Royal antideluvian order of buffalos (poor mans freemasons)

[evedawn]

Can anyone give me any info regarding the royal antideluvian order of buffalos (also known as the "poor mans freemasons")

I'd never heard of them till recently and am curios as to it's origins, history and the roles in todays society.

[taichiperson]

I think my grandad was a member, but know very little about him, or the order....

[evedawn]

Thanks both of you -

yes 10clario it'd be fab if u could find out a bit more from ur bruv. I would appreciate it.
taichi U sa ur grandad was a member - from what i've heard (ie: the TINY bit i've heard) there's not that many lodges (or clubs) of em about anymore.

I only heard of em recently cos I bought an old clay pipe which had the initials R A O B on it and it was the shopkeeper who told me what it stood for.

i

[jno]

http://www.raobgc.org.uk/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Antediluvia n_Order_of_Buffaloes

[shaneystar2]

My dad ,his brothers and my brothers used to be in the "Buffs ". My Mum always used to say it was just an excuse for a Jolly Boys Outing .
Many years ago now but I still have a couple of "rolls" from from my Dad's Lodge .He was a Certified Primo according to these rolls which we have framed . I can remember as a child he went to a Lodge in Lowestoft which was a Provincial Lodge .
Poor mans Masons it what they used to call it but my Dad was very proud of being a member of the Buffs .
We used to get to go on outings which was most exciting as a child .But my Dad has been dead for over thirty years and my brothers long outgrew it as they only went ..I think ...to please Dad and because they were apprenticed to trades at the time .
Steady the Buffs :))

[Booldawg]

I once got invited to join but its not really my thing.

[bajansam]

Unfortunately, we have been known as "poor men's masons" and also "boozy Buffs". Not surprising since the order started in about 1822, by stagehands and disenchanted actors in the Harp tavern in Drury Lane. From those begiinings, we have developed into a well regulated order, going fine work for various charities, we donated ambulances in WWI, we built orphanages and convalescent homes. We are all over the world, we have thousands of lodges and members.Our role in today's society is as it always was, to help the poor amongst us. As for the respondent who said "it's not my thing" don't you like helping people less well off than your self? Success to Buffaloism, throughout the world. Should you require further information, [email protected] is my email address.