Ancient Order of Druids in the 1920s

[Heron Hiker]

My great grandfather was a member of the Ancient Order of Druids in the 1920s. 
I would be particularly interested to know where his Lodges were based, when he joined and left them, the Offices he held and what his two special medals were for.  Does anyone know who I can contact to get this information?

I believe he had these letters after his name: PA, FSC, PERA, Arch Druid.
I have his medals: 
    March 1921   Goodfellow Lodge 452, award for 'services rendered'
    1922 and 1924   Benevolent Festival medals
    March 1926   Girdler Lodge 679, award for 'esteem'
    (no date)   Chapter 29, ribbon only
    (no date)   2 x medal FSC (Fellow of the Supreme Chapter)
    (no date)   Grand Lodge of England jewel - bronze on silk ribbon collarette edged with gold braid

Many thanks.

[Daisy Loo]

There's this link:

http://www.aod-uk.org.uk/home.htm

and if you just google Ancient Order of Druids, a whole bunch of stuff comes up.

[Heron Hiker]

Thank you for this reply.

AOD-UK is a modern umbrella organisation.  Its website does not have any information about AOD in the 1920s and their named contacts have not replied to my e-mails.

I have spent hours on Google.  The most promising thing I found was a RootsChat post from January 2008 in which 'Wittenbury' said he had copies of old directories of Lodge names and mentioned Grand Lodge records.

That is why I joined RootsChat!

I am looking for a person who has information.

[Daisy Loo]

If you do a search on Rootschat and put in the word "druid", all the posts come up.  (I just did, and there were too many to know which one you were referring to.)

[Ewan]

Could this be what you were looking for?

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,279830.0.html

Ewan

[BarryW]

Hi Heron Hiker

I may be able to help with this.

I have a lodge list for the AOD for 1923,

Lodge 452 is listed as "Whitechapel Lodge£, meeting at Earl of Warwick, Whitechapel Rd E1. Does this make sense relating to whwre your ancestor lived? I have goodfellow lodge listed as 462 meeting at Grosvenor arms, Stockwell.

The PA means he had held the position of the "chairman" of his lodge. The PERA (past excellent royal arch druid) means he was also the chairman of the Chapter (No 23) which is  side order in the AOD.

I am not too sure about the other jewels but if you have pictures then I may be able to help.

The AOD survives and there are a small number of lodges left mainly in the south and east of england.

Best Wishes

Barry

[Heron Hiker]

Thanks for your reply Barry.
The back of one of the medals is engraved Goodfellow Lodge 452.  Stockwell would make a lot of sense because my great grandfather lived and worked near St James Park.
What about 679 Girdler Lodge and Chapter 29?
I have taken photos of the medals but they are quite large.  I will try to attach them...

David, Heron Hiker.

[Heron Hiker]

Oops, it's a 6.
Uploading the pictures was easy.
I haven't seen them this big or this clear before.
I thought it was a 5.

David, Heron Hiker.

[BarryW]

Hi Dave

I am struggling a bit with Girdler Lodge as the nearest Lodge list I have is 1923 and it must have been formed after that. I assume the name comes from either a Girdlers Rd (W14 0PS?) or Girdlers Public House or even the Girdlers (beltmakers) Guild (EC2)

They are nice images. Any chance of showing me the front of the medal for Goodfellow Lodge and the FSC jewels?

Chapter 29 would have been linked to one of the lodges we have mentioned. It is a side order and one which everyone did not join. If your ancestor was a member of the supreme chapter (FSC) he was probably reasonable influential within the order.

I will ask about in the AOD and see if I can find anymore.

Cheers

Barry