While its originator was Yehoshua Barzillai (Eisenstadt), Ahad Ha'am was persuaded to take leadership of the organization.
[1][2] In 1893 its headquarters were moved to Jaffa and it ceased to be secretive.
It was suggested that it become a political party, however, internal controversies and frustration led to its disestablishment in 1897.
Its major practical achievements include improvements in Hebrew education, in particular, establishing modernized heders (heder metukkan); helping in establishing the Rehovot settlement, and establishing a Hebrew publishing house Ahi'asaf in Warsaw, the first one of the kind.
[2] It published the annual Ahi'asaf Tablet [he] (Hebrew: לוח אחיאסף) almanac (1893-1904) by a large group of writers and intellectuals, members of B'nei Moshe, from many different fields.