Finally in 1834, a great congress, lasting three days, was called, and as many of the better off lodges supported Grand Lodge, and no compromise was found, the other lodges, comprising more than half, which demanded a compulsory sick and funeral fund, decided to break away. A movement which was latter the Great Session.

The lodges, which seceded, called themselves the united Ancient Order of Druids why, goodness alone knows! –Seeing that they had just disassociated themselves from the parent body. Soon afterwards another split took place among the northern Lodges of the united society and the Sheffield equalised Order of Druids was formed by a seceding section of the U.A.O.D, although their adopted motto had been the phrase
“Unity, Peace, and concord”! Later still, a further split from the U.A.O.D formed the Manchester Order of Druids, and still latter, the A.O.D Lodge in South Wales, in the coal mining area, broke away to form their own Sick Benefit Society.

With the coming of state sick and unemployment benefits, and the growth of Trade Unions, some of these splits died out, United Ancient order Of Druids, the Order of druids, and the Sheffield Equalised Order, still remain active in England.

These various English and Welsh secessions covered the period from 1835 to 1850. Some of these Orders, after seceding soon ceased to trouble about ritual, ceremonies, or even Lodges, and became merely branches where a member paid his 6d or 1/- subscription each week. Some threw their membership open to woman and children, and still do.