Is there a society called The Order of the Buffalo?
If so, does any one have any information on them?

Yes, Fred Flintstone and Barney Rebble attended that lodge.

First of all, why don't you give more detail.
How did you hear of this?
What do you think they are?
What do you believe they do?

At this point I am inclined to believe you are thinking of the Loyal Order of the Water Buffalo from the Flintstones as TgSoe said.
No, they are make-believe and there is no Grand Poohbah.

They are a secret society. All I know as yet is that my great uncle was a member. He lived in the UK all his life, apart from going abroad to fight during WW2. When he died, his sister (my grandmother) kept his lodge stuff, but I was too young to really understand what it meant.

Thanks for the info guys.

I was under the impression that they are similiar to the Masons.
Is this true?

Isn't that from the flinstones? Instead of going bowling they would go to the lodge meeting and later the wife would catch them. Or was it tat they said they were going to lodge meetings and they would go bowling?

Originally posted by Al
Isn't that from the flinstones? Instead of going bowling they would go to the lodge meeting and later the wife would catch them. Or was it tat they said they were going to lodge meetings and they would go bowling?

it is, the flinstones cartoon is a tool of mind control. *trying not to laugh*

There is a fraternal society (originating in England) called the Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes. They are similar in structure and purpose to Freemasons and Odd-Fellows but not connected.

I have some info on their history, etc. and their rituals in my library
(I collect fraternal society rituals)

What would you like to know?

Senrak

Originally posted by senrak
There is a fraternal society (originating in England) called the Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes. They are similar in structure and purpose to Freemasons and Odd-Fellows but not connected.

I wouldn't say that they are hardly similar at all. I have a friend who attends the Buffaloes (he's also a mason) and from what I can gather it is more of a social club than anything else. They do give to charity, but there the similarity to freemasonry ends.

I wouldn't say that they are hardly similar at all. I have a friend who attends the Buffaloes (he's also a mason) and from what I can gather it is more of a social club than anything else. They do give to charity, but there the similarity to freemasonry ends.



Except that the have Opening & Closing Ceremonies, initiation ceremonies, pass-words, signs, hand-shakes, regalia, etc. etc. that are VERY similar to those of Freemasons, Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias, etc. etc.
..but other than that, no, they're not similar at all.

Originally posted by senrak
Except that the have Opening & Closing Ceremonies, initiation ceremonies, pass-words, signs, hand-shakes, regalia, etc. etc. that are VERY similar to those of Freemasons, Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias, etc. etc.
..but other than that, no, they're not similar at all.

I couldn't comment on the specifics. But from what I was told, the openings and closing literally take place in a matter of minutes and are nowhere near as lengthy as masonic ritual. The Buffs are even allowed to take their alcohol into their Temples!!!!

Originally posted by senrak
..but other than that, no, they're not similar at all.

Now, now, Senrak. I think what Leveller was trying to get at is that we're not just a sevice club, that Freemasonry has a different Raison D'etre, as it were.

Now, now, Senrak. I think what Leveller was trying to get at is that we're not just a sevice club, that Freemasonry has a different Raison D'etre, as it were.

Understood. My point is that "structurally" they're similar to Freemasons (and other fraternal societies) In that same light, so are the Fraternal Order of Eagles, as they have ritual Opening / Closing and Initiatory services as do the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. In fact the Elks have an outside guard called the "Tyler." So they're technically fraternities, not service clubs, but as you say, they exist for a slightly different reason than Freemasonry does. They even allow alchohol in their buildings. ...but then again, so does Freemasonry outside the U.S.A.

Fraternally

Senrak

Hold on, hold on...

We don't allow alcohol inside our open Lodges up here... not even to indicate that a bottle of scotch is being raffled off. This is Canada, by the way.

Originally posted by senrak
They even allow alchohol in their buildings. ...but then again, so does Freemasonry outside the U.S.A.

Heh. I'm not talking about in the building. I'm talking about in the actual Temple (or whatever Buffs call it) whilst they're working.
In Freemasonry we have Lodge buildings which normally contain a bar, but we're never allowed to take our drinks into the Temple with us at any time.