1911 Encyclopædia Britannica/Druids, Order of

4740341911 Encyclopædia Britannica, Volume 8 — Druids, Order of

DRUIDS, ORDER OF, a friendly society founded, as an imitation of the ancient Druids, in London in 1781. They adopted Masonic rites and spread to America (1833) and Australia. Their lodges are called “Groves.” In 1872 the Order was introduced into Germany. (See Friendly Societies.)