from The Moorish Science Monitor, Vol VII #2 Autumn 1994. Ziggurat POB 25193 Rochester NY 14625
The H.M.O.C. Adept Chamber (Third Paradise) had revealed its inner triplicity
in announcing the formation of THREE ORDERS or degrees within itself, viz.:
1.The Fatimid Order
2.The Order of Jerusalem
3.The Order of the Paraclete.
Each of these Orders is as "ecumenical", radically tolerant, and "inter-faith"
as the M.O.C itself; but each of them possesses -- so to speak -- a speciality.
They represent the three Western Monotheisms in their essential and esoteric
harmony. Aminity of faiths is achieved thorough "heresy", i.e. non-canonical
interpretations of "doctrine". These are the Religions as the M.O.C views and
experiences them (in the light of Noble Drew Ali's Circle Seven Koran, which
makes use of the esoteric Christian and Rosicrucian apocrypha by a syncretic
principle we have inherited): -- for us, the Monotheisms are living mutating
entities, interpenetrant and mutually illuminative. This position has been
called (somewhat jocularly) "polyreligiosity". It owes something to "paganism",
which is not truly polytheistic but rather a congeries of distinct cults and
sects recognizing a universalistic principle of mutual validation. It also owes
something to Noble Drew Ali's syncretistic genius; and also to the position of
Hazrat Inayet Khan the Chishti Sufi who practiced the Harmony of Faiths and
whose teachings were incorporated into the M.O.C in the early 60's, with the
permission of certin surviving disciples in Delhi at the shrine of Nizamoddin
Aulia.
Thus the FATIMID ORDER is primarily "Islamic"; specifically it deploys a
spiritual/initiatic affiliation with revolutionary Ismailism in the
transmission of the Hafeziyya, whose Imams were the Caliphs of the Fatimid
dynasty of Egypt (913-1171). This line supposedly disappeared and is not
represented by any "church" in the world today other than the F.O., which owes
no allegiance to the Nizaris or Qarmatis or Bohras or other existent Ismaili
sects. The Order concerns itself with Hermeticism in the Egyptian/Islamic
tradition; and with the practise of "initiatic dreaming" in the Owayssi sufi
tradition (in which initiatic visions are sought without any authoritarian
"Master" and without Tariqat-affiliation); and with the study of revolutionary
theory and praxis in Islamic history. The Order follows a principle which might
be called "anarcho-monarchism", and considers each of its devotees as a
"Pretender to the throne of an Imaginal Egypt".
The ORDER OF JERUSALEM is "Jewish", but specifically Judeo-Canaanite or
Hebraeo-pagan, or Jewish-"Magical", in emphasis. Moreover, Jerusalem is the
symbolic capital city of the Three Monotheisms, and thus of special interest to
the Adept Chamber. Even as this article is published the O.J. is establishing
itself in Jerusalem, where it will propagate or foster interest in the Harmony
(and Peace) of Faiths; the study of archaic Canaanite and other Holy land
religions and cults of the topocosm; popular Cabalism and Magic; the tradition
of Sabbatai Sevi the "false" Messiah who converted to Islam in 1666; the Dome
of the Rock and the Temple (symbolized by the Buraq, the
half-mule/half-angel-beast that Mohammad rode to paradise, launching from the
Rock to seventh heaven). The O.J is also a "chivalric" order, in that it awards
all its members the title "Chevalier of the Moorish Order of Jerusalem." The
purpose of the knights is to foster and protect the Mission in Jerusalem, and
to work for Peace through inter-faith harmony.
The ORDER OF THE PARACLETE is "Christian", but since it admits (potentially)
any form of Christianity it is infinitely flexible and expansive. The
Paraclete, the One Who Is To Come, has been identified with Mohammad, and also
with the "Holy Spirit" in the Millennialism of Joachim of Fiore, who saw an Age
of the Father (Law) and an Age of the Son (Church) succeeded by an Age of the
Spirit -- the utopian millennium, perfect freedom. As another millennium
approaches, the O.P. will function to give an esoteric interpretation and an
outward manifestation to this ideal. Beside the "Aquarian Jesus" of the Cirle
Seven Koran, the following Christian themes play roles in the form of the O.P.
-- the Brethren of the Free Spirit, the Adamites, the Beghards and Beguines;
the Christian Cabalists, alchemists, and hermeticists; Renaissance
Neo-platonism and Magic; the Celtic Church and its links with paganism; certain
forms of Gnosticism (the link to "Egypt"!); radical Protestantism, e.g. the
Anabaptists, the Family of Love, the Ranters, the Antinomians, the Diggers,
William Blake (Christian Druidism); the revolutionary churches of Spence and
Weddeburn, the religious cult of Charles Fourier, the New Catholic Pantarchy of
Stephen Pearl Andrews, etc.; aslo, the Wandering Bishops and the autocephalous
churches movement, which played a major role in the original formation of the
M.O.C. (hence the term "orthodox" and our title of "Metropolitan", for example)
-- the emphasis on liturgy as magic defines O.P. praxis. Another major source
of inspiration is the "Spiritist" tradition, the syncretism of Christianity and
"HooDoo", African and Native ritual, iconography, magic, etc. -- the single
most creative source of spiritual strength in America today.
As if to prove that Christianity is more complicated than Islam or Judaism, the
O.P. has already spawned or affiliated with several autocephalous or free
churches -- in face, the main purpose of the Order will be to organize
"inter-communion" of free Christian churches; and thus it acts, so to speak as
the Christian arm of the H.M.O.C Adept Chamber.
In theory both the Fatimid Order and the Order of Jerusalem could carry out
similar affiliative conjuctions, but neither has yet done so. Moreover, the
Adept Chamber feels a need to add yet more Orders and/or Degrees to its
structure, and openly encourages M.O.C. members to form -- for example --
pagan/druidic/shamanic, Buddhist, Taoist, Tantrik, or other orders;
furthermore, the Adept Chamber itself welcomes "inter-communion" with all Free
Religions and spiritual paths, up to and including exchanges of Orders and
Titles (hence for example or Discordian affiliation, or our relations with
psychedelic churches in the 60's).
All this may seem overly-complex to anyone unfamiliar with the M.O.C.'s
long-established policy of deliberate syncretism, positive "heresy",
anti-hierachalism and anti-authoritarianism. The Angels are said to delight in
high-sounding and glorious titles, and we Moors are not less than angelic in
this, at least -- but we never believed that one title could ever rule another.
We take our stand at the nexus where religion becomes aesthetic, festal, ludic,
and creative -- a source and power for freedom, for both the individual and the
group.
