Peace, Love, Blessings And Prosperity To

All In Summer 2008!

In this second re-issue of the Mariner's long awaited return, we glance at Sis Estelle
M. Parmer Bey and the Order Of The Moorish Star the e!citing women's com"onent
of the Moorish #ite, Brother $e%on Patillo's return home from the front lines in
Ira&, and the christening of 'ngelo Soliman (odge )o.* in +lorida. 'lso, under our
(oo,ing +or 'rticles section, Te!as -rand Master Bro. #oger Moore "ins the
historical .ewels on Ben.amin Banne,er, while )ew /ersey -rand Master Bro. 0uality
El issues a timely clarion call for Moorish unity. 'nd as is customary of the Mariner,
included also are s"ecific Masonic to"ics as well as to"ics of general interest. En.oy1
The Moorish Rite

The Official Newsletter of the Ancient Free Moorish Rite
Volume 2 SECOND RE-ISSUE May 2008

THE O.M.S: SOME QUESTIONS
ANSWERED
By Sis. stelle !. Parmar Bey
(People have been asking questions, both informed
and uninformed, about the Order Of The Moorish
Star; we hope to satisfy some of those questions in
this article!
T"ose #"o $no# are not %o$ing #"en t"ey
#illingly tell you& 'T"e (.!.S is no %o$e!)

When Ill. Bro. Clifford E. Hazel Bey said, There
are no degrees within the Moorish Rite that are more
profound more sa!red and more ne!essar" than
those whi!h define the OMS###Some of this stuff
soared right o$er man" heads% he wasn't jokin. !ot
that he is often in"lined to mirth anyway, #ut he
wasn't s$arin words nor anyone's feelins. He
insisted %#efore the esta#lishment of the &.M.'( that
the Moorish )ite would only sail $ro$erly when the
women "ame a#oard. 'mart man.
*hat was so lofty a#out the &.M.' that "om$elled
the +rand Commander to add, ,soared o-er many
heads,. in that #old de"lamation *ell, just take a
/ui"k ander at the &.M.' insinia a#o-e. !oti"e the
"entered sym#ol0 the word just #elow %may#e not
lei#le here #ut see front $ae( reads +&B1E2. 2his
one is a olden o#let.
!ow reardin the o#let and Bro. Hazel's statement3
a old o#let %or rail(, #e"ause of its s$heri"al "ast,
refle"ts liht whi"he-er way it is turned. 4nd it
sym#olizes, amon other thins, woman's natural,
un"om$romisin refle"tion and essen"e of the
Creator in all her di-ine as$e"ts. It is a holy rail5 !ot
to #e "onfused with the Holy +rail from the 6in
4rthur leend and re"ently made more $o$ular #y
7an Brown's #lo"k#uster #ook turned #lo"k#uster
mo-ie, 2he 7a-in"i Code. &ur o#let or rail, while
it "ould allude to the same histori"al similarities , it
has stroner referen"es to elements from Moorish
leends. 'o, you see0 the &.M.' is onto some ,dee$.
stuff5
It is "alled the &omp'ementar" Rite. &f "ourse, it is
the women's "om$onent of the 4n"ient 8ree Moorish
)ite, $redi"ated on the natural "om$lementarity
#etween woman and man. 4nd know this3 2he &rder
of the Moorish 'tar is a#solutely $rofound5 Its
derees are $redi"ated and esta#lished u$on an"ient
s$iritual $rin"i$les. 4nd sometimes, unfortunately,
the s$iritual often ,s$irits. riht o-er the heads of
many on this material $lane on whi"h we toil daily to
sur-i-e.
In that sense, the s$iritual is akin to #irds. 'oarin in
the atmos$here a#o-e our heads, #irds still e9ist on
in our world, and fre/uently aliht in our realm. But
we ha-e always mar-eled at their air#orne a#ilities
and asso"iated flyin with s$irituality. Birds are also
often sym#ols of s$irituality asso"iated with woman.
2hus, our an"ient +oddesses were often de$i"ted
with wins. Isis, was one su"h +oddess0 she is
re$resented on the &.M.' star on whi"h ten histori"al
+oddesses are memorialized. Moreo-er, we say in
the &.M.' )itual, Brinin 2he 'a"red 'ail, ,:ou
ha-e the -essel, #ut we ha-e her wins.. 2hat im$lies
-olumes a#out the "hara"ter of the order whi"h
"annot #e "o-ered here.
But here are some fre/uently asked /uestions;and
answers;a#out the order. &ne sunny, mid<winter
'aturday mornin in the !ewark li#rary %!ew
=ersey(, I sat for a "omforta#le inter-iew>/uestion ?
answer session with a sister from the @r#an 2imes
maazine. 4s we si$$ed warm her# tea and mun"hed
on sli"ed a$$les and wheat #read with #utter, we
talked a#out the &.M.'. Here is the ist of that
dis"ourse3
Q: Is the O.M.S an Andro!no"s# r$te%
43 It is not# It is for women inasmu!h as men and
women natura''" e(perien!e pe!u'iar rites of
passage spe!ifi! to ea!h gender as su!h
e(perien!es are not mutua''" shared# As a
&omp'ementar" Rite the O#M#S is not )" that
designation an androg"nous !omponent of the
Moorish Rite )ut is in fa!t an e*ua' and
!omp'ementar" !omponent )ut forma''"
separate from the Moorish Rite# O#M#S women
do organi+e with Moorish Rite men )ut do not
ne!essari'" ho'd meetings with them# ,or
instan!e a married !oup'e ma" share the same
)ed )athroom )an- a!!ount and e$en the same
dreams and aspirations et!# )ut the" wont share
the same !'othing or undergarments .not to
sound trif'ing/ )e!ause those things are spe!ifi!
persona'0and forma' when "ou thin- a)out it#
And it1s a'wa"s )een that wa" in a'' !i$i'i+ed
so!ieties# In fa!t that fine )'urred 'ine )etween
the se(es is a $erita)'e definition and true
mar-er of !i$i'i+ation#
Q: Is the O.M.S a se&ret oran$'at$on%
43 A!tua''" the androg"n"% *uestion surprised
me )e!ause this *uestion is usua''" the first
*uestion peop'e as-2 I guess peop'e are
)e!oming Masoni!a''" 'iterate these da"s# In a''
!andor though and to answer the *uestion3 No
we1re not a se!ret organi+ation# %At 'east not in
a Se!ret So!iet"% sense whi!h is a suspi!ion
most often imp'ied )" the *uestion# We do ha$e
se!ret handsha-es and passwords et!# and I
guess that ma-es us somewhat se!reti$e%
!on!erning !ertain organi+ationa' pra!ti!es# And
I prefer the word 1pri$ate to se!ret# 4ut it1s
!ertain'" not a se!ret that we e(ist and we do not
re*uire nor suggest in an" wa" that a woman
regard her mem)ership as se!ret# 5'ease6 She
!an te'' e$er")od"2 she shou'd te'' e$er")od"6
Q: M"st an O.M.S &and$date (e a s)o"se or
re*at$+e o, a Moor$sh R$te -ree.ason%
43 No# An" woman !an )e a !andidate she need
not )e the spouse or re'ati$e of a Moorish Rite
,reemason a'though she !an $er" we'' )e )oth#
Q: Is the O.M.S /"st *$0e the Moor$sh S&$en&e
Te.)*es%
43No it isn1t# At 'east not in a re'igious sense as
the temp'es are re'igious2 )ut ma")e in a
fraterna' sense some simi'arities )etween
organi+ations are perhaps dis!erni)'e to some#
4ut as the Moorish Rite is not to )e !onfused
with the Moorish S!ien!e Temp'es )" simp'e dint
of the mutua' word Moorish neither shou'd the
O#M#S )e so !onfused# As the Moorish Rite
does respe!t the profound 'ega!" of 5rophet
No)'e Drew A'i remem)ering that a'' su!h
temp'es toda" are not ne!essari'" united under
his 'ega!" the O#M#S maintains the same#
So with respe!t to the M#S#T of Ameri!a and the
great wor- and $ita''" important 'ega!" of
prophet No)'e Drew A'i the O#M#S is not 7ust
'i-e% that organi+ation# 4ut some women are
mem)ers of )oth organi+ations#
Q: Is the O.M.S re*$$o"s1 then%
43 Spiritua' )ut not re'igious#% The O#M#S is a
non se!tarian organi+ation and wi'' impose
nothing on a woman1s indi$idua' !hoi!e of faith
and pra!ti!e2 a woman1s re'igious preferen!e is
her own# We are howe$er a &reator re$ering
organi+ation# Whi'e we do re!ogni+e re'igion as
a wise !hoi!e and ne!essar" aspe!t of peop'e1s
'i$es we do not espouse an" re'igion or re'igious
!reed as a primar" organi+ation tenant# 4ut
there is mu!h here that dea's with spiritua'it"
that !an he'p a woman gain added insight into
re'igious !on!epts# Re'igious dis!ussion is so
often emotiona' and unsett'ing we 'ea$e that
a!ti$it" to indi$idua's so in!'ined to pursue in
their pri$ate or re'igious 'i$es as the" p'ease#
Q: I2+e heard that .en s$t $n 3o.en2s
.eet$ns $n -ree.asonr!1 &ontro**$n the.
