been first a member of the Socialist Workers Party, and then a prominent member of a group of dissidents who broke off to form the Workers World Party. Finally, after contacts with Malcolm, he allied himself with the Muslims.
As might be expected, the many Muslim ministers, with varied backgrounds, education, and experience, and with very little control over them from national headquarters, use a variety of techniques in maintaining the interest of their members and in their appeals for new Muslims. It could be said the ministers' style of preaching is a blend of the revival preacher and the ward-heeling politician. They deliver their messages sometimes in a calm voice with unctuous earnestness and sometimes with rash and inciting statements startling their listeners. Anything goes, as long as it holds the interest of the present followers of Elijah, gains new converts to the cult, and keeps the donations coming into the temples' many funds.
Below the minister, the next highest authority in an individual temple is the captain of the FOI, the group within the NOI composed of the adult male members. Though answerable to the minister, the captain is responsible for discipline in the temple and is the leader of the temple's FOI. In the larger temples, the captain frequently receives financial support and is furnished an automobile from the donations of the members. The captains are usually aggressive, domineering men who relish the opportunity to command the members. They maintain strict military-type discipline over the temple members.
