05/09/08

So what is the RAOB all about???

If you have never heard of us before, our full title is the

Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes

Grand Lodge of England

Our Grand Lodge is based at Grove House, Skipton Road, Harrogate, North Yorkshire HG1 4LA
Tel: (01423) 502438/561284 Fax: (01423) 562870

What is the RAOB's purpose???

The RAOB has been established for many years and was first said to be formed by actors before 1822 in London. The birth of buffaloism began. The purpose being to succor and defend the weak, to render support to the unfortunate, to assist necessitous members in difficulty or need.

Can anyone join???

Unfortunately, this is not the case. In order to become a member of the RAOB GLE, there are a few rules to go by before you can be accepted in our Order.

You must be known by someone within the Order for a minimum of six months by both a Proposer and Seconder, after which they must go through a democratic debate as to your acceptance. If successful, you will be asked to attend the place where the buffs meet for a few questions. Once this has taken place, if voted in favor of, you will be asked to take an initiation ceremony, of which it has not bearing on your social, political, race, or religious beliefs.

So if I become a member, what can I expect to receive???

Once you have decided to become a member of the Order and have been accepted, it will be pointed out to you that you have entered of your own free will to give and not to expect to receive. This is where a lot of people decide it is not for them.

What you can expect to receive is a warm welcome around the world of RAOB lodges, help where it can be made available and security for your families future. We are not an insurance group, but we try to help our members and their families overcome difficult situations to the best of our ability.

The Setup of the Order

GRAND LODGE OF ENGLAND

Grand Lodge (Head Lodge of all Lodges)

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PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGES

Provincial Grand Lodges - Set up in Regions or Provinces which run under the control of Grand Lodge to control Minor Lodges under its control. One PGL per province.

Within PGL are also Knights Chapters and Roll of Honor Assemblies, Executive Committees & Examining Councils.

Provincial Grand Lodge, Knights Chapter & Roll of Honor Assembly can be visited at their prescribed meeting places and times on condition the members hold the relevant passwords and hold the appertaining degrees of CP, KOM, ROH.

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MINOR LODGES

Minor Lodges - Set up with each region or Provincial Grand Lodge, or running directly from Grand Lodge. Numerous Lodges running under the control of PGL.

All degrees from Bro (Brother), CP (Certified Primo), Knt Sir (Knight of the Order of Merit), ROH Sir (Roll of Honor) can visit these lodges.

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS CAN BE EXPLAINED TO YOU SHOULD YOU CONTACT ANY MEMBER OF THE RAOB.

Where can I contact members on the net???

If you are not a member of the RAOB, but would like to find out a little bit more than that which is here, there are a number of RAOB members on the internet who will gladly give you their advice and experience within the Order to help you make your mind up. We will not brain wash you in any way as that is not what the Order is about, but make it clear what the precepts of the Order is, what is expected of you, and what you should expect from us.

e-mail: harper.g@ntlworld dot com

e-mail: keith dot gilmour@ntlworld dot com

on a chat program:-

ICQ: Bro Garry Harper - ICQ No. 105317747

MSN Messenger - garry underscore harper@ hotmail dot com

Chat Forums are becoming very popular with the buffs. Here you request membership, but once you're involved, you can find out all sorts of interesting information about where we meet, things we've done around the world, contacts, links to other websites and so on...

www.smartgroups.com

www.msn.co.uk

Why not install one/all of these programs and contact us?

The Four Degrees

To give you a bit more of an insight into the degrees, we have included photo's of the degree jewels relating to each:-

	First Degree Jewel Also known as the Kangaroo Jewel - Normally this is purchased by a newly initiated Brother of the Order, but it has been known, as is the case in our lodge that the Minor Lodge purchases the Brother this jewel - normally for services he has undertaken as a Brother of the Order to assist the running of the Lodge.		Second Degree Jewel Also known as the Primo Jewel - After serving as a Brother/Kangaroo, should a brother wish to advance in the workings of the Order, he may, present himself to an Examining Council who will test his skills as a Brother through remembrance of rules, and ceremonies. On accomplishment of such by passing this examination, the Brother may apply through his Minor Lodge to be raised to the degree of Primo. A special ceremony is carried out to which he is presented by the Provincial Grand Primo of that year a jewel to recognise his knowledge within the Order. He is also presented with a special certificate which gives him the power to create and open a lodge anywhere in the world, plus he is given with new passwords to enter any Provincial Grand Lodge under the Grand Lodge of England, and have the power to attend any Grand Lodge meeting. Also given with this jewel is the responsibility of controlling a lodge when elected as Worthy Primo (Chairman) of a Minor Lodge. He is then known as Bro xxxxxx xxxxxx CP or Primo xxxxxx xxxxxx. He serves as a Primo for 3 years
	Third Degree Jewel Also known as the Knights Jewel - This jewel is normally presented to a Primo after serving the Order after a number of years, with the intention to succour and defend the workings of the RAOB. It is further acknowledgement of his participation and work for the Minor Lodge that he has attended and is not given as a right, but rather as an acknowledgement of the Minor Lodge for his dedication to Buffaloism. The jewel is presented to him by an exhaulting officer of Knights Chapter through a dedicated ceremony, afterwhich he is then given new passwords to attend a Knights Chapter anywhere around the world under the Grand Lodge of England. He is then known as Bro xxxxxx xxxxxx Knight Order of Merit or Knight Sir xxxxxx xxxxxx. He serves as a Knight for a minimum of 5 years.		Fourth Degree Jewel Also known as the Roll of Honor Jewel - Is bestowed upon a Knight for serving his office wisely and for benefiting the Order with his presence and knowledge of buffaloism into the minds of those that need enlightenment. It is the final jewel received for his work within the Order as a degree, again, it is not given by right, but by the will and pleasure of a Minor Lodge for his participation and work in the Minor Lodge to which he attends. Through his service he is rendered a worthy buff and as such is given the gift of honor. A ceremony also takes place whereby the Roll of Honor Assembly are called to assist in the ceremony and the Brother is exhalted to the distiguished degree of Roll of Honor. Again, he is given rights, privileges and passwords appertaining to the Degree and is then known throughout the RAOB as Bro xxxxxx xxxxxx Roll of Honor member or Right Honorable Sir xxxxxx xxxxxx.

Other jewels are also bestowed upon the brothers during their time within the Order depending on their services to other sections of the Order or for services rendered to it.

This site was last updated 05/09/08