Our Beginings

We were founded nearly 200 years ago, at the Harp Inn, Great Russell Street, opposite Drury Lane Theatre in August 1822, by an “eccentric” young man of the name of Mr. Joseph Lisle, an artist, in conjunction with Mr. W Sinnett, a comedian, to perpetuate, according to their ideas upon the subject, ‘that hitherto neglected ballad of ‘We’ll chase the Buffalo?’ "


In some of the first meetings a new brother is seated on a chair in the middle of the room, with a bandage placed over his eyes The initiated Buffaloes are waiting outside the door; the orator being decorated with a wig for the occasion. On a given signal, they all enter the room, with what they call the Kangaroo Leap, and jump around the chair of the “degraded wretch,” (as the victim is termed) and sing the song “We’ll chase the Buffalo” This was succeeded by a solemn march, and the Buffaloes carrying brooms, shovels, mops and a large kettle by the way of a kettle drum chanted “Bloody-head and raw-bones! Bloody-head and raw-bones’ Be not perplex’d’ This is the text, Bloody-head and raw-bones! “


The charge is then given to the “victim” by the Primo Buffalo, accompanied by the most extravagant and ridiculous gestures “Degraded wretch, Miserable Ashantee! Unfortunate individual, at least you were so, a quarter of an hour since You are now entitled to divers privileges; you may masticate, denticate, chump, grind, swallow, and devour, in all turnip fields, meadows and pastures; and moreover, you have the special privilege of grazing in Hyde Park Think of that, my Buffalo You may also drink at all the lakes, flyers, canals and ponds; not forgetting the Eket and lower ditches. You are entitled to partake of all public dinners (upon your paying for the same). Such are the advantages you will enjoy but you must promise to gore and toss all enemies to Buffaloism”


To summarize there are some awful puns (such as promising to go to Hornsey Wood, and proving oneself an Hornament), followed by the removal of the blindfold, a repeat of the chorus of “Chase the Buffalo,” initiation into the signs, and some more songs. The new-made Buffalo “is then called on for the customary fees for liquor, and a small compliment for the Buffalo in waiting: the expenses are in proportion to the means or inclination of the newly-made member.” As for the reference about drinking from the Fleet, it is worth noting that in those days, the Fleet or Flete River was a notorious sewer.


In May 1888 the Buffalo held the first Convention of the lodges, and Buffaloism was becoming thoroughly respectable. Before the end of the century, work was in hand to raise funds for an orphanage. The foundation stone was laid on October 3, 1903, and the building was opened on May 30th, 1904. In the course of the next 40 years or so, the whole orphanage question was a matter of bitter and political dispute, and the order finally got Out of the orphanage business in 1945.