The Buffs, The R.A.O.B., The Buffaloes; all titles that will lead you to: The Royal Antediuvian order of Buffaloes.
The Order took it's name from the Strong, noble, peaceful yet powerful beast pictured oposite, "Syncerus caffer", not from those hairy headed, short horned, second cousin to a cow, American things which are "bison"; and a totally different animal. There is much evidence for this claim of course, if you look at any of the very old documents, scrolls and emblems, the ones that contain pictures, contain pictures of Buffaloes. One can be found on the museum page on the Grand Lodge of Engalnd site, and long Buffalo horns, never short bison horns, are found on the dispensations that allow our lodges to exist and on membership documetation. (See the Buffalo education page).
Over the last 180 years or so this has become one of the most honorable societies ever to give service to mankind. It is not, as some people think, a "secret society" although I have heard it refered to, perhaps more fairly, as a "society with secrets". There has not been a charity or good cause, probably anywhere in the world, that has not benefited or been helped in some way by the Buffs. One thing is above all others and that is that everything we do, is done by a group of like minded men who enjoy each others company enough to meet together on a regular basis.
If you don't know what it's about and you would like to know more than is written here, use the links to the Grand Lodge of England or the West Cornwall PGL site where much more information is available. Either that or e-mail me at the relevant link and I will get back to and answer any questiopns you might have
The St Eia Lodge 8651 was founded in the town of St Ives Cornwall on 14th May 1954, mostly by members from the town who had to travel to Hayle to attend a lodge. Only 3 - 4 miles but most Buffaloes like to drink and of course would not be so silly as to drive as well.
So the lodge was founded and named after the celtic saint from who the town took it's name. St Ives was once called "Pen Dinas", a celtic name meaning fortified headland. A celtic saint sailed from South Wales on an ivy leaf to save the locals from them sinful selves, clever girl I think you'll agree,. The locals were that impressed they renamed the town in her name. St Ives is the anglesised version of that.
At the heights of it's being the lodge has had regular weekly attendances of over forty, but now is down to around twelve to fifteen but we still have a good time and we do our bit for whatever cause is going on.
We are part of the West Cornwall Provincial Grand Lodge which is made up if seventeen lodges and covers an area from Falmouth, up to Truro, in the east, down to St Just - in - Penwith in the west. Much more can be found about the province on the West Cornwall PGL link. There are three other prvinces in the county; East, Mid and North.
The RAOB operates under the control of several sections, "banners",by far the largest of these banners in the world is the Grand Lodge of England. The St Eia Lodge, like all lodges, bar one, in Cornwall is GLE. |
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