As early as 1821 a Lodge had been established at St Johns, New Brunswick, British North America, later called Canada, and ten years later, two more were opened in New York, in the U.S.A, followed by a third a year later. Bro. Heywood, of Lodge 59, of Oxford, together with Bro. Elliott, of lodge No 2, of East London, were the principal founders, and first Grand Arch Druids of the Lodge in New York.

These American Lodges increased slowly in number, while still remaining attached to the parent A.O.D in England. But here again, slowness of transport was the snag. At that time, there were only sailing vessels, taking six weeks or more to cross the Atlantic. Delays in correspondence, in receiving rituals, regalia, dispensations, etc, caused irritations and disputes, until finally, although in all friendliness, the American Lodges declared that, for their own welfare and harmony, they had no option but to sever themselves from the A.O.D and formed themselves into the American U.A.O.D later, the Americans from New York formed Lodges in California and New Jersey. They have Groves for men and Circles for women, Brothers and Sisters respectively. They continue to maintain ritual and ceremonies.

At the 1952 International Druidic Conference, Bro. R. Sedlatschek, of 148, Clifton Ave, Clifton, N.J. and Bro. Sam Erickson, Ukiah Cal, were delegates, and both were elected International Grand Bards.

AUSTRALIA

Later still, a P.A from London, Bro. Hymen, migrated to Australia, and with the authority of the Grand Lodge, of the A.O.D, England, set up a Druid’s Lodge in Melbourne in 1851. Unfortunately, a gold rush soon afterwards sent most of the city’s male population rushing to the gold fields, and this Lodge, like most of the City’s other social bodies, came to an abrupt halt. But 10 years later, when another P.A. a Bro. A. Barnard, this time from Canterbury, Kent, also arrived in Australia at Melbourne, and a fresh start was made with the support of the parent A.O.D in England, and Lodges became established there in due time and spread and multiplied.

But again the delays in transportation, three months each way to Australia, proved a snag, and the Australian Lodges, like the American ones, in quite a friendly spirit, had to seal self-government. This group of Lodges in Victoria soon spread to New South Wales, and Druidism now has Grand Lodges in four of the six states, a Grand Lodge in Tasmania, and Grand Lodges In New Zealand, ruling over many primitive Lodges, which practice a high standard of ritual, several of their delegates attended the London Conference in 1952.

EUROPE

The Druids Lodges in America had attracted many German immigrants to their membership, and, judging by the names of their present-day officers, many of these are of German origin. Some of these German immigrants, returning to the Fatherlands, introduced Druidism to Germany, where most of the larger cities soon had Lodges, and the orderly ritual and ceremonial of the Druidic Order proved very attractive. This introduction of Druidism to Germany took place in 1872, and the name of Bro. Halfky, returned from San Francisco, is recorded as a prime instigator.

In time, Druids from Germany spread Druidism to Sweden and Denmark, and had a lodge at Zurich in Switzerland.

These returning German immigrants from the U.S.A established the strictest rituals and ceremonies in the Lodges they founded, hired their own rooms as temples, provided the finest furniture and propagated the same ideals in Scandinavia. So that both their Lodge rooms and the strictness of their rituals far exceed that of the A.O.D.

Unfortunately, the First World War prevented further infiltration into Switzerland, and that movement died out. It is hoped that an attempt will soon be made to revive it.

In the Second World War Hitler banned Druidism in any shape or form wherever he had power, and known brothers of the Order were treated with the hardest severity. Bro. Hugo Weise, past International Grand President, died from the results of the treatment to which he was subjected.