How did the Universal Bond help create modern Druidry?

The Universal Bond was a religious group founded by George Watson MacGregor Reid that played a pivotal role in the emergence of modern Druidry. Although the group did not initially identify as Druidic, it began performing rituals at Stonehenge in 1912. Through this connection, the group began to view its activities as Druidry, infusing them with antiquarian presuppositions about the ancient druids.1

The Universal Bond was heavily influenced by theosophy, an occult movement that led early Druidic groups to claim they were practicing an ancient, universal wisdom tradition rather than explicitly identifying as Pagan. The group's legacy continued through the Druid Order, established in 1946 by Robert MacGregor Reid, which maintained the tradition of performing rituals at Stonehenge. While some early practitioners claimed their tradition was a direct, secret continuation of ancient practices, scholars of religion categorize modern Druidry as a new religious movement that draws inspiration from the past to create meaning and legitimacy.1