ANCIENT ORDER OF DRUIDS : ITS RISE AND PROGRESS.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 186, 18 July 1884, Page 2

ANCIENT ORDER OF DRUIDS : ITS RISE AND PROGRESS.

[contributed by an arch druid.]

As you were kind enough to ask for a short sketch of the rise and progress of our order, I willingly comply with your request; but perhaps you will allow me to preface my few remarks on the Druids as a friendly society by a word or two on the ancient Druids. The Druids are of the most ancient Order. Centuries ago, long before the Romans conquered Britain, Druidism held a marvellous sway over the people of that country. The Druids were the legislators, judges, lawgivers,philosophers, in fact instructors of all learning. The most remarkable part of their government was their religion. They taught, among other things what the Brachmans of India are sworn to keep secret, “ that there is one God, the creator of Heaven and earth.” The Druids were learned and great people of their time, and were naturally looked up to with awe and reverence by the people of the tribes in those barbarous times; those who joined their Order were taught a knowledge of the laws, and twenty years was devoted to this work. In France, and other parts of Europe, the Druids also existed. The Druids of old were always glad to have their numbers increased, and of course no one was admitted to the order until going through various ceremonies and giving proof that they were worthy of being admitted. They took the greatest care against the mysteries of their order being devulged, for that reason they taught their disciples in the most hidden places. Sacred places were sometimes specially planted with oaks. These groves would be watered with consecrated waters, and were surrounded by a ditch or mound, so that no improper persons should take part in their rites. The oak was held by the Druids in great veneration, and also the miseltoe, and when found growing on an oak the ArchDruid, with a golden knife, would cut it off, and then a festival would be held under the tree, and two milk-white bulls would be offered up as a sacrifice. The ancient Druids like all primitive people were terribly superstitious. They sometimes inflicted the most cruel punishment on those whom they thought merited it, and often human sacrifices were offered up. Still the Druids were the great means of keeping down a barbarous people subject to such laws as then existed. It is held by high authorities that the British Druids instituted the order of Masonery, Wxiei, after the Edict of Canute, King of England, who reigned from 1015 to 1035 they were forbidden to practice their religion openly. Hence it is said the secret order of Freemasonry was established. Now I think I have given you sufficient of the Druids of old, and will now corae to the establishment of the United Ancient Order of Druids as a friendly society. This took place in the year 1781, and I think it was in 1833 that the Order was re-organised. Since its re-organization it has made rapid strides all over Great Britain. In Victoria the order has been started some twenty years, and there is now in Victoria a Supreme Grand Lodge, having 180 lodges under its jurisdiction, with those is included the New Zealand Lodges. The first start of the Order in this Colony was made in Christchurch some six years ago, from there it quickly spread to Dunedin, Wellington, West Coast, Auckland, and from

these large centres to almost every town of any importance in New Zealand. We now muster between 30 and 40 lodges in No. 3, and intend shortly to apply for a Grand Lodge in this Colony. In New South Wales they have a Supreme Grand Lodge and are very prosperous. In Adelaide there are about 20 lodges, and in the Newcastle district there are also about the same number of lodges. The accumulated funds of the Order is about £3,000,000, and according to the report of the Victorian Government Actuary, we are one of the most solvent friendly societies in the world. The objects of our Order are to provide a certain weekly allowance in case of sickness, or accident to contributing members, and to provide surgical aid and medicine to members, their wives and families, and to provide a certain sum on the death of a member, or a member’s wife, and in certain cases to the widow of a late member, and also in some cases to a member’s widowed mother; We, like the Druids of old, have certain signs and secrets to guard against imposition, and the admittance of the unworthy and unprincipalled; But unlike the Druids of old we are unsectarian, and we admit of all creeds into our Society, and we like to see our members honour and worship God according to his ,

own conscience, In conclusion, 1 would strongly advise all young men who do not belong to any other frien-lly so?. , ety

tc join the D • nidg. I p?n «mi. goir.g to say anything against any other Friendly Society, for the principles they inculcate are all good ; but I will say this for the Druids, that there certainly is a stronger bond of sympathy between them than there appears to be between the members of other Friendly Societies. To anyone who doubts this, I say join our Order, and you will find unity.