The Moorish Science Monitor

M.S.M. 1965-1967

Though private, the Moorish Orthodox Church was not a secret. In the mid-1960s, the fellowship produced its own photo-off set publication entitled The Moorish Science Monitor (henceforth M.S.M.) Running no longer than a few pages, the M.S.M. was halfway between a church bulletin, an underground newspaper, and a poetry chapbook. Issues were published for two years, 1965-1967. In addition to the M.S.M., individual members of the church published their own works of Moorish Orthodoxy, including The 100 Seeds of Beirut (1966) by Walid al-Taha, & The Destruction of Philadelphia (1966) edited by Mike Maggid. 

Vol. 1 No. 1 (1965)

Vol. 1 No. 1 (1965)

(1966)

(1966)

Vol 1. No. 2 (1966?)

Vol 1. No. 2 (1966?)

(1966)

(1966)

(1966)

(1966)

Vol. 1 No. 3 (1967)

Vol. 1 No. 3 (1967)

(1966)

(1966)

(2006)

(2006)

                    

M.S.M. 1986-1994

After more than a decade of suspended animation, the M.S.M. was revivified by Peter W. in 1986 to commemorate the centennial anniversary of Noble Drew Ali's birth. Copies of this issue are absent from Peter's own archive, as well as the Gunderloy/Factsheet Five collection held at the Albany branch of the New York Public Library. Yikes! From Peter, the editorship of the publication passed through the capable hands of other Noble Moors, including Jacob Rabinowitz, Thom Metzger, & James Koehnline.

Vol 2. No. 7

Vol 2. No. 7

V.2 No.8 (1987-88)

V.5. No.2 (1991)

V.7 No.1 (1994)

V. 7 No.4 (1995)

V.7 No.2 (1994)

V.7 No.5 (1995/1996)

V. 7 No.3 (1994/1995)

V.9 No.2 (1997)

V.9 No.2 (1997)

Cover Retrieved from internet: no data

Cover Retrieved from internet: no data

Moorish Publishing

The back pages of the latter-day M.S.M. routinely carried adverts for publications authored by members of the church. For example, Thom M.'s hilariously perverse pulp-horror novel Big Gurl was featured, as well Hakim Bey's Chaos. In addition to self-publishing, MOCA authors also produced mass-market books distributed by Autonomedia.

The Unholy Bible (1994)

The Unholy Bible (1994)

This is Your Final Warning! (1992)

This is Your Final Warning! (1992)

T.A.Z. (1991)

T.A.Z. (1991)

             Moorish Orthodox Religious Paraphernalia         

In addition to books, the M.S.M. also carried promotional material for amulets, statues, and blessing oil.

In addition to articles & poetry, The Moorish Science Monitor also contained maps, hymns, comics, and original artwork.

Thom Metzger's map of upstate New York. Moorish Science Monitor Vol. 8, No. 1, 1994

Thom Metzger's map of upstate New York. Moorish Science Monitor Vol. 8, No. 1, 1994

Thom Metzger's hymn, "All Hail the Power of VuVu's Name in Vol. 7, No.4, 1995

Peter L. WIlson & E.J. Banes's comic version of Horace's Priapus and the Witches in Vol.7, no.3.

Chevalier Jacob Rabinowitz's "Tadpole Scripture" centerfold in Vol. 7, No.4.

Chevalier Jacob Rabinowitz's "Tadpole Scripture" centerfold in Vol. 7, No.4.

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