and te**$n 3o.en 3hat to do...$s the O.M.S
the sa.e%
43 Whi'e we don1t stress ourse'$es with the
goings on in other ,reemasoni! rites or
fraterna' organi+ations 8 nor do we !riti!i+e
them and I won1t agree that the *uestion
ne!essari'" app'ies to them suffi!e to sa"3 Men
do not attend O#M#S meetings un'ess re*uested
or the Supreme 9rand &ommander de!rees it or
re*uires an O#M#S audien!e and $isits a meeting#
In other words3 O#M#S women are se'f8go$erned
in meetings# We !an 'ead ourse'$es in our own
affairs# And there1s nothing wrong with that#
E$er"thing is right a)out it in fa!t#
Q: 4hat e5a&t*! $s a Moor$sh Star%
434ig *uestions demand )ig answers# Don1t
mind if I pre'ude this one3 Now of !ourse the
e(pression is fraterna' and s"m)o'i!# A
ph"si!a' star we a'' -now is an e'e$ated
hea$en'" )od" whi!h emanates 'ight 'ight whi!h
is on'" dete!ted )" our e"es three "ears after its
a!tua' emanation# A shadow of the past
inf'uen!ing the present# Don1t get me started6
Now I1m going to go in another dire!tion with
A Moor$sh Star $s a
3o.an o, ste**ar
&hara&ter and e*e+ated
re)"te6#
this *uestion )e!ause of its profound'" simp'e "et
!omp'i!ated imp'i!ations# The E' De" thin-s I
shou'dn1t2 he sa"s that peop'e must pursue their
own stud" to un!o$er profound truths# 4ut he
as-ed me write this arti!'e and so true to O#M#S
form thus must I )e a woman and thus )e
m"se'f and so )e a true 'ight for m" sisters#
That said I wi'' imp'" as we'' a fore!ast with this
answer# So here goes3 An!ient'" stars were
a'wa"s asso!iated with women )e!ause stars
ga$e )irth to the )'ueprint .or trest'e )oard%
as m" )rothers ma" prefer to sa"/ of the hea$ens#
When the sun des!ended the stars as!ended to
show us the wa" as we'' as de'ineate where we
were situated on this earth'" terrain# In this wa"
stars )e!ame the in$a'ua)'e too' of the na$igator
at sea# ,or e(amp'e depending on the position
of the :itt'e Dipper re'ati$e to the na$igator at
sea or on 'and na$igators -new where the" were
within the four !ardina' earth'" points#
&opious $o'umes ha$e )een written and spo-en
a)out the 9i+a p"ramids and I on'" e!ho here
that the" were !onstru!ted to ref'e!t the stars in
the hea$ens and to he'p astronomers dete!t the
same# The p"ramids were origina''" g'ass8'i-e
smooth stru!tures and when night fe'' the" were
a tru'" magnifi!ent star8spang'ed spe!ta!'e# The
!asing stones were designed to ref'e!t and
magnif" 'ight# That1s wh" the an!ients !a''ed the
p"ramids Ah--et meaning :ight within 'ight
within 'ight within 'ight6 Three magnifi!ent
hea$en'"
'ights whi!h a'so a''uded to the an!ient
trinitarian tea!hings surrounding Osiris Isis
and ;orus# And here1s m" own two !ents3 Whi'e
historians genera''" regard o)e'is-s as $erita)'e
mas!u'ine s"m)o's I !ontend that the p"ramids
are feminine s"m)o's#
The an!ient hierog'"phs show the re$ered
9oddess Nut .pronoun!ed newt/ depi!ted as the
hea$ens en$e'oping earth as her star8spe!-ed
)od" stret!hes a!ross the earth'" e(panse
asso!iating womanhood with di$ine and
hea$en'" 'ight0and mu!h more# This ne!essari'"
!a''s up the +odia! and <udia-us whi!h a''udes
to woman or the feminine reprodu!ti$e aspe!t of
the uni$erse# An!ient'" stars were named
a!!ording to feminine phoneti!s# Isis was first
the name of a star )efore its personifi!ation as a
human 9oddess# Now with that said I wi'' end
this answer adding on'" this3 A Moorish Star is a
woman of ste''ar !hara!ter and e'e$ated repute6
Q: I "nderstand that a .a*e 3rote the O.M.S
r$t"a* and other Order .ater$a*s1 3h! so%
43 =ou mean 4ro# Aa'im 4e" E' De"# We'' as
the Supreme 9rand &ommander of the Moorish
Rite and one of its ,ounding ,athers he
ne!essari'" assumed that !harge# Moreo$er we
!ou'd not ha$e )een more )'essed with a )etter
Drafter% of the O#M#S ritua' than he# Whi'e the
S9& is !ertain'" u'tra% ma'e in demeanor and
persona'it" he is $er" !apa)'e of 'eft )rained
writing# Now as that ma" )e an un!ommon
!on!ept for those not a!ute'" fami'iar with the
writing pro!ess it ser$es the S9& parti!u'ar'"
we'' for su!h 'iterar" wor- re*uiring a feminine
tenor# And -now this3 4ro# Aa'im )rainstormed
the O#M#S ritua' !on!epts and the 'iterar" design
of other O#M#S materia's with the e(press
!ontri)ution of women2 his 'iterar" in-%
fo''owed their spiritua' feminine f'ow# Thus the
O#M#S materia' is in essen!e ref'e!ti$e of
womanhood# 4ro# E' De" simp'" penned% the
pa'pitations of our pu'se# It1s 'i-e how we sa"
that the prophets a!tua''" penned the s!riptures
)ut it1s sti'' the word of 9od#
Q: 4h! $s the O.M.S e+en ne&essar!%
43 We'' our peop'e aren1t e(a!t'" the pi!ture of
righteousness these da"s# And the reputation of
our women is 'ess than desira)'e# I thin- we
!ou'd use a'' of the mora' tea!hing we !an get#
4h$*e 3e do
re&on$'e
re*$$on as a 3$se
&ho$&e and
ne&essar! as)e&t
o, )eo)*e2s *$+es1
3e do not es)o"se
an! re*$$on or
re*$$o"s &reed as a
)r$.ar!
oran$'at$on tenant.#
We women espe!ia''" shou'd !'ean up our a!t#
:oo- at the wa" we dress and !arr" on
sometimes2 we1$e 'ost a'' se'f respe!t and se'f
worth# Mu!h of this !heap% !'othing signa's
that we are e(a!t'" that and it is designed% to
a!!entuate one thing3 our ph"si!a' ass8ets6%
And e$en some of us who !'aim a degree of
so!ia' sophisti!ation are not in!'ined to mora'it"
in it1s proper app'i!ations# We don1t respe!t our
men and the" don1t respe!t us# We are so *ui!- to
'ead or fo''ow men in sin and forni!ation )ut if
that same man se'e!ts a path of righteousness
and mora' e(!e''en!e we wi'' not fo''ow or 'ead
if it -i''s us# We women wi'' sometimes tempt
men right through the gates of he'' to e(ert our
!arna' inf'uen!e o$er a man1s 'ower passions
and wea-nesses )ut we won1t dare 'ead the wa"
to hea$en e$en if we -now a short!ut to get
there# We sa" we want a man of 9od2 )ut if we
find him we )e!ome De'i'ahs in haste# We
hurried'" stri$e to defeat 9od and then ta-e
9od1s p'a!e in our men1s 'i$es# What we so often
)'ame men for we are ourse'$es the true
!u'prits we shou'd )'ame ourse'$es# =ou !an1t
te'' me otherwise2 I am a woman# I -now that we
possess a might" power to inf'uen!e men nature
ga$e that to us )ut how ha$e we used that
inf'uen!e# =ou1re 'oo-ing at it toda"# We are poor
e(amp'es for our men and !hi'dren# That1s wh"
men rea''" ha$e no regard for our menta' and
inte''e!tua' assets we are mere'" ph"si!a'
o)7e!ts to satisf" their a)usi$e !arna' appetites#
I1m not ad$o!ating re'igion when I sa" this )ut
stud" and read the )i)'i!a' a!!ount of Adam and
E$e# We su!!um)ed to the ad$ersar"1s inf'uen!e
and we !ontinua''" do it toda"# Who to'd "ou to
put on that dress>
Q: O.0...("t so.e o, "s do dress de&ent*!1
res)e&t o"rse*+es and o"r .en and &h$*dren1
and &"*t$+ate o"r (ra$ns $nstead o, dese&rat$n
o"r (od$es. 7o" ta*0 *$0e a** o, "s are (a&0-
3ards and 3hore$sh.
