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WE ARE THE BUFFs.
We are Members of that section
of the Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes known as "The Grand Lodge of England. Our aim is the pursuit of Brotherhood.
We know, from our own experiences, the joy and satisfaction to be found in sharing the burden of our associates. Everything
we do is part of an OBLIGATION to assist those of our Order in 'difficulty or need' ... and have fun whilst doing it. We don't
sit around in mysterious conclaves but attend weekly Lodge meetings where laughter is a vital ingredient of the proceedings.
Our principles are based on Justice, Truth and Philanthropy ... but our motto could just as well be CHARITY THROUGH CONVIVIALITY
Don't get the idea that we are completely inward looking however. There never has ... in the last hundred years ...
been any worthwhile public endeavour to brighten the lives of the sick, the needy and aged in our own and other communities
and Countries, unless members of the Buff's have been actively involved in that endeavour.
WHO BECOMES A BUFF
Every
Political, Social, Religious, Civic and Professional strata have been and still are represented in our ranks. Prime Ministers
of England, Bishops of the Established Church, Professors, Doctors, Lawyers, Aldermen by the gross and Councillors down to
the last member of the Parish Council have found with us and in us a level of human qualities that makes membership of the
Order worthwhile.
SO. WHEN AND WHERE DID IT ALL BEGIN?
Read on....
We can trace our beginnings, with certainty,
to 1822. The problem, which was to be called the problem of organizing our leisure 170 years later, was still a problem in
1822. Such social amenities that were available were, of necessity largely limited to small communities or sections of communities
living around the focal point of interest. The Tavern was the only institution where men of all classes and creeds could foregather
with some ease, where in the company of others of like tastes they could temporarily forget the hardship of today and convince
themselves of the possibilities of tomorrow. One of the facts of Tavern life was the facility with which people of similar
interests or professions tended to sort themselves into separate groups. Out of these gatherings and in the course of time,
unnumbered clubs were born. Meeting together for the common good as apart from the common pleasurewas never even conjectured
until much later when the occasional affectionate thought for an individual usually present in the company but for some reason
then absent, and the kindly but spontaneous help provided when the absence was shown to arise out of the personal difficulties
or illness of the person to whom reference was made, gradually created a consciousness in the minds of men that it would be
much better for all concerned if mutual assistance instead of being an accident arising from social contact became one of
our reasons for meeting together. Today our initiation ceremony contains the words the desire to defend the weak, to help
the unfortunate, and to render assistance to those of the Brotherhood who are suffering or in need, have dominated man since
the earliest ages." That it took many years to reach this state of development does not detract from the fact that men do
derive pleasure from the company of others of like mind and from these associations resulted the desire to help and protect.
Buffaloism had its origin in some such club or gathering of people for a common purpose. Evidence shows that it was derived
from ... but never a part of ... the famous Lushington Club, which, so the records have it, became over fastidious in its
selection of members thus leading to the founding of a rival organization to be known as the Buffalo Society. The home of
the Lushington Club was the HARP TAVERN, which stood in Russell Street almost opposite the pit entrance to the Drury Lane
Theatre. The members of the club were the leading lights of the theatrical profession, singers, literary men and jovial tradesmen....
And called themselves 'Citizens of the Ancient and Honourable City of Lushington'. The 'Leading Lights' of the acting fraternity
were not at all keen to admit into membership of their 'club' some of the 'lesser lights' ... who had been accustomed to attending
as "visitors", This refusal to admit several of the Drury Lane staff ... stagehands and so forth ... was strongly resented
and led to the 'workers' forming their own club which they called the Buffalo Society.
The first authentic reference
to our existence was in a book published in 1828 by Virtue & Co. 'At the Harp in Gt. Russell St, opposite the Drury Lane
Theatre the BUFFALO SOCIETY was first established by a young man of the name of Joseph Lisle, an artist, in conjunction with
Mr W. Sinnet, a comedian, to perpetuate that hitherto neglected ballad of "We'll Chase the Buffalo It is possible that some
of the more High Spirited members of the Drury Lane staff concerned that the song was not achieving the popularity demanded
of it decided to name the new club the Buffalo Society to espouse its cause. As the Stock or theatrical companies moved around
the country it would have been impossible for the paraphernalia of the resident Buffalo 'Lodge' to have been packed with all
the 'props' and so a new 'lodge' tended to be formed wherever the company found itself for that 'season'. Many of these lodges
died when the company moved on and though some survived the link with the theatre became more tenuous and today can barely
be discerned. In the towns where the strongest lodges became established there came the need for some sort of 'regulation'
to standardize the activities. The oldest lodge, or in some cases, the most influential one of a group would adopt the role
of the "Mother" lodge. Eventually the 'town' groups became regions and, as with most organizations, the regions amalgamated
to form a national body, which in our case became known as The Grand Lodge of England! The basis of the Grand Lodge is the
individual Minor Lodge. From each Minor Lodge, according to the number of members registered, are elected Delegates to the
regional body now known as the ProvincialGrand Lodge. Ours is "The West Cornwall Provincial Grand Lodge" and which oversees
some 17 Minor Lodges from Truro to Lands End. Each Minor Lodge at its inception is given a number but all adopt a name as
well. In the West Cornwall Province some have adopted the old Cornish name of their town such as "Lafrowda" in St Justin Penwith,
"St Eia" at St Ives, or the local name of the area as in "Golden Acre". Others have adopted the name of a person or persons
of distinction within the "Order" ... 'BassetWhittle'...Victor Roderick' and in one case an echo of the theatrical link. 'Sir
Henry Irving'. The West Cornwall Provincial Grand Lodge meets every second Saturday in the month to discuss the running of
the Order in the Province, to adjudicate in matters arising from the business of the Minor Lodges...if necessary! ... And
generally to protect the image of the Order as a body of men Loyal to the Crown and constitution formed to exercise the virtues
of Charity and affability and inculcate the principles of Brotherly love among brethren. Emblazoned on the Seal of the Order
are the words "In things essential Unity in things doubtful Liberty and in all things Charity The principles of Brotherhood
from time immemorial.
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