DNA

Like virtually all Western esoteric Orders, D.'.N.'.A.'.can trace its origins to 1717 and earlier (though with no definite dates). However, in our case there are two separate events from 1717 that are involved, although we believe them to be the same!

It is well attested that in 1717 four existing lodges of Freemasons met together at the Orange Tree Tavern to form the Grand Lodge of England, from which, ultimately, the O.T.O. derives its authority. However, there were splits and re-unifications at various points. One of these was the formation by Freemason Henry Hurle, in the 1780s, of the Ancienht Druid Order. In the 19th century various "Druid" Orders emerged, using the same rituals at first, that were clearly breakaways. However, in the 20th century the Ancient Druid Order emerged, claiming a history of Chosen Chiefs going back to 1717, when four existing groves of Druids met at the Apple Tree Tavern in London to form their Order. This is clearly a mangled version of the same story, and it is clear that the ADO is actually a splinter from the 18th century AOD, which still exists as a quasi-masonic Order with lodges instead of groves, etc.

In 1964 Ross Nichols led the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids out of the ADO and subsequently presided, with Olivia Robertson and Lawrence Durdin-Robertson, Baron Strathlock, over the creation of the Druid Clan of Dana, in which the Chosen Chief of D.N.A. holds the highest rank of Archdruid.

On August 3rd 2008 the formation of the D.N.A. was proclaimed at the Gorsedd on Primrose Hill (from which Iolo Morganwr proclaimed the Gorsedd of Bards in 1791 - now the heart of the Welsh Annual Eisteddfodd) and in September a cermonial transfer of allegiance from Albion OTO to DNA took place.