A3 ;e" I am throwing some mean pun!hes here
)e!ause I !ertain'" don1t mean to pu'' an"2 )ut if
I1m not hitting "ou then don1t !r" ou!h#% And
moreo$er we1$e got to )e more sophisti!ated in
our thin-ing in our sense of !on$ersation3 When
the man said that a'' &retans are 'iars he didn1t
ha$e to mean a''% and e$er" 'ast one of them# It
is parado(i!a' )e!ause Epimenides !ou'd not
ha$e -nown e$er" sing'e &retan thus he !ou'd
not 'itera''" spea- for a''% of them# 4ut what he
was spea-ing a)out was that &rete !u'ture had
)e!ome a !esspoo' of pre$ari!ation )e!ause a
so!io8re'igious tongue8twisting !'erg" had
great'" inf'uen!ed the )eha$iora' and re'igious
out'oo- of the a$erage !iti+en# ;e was ta'-ing
re'igious oppression# I -now I1$e gone 9ree- 'ore
on "ou )ut the dis!ourse does ha$e
!ontemporar" merit and meaning# So If "ou sa"
1Ameri!ans 'o$e app'e pie1 I hope I1m not
in!'uded in that insanit" )e!ause I a)hor app'e
pie0as a food !hoi!e# 4ut Ameri!ans%
genera''" do 'o$e it as a desert of !hoi!e and
the" 'o$e it as a so!io8po'iti!a' s"m)o' as we''#
Q: 4hoa6 7o" rea**! dro+e that )o$nt ho.e8 I
th$n0 I ot !o"r .ean$n. Are !o" a*3a!s so
passionate a*out +ree$ P"ilosop"y,and
apple pie.
43 =ou got 7o-es# I am a'wa"s passionate a)out
erudition and inte''e!tua' dis!ussion# The
Epimenides parado( a'wa"s stimu'ated m"
inte''e!tua' appetite# App'e pie 7ust doesn1t do
an"thing for me# 4ut I am spea-ing to a mu!h
)roader and spe!ifi! !on!ern here# Mu!h of
these immora' )eha$iora' norms we see with our
women0and men0are $i$id'" s"mptomati! of
an oppressed peop'e# 4ut that shou'd not )e an
e(!use# Other peop'e ha$e o$er!ome oppression
using mora'it" as a primar" weapon against it#
We must understand that and do the same6 As a
peop'e we ha$e got to get our a!t together and
understand that immora'it" is a )"produ!t of
oppression and po$ert"# And )e'ie$e it or not
man" peop'e re'" on immora' )eha$ior as a
means of sur$i$a' in a wor'd run amu!- with
immora'it"#
The point is that we sometimes genera'i+e2
)ut )e!ause we do that doesn1t mean the 'istener
shou'd p'a!e a''% our words in a spe!ifi!
!onte(t# We must sta" within the !onte(t of a
!on$ersation to )etter !omprehend its !ontents#
And to get )a!- to m" initia' answer3 =es we do
ha$e fine e(amp'es of womanhood out here# And
I stri$e for that in m" 'ife as we''# 4ut we are few
and far apart# We need to in!rease the e(amp'es
to insure a righteous future for our !hi'dren and
nation# The mer!hants of our ignoran!e are
fi'th" ri!h from our fi'th and getting ri!her e$er"
se!ond# Aids and herpes ha$e ta-en up
permanent residen!e in our !ommunities# And
drugs ha$e e$er reigned on the ur)an% throne#
Teen pregnan!" is out of !ontro' and homi!ide is
the norm# :isten3 I won a ?@AAA s!ho'arship in
!o''ege for a paper I wrote on street $igi's in the
4'a!- !ommunities a!ross Ameri!a# Now that
award doesn1t ma-e me so spe!ia' this is no se'f
aggrandi+ement moment for me I didn1t thin- I
wou'd win a 'iterar" award for something it
seemed that no one !ared a)out or e$en noti!ed#
And peop'e who 'i$e outside of !ertain ur)an
!ommunities !ou'dn1t e$en re'ate to m" paper#
It1s true# The" were 'i-e Oh8m"8 gosh6 I !an1t
imagine6 5oor dear2 and she sur$i$ed this6 We
need to gi$e this !hi'd an award6 Some)od"
write a !he!- p'ease#%
I was in a)so'ute sho!- a'' the wa" to the )an-#
And somehow I fe't that I owed something to a''
the fa''en $i!tims of ur)an $io'en!e2 some of
them e$en fami'" mem)ers I grew up with#
Q8 I "nderstand that !o" donated 92000 o,
that a3ard to an ant$ "n oran$'at$on1 $s that
3h!%
43 =es# Street $igi's ha$e )e!ome a !u'tura' art
form in ur)an Ameri!a2 the" are dire!t'" 'in-ed
to guns and -i''ing in Ameri!a1s poor%
!ommunities# And most of the $i!tims are 4'a!-
ma'es under BB who 'i$e in sing'e parent
househo'ds headed )" women under C@# Don1t
ma-e me go statisti! here6
I grew up wa'-ing to s!hoo' e$er" morning
passing )" $igi's on e$er" !orner# It was 'i-e
O#D 'et1s see who got shot 'ast night#% =ou
!ou'd !ount on at 'east one $igi' popping up
e$er" three da"s or so2 "ou )e!ame desensiti+ed
to death# And on wee-ends forget a)out it###was
'i-e the OD !orra' in the hood6 9u"s were
a'wa"s tr"ing to impress gir's )" showing us
their guns0and I don1t mean )i!eps# In the hood
"ou !an get a gun )efore "ou !an get a 7o)# And
!han!es are high "ou wi'' find "our )est friend
shot dead )efore "ou find "our dadd" whom "ou
ha$e ne$er seen6
E' De" often sa"s When "ou de!'are war on a
peop'e "ou arm them with guns#%
=ou see this message is not for the timid or 'ame
women# It1s for those who are !ommitted and
poised to stand up for !hange# 4ut for those
women insistent on )eing wanton whores or
professiona's in the offi!e )" da" and
professiona's% in the sheets )" night this
message isn1t for them# The" !ou'd !ertain'"
stand to )enefit from it )ut if the"1re not 'oo-ing
for us we1re not 'oo-ing for them#
:oo- I1m a "oung woman who grew up in the
hood2% I wasn1t raised on an e(ur)an farm# I1$e
seen what our woman do2 I1$e witnessed woman
e$en in m" own fami'" run the streets and sweat
the sheets whi'e "oung on'" to f'o!- to the
!hur!hes the moment their )reast sag and age
-no!-s on the door# It1s 'i-e the" thin- a)out 9od
for the first time in their adu't 'i$es with the
appearan!e of their first gra" hair#
I -now that Sometimes the )o'd and )ruta' truth
hurts and sometimes I tend to spea- and write
!andid'" as I mean not offend an"one )ut we
ha$e to fa!e truth order to dea' with it and
minimi+e its painfu' effe!ts )e!ause it1s truth
that wi'' ma-e us free not our denia' of it# Our
peop'e are gra$e'" in denia' a)out so mu!h
that goes on in our !ommunities# We ha$e
!reated a denia' !u'ture# Most de$astating is our
denia' of righteousness and mora'it" as a
ne!essar" !hief good in our 'i$es# Instead we1$e
)e!ome the wor'd1s !hief h"po!rites6
1Wh" do we need the O#M#S>1 Wh" not> Our
sisters are in trou)'e out here6 It doesn1t re*uire
ro!-et s!ien!e to dis!ern that mu!h#
Q: I not$&e !o" "se the 3ord :*a&0.# A *ot o,
the Moors don2t "se that 3ord.
