legally changed to a Religious Corporation, and an affidavit to this effect has been properly filed in the Cook County Recorder's Office, City of Chicago, State of Illinois.

The Moorish Science Temple of America, inspired by the lofty teachings of the Koran, as handed to us by the Great Prophet, Drew Ali, is the revealed word of God Allah. We shall foster the principles of its teachings among our members.

This is our religious privilege, as American citizens, under the laws of one of the greatest legal documents of all time, the American Constitution. We organized as the Moorish Temple of Science, in the year 1925, and was legally incorporated as a civil organization under the laws of the State of Illinois, November 29th, 1926.

The name Moorish Temple of Science, was changed to the Moorish Science Temple of America, May 1928, in accordance with the legal requirements of the Secretary of the State of Illinois.

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The Moorish Science Temple of America - The Divine Constitution and By-Laws

The Grand Sheik and the chairman of the Moorish Science Temple of America is in power to make law and enforce laws with the assistance of the Prophet and the Grand Body of the Moorish Science Temple of America. The Assistant Grand Sheik is to assist the Grand Sheik in all affairs if he lives according to Love, Truth, Peace, Freedom and Justice, and it is known before the members of the Moorish Science Temple of America.

All meetings are to be opened and closed promptly according to the Circle Seven and Love, Truth, Peace, Freedom and Justice. Friday is our Holy Day of rest, because on a Friday the first man was formed in flesh and on a Friday the first man departed out of flesh and ascended unto his father God Allah, for that cause Friday is the Holy Day for all Moslems all over the world.

Love, Truth, Peace, Freedom and Justice must be proclaimed and practiced by all members of the Moorish Science Temple of America. No member is to put in danger or accuse falsely his brother or sister on any occasion at all that may harm his brother or sister, because Allah is Love.

All members must preserve these Holy and Divine laws, and all members must obey the laws of the government, because by being a Moorish American you are a part and partial of the government, and must live the life accordingly.

This organization of the Moorish Science Temple of America is not to cause any confusion or to overthrow the laws and constitution of the said government, but obey hereby.

With us all members must proclaim their nationality and we are teaching our people their nationality and their Divine Creed that they may know that they are a part and partial of this said government, and know that they are not Negroes, Colored Folks, Black People or Ethiopians, because these names were given to slaves by slave holders in 1779 and lasted until 1865 during the time of slavery, but this is a new era of time now, and all members must proclaim their free national name to be recognized by the governments in which they live and the nations of the earth, this is the reason why Allah the Great God of the universe ordained Noble Drew Ali, the Prophet, to redeem his people from their sinful ways. The Moorish Americans are the descendants of the ancient Moabites who inhabited the North Western and South Western shores of Africa.

All members must promptly attend their meetings and become a part and partial of all uplifting acts of the Moorish Science Temple of America. Members must pay their dues and keep in line with all necessities of the Moorish Science Temple of America then you are entitled to the name of "Faithful." Husband you must support your wife and children, wife you must obey your husband and take care of your children and look after the duties of your household. Sons and daughters must obey father and mother and be industrious and become a part of the uplifting of fallen humanity. All Moorish Americans must keep their hearts and minds pure with love, and their bodies clean with water. This Divine Covenant is from your Holy Prophet Noble Drew Ali thru the guidance of his Father God Allah.

Moorish American Prayer

Allah the Father of the universe,
the Father of Love, Truth, Peace, Freedom and Justice.
Allah is my protector, my guide and my salvation by night and by day
thru his Holy Prophet Drew Ali. "Amen."

Prophet Announces His Authority and Power

Forced to make changes. All Governors and other officers of the Moorish Science Temple of America are hereby congratulated for their past loyalty and fidelity, for I know it will be the same in the future. Because of certain incidents that have arisen in some of the Temples which seem to come from the fact that there are those who do not know where the seat of power is vested, the Prophet has ordered the following to be published:

All authority and power of the Moorish Science Temple of America is vested in the Prophet Noble Drew Ali and those whom he appoints to act as in the Supreme Body. The Prophet has the authority and power to expel any officer or member of the Moorish Science Temple of America who violates or refuses to comply with the rules in regard to branch Moorish Science Temple and such suspensions and expulsions shall stand until in the judgment of the Prophet, the members and officers shall have made satisfactory atonement. All officers and members of the Moorish Science Temple of America and such rules and regulations of the constitution shall be in writing and not at variance with any law of the city, town or nation which the Prophet shall declare a law.

During this session of the convention, all rules, regulations, and laws of the constitution and such as might be enacted and ordered by the Prophet, shall express and explain in detail, so there can be no doubt as to what is required of each and every officer or member of the organization. The Prophet will positively not tolerate any interference with the operation of this National Divine Movement from anyone.

~By the Prophet, Noble Drew Ali

These holy and divine laws are from the Prophet, Noble Drew Ali, the founder of the uniting of the Moorish Science Temple of America. These laws are to be strictly preserved by the members of all the Temples, of the Moorish Science Temple of America. That they will learn to open their meeting and guide it according to the principles of Love, Truth, Peace, Freedom and Justice. Every subordinate Temple of the Grand-Major Temple is to form under the covenant of Love, Truth, Peace, Freedom and Justice; and to create their own laws and customs, in conjunction with the laws of the Holy Prophet and the Grand Temple. I, the Prophet, Noble Drew Ali, was sent by the great God, Allah, to warn all Asiatics of America to repent from their sinful ways; before that great and awful day that is sure to come.