The Druid Order

The Druid Order is the current name of a group started by John Toland the Irish Philosopher in 1917. Originally called An Druidh Uileach Braithreachas (ADUB), The Druid Circle of the Universal Bond.

History

The fraternal order An Druidh Uileach Braithreachas (ADUB), or The Druid Circle of the Universal Bond, emerged 1909-1912 under the guidance of George Watson MacGregor Reid, influenced by the meso-druidic vision of such writers as William Stukely, Iolo Morganwg and Godfrey Higgins, but also James Relly and other universalists, and Gerald Massey. The order tried to celebrate summer solstice at Stonhenge every year, but a strained relation to the land owner some years caused the order to move the celebration to nearby Normanton Gorse. The relation to authorities became less strained in 1949, making this celebration easier to keep.

The liveley imaginative power of MacGregor Reid caused him to project a mythic past of the order. This fictious history alleges that John Toland, on the day of the Autumn Equinox 1716 at Primrose Hill, London called for Druids to meet at the Apple Tavern, Covent Garden, London a year and a day later. It is alleged that the meeting which formed the An Druidh Uileach Braithreachas (ADUB) The Druid Circle of the Universal Bond took place the 22nd September 1717 with representatives from London, York, Oxford, Wales, Cornwall, The Isle of Man, Scotland, Anglesey, Ireland and Brittany. It is also alleged that the step to form the order was an initiative by John Aubrey of the Mount Haemus Grove, founded in Oxford 1245, but with deeper roots in a dim past. This mythic history is described by Philip Carr-Gomm in the book "The Druid Renaissance". That this founding myth is a romantic narrative without historical basis is convincingly demonstrated by Professor Ronald Hutton in his Mount Haemus Lecture held in 2000 [http://druidry.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=PagEd&file=index&topic_id=1&page_id=98] and by Dr. Adam Stout in the Mount Haemus Lecture held in 2005 [http://druidry.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=PagEd&file=index&topic_id=1&page_id=102] .

Off-shoot groups of ADUB are a regular occurrence throughout the history of the Order and this is generally seen as natural thing with groups of members going off to explore and develop their own particular perspective. The biggest off-shoot group was the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids which is the biggest Druid group in Europe. Another was Order of Druid Hermeticists in 1932.

The Order has generally gone about its business in private with the main aim being the self-development of its members(known as companions).

Activities

The main aim is development of the self with the emphasis on being rather than intellectual learning. This is one reason why the factual history of Druidism is not taken to be important by members. Students are encouraged not to believe anything they cannot verify for themselves. In meetings it is encouraged that you apply the teachings rather than just think about them, and meditation is a key activity. The material is taken from many sources including the Celtic, Greek, Hebrew, Egyptian and Indian traditions. Meetings are only open to members, but members of the public can participate in Public Meetings which have similar structure.

The other Public activity is the three Public Ceremonies. The Spring Equinox Ceremony takes place at Tower Hill in London, the Summer Solstice at Stonehenge and the Autumn Equinox at Primrose Hill in London. Members of the Public can participate in all these ceremonies though Stonehenge needs to be booked due to restrictions on access.