|
The following is taken from the Constitution of the Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes as published by the Grand Lodge of England. Copyright © The Grand Lodge of England December 2006. All rights reserved.
Constitution
The Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes is a Brotherhood composed if a number of sections, each operating independently, enjoying sovereign rights within its own organisation and all seeking to further the same fundamental principals and objects.
Objects
The functions of the Order are social and benevolent and its objects are:
| |
to assist necessitous members and the widows and orphans or deceased members;
|
| |
| |
to support such external philanthropic and charitable objects at both national and local levels as may be deemed desirable; and
|
| |
| |
to encourage fraternity and mutual intercourse amongst its members.
|
Membership
Membership of the Order may be achieved following a proposal by an existing member, in accordance with the Rules of the particular section in which admission is proposed, and the acceptance of the proposal by a Minor Lodge, and the candidate’s submission to a subsequent Ceremony of Initiation.
Whilst membership is not restricted to persons holding British citizenship, any candidate for initiation in a Lodge within the British Commonwealth of Nations is required to state that he is a true and loyal supporter of the British Crown and Constitution. Elsewhere according to such decision as any Section may make, the candidate may be required to avow his allegiance to the country in which the Lodge is situated, in place of or in addition to the British Crown and Constitution.
The basis of the Ceremony of Initiation is the taking of an Obligation of a non-political and non-sectarian character in which the candidate promises to act in conformity with the objects of the Order and the Rules of his Section.
Regularly attending (or compliant) members may advance within the Order by proving to their Provincial Grand Lodge Examining Council their ability to take control of a Minor Lodge as Worthy Primo, being fully conversant with the Rules of the Order. Henceforth they may achieve the high degree of Certified Primo.
Further recognition in respect of long service to the Order may be granted three years after attaining Primoship in the form of Installation as a Knight of the Order of Merit.
Having served five years as a Knight, a Brother may achieve the further recognition of Exaltation to the Roll of Honour.
Further recognition of service and longevity are available on successful completion of 40 and 50 years membership.
Grand Lodge of England
The Grand Lodge of England is a Section of the Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes, which reserves unto itself the right to create Provincial Grand Lodges and Minor Lodges, to lay down Rules for observance by its subordinate Lodges, to promote Benevolent Schemes for the benefit of its members and their dependants, and to raise funds to meet the expenses of these schemes and the cost of administration.
Grand Lodge
The Grand Lodge of the Grand Lodge of England, which shall consist of Officers hereinafter mentioned and Delegates of Provincial Grand Lodges on such basis as shall be determined from time to time, is the supreme authority within the Section.
The Officers shall be the:
Grand Primo;
Immediate Past Grand Primo;
Deputy Grand Primo;
Grand Secretary; and
Grand Treasurer;
together with the:
Grand Chamberlain;
Grand Tyler;
Grand Constable;
Grand Registrar;
Grand Alderman of Juniper;
Grand Alderman of Benevolence;
Grand Minstrel; and
Grand Waiter.
Provincial Grand Lodges
Provincial Grand Lodges, which shall be established only on the grant of a warrant by Grand Lodge, shall consist of officers as hereinafter mentioned, together with such number of Delegates from Minor Lodges as Rules permit.
The Officers of a Provincial Grand Lodge shall be the:
Provincial Grand Primo;
Immediate Past Provincial Grand Primo;
Deputy Provincial Grand Primo;
Provincial Grand Secretary;
Assistant Provincial Grand Secretary (if appointed);
Provincial Grand Treasurer;
Provincial Grand Chamberlain;
Provincial Grand Tyler;
Provincial Grand Constable;
Provincial Grand Registrar;
Provincial Grand Alderman of Juniper;
Provincial Grand Alderman of Benevolence and Bearer of the Jewel;
Provincial Grand Minstrel; and
Provincial Grand Waiter.
The Provincial Grand Lodge shall, subject to right of appeal to Grand Lodge, exercise administrative control over all minor lodges within its territory.
Minor Lodges
Minor Lodges shall consist of Officers, namely the:
Worthy Primo;
City Marshal;
City Secretary;
Assistant City Secretary (if appointed);
City Treasurer;
City Chamberlain;
City Tyler;
City Constable;
City Registrar;
Alderman of Benevolence;
City Minstrel; and
City Waiter;
Together with members initiated in or affiliated to the Lodge in accordance with Rule.
|
` 