Nuwaubian Leader Pleads Guilty to Sex Charges
©CIS Masonic Reporter, 2003.

     This is not normally an article I would put in the CIS Masonic Report. However, because hints of Freemasonry are found in the United Nuwaubian Nation of Moor's teachings, it may be of some interest to my readers.

     I visited the Nuwaubian's 480-acre compound ten miles west of Eatonton, Georgia, on two occasions in the fall of 1998. I first visited on a weekday. I received a warm welcome and was assured the compound was mine to explore and photograph. I saw no more than a dozen people on my first visit. A member suggested I return on a Sunday when many more people would be present. I did and found between 300 and 400 people present. Most appeared to be members. They were friendly. I did not see any other whites.

     The group has used several names in its history: Holy Tabernacle Ministries, Ansaru Allah Community, and of most interest to Masons, Lodge 19 of the Ancient and Mystic Order of Malachizodok. The group, under the leadership of Malachi Z. York (born Dwight York on 26 June 1945), arrived in Putnam County, Georgia, from New York in 1994. The ancient rock eagle formation, probably created by Native Americans, at Rock Eagle State Park not far from Eatonton is said to have attracted York to the area. Malachizodok is called "The Grand Master," an apparent reference to York himself.

     York has borrowed a number of ideas from various religious and fraternal groups, including Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Egyptian religions, African tribal religions, the New Age Movement, UFOlogy, Tomothy Drew's Moorish Science Temple in America, and Prince Hall Freemasonry, particularly the Shrine. His male followers wear black or red fezes. A number of years ago, it was reported the Nuwaubians were interested in purchasing the Shrine Temple in downtown Macon, Georgia, but plans fell through. (Interview with Skippy Davis, Macon Telegraph staff writer)

     I have a number of York's books in my library, including his scripture called The Holy Tablets. I noticed few references to Masonry in his books. York says his members may join the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, the armed forces, and "Any Lodges That You Investigate," among other organizations. (York capitalizes every work in all of his books.) He calls the Ancient and Mistic Order of Malachizodok "The Noblest Of Fraternities On And Above This Planet." The Nuwaubians, he says, are a fraternity, not a religion.

     "Above This Planet" are key words in the Nuwaubian theology. His followers claim York was born on the planet Rizq in the Illyusm galaxy. York's scripture claims our human ancestors originally came from the planet Rizq. They later moved to a planet called Kesiyl in the Orion constellation, then to Mars (the canals on Mars was said to have been built them), then to Pluto and finally to Earth. York says Earth has been "Visited By Scientifically Advanced Beings From Outer Space Who Taught Us Their Technology." Pharaoh Ramses II was an extraterrestrial.

     I attended two "teachings" during my second visit to the compound, led by persons taught by York. They criticized Christians because according to Christians, Jesus did not marry, have sex, have children, smoke cigarettes, etc. Because Christians do these things, they are not "Christ-Like."

     York claims Jesus was born 26 June, A.D. 7 and died in Egypt in A.D. 127 at the age of 120. Jesus studied inside pyramids. Jesus, Mary, the disciples and all other New Testament figures were black. Jesus was no "Pale Skin Albino." York rejects the Virgin Birth; the Angel Gabriel is said to have been Jesus' literal father.

     Jesus married Mary Magdalene at the wedding of Cana of Galilee, according to York. They had a son named Simon Bar Jesus (Acts 8:9, 13:6). Jesus and Mary Magdalene had two other sons and two daughters after they moved to Egypt. Their children intermarried with Africans in Upper Egypt.

     Paul, York says, followed the teachings of Simon Bar Jesus (Bar means "son of" in Hebrew) and introduced his own version of Christianity. York rejects the Second Coming of Christ.

     The New Testament, York says, was written by the Jewish writer Flavius Josephus, his sons, and some friends. The King James Version was written by William Shakespeare. The Bible is "A Book Of Confusion."

     York predicted an alignment of seven planets on 5 May 2000 would cause "Catastrophic Earth Changes, Polar Ice Cap Movements, Huge Tidal Waves, 500-2,000 Mph Winds, Earthquakes So Massive That Richter 12 Or More Could Be Possible."

     Finally, York claims a space ship will arrive in 2003 to collect 144,000 true Nuwaubian Nation followers and take them to another planet. It won't be hard to find York: he will still be in jail serving a long term after pleading guilty to 40 counts of aggravated child molestation, 34 counts of child molestation, one count of sexual exploitation of children, and two counts of influencing witnesses. He received a 50-year prison sentence; he will be eligible for parole in approximately 12 years.