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majority voted for being a charitable society and changed its name to The UDB, supposedly founded in 1717 by John Toland, claims to
The United Ancient Order of Druids (UAOD). This group, with have survived since then under a succession of Chosen Chiefs, in-
branches all over the world, still exists as a charitable and fraternal cluding such names as Toland, Stuckeley, Lord Winchilsea, Blake
organization rather like the Elks or Shriners. An example of their and Spence, among others. It appears to have been their English
philosophy may be found in a collection of their sayings entitled The group (the BCUB referred to above) that suffered the split in 1963-4.
Seven Precepts of the Prophet Merlin: Both groups, naturally, claim to be the only legitimate representa-
tives in the UDB. There do appear to be a couple of dozen public
First: Labor diligently to acquire knowledge, for it is power. Druid groups in France and the British Isles, many of them using
Second: When in authority, decide reasonably, for thine authority the Bards, Ovates and Druids phraseology. One leader states that
may cease. there may be as many 400 independent Druids not affiliated with
Third: Bear with fortitude the ills of life, remembering that no mor- groups. Such estimates, like those of underground Witches , Occult-
tal sorrow is perpetual. ists and Pagans, must remain speculation since (thanks to religious
Fourth: Love virtue for it bringeth peace. bigotry) the estimates cannot be tested without risking the lives of
Fifth: Abhor vice for it bringeth evil upon all. those so exposed.
Sixth: Obey those in authority in all just things, that virtue may be
exalted. { The author has recently been in contact with yet another Dru-
Seventh: Cultivate the social virtues, so shalt thou be beloved by all idic group in England, called the Golden Section Order Society,
men. which may or may not be connected to any of the other Mesopagan
Druids over there. We hope to learn more about them, and the
Meanwhile, the minority group, still calling itself by the old name other groups, in future correspondence. For now, let me emphasize
(AOD), also continued to exist, as a mystical Masonic sort of organi- that this series of articles is being based on the best research of which
zation. The AOD may have been among the groups known to have the author is aware. Readers having further data or corrections are
held ceremonies (Summer Solstice rites were the only ones held by sincerely requested to share their evidence so that future writings on
anyone it seems) at Stonehenge prior to 1900 c.e. (it was a popular these topics can be appropriately rewritten. }
pastime) and in any event , there were several such groups using the { I will make one further comment before leaving the Mesopagan
site. IN 1900, one of the standing stones fell over and the angry Druids of the British Isles (I put British in quotes, by the way, so
owner of the land (Sir Edward Antrobus) decided to fence the monu- my Irish, Scots and Welsh friends won t lynch me). Masonic Druid-
ment and charge admission, the better to (a) keep a closer watch on ism as a religious and philosophical system that has lasted for at least
it and (b) to earn enough money to repair the damage being commit- two centuries, helping hundreds of people to gain a better under-
ted by tourists. This caused a problem almost immediately, when a standing of themselves and their times. Its attitude of reverent skep-
Druidic group was holding the very next Summer Solstice ceremo- ticism is fully in keeping with the ideals of the founders of the Re-
nies and the Chief Druid was kicked out by the police (he laid a formed Druid movements in North America. These Mesopagans
curse on Sir Edward, the effects of which are unrecorded). have a great deal of wisdom and experience that modern Neopagans
Although the AOD, in the form of one of its subgroups (the Albion would do well to avail themselves of, and many of the current Ma-
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