43 A'' of m" !omments are not restri!ted
e(!'usi$e'" to 4'a!-% peop'e2 and )esides I tr"
not to get !aught up in a'' of that wordp'a" it
has its p'a!e# A'though I !ou'd argue *uite
!on$in!ing'" from )oth sides of Moor $s# 4'a!-
peop'e !oin#
Q: 4ho $s S$s. Este**e M. ;ar.ar :e!%
43 I didn1t see this *uestion !oming2 )ut sin!e I
am one of m" fa$orite su)7e!ts I1'' tr" to )e )rief
if that is at a'' possi)'e# A)out nine "ears ago I
was a student in a midd'e8grade !reati$e writing
!ourse 4ro# Aa'im taught at a pu)'i! 'i)rar"# ;e
immediate'" re!ogni+ed m" passion for writing
and a'wa"s !hose me for spe!ia' !'ass
assignments2 I was 'i-e a tea!her1s fa$orite# ;e
too- a sin!ere interest in me as an aspiring
writer and we )e!ame !'ose2 he was 'i-e a
surrogate dad to me .I1d ne$er -new an"thing
a)out m" )io'ogi!a' father/# 4ro# Aa'im .of
!ourse I on'" -new him then as Mr# 4e"/ used to
ta-e me to 'i)raries and )oo- readings and
'iterar" !'u)s and !hess tournaments often
introdu!ing me to peop'e as his daughter# I didn1t
!omp'ain# In fa!t I thought it was !oo'0so !oo'
I used to te'' friends that he was m" dad )a!-
into m" 'ife after so man" "ears# ;e didn1t
!omp'ain# ;e ga$e me a 5& after m" mom to'd
him she !ou'dn1t afford to )u" me m" own# I
fina''" fe't 'i-e a rea' writer6 M" first !omputer#
=ou see I1d )een writing poetr" for as 'ong as I
!an remem)er )ut I1d ne$er owned a !omputer#
Now I owned one and it was great# That first
da" I wrote unti' I ran out of words .I !herished
that ma!hine and sti'' use it sometimes toda"/#
A'' the whi'e 4ro# Aa'im en!ouraged me to
pursue edu!ation )e a good gir'% 'o$e 9od
and he a'wa"s said Deep writing Sister# =ou
ha$e a 9od gi$en gift with a pen6% We'' I
!ertain'" started gifting m"se'f with them
!o''e!ting a'' -inds of pens and now I ha$e o$er
two thousand in an e(tensi$e !o''e!tion# I1$e got
$intage in- pens the t"pe of whi!h 4en7amin
4anne-er pro)a)'" used to !artograph D#& and
high te!h do8it8a'' !amping pens that Indiana
Eones !ou'd find usefu' raiding an!ient Eg"ptian
tom)s# I e$en own a few fan!" $intage ostri!h
*ui''s# Those things are so )eautifu'6 Natura'
pie!es of art# No wonder our an!estors
spiritua'i+ed the ostri!h feather#
An"wa"# :ater when m" o'der )rother )e!ame a
,reemason and m" mom an Eastern Star in the
same "ear I somehow !aught on that )oth had
)een inf'uen!ed )" Mr# 4e"#% Suspi!ious one
da" I 7ust )o'd'" as-ed him a)out it# Eust too- it
right to him6 And I1'' ne$er forget his answer# ;e
said =es I am a ,reemason# 4ut that1s 7ust
door num)er one "ou sti'' ha$en1t seen what1s
)ehind num)er two and three#% And that1s when
I rea''" too- noti!e for the first time of the
Masoni! ring on his finger# ;e !ontinued It1s a
$er" )ig part of m" 'ife "ou -now# And now it
has )e!ome a part of "ours# A'' I did was to
show "our mom and )rother the water2 the" were
themse'$es in!'ined to drin-# The" didn1t drin-
simp'" )e!ause of thirst2 the" dran- )e!ause the"
dis!erned the spirit of 9od mo$ing on the fa!e of
those waters#% I said to him One da" I1m going
to write what "ou 7ust said 7ust the wa" "ou said
it#% And he responded I pra" that the &reator
wi'' a''ow "ou to write for our peop'e one da"# I
thin- it1s "our destin" M and I1d 'i-e to )e there
when that da" arri$es0it wi'' tru'" )e m" honor
0and 9od1s g'or"#% .Mar" is m" midd'e name
and most peop'e used to use M% as a moni-er
for me#/
I -new $er" 'itt'e or nothing !ons!ious'" a)out
,reemasonr" at the time so I sat wat!hing from
the side'ines if "ou wi'' and m" interest grew#
,rom time to time I wou'd stri-e up mean
!on$ersations with 4ro# Aa'im on the su)7e!t and
he wou'd ta'- unti' m" ears wou'd go num)#
Mu!h of it was o$er m" head )ut it was sti''
ne$erthe'ess intriguing# Then when I wou'd )e in
s!hoo' in So!ia' Studies or S!ien!e !'asses some
of the same topi!s he ta'-ed a)out wou'd !ome
up# ;e sometimes ta'-ed a)out the Moors )ut
not too mu!h2 he a'wa"s said =ou won1t 'earn
mu!h a)out Moors in s!hoo' right now so I
won1t sa" mu!h unti' it1s time# Right now it1s a''
a fu++" pu++'e on the genera' a!ademi! !an$ass#
4ut in time "ou wi'' 'earn to put the pie!es
together and )ring them into fo!us#%
I e$en went to a few ,reemasoni! e$ents
!on$entions et!# in!ognito# 4ut sta"ing out of
site and mind of e$er"one no one rea''" noti!ed
me mu!h2 I was around FC or FG at the time a
rather gaw-" sh" and pimp'e8fa!ed nai$e
teenager# And I wrapped a tur)an so aw-ward'"
m" hair wou'd fa'' out or s'ip through the fo'ds# I
was far from a Mooress2 I as a mess6 4ut
)e!ause I read )oo-s on the su)7e!ts of Moors
,reemasonr" re'igion and spiritua'it" and
A** I d$d 3as to sho3
!o"r .o. and (rother the
3ater8 the! 3ere
the.se*+es $n&*$ned to
dr$n0.#
peeped into Masoni! and Eastern Star ritua's
too so I -new a 'itt'e%sumthin8sumthin#% I
wasn1t 7ust a droop"8e"ed !hi'd a'' 'ost in a
grown up fraterna' wonder'and# I mean 'oo- at
m" tea!her6
When E' De" wou'd refer to me as his Sa!red
daughter% I to'd him Daughter% wor-ed fine
for me# I as-ed Wh" !an1t "ou 7ust !ontinue to
sa" I1m "our daughter>% ;e answered 4e!ause
these peop'e ma" )e'ie$e it###and we !an1t ha$e
that6% Umm#
:ater when his other% daughter m" sister was
)orn I wi'' admit that I was 'itt'e 7ea'ous for a
hot hour )ut I got o$er it# Then when I went off
to !o''ege I ma7ored in Eourna'ism on his ad$i!e
and graduated with honors# At m" graduation I
ga$e m" f'owers to m" mother and m" dip'oma
to 4ro# Aa'im# And I wi'' proud'" te'' "ou3 Aa'im
4e" A' De" is m" father6 I !are not what he or
an"one e'se has to sa" a)out that6 A'' things are
not ###)est remained in the sound in the deep
une(p'ained#% Read the Sa!red :egend Of Ariem
A)ef 4e" 5eop'e6
Q:Is that !o"r e!e $n the )$&t"re head$n th$s
art$&*e...I2+e seen $t 3$th so.e o, !o"r other
3r$t$ns%
=es that1s a hierog'"phi! t"pe rendition of m"
'eft e"e on pap"ri# I was in Eg"pt two "ears ago
and "ou -now the" ha$e these artistH$endors
e$er"where around the 9i+a touring site2 the"1''
pu'' out pap"ri and do a pi!ture of "ou right
there on the spot2 the"1'' put the p"ramids
)ehind "ou and a'' of that right there on the
spot6 It1s rather impressi$e# An e'der'" woman
did this for me# Eust m" 'eft e"e whi!h is
an!ient'" s"m)o'i! of feminine insight and
spiritua'it"# It too- her no more than an hour and
she !harged me ?FA .Ameri!an do''ars/ )ut I
ga$e her ?BA )e!ause she did su!h a great 7o)#
The who'e pie!e itse'f isn1t mu!h )igger than an
Ameri!an )i'' a)out the si+e of a standard
en$e'ope# 4ut the artwor- the pre!ision and
detai' is )eautifu' as "ou !an see# =es I use it as
a signature for m" writing# 9et used to it#
Q: 4hat do !o" .ean (! that...&an 3e e5)e&t
.ore ,ro. !o" $n the ,"t"re%
A3 I am honored to announ!e that I wi'' pen
mu!h of the new O#M#S materia' forth!oming
.with E' De"1s input if ne!essar" and of !ourse
with his !onsent/# To me that !harge has )een
assigned and I hum)'" su)mit that I am up to
the tas-0and I pra" that "ou wi'' we'!ome me in
that !harge so that I might )e pro$ed worth" of
the tas-#
Q: I "nderstand that the O.M.S 3as +er!
a&t$+e so.e !ears ao1 ("t then th$ns
s"dden*! &a.e to a ha*t and a** the s$sters
3ent se)arate 3a!s. Are the n".(ers (etter
toda!%
A3 =ou a'wa"s ha$e to render a due and
respe!tfu' a!-now'edgment to those who ha$e
pioneered# And I respe!t and a!-now'edge those
women who were there at the esta)'ishment of
the O#M#S# Toda" I !'ear'" stand on some of the
wor- the" did "esterda"#
It1s not eas" for women to wa'- this wa'-# As I
was e(pressing ear'ier we are up against a 'ot
out here2 the pressures are a'' )ut !rushing#
Those women 'i-e other peop'e in$o'$ed with
the Rite in the )eginning did their part and ha$e
mo$ed on2 it wasn1t for them to sta" the who'e
!ourse# That1s wh" the E' De" sa'utes e$er"one
on the we)site whether the" are sti'' around or
not# ;e -new that the ship was mo$ing in an
onward
dire!tion and gathering an in!reased pa!e# ;is
sa'utation was more of a good)"e than a
he''o to some# =ou see the ship was pu''ing awa"
from the do!-#
So the O#M#S is !urrent'" undergoing a
ne!essar" re)ui'ding# A "ounger generation of
serious minded and !on!erned women are more
in tou!h with some of the things I a'read" spo-e
a)out than the o'd guard was# We ha$e ta-en
ho'd of the mant'e and a new da" emerges on the
hori+on#
So there you ha-e it. I ho$e your /uestions are
answered for now and not o-er<answered %smile(. I
thank you $rofoundly, and...ood #ye for
now...and...true $ea"e...always
All Hail Angelo Soliman
Lodge N0.3!
