Order of the Bull's Blood
Order of the Bull's Blood (also known as Lodge 443) is a secret society at Rutgers University, established in 1834 by Frederick T. Frelinghuysen, William Newell and Joseph Bradley. It is said to be the oldest currently active secret society at Rutgers, dating several years before the incarnation of the first fraternities at the University. It is similar in history and inspiration to other secret societies like Skull and Bones or Scroll and Key at Yale University and the Porcellian Club at Harvard University. Each year 12 juniors are chosen, or "tapped," by the outgoing senior members of the Order and are tied to a series of continuing pranks at Rutgers and at historic rival Princeton University, including allegedly being involved in the 1875 theft of a cannon at Princeton, an event?and the ensuing debate between the two university presidents?reported in nationwide newspapers, and a repeat of the crime in 1946.
Notable members are:
- William Newell, Class of 1836, Physician, Governor of New Jersey
- James Neilson, Class of 1866, University donor
- Howard N. Fullerton, Class of 1874, wrote Rutgers alma mater "On the Banks of the Old Raritan"
- Leonor F. Loree, Class of 1877, President of the Pennsylvania Railroad
- Philip Milledoler Brett, Class of 1892, President of Rutgers University, Successful Corporate Attorney
- Clifford Case, Class of 1925, United States Senator
- Oswald "Ozzie" Nelson, Class of 1927, Musician, Actor, of Ozzie and Harriet fame
- Samuel Blackman, Class of 1927, Journalist
- Martin Agronsky, Class of 1936, Journalist
- William Hughes, Class of 1955, Congressman, Ambassador to Panama
- Louis Freeh, Class of 1971, Former Director, Federal Bureau of Investigation
