that he was a Catholic priest and that he was the son of the French Prince von Conti. Schrepfer always carried loaded pistols, which he claimed were to shoot himself with in case he fell into the power of evil spirits and could not go on. Schrepfer was described as a big, subdued and handsome man, well educated, but with an inconsiderate and obtrusive behavior. Two of Schrepfer's older brothers also lived in Leipzig. Georg Wolfgang Schrepfer became a respected wine merchant, banker and estate owner. Johann George Friedrich Schrepfer was a restaurateur of bloated and questioning aspect in Leipzig between 1770 and 1776. Johann Georg Schrepfer apparently did not get along with his brothers, but he wrote a farewell letter shortly before his death to Johann George Friedrich: "My beloved brother. Hurry to my wife and support her, or God will punish you. May all be well for you and yours. I love you till death." Masonic necromantic sessions Schrepfer had most likely never experienced a Freemason lodge meeting when he started his own lodge of "true Masonry". Nonetheless he claimed to be the sole person with knowledge of the real secrets of Masonry and to be able to communicate with the spirit world. He also claimed to be in touch with the true Masons in England. When asked about this, they wrote in reply: "Mr. Schrepfer is totally unknown in our grand Lodge, and indeed he has lately been represented to us from Berlin, as a very trifling ridiculous person, not worthy of any Notice or Countenance". He is thought to have gained most of his knowledge about Masonry from magazines, books and from listening to the many Freemason patrons he waited on, who spoke quite freely about their Freemason secrets, plans and activities. He reportedly stole some "magical" documents and Freemason scriptures of Duke Von Holstein-Gottorp during the Seven Years' War and learned more about magic from a merchant in Frankfurt am Main. This merchant would also have supported him financially and brought him into contact with Freemasons in Braunschweig. By the end of 1771 he had very good contacts with rich nobility and Catholic monasteries near the borders with Bohemia and Silesia. He performed "magical works" in Sorau (now Żary, Poland), before the Masons in Leipzig knew about him. For a typical night of necromantic activity Schrepfer's followers would fast for 24 hours and were served