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The only nonfamily member among Elijah's national leaders is John Simmons, known in the NOI as John Ali. He has been national secretary of the NOI since May, 1960, and his duties consist mainly of fund gathering and handling the NOT's financial dealings. He is 87 years old and is divorced. Be has served in the United States Army, was employed as a part-time teacher, worked as an accountant, and has been an NOI member since 1954. Elijah's son and grandson, when they left the cult, advised that John Ali is an opportunist who is in the cult only for the financial opportunities and status he can maintain through cooperation with Elijah. Both claimed that he is completely untrustworthy, has misappropriated cult funds, and is “loose morally." | B. Dissidents Though troubles have erupted among members of the cult on many occasions in the past, none had publicly involved the solidarity of the national hierarchy. Many people have wondered what caused the rash of defections and expulsions of former ieacers oi the cult during the past year. Ki would be difficult to state for certain, because it must be remembered that the dissident former members and leadere who later loudly condemned Elijah among his top supporiers ana recruiters. But Elijah does have trouble in his "royal family." The firet 7 outward signs of a growing dissidence were revealed after Malcolm X made . - - tas * te Bags I