(Bro. Kenneth El and a adre o! o"rageo"s
Moors esta#lish !irst Moorish Rite lodge in the
orange state.$
Brother 6enneth El is e-er a wise and industrious
8reemason. !ot only was he industrious enouh to
mo-e to 8lorida %from !ew =ersey( four years ao
and #uild the Moorish )ite there, he was as well,
wise enouh to style and name his first lode %the
first Chartered Moorish )ite lode in the state( after
the Illustrious 4nelo 'oliman. *hen Bro. Clifford
E. Hazel Bey learned that a Moorish )ite lode in
8lorida was to #e esta#lished in honor of the histori"
Moor %histori"ally re"onized as the first Moorish
8reemason in the o""ident(, he said only two words3
,Araise 4llah5.
*hat else would we e9$e"t from the Moorish )ite
6halifB How 6enneth El initially "ame to #e a
Moorish )ite 8reemason is the stuff of future
Moorish )ite lore;and a -ery ri"h and tellin story
for another day. But today, we hail him and all the
Moorish )ite 8reemasons in the state of 8lorida. *ith
sound mind and o$en hearts, we solemnly re"onize
4nelo 'oliman =ariyyah !C.D in the state of 8lorida5
In +rand Master 6enneth El's own words, let's look
at some im$ressi-e na-iational maneu-ers "redited
to 4nelo 'oliman 1ode !C.D thus far3
We now ha$e dou)'ed our mem)ership sin!e the 'ast
news'etter# We parti!ipated in the Gth of Eu'" parade
in the &it" of Opa :o!-a ,'orida# We are ma-ing
a''ian!es for the purpose of feeding the need" in Opa
:o!-a# When we are in Opa :o!-a we fee' 'i-e we
are home )e!ause of the Moorish Ar!hite!ture and
the street names .whi!h are Moorish/# We are !o8
sponsoring a food distri)ution in the 4rowns$i''e
se!tion of Miami on the FIth of August with the Ma-e
A Wish $eterans organi+ation# The" ha$e )een
instrumenta' in our efforts to feed the need" in the
!it" of Opa :o!-a# A spe!ia' 1Than- "ou1 goes to
4rother &har'es 4uford .Dire!tor of Ma-e A Wish
Jeterans/ for his support and guidan!e# We 'oo-
forward to a 'ong and prosperous re'ationship with
the Ma-e A Wish $eterans and admire their efforts in
these tr"ing times# We ha$e p'ans on the trest'e )oard
to de$e'op more fundraising e$ents in order to
a!!omp'ish our goa's of KUp'ifting ,a''en ;umanit"
Through NourishmentK
Of "ourse, we "ould not ha-e said it #etter and we
won't foolishly attem$t to. 1et's just say sim$ly3
4ll hail 4nelo 'oliman =ariyyah !C.D5
*e look forward to enjoyin the $roress of 4nelo
'oliman =ariyyah !C.D for many, many years to
"ome.
!ooris" -ite .reemasons .eed
/e#ar$, /0. 1omeless .or
1oliday
2Bros. Sol Al and 3lau4enei Santos
com* /e#ar$ streets to give plates to 1omeless on
T"an$sgiving 5ay6
*hile 2hanksi-in 7ay is indeed a day desinated
for i-in and oodwill, !ewark, !ew =ersey, like all
4meri"an metro$olises, is not short of its ,needy.
$o$ulation. Many lo"al oranizations follow a lon
standin "ity tradition and set u$ food stations at
major thorouhfares throuhout the "ity and at
shelters and "hur"hes for $eo$le to eat, drink, and
so"ialize for the holiday. *hile these "harita#le
efforts are "ertainly always ood for the "ity and the
Homeless $o$ulation, there are always $eo$le who
sli$ throuh the "ra"ks, and sadly ne-er make it to the
$i"ni", so to s$eak..
)ealizin this, Bros. 'ol 4li and Clauzenei 'antos
loaded a "ar with a#out fifty $lates of home<"ooked
meals, in"ludin the usual turkey with stuffin and
"orn#read and "andied yams, and toether, they rode
all o-er the "ity sli$$in into those o#s"ure "ra"ks
where the homeless so often lurk and fed a sement
of the ,needy. $o$ulous whi"h may ha-e otherwise
one without ,daily #read. another day.
*e "ommend these "om$assionate #rothers for doin
what Moorish )ite 8reemasons do #est, "arryin on a
fraternal tradition of "harity and oodwill to the
human family. 4nd what is most im$ressi-e is that
they initiated this "am$ain #y means of their own
laress0 Bro. Clauzenei rea"hed into his own $antry
for most of the food, while Bro. 'ol #roke o$en his
own $iy #ank to $ur"hase o-er a dozen turkeys.
2hey "ooked the turkeys one day #efore the holiday
and then rose hours #efore dawn the ne9t day, $ut on
their a$rons #a"k on %not the kind they wear in the
lode, #ut still sym#oli" of honor all the same(, and
hit the kit"hen. Cauht u$ in the ele"tri" s$irit of
"harity, 'ol and Clauzenei "ooked until mid afternoon
and until they felt like stuffed turkey themsel-es.
Hey0 we all know3 when you "ook a lot of food you
ni##le a lot of food.
!ow it was time for the #rothers to load u$ and hit
the infamous !ewark ,Boweries..
*e may ne-er know how many $eo$le ot full
tummys that day at all the shelters and #us terminals
and "hur"hes, et".0 #ut we do know that ,some#ody.
was thankful that day for two Moorish )ite
8reemasons who, just for one limmerin moment,
in-aded their a#andoned stairwell or hallway or $ark
#en"h or e-en makeshift "ard#oard<#o9 shelter, to
remind him or her that the 4ll 'eein Eye does
indeed see all and has a hand to e9tend as well.
4nd what this demonstrates for Moorish )ite
8reemasons is that, as the Most Hih is mo-in to
ins$ire his $eo$le to make e-ery day a 2hanksi-in
7ay, Moorish )ite 8reemasons throuhout the
"ountry, must model this e9am$le and make it a
Moorish )ite tradition. 1et's seek out and ,feed.
those who would otherwise remain at a $er$etual
distan"e.
EDITORS NOTE
'ometimes, $roofreadin, dou#le "he"kin and e-en s$ell<"he"k
and word<"he"k are only so a""urate and fool$roof due to human
error. *e hum#ly a$oloize for any word mis$la"ements, s$ellin
errors, word omissions, et". *e only ho$e to #rin you an
informati-e newsletter, refle"tin in the main, the 4n"ient 8ree
Moorish )ite effort to $ro$aate $ositi-e information throuh an
on line e<zine -enue.
SUPREME COUNCIL FUNDRAISER
We !an a'wa"s stand to raise funds for the Supreme
&oun!i' as it e(ists under the So$ereignt" of our )e'o$ed
)rother &'ifford E# ;a+e' 4e" and Sister Supreme 9rand
Matron 4essie ;a+e' 4e"#
4s a Coun"il fund raiser item, the Moorish )ite is
offerin the enain #ook
:ess$e Ha'e*: -raterna* Matron < -reedo.
-$hter
Visit our online store at
htt):==333..oor$shr$teon*$ne.or=a))s=3e(store=
*e ha-e offered this #ook as a fund raiser item in the
$ast, #ut now, we ha-e re-ised the te9t and more
$i"tures ha-e #een in"luded to make it a-aila#le as an
on line e<#ook.
7onations start at EFC and GCH of all $ro"eeds o to
the 'u$reme Coun"il.
Alease show 'ister Bessie some real lo-e and
$arti"i$ate in this fund raiser while you aid the
'u$reme Coun"il.
Cli"k on the link a#o-e to $arti"i$ate.
Than0 7o"
>OO?IN@ -OR
ARTIC>ES
A SOLDIER SURVIVES!
Bro. 7e-on Aatillo )eturns 8rom 2he 8ront 1ines
to re-eal that "om#at was the least of his sur-i-al "on"erns
Aalim Bey El Dey
4ho 3as @enera* Hann$(a*%
4hat 3as h$s h$stor$&a*
&ontr$("t$on to Moors%
4as he a -ree.ason%
;erha)s !o" &an ,"rn$sh ans3ers to
the a(o+e A"est$ons6
*e are lookin for "ontri#utin
arti"les on this reat Moorish
an"estor. *e reser-e the riht to
sele"t the arti"les we $u#lish from
those su#mitted as well as edit them
for this $u#li"ation. 4ll su#mitted
arti"les are su#je"t to editin.
