Ancient Mystic Oriental Masonry

The Foundation of All Masonry and the Ancient Mysteries Are One

^[65] The Order of the Architects of Africa or the African Brothers

Founded As Such 1767. *

78.This Order was composed of educated and well-principled brothers. Their lodges, in Europe, were all closed, except that of Constantinople, and even that was closed in the past century.

79.Only one of the Grand Masters was known; this was the councillor of war, Koeppen, who was also a Rosicrucian.

78.Their first degree offered a more extensive and complete instruction than all the degrees of the Scotch systems together. They said, and rightly so, that the Lodges of St. John neglected the great end, and that instruction was hardly to be had there, and that the Strict Observance did not know the grounds of the continuation of the Masonic Order. They occupied themselves with hieroglyphics, especially with those ^[66] relating to Freemasonry, which they sought to know well. They made a mystery of their goal up to the seventh degree, which could only be gained by zeal, perseverance and discretion. Their secondary occupations were the sciences, especially history and antiquities, the study of which they considered indispensable for the true Freemason.

^[67] 79. Their first degree was symbolically called the Architect or Apprentice of Egyptian secrets.

80.They called themselves the Africans, because their studies began with the history of the Egyptians, in whose mysteries they found indications of Freemasonry, although they placed its origin much later, as to which the Crusades gave them no light.

81.Their customs were simple and noble. They never laid any stress on decorations, aprons, ribbons, jewels, etc., but they liked a certain luxury, and sententious inscriptions with a sublime but hidden meaning. In their assemblies they read treatises and communicated to each other the result of their researches.

82.Their banquets were simple, decorum prevailed, and instructive and scientific discourses were given at them.

83.Admissions were given without fees. Earnest brothers who fell into distress received much assistance.

84.This Order was established in Prussia, 1767, with the assent of Frederick II., called the Great.

85.Its degrees, to the number of eleven, were divided into two temples, viz.: —

First Temple.

1.Apprentice.

2.Companion.

3.Master.

This First Temple, under Mystic Masonry, is now known as the Blue Lodge.

1.Apprentice.

2.Fellow Craft.

^[68] 3. Master Mason. Second Temple.

4.Architect, or Apprentice of the Egyptian Secrets.

(Manes Musae.)

5.Initiate in the Egyptian Secrets.

6.Cosmopolitan Brother.

7.Christian Philosopher (Bossinius).

8.Master of the Egyptian secrets, Alethophiloto (Friend of Truth).

Higher degrees.

9.Armiger.

10.Miles.

11.Eques.

Under Mystic Masonry: —

4.Grand Master of the Secret Manuscript.

5.King's Pioneer.

6.Master of the Secret Cavern. Higher Degrees.

The Four Degrees conferred in the King's Chamber in the Great Pyramid.

11.Name never mentioned or written before the profane world.

86.In the year 1806 only one Chapter of this system remained to the world and that at Berlin (Constantinople). From the continuation of the Chapter came the Grand Officers of the Ancient Mystic Oriental Masons as the Order is now known.