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African Builders' Architects

A mystical association founded by one, C. F. Koffen, a German official (1734-1797). Its ostensible object was that of literary culture and intellectual study, but masonic qualifications were required of its members, and it attracted to itself some of the most distinguished Continental literati of the period. It had branches at Worms, Cologne and Paris. It is asserted that it was affiliated with the Society of Alethophilas or Lovers of Truth, which, indeed, is the name of one of its grades, the designations of which were as follow: Inferior Grades (I) Apprentice of Egyptian Secrets (2) Initiate into Egyptian Secrets; (3) Cosmopolitan; (4) Christian Philosopher (5) Alethophilos. Higher Grades (I) Esquire; (2) Soldier; (3) Knight-thus supplying Egyptian, Christian and Templar mysteries to the initiate. In 1806 there was published at Berlin a pamphlet entitled A Discovery Concerning the System of the Order of African Architects.