Editin, if ne"essary, is for te9t
stru"ture, formattin and
$resentation0 not ne"essarily for
modifi"ation or distortion of "ontent.
4uthors will #e i-en $ro$er
attri#ution for arti"les sele"ted and
$u#lished in the Mariner. If
interested, $lease su#mit arti"les
with your name to3
.oor$shr$teB!ahoo.&o.
Brother 7e-on Aatillo is a true soldier in e-ery
sense. !ot only is he a #elo-ed 8reemason0 he is
a de-oted father, hus#and, and humanitarian.
4nd now he is a de"orated enlisted !a-al
&ffi"er, returned home from the front lines of
Ira/. 4nd we are $roud and honored to wel"ome
him #a"k.
In this arti"le, he shares some $oinant a"ti-e<
duty e9$erien"es with us. 4nd 'ome of it may
not #e $leasin to our ears, #ut it is the truth as
only a soldier of honor who has ,#een there. "an
tell it. 4nd trust me, if Bro. 7e-on says it, you
"an take it to the #ank and "ash it. *hile he is
one the most mild mannered and enuinely
kindest indi-iduals I ha-e e-er had the $leasure
of "lose $ro9imity with, he takes no $risoners5
2his is not a man to #e taken any other way #ut
seriously. 2o do otherwise will #e to "onfront his
soldier side. 4nd that's ne-er ood at all. In fa"t,
that's tantamount to sui"ide.
7e-on Aatillo %A.&. 2
nd
"lass(, was stationed at
Cam$ 4rifjahn in 6uwait City, 6uwait #efore
#ein "alled to a"ti-e duty in Ira/. *hile
sur-i-in "om#at should ha-e #een his $rimary
"on"ern, it "eased to #e that, as ra"ism was ali-e
and well in the military, $resentin itself as a
formida#le enemy to a soldier of "olor. 1isten as
he e9$resses his "on"erns in his own words.
I am sharing this )e!ause I 'o$e Ameri!a and
wou'd ne$er )etra" m" !ountr"# 4ut so man"
times I fe't )etra"ed )" men who shou'd ha$e
)een arm8and8arm with me and !o'or not a
fa!tor at a''# 4ut that was not the !ase# The 'e$e'
of ra!ism in the mi'itar" disappointed me#
Don1t get me wrong2 it1s great to )e home and I
am a so'dier at heart )ut o$er there it seemed
'i-e more mi'itar" po'iti!s than a!tua' war# =es I
saw )uddies s'aughtered on the )att'efie'd and
e$en saw a who'e p'atoon wiped out in a matter
of se!onds2 and these were so'diers that I trained
with e$en shared )un-ers with# ,riends# 4ut
those of us who wou'd sur$i$e !om)at missions
wou'd get )a!- to !amp and it was 'i-e another
war going on waged )" whites against )'a!-s
and :atinos or an"one not white# Sometimes I
wou'd thin- to m"se'f 1This !annot )e
happening###this !annot )e happening61
The truth is3 some of the Ira*i !iti+ens treated me
with more respe!t than some of m" white
!ommanding offi!ers# So I often I fe't 'i-e we
were fighting a war that wasn1t ours# And I1m not
ashamed to sa" that# I !ommend those Ira*i
peop'e who were a)'e to 'ift their humanit"
a)o$e the po'iti!s of war# Meanwhi'e there I
was a proud so'dier of the greatest !ountr" in
the wor'd and m" !ommanding offi!ers were
treating me 'i-e a I was 'ess than dirt )e!ause of
m" s-in !o'or# I was 'i-e1this is some o'd8s!hoo'
ra!ist 4S right here#1 I wou'd *uestion who the
1We1 meant in 1We the peop'e#%1 I thought that
a'' men were !reated e*ua' and that we were a''
so'diers side )" side prote!ting demo!ra!"#
I was a'wa"s proud to )e a so'dier it1s a
fundamenta' part of who I am it1s a fami'"
'ega!" starting with m" father and un!'es2 )ut
sometimes the wa" those white offi!ers ran-ing
and non ran-ing wou'd a!t I must sa" that I
was sometimes ashamed to )e !a''ed an
Ameri!an# Throughout m" entire Na$a' !areer
ra!ism has )een an un!omforta)'e fa!tor not
7ust for me )ut for man" so'diers of !o'or0and
man" mi'itar" ra!ia' issues to this da" remain
misaddressed# Ra!ia' epithets 'i-e %Nigger%
spewing from the hosti'e mouths of white
so'diers and !ommanding offi!ers a'i-e was
nothing unusua'2 it was an e$er"da" thing#
:isten2 war is ug'" there1s nothing )eautifu' or
g'orious a)out it2 it1s not a mo$ie# On the !om)at
fie'd it1s )'ood" it1s )ruta' it1s -i'' or )e -i''ed#
It1s that simp'e "et that harsh a rea'it"# =ou go in
prepared and e*uipped to sur$i$e )ut "ou -now
that death !an !ome at the )'in-ing of an e"e
and if it does !ome then "ou1$e ser$ed "our
!ountr" and died for it too# And "ou are read"
for that rea'it" if "ou shou'd !ome fa!e to fa!e
with it# That1s what ma-es us so'diers# And
)e'ie$e me I1$e !ome fa!e to fa!e with death on
the )att'e fie'd more times than I want to
remem)er#
4ut when "ou !onsider the fa!t that ra!ism
pre$ai's off the )att'efie'd within our ran-s "ou
sometimes wonder what "ou1re fighting for or
who against# =ou wonder if it1s a'' worth it#
Again war has an ug'" fa!e )ut it !an 'oo-
)eautifu' ne(t to the fa!e of ra!ism# Ra!ism !an
)randish the fa!e of an odious and $i!ious
monster# And it has mena!ed our nation for too
'ong now# I1m not imp'"ing that it1s new in the
mi'itar" it isn1t )ut it !an fee' that wa" when an
indi$idua' doesn1t e(pe!t it and finds him or
herse'f !onfronting it on a dai'" )asis#%
*hile #om#s e9$loded at his feet on the
#attlefield and ra"ism eru$ted in his fa"e on the
#unker. Bro. Aatillo's thouhts often flew to his
$renant wife #a"k home. 'he was "arryin their
first son and he wondered if he would sur-i-e the
war or e-en ra"ism to see his "hild.
=eah sometimes things wou'd )e!ome so
hosti'e )etween )'a!-s and whites I wondered if
I wou'd 7ust sur$i$e !amp 'et a'one !om)at
without some)od" putting a )u''et in m" head It
wou'd get that serious6 Ra!ia' fights in the
)arra!-s pa!-ed more e(p'osi$es than !om)at
minefie'ds#
Now I wish for no one to see m" $iews as a''
sour# Not a'' white mi'itar" personne' are gi$en
to ra!ist a!tions# I1$e had some $er" good white
'Listen7 #ar is ugly,
t"ere8s not"ing
*eauti9ul or glorious
a*out it7 it8s not a movie.
(n t"e com*at 9ield, it8s
*loody, it8s *rutal, it8s
$ill or *e $illed. It8s t"at
simple, yet t"at "ars" a
reality.)
'T"e trut" is& some o9 t"e Ira:i
citi4ens treated me #it" more
respect t"an some o9 my #"ite
commanding o99icers.)
)uddies in a!ti$e8dut" and the" were e(!eptions#
I !an te'' "ou now that one of m" white
!ommanding offi!ers had mu!h to do with m"
honorar" dis!harge# I 'o$ed that man and there
wasn1t a ra!ist )one in him# 4ut there are too few
of him in the mi'itar"# The pro)'em I spea- of is
a rea' one and we must so'$e it with the same
$a'or and !ourage that we )ring onto the
)att'efie'd# As a !ountr" are we at on!e a
mi'itar" super power a)'e to defeat the wor'd1s
strongest armies and a mora' !oward una)'e to
e$en wrest'e with our own demons>
Ra!ism and its ug'" histor" is an em)arrassing
stain on the white Ameri!an ps"!he and )e!ause
of that em)arrassment whites wou'd prefer that
others forget a)out ra!ism put it to rest# And we
!an forget a)out it and put it to rest2 we wou'd
'o$e nothing more2 that a!tua''" wor-s for
peop'e of !o'or2 )ut white peop'e 7ust won1t 'et
go of ra!ism# The" are the peop'e who must
forget a)out it and put it to rest )ut the" 7ust
refuse to 'et it go6
So as mi'itar" peop'e we are the front 'ines# We
are the nation1s defense so we must set the
e(amp'e for !i$i'ians# Ra!ism must not !ontinue
to e(ist in the mi'itar"# I thin- Ameri!a has a
pro$en tra!- re!ord of defeating ra!ism or at
'east o$er!oming it at times when our nation
depends that we do# It1s time to !'ose the !hapter
on!e and for a''#
Whether it was Dr# Ding or 5resident &'inton
!ommitted 'eaders had to )e wi''ing to 'ead the
wa"# It is that sense of true !ommitment to
!hange that has made Ameri!a the great nation
it is toda"# =es ra!ism is a'i$e and we'' in the
U#S# Mi'itar" and it is a dead'" enem" to our
nation# 4ut we !an defeat it and we wi'' defeat it
)e!ause that1s what we do2 we are Ameri!a0we
win6
We must win this war on terrorism% a)road
)e!ause we ha$e to fight another within our own
)orders# We terrori+e ea!h other on a dai'" )asis
'i-e it1s sport# We terrori+e ea!h other in the
wor-p'a!e in our re'ationships in a'' our
edu!ationa' institutions e$er"where and a'' the
time6 In e$er" sphere of 'ife in Ameri!a someone
is terrori+ing "ou 7ust )e!ause "ou want to
pursue happiness and eat "our dai'" )read# It1s
ridi!u'ous6
Now I add this for the sa-e of this news'etter )ut
what I add has mu!h merit# ,reemasonr" too is
a'i$e and we'' in the mi'itar" and 7ust as it too-
)rothers% .meaning ,reemasons/ "esterda" to
reso'$e !onf'i!t )etween )rothers in the &i$i'
War toda" it must )e the same# The !hange wi''
ha$e to start with the ,reemasons#
'$oken like a true soldier;and a true #rother.
