United Ancient Order of Druids
Abbreviation | UAOD |
---|---|
Formation | 1833 |
Type | Fraternity and Friendly society |
Headquarters | United Kingdom |
Website | http://igld.net/ |
The United Ancient Order of Druids (UAOD) is a
History
The creation in 1833 of the United Ancient Order of Druids was the result of a split in the Ancient Order of Druids; a significant part of the members decided to create a druidic order more open to different social classes, structured as a benefit society and registered by government.[1] During the first decades, the UAOD kept the same emblem as the AOD (a shield with three oaks surrounded by a Celtic warrior and a druid), changing the motto to united to assist. Very soon, the UAOD proved to be a great success and many of its members travelling abroad created new lodges in
United States
The George Washington Lodge #1, the first lodge in the United States, was established in
Australia and New Zealand
A Druids Lodge was established in Melbourne in 1851.[5] By 1877 a number of lodges existed in Adelaide: The Adelaide, The Sir James Fergusson, The Allied, The Peace Lodge, the Duke of Brunswick, the Duke of Leinster, the Prince of Wales, The Albert, The Royal and the Adelaide lodge, with a total of 862 members.[6]
A Druids Lodge was established in Wellington in 1879 as the Excelsior Lodge. Its members were drawn from many sectors of New Zealand society and the Wellington Grand Lodge, known as Druids’ Chambers, was their headquarters. Despite diminishing influence and a reduced membership in later years, the society remained a significant organisation until it closed in 1995.[7]
Germany
In 1872, American Druids undertook the task to bring Druidism to the
Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Iceland
As the implantation of druidic lodges in the German empire was a success, inspiring some northern European countries to create their own UAOD Grand Lodges: Sweden (1906), Denmark (1924), Norway (1935) and more recently Iceland (1996).
Switzerland
In 1976, the first UAOD lodge was created in Switzerland.[citation needed]
Notable members
- Frederick Sieg (1815-1888), founder of the UAOD in California.
- Byron B. Brainard (1894-1940), city council member, Los Angeles, California.
Bibliography
- Peter Clark, British Clubs and Societies 1580-1680, New York, Oxford University Press, 2000.
- Ronald Hutton, Blood and Mistletoe: The History of the Druids in Britain, New Haven, Yale University Press, 2009.
- Wilhelm North, Who Was Henry Hurle, the Founder of the A.O.D.?, London 1932.
- Victoria Solt Dennis, Friendly and Fraternal Societies: their badges and regalia, London, 2008.
See also
Notes
- ^ Ronald Hutton, Blood and Mistletoe: The History of the Druids in Britain, New Haven, Yale University Press, 2009.
- ^ Victoria Solt Dennis, Friendly and Fraternal Societies: their badges and regalia, London, 2008, p. 107.
- ^ Alvin J. Schmidt Fraternal Orders (Westport, CT: Greenwood Press), 1930, pp.93-4
- ^ "Druids of California". californiadruids.org.
- ^ "International Grand Lodge of Druidism website".
- ^ "United Ancient Order of Druids—Adelaide District", "The South Australian Advertiser", 22 Jan 1877
- ^ "Druids’ Chambers", "Wellington Heritage - Wellington City Council",12 Aug 2016
External links
- Druids of California
- United Ancient Order of Druids - America
- United Ancient Order of Druids - Germany
- United Ancient Order of Druids - Sweden
- United Ancient Order of Druids - Denmark
- United Ancient Order of Druids - Norway
- United Ancient Order of Druids - Switzerland
- United Ancient Order of Druids - Iceland
- International Grand Lodge of Druidism