Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes
Second Degree Ceremony
This ritual is from 1958
This Ceremony must be conducted in a
properly-constituted Minor Lodge.
Installing Officer: Brother ....
I, ..., Grand Primo now presiding over this Lodge of the Royal
Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes will proceed according to the ancient usages of
our Order, and in furtherance of the objects for which you have been elected, to
induct you to the office of Primo, and will receive from you your solemn pledge,
that you will at all times exercise the prerogatives and powers about to be
entrusted to you in strict conformity with all the Principles received, imbibed,
and inculcated, by all good and worthy Buffaloes.
Inasmuch as we deem it our highest privilege to be
enabled, by the exercise of Justice, Truth and Philanthropy, to make our labours
alike productive of interest and pleasure, so we exhort you to promote the
well-being and well-doing of our Order, that you may thereby at all times
succeed in securing the confidence and gratification of those with whom we are
in union.
In the discharge of the duties attached to the
office to which you will shortly he inducted, you will be called upon to hear
and decide upon circumstances both Painful and Pleasing; to exercise the
greatest Discretion and Forbearance, as well as Integrity, for the better
disposition of weighty and important matters; to which end the more gentle
virtues of Charity, Temperance, and Affability, must take precedence in all your
labours, so that you may secure the impartial administration of the laws, the
good order and prosperity of your Lodge, and DESERVE as well as obtain, the
esteem of all good and worthy Brethren.
G.W. prepares Candidate.
Brother .... As you have been elected by the Lodge,
and that election has been sanctioned by the Grand Lodge, to fill the high
office of Primo in this Lodge and Order, I will now receive your solemn pledge
that you will at all times act in strict conformity with the Laws and Principles
received, imbibed, and inculcated, by all good and worthy Buffaloes.
Answer: I will.
That you will at all times, whether in this or any
other Lodge, discharge the duties of your office with Firmness, Gentleness, and
Impartiality.
Answer: I will.
That you will constantly and zealously devote
yourself to the advancement of the Order; inculcate the principles of Brotherly
Love in your intercourse with the Brethren, and never deviate from the landmarks
of our Order: Justice, Truth and Philanthropy.
Answer: All these I promise faithfully.
Obligation
I, ..., do in the presence of this Lodge, solemnly
declare, by all the principles of Honour and Truth, that I will at all times
faithfully keep the solemn promises which I have now made.
I further solemnly promise that I will never give,
or in any way communicate, directly or indirectly, the Signs, tokens, and
passwords, which may now, or hereafter be given to me, as lawfully appertaining
to the Office or Degree of Primo, to anyone not known to me as a Primo, or until
I have proved him to be so by a careful examination.
This declaration I have made with all solemnity and
on oath without any equivocation or mental reservation whatever.
So help me. M.G.N., K.T.C.
Inasmuch then, as we esteem it our high and most
valued privilege that we are enabled to receive your commendations and promises,
and install you as a Primo of this our Ancient and Honourable Order, so we
Desire, Entreat, and Enjoin all lawful Brethren on the face of the Globe to
Acknowledge, Receive and Honour you as such; and we now dub you Primo, of the
Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes.
G.P. anoints.
Toast: All hail to our new-made Primo.
The Jewel to be presented.
Primo .... It only remains for me to attach this
Jewel to your breast, in the name of the Lodge, as a visible and tangible
recognition of your earnest work in Buffaloism, and the great respect the
Brethren of this Lodge have for you. Wear it always in every Buffalo Lodge you
enter, so that when a Brother sees your decoration it may incite him to follow
your good example.
Address after Ceremony
G.P. addresses newly raised Brother, concluding with: Let Wisdom determine your judgments, Patience govern your temper,
Perseverance sustain your endeavours, and Impartiality prove your guiding star.
Declaration by G.P. in Lodge of First Degree:
Brethren. I, ..., Installing Officer, do declare that Bro. ... has been duly
raised to the Second Degree, or that of Primo, and I now Desire, Entreat, and
Enjoin all Lawful Brethren on the face of the Globe to Acknowledge, Receive, and
Honour him as such.
The G P. then introduces and proposes and inducts the newly-made Primo,
who will adjudicate upon three charges.
The Grand Primo will then propose the health of the Recipient, who will
receive the congratulations of the Brethren assembled.
The signs, tokens and passwords will be given to the new Primo at the,
next Meeting of Grand Lodge.
Lodge Business is resumed.
Home