4fter ha-in ser-ed his third two year stint,
!a-al &ffi"er 7e-on Aatillo, de"ked out in
s$lendid offi"er #lue, arri-ed in the states just
hours #efore the #irth of his first son.
!ow that's a soldier's story5
.A )eaming De$on 5ati''o re!ei$es the Na$"
A!hie$ement Meda' !ertifi!ate from his !ommanding offi!er in
Eu'" BAAL for sa$ing a fe''ow so'dier1s 'ife/
'.reemasonry too, is a*$+e
and 3e** $n the .$*$tar! and
/"st as $t too0 *rot"ers)
2meaning .reemasons6
yesterday to resolve
con9lict *et#een *rot"ers in
t"e 3ivil ;ar, today it must *e
t"e same. T"e c"ange #ill
"ave to start #it" t"e
.reemasons.)
Sayings of the Sovereign Grand
By Aalim Bey El Dey
Clifford E. Hazel Bey
4nyone a"/uainted with the 'o-erein +rand Commander knows that his thouhts are dee$ and $enetratin and that he often e9$resses
ins$irin and $rofound sentiments. 2his "olumn emeres from many "on-ersations I ha-e #een $ri-ileed to share with him o-er the years of
our a"/uaintan"e. 4nd while we ha-e, and do, "on-erse a"ross a -ast e9$anse of to$i"s, eneri" and $rofound, three often $re-ail to
en"om$ass all. 2hey are as follows.
On Freemasonry
,I want to talk a#out 8reemasonry #efore IGIG, #efore the rand 1ode of Enland and 4nderson's Constitutions;e-en he
said that 8reemasonry was lost #efore their time and im$lied that it was an Enlish $henomenon. But historians admit that
mu"h of 8reemasonry was lost when the Chur"h of )ome ,#urned. the 4le9andria li#rary in 47 DJI. *ell, shu"ks0 Enland
wasn't e-en a "ountry in 47 DJI, and 4le9andria is in Ey$t not Enland. 4nd yes, I want talk a#out it e-en #efore the $oor
6nihts of =erusalem ot into the $i"ture..
On the Moorish Rite
,I'-e always admonished El 7ey3 'kee$ your #a"k to wind and remain in the Creator's hands0 #e"ause you must kee$ mo-in
forward with the Creator's $rote"tion and #lessins. Aeo$le, and ,Moors. es$e"ially, are not oin to a""e$t the Moorish )ite at
first. It's oin to take time and $atien"e to #uild this shi$. Condu"t your resear"h and write for one hundred years from now.
But kee$ your ear to the round, for you will hear the footste$s of the $eo$le "omin in dro-es like horses stam$edin;in
your lifetime. I ha-e seen this and it will "ome to $ass #y the Creator's will.'.
,I always admonish the El 7ey3 '7on't kill yourself o-er ,niers. who "all themsel-es ,Mo's,. "an't e-en res$e"t their own
heritae so they make a ni"kname of our forefathers honora#le lea"y. 7on't do it5 4nd don't worry that many will remain
sittin at the do"ks when the shi$s "ome in sail without them, one day the real Moors will stand u$5 But you must kee$
standin yourself, throuh ale, tem$est and storm, and stret"h your arms a"ross the se-en seas. If these 4meri"an ,!eroes.
don't want to row u$ and #e Moors, they lo-e #ein ,niers,. then rea"h out to your #rothers and sisters a#road.'.
,Aeo$le may not like what the Moorish )ite is or what they think it's oin to #e;if they think it's oin to #e anythin at all.
But the Moorish )ite is and will #e what the Creator de"rees. 4nd I "an $romise you this3 &ne day historians will write a#out
the Moorish )ite5 4nd they will write a#out it with honor and res$e"t;and they will talk a#out it the same way. 2he Moorish
)ite is #ier in the Creator's eyes than what many of us "an see riht now..
On the Creator
,2he main thin today that $eo$le must understand a#out the Creator, is that He has a o-ernment just as "ountries ha-e
o-ernments. He works throuh o-ernmental stru"ture. He has anels5 It's mu"h like the Aresident's "a#inet. +od too, has a
'e"retary of 'tate and =oint Chiefs of 'taff, et". If you want to et a messae to the Aresident, you write your Conressman and
he'll et it to the Aresident;you ho$e. But if you $ray to the Creator, there are anels who "arry your $rayers to the Creator;
uaranteed5 2hese anels ha-e "ertain a#ilities to "arry out "ertain fun"tions a""ordin to the "reator's will. 'o if you want to
talk with the Creator, ask an anel. But #e $atient0 you may ha-e to make an a$$ointment, #e"ause e-ery#ody wants to talk
with +od, you know..

More Ne(t Issue#

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>OO?IN@ -OR ARTIC>ES6
:en/a.$n :anne0er - A >ea&! o, Moor$sh E5&e**en&e
By Bro. -oger !itc"ell
KI AM fu''" sensi)'e of the greatness of that freedom whi!h I ta-e with "ou on the present o!!asion2 a 'i)ert" whi!h
seemed to me s!ar!e'" a''owa)'e when I ref'e!ted on that distinguished and dignified station in whi!h "ou stand
and the a'most genera' pre7udi!e and prepossession whi!h is so pre$a'ent in the wor'd against those of m"
!omp'e(ion# I suppose it is a truth too we'' attested to "ou to need a proof here that we are a ra!e of )eings who
ha$e 'ong 'a)ored under the a)use and !ensure of the wor'd2 that we ha$e 'ong )een 'oo-ed upon with an e"e of
!ontempt2 and that we ha$e 'ong )een !onsidered rather as )rutish than human and s!ar!e'" !apa)'e of menta'
endowments#%
K Benjamin Banneker from 4 1etter to 2homas =efferson
Many of you ha-e met Benjamin Banneker
durin your na-iation. :ou may ha-e learned
of Mr. BannekerLs intellien"e, hard work, and
dilien"e throuh his "ontri#utions to
4stronomy and Mathemati"s0 /ualities not
forein to men of your hih station. Mr.
Banneker is $ro#a#ly #est known for the leend des"ri#in his work sur-eyin and enineerin the
7istri"t of Colum#ia, the "a$itol $ro-in"e of the @nited 'tates of 4meri"a In"or$orated. 4 $roje"t he
$arti"i$ated in for his student and then Aresident of the @nited 'tates, +eore *ashinton.
7urin your tra-els you may ha-e witnessed Mr. Banneker makin "lo"ks #y hand0 these "lo"ks "a$a#le
of kee$in time with $re"ision and a""ura"y. :ou may ha-e read his A'mana!, arua#ly his finest work,
$u#lished from IGJ2<IGJG, where he des"ri#es and $redi"ts solar and lunar e"li$se. :ou may know him
as the 'a#le 4stronomer, who li-ed a life dedi"ated to e9$loration of the uni-erse, knowlede of self and
freedom of men.
'<ou may $no# "im as t"e Sa*le
Astronomer, #"o lived a li9e dedicated to
e=ploration o9 t"e universe, $no#ledge
o9 sel9 and 9reedom o9 men.)
