African Architects, Order of
African Architects, Order of
Eighteenth-century Masonic order founded in Prussia in 1767 by Brother Von Kopper and C. F. Koffen, under the auspices of Frederick II. The order was concerned largely with historical research into freemasonry, Christianity, alchemy, and chivalry and attracted many distinguished European literary figures of the period. A vast building was erected as Grand Chapter, containing an extensive library, museum of natural history, and a chemical laboratory. The Architects published many works of freemasonry and awarded an annual gold medal to the author of the best historical memoir on the subject. Branches of the order were established at Worms, Cologne, and Paris, and it was said to be affiliated with the Society of Alethophilas, or Lovers of Truth, after which it named one of its grades.
There were two temples, comprising the following degrees: (1) Apprentice of Egyptian Secrets, (2) Initiate into Egyptian Secrets, (3) Cosmopolitan, (4) Christian Philosopher, and (5) Alethophilos. Higher Grades: (1) Esquire, (2) Soldier, and (3) Knight, thus supplying Egyptian, Christian, and Templar mysteries to the initiate. In 1806 a pamphlet was published at Berlin entitled A Discovery Concerning the System of the Order of African Architects.