◆ SpookStack

V the Yoliowing informa ters Project, which was a WPA proje is now affiliated with the Office of Civilian Defense in the a. The research was conducted for anthropological reasons to determine if there was any cultural cormection between the various Negro cults in Chicago and vicinity. This investigation shows the Subject's connection with the early history of the Moorish Science Temple of America. It was ascertaincH—M—ENhat the 16th National Convention of the Moorish Science Temple of America was held at 1032 Orleans, Chicago, Tlinois, from September 15 to September 20, and that CHARLES KIRKMAN was the Supreme Grand National Advisor and Moderator of that branch. It was further ascer- tained that he had a following of approximately 1500 members located in fifty-four active chapters threughout the United States. The details concern- ing the various chapters are contained in Chicago file 61-293. Subject required the secretary of each chapter to submit a financial report. He . stated that the Internal Revenue Department was requiring him to file an - income tax return from his organization, which is a religious corporation >. 4 ' under the state laws of Tilinois. The Subject also required that each oo ~ chapter report any and all members working in defense plants, those buying war bonds and stamps and those serving in the armed forces, along with their addresses. The exact purpose of the statistics was not divulged. In the f +h +4 thn Ghd a at eee ee Pee ee ee OT tad be COUTSS Ol Wis CONVENUIGCN bis SUDJSCt StALGG ne MGW tne FoI bad Deen investigating the Moorish Science Temple. He said that he had been informed that certain members within the organisation acted as informants for the FBI. He openly asked ali members present if they were acting in such “ capacity and, if so, if they would please apprise him of the fact. No member ey responded to his request, however. He advised the members that they had j nothing to fear from the FBI if they obeyed the laws of the Government. ~ He also told the members present that now was the time for Negroes to better themselves financially and socially by getting jobs in defense plants, A Te gies Two organizations striving to foster racial pride have attracted numbers of Chicago Negroes from time to time. These are the Moorish American Science Temple and thé Nation of Islam, ordinarily referred to as "cults."