2he astute Moor has studied the life of Benjamin Banneker. Born in IGDI to Mary, a free<woman, and
)oder, a former sla-e, Benjamin was #orn free. )oder Banneker was influential in the de-elo$ment of
an ela#orate s$rin<deri-ed farm irriation system that allowed the family to#a""o "ro$ to flourish, e-en
durin the time of drouht. Benjamin was tauht mu"h #y his father and randfather. 4dditionally,
BenjaminLs mother and randmother tauht him how to read. BenjaminLs randmother was Molly *alsh,
a Euro$ean who was sent to 4meri"a as an indentured ser-ant. 4fter "om$letin her time in ser-itude
Molly $ur"hased a $lot of land and two sla-es. &ne of the sla-es went #y the name of Banna 6a. Banna
6a, an 4fri"an, won the affe"tions of Mary and soon married her. 2he Banna 6a family name was
"haned to Bannaky and then Banneker #y the time Mary, BenjaminLs mother, was #orn.
2his is where our dis"ussion #eins. BenjaminLs randfather, Banna 6a, was BenjaminLs only link to his
4fri"an history and lea"y. *e do not know mu"h a#out Banna 6a, e9"e$t for his name. *hether the
name Banna 6a was i-en or taken is not "lear. 4fri"an>Moorish $arents traditionally named their "hild
to refle"t +ods future for that "hild. In as mu"h, 4fri"ans, after trans<4tlanti" trans$ort, often a-e
themsel-es names that "ould resonate if heard #y family. 2his would ensure a sla-e "ould reunite with
family #ased u$on that name.
*hat is in a nameB Many Moors will take the
name Bey or El to esta#lish the "onne"tion with
the Moorish )ite or !ation %i.e. Emmanuel Mu<
4li Ben Bey(. !o#le 7rew 4li #elie-ed the
name of a $eo$le is $aramount to their
e9isten"e and that all so<"alled M#la"ksL, MneroesL, or M"oloredL should fore-ermore #e referred to as
Moors. 4 $eo$le without a nationality will ne-er ha-e knowlede of self. 6nowin the oriin of the
name Banna 6a, is therefore "ru"ial in understandin Benjamin Banneker and his lea"y.
?a is from the Ey$tian "on"e$t of 'ife for!e. 2he differen"e #etween the li-in and the dead is the
$resen"e or a#sen"e of the ka. 2he 6a is sustained throuh food and drink. 8or this reason food and
drink was often offered to the dead in 4n"ient Ey$t.
:anna "an also #e tra"ed to Ey$t as the $ro$er name a'84anna. Moreo-er, the word a')ani' is a s$anish
word that means MmasonL or M#uilderL0 it too is
deri-ed from the Ey$tian name a'84anna. 4
most influential and -enera#le Moor oes #y the
name of I(n a*-:anna CD2EF-DG2DH also known
as 4#u'l<4##as 4hmad i#n Muhammad i#n
@thman al<4zdi. It is un"lear whether al<Banna
was #orn in the "ity of Marrakesh or whether it
was the reion of Marrakesh whi"h was named
Moro""o #y Euro$eans. 'ome historians suest
al<Banna was #orn in +ranada, 4ndulasia and
mo-ed to !orth 4fri"a for his edu"ation.
Moro""o was "ertainly the "ountry that al<Banna was edu"ated in, learnin the leadin mathemati"al
skills of the $eriod. He studied eometry in eneral, and Eu"lid's E'ements in $arti"ular. He also studied
fra"tional num#ers. It was durin the Marinid 7ynasty that 8ez #e"ame a major learnin "enter. 4t the
uni-ersity in 8ez, 4l<Banna tauht all #ran"hes of mathemati"s, whi"h at this time in"luded arithmeti",
ale#ra, eometry and astronomy.
'T"e di99erence *et#een t"e living and
t"e dead is t"e presence or a*sence o9
t"e >a.)
I(n a*-:anna 3as ar"a(*! the
,$rst to &ons$der a ,ra&t$on as a
rat$o (et3een t3o n".(ers and he
$s the ,$rst to "se the e5)ress$on
a*.ana0& C$n Ara($& a*-.ana0h
.ean$n 3eatherH $n a 3or0
&onta$n$n astrono.$&a* and
.eteoro*o$&a* data.#
I#n al<Banna was arua#ly the first to "onsider a fra"tion as a ratio #etween two num#ers and he is the
first to use the e9$ression almanak" %in 4ra#i" al<manakh meanin weather( in a work "ontainin
astronomi"al and meteoroloi"al data. It now #e"omes "lear that Banna 6a "arries the name of
Moorish>Ey$tian 4fri"ans who ha-e e9"elled in mathemati"s, astronomy, and masonry. It is no
"oin"iden"e that his son<in<law )oder has the knowlede of land irriation, a skill well do"umented in
Ey$tian and Moorish Ci-ilizations.
4meri"an historians attri#ute Benjamin BannekerLs e9"ellen"e in "lo"k<makin, land sur-ey,
mathemati"s, and astronomy to his time with Nuakers in Maryland. 2he falla"y in this "laim is now made
e-ident. BenjaminLs e9"ellen"e is his lea"y. Countless lessons from his father and randfather were
undou#tedly where he learned the an"ient s"ien"e and mathemati"s of Moorish 4fri"a.
Emmanuel Mu<4li Ben Bey OBenjamin Banneker %Banna 6a(P shares the $ride of Moorish 4meri"a<
4me9em not only #y his "hoi"e and dilient study, #ut #y nature and dire"t lea"y.
4ro# Roger Mit!he'' is the Moorish Rite 9rand Master of Te(as#
The Little Canoe 'cti%ity
Page
Moorish Word Pu22les

$ecode the 3idden Message
Below
4nscram5le and S"ell
the words correctly6
TfgahjdIhkgfhloveghsfthejgdfjhMoorish
tyuwtyuRiteutsaufdFreemasonrygdsgfa
ItdsagIsfghSomethingghtVeryrwtjgGood
fasfgForwtrwuyAlluyrGoodyefuyjgMoors
__________________________________
__________________________________
__________________________________
Scramble: Can you figure out what this
says?

O M R ! " O # T R
RDPAMI Y
ATI!
I"#D!R
M$AR#Y
#"ST#$
$$#R
%AM$R
""SM!#YRA
$R
&TRT
D&AI$#"TC
%alling All Moors!
A %larion %all &or Moorish 'nit( In The Light )! E*"alit(
B( Bro. +"alit( El
We are living in revolutionary times, dear Moors and we as a nation must assume
the responsibility to heal the division within our nation. We are divided into many
different sects of conscience, Moors. Now that in itself is educationally progressive overall
and we share a common knowledge that we are all Moors, kith and kin, people of a
common ilk, linked to a common destiny. Also, we all stand 4 the divine principles of love,
truth, peace, freedom and justice, at least we should. ut there is one principle that is
often missing. And that my family, is called !"uality. !"uality amongst all Moorish people,
no matter what school of thought#
A$%$AN, M&'()A, *+!A' &!A,, -,(-. (/ 0!&'%N1, WA&2A'AW or N3%AN. -2+%&'%AN,
M((+%&2 +%'!, 1(+. (+ &-(''%&2 +%'! /+!!MA&(N+1, )+%N-! 2A,,, 13+(A, etc. No
matter what, Moors, we are still bound together by the Most 2igh, knowing that we are
children of the Most 2igh, and that we all claim, in some way or another, to worship, love,
respect, acknowledge, actuali4e, embody, understand, overstand, comprehend and follow
the &3)+!M! NA5%*A'(+ (/ '2! 3N%5!+&! or whatever respective appellation we deem
necessary for the -reator or )rogenitor of all life. %f this is so, why do we bicker and fight
each other over petty issues, obviously disagreeing and refusing to unite. /or those Moors
who have children and those who are soon to have them, would you as a conscience
parent, allow your children to hate each other and kill each other6 Would you step in and
command order and have them come to terms with their differences, or would you stand
idly by while they go at each other throats6 Ask yourself that "uestion. %s there some
principle capable of healing the division between brother and sister, mother and father, to
make us once again, a firm standing unified nation. My plea to you, Moors, is that you
e7tend communication to your Moorish organi4ations as well as others, it is time to 3nify8
3nify83nify9 No longer shall we stand divided against each other. Now is the time to stand
and 3nite9 We must take the iron feet of oppression off (3+ N!-.&999 Will we come to
order in a New World (rder, or will we come to our demise because we refuse to unite.
(ne nation, one government, one voice and one cause......,%/!9 'o live means you have life,
to have life means you are free9 1es. Noble 0rew Ali saw it, and it starts with conscience
Moors.
% leave you with this last and final thought# ,ets claim our house so that we can help
humanity, because if we don:t, we may have as well killed 0rew Ali and all the warriors of
truth before him, ourselves. ,isten, Moors# ecause % mention 0rew Ali by name do not
misconstrue my message, % could have very well mentioned the whole host of ancestors.
ut most of our readers are conscience Moors, who are all familiar with or pay respect to
0rew Ali. &o % call you not to a personality or any particular school of thought. No, and by
no means. % only mean to call our attentions to the much talked about, but so often under
activated, time honored principle of e"uality.
%&,AM '( A,,9
'he -oncentric &"uare
A Moorish Rite Symbol
Of Equality
ro. ;uality !l is a Moorish +ite *rand Master in New <ersey