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Primrose League

Extracted from Wikipedia, the free on-line encyclopaedia.
The only alterations made were to re-code the HTML and correct a few typographical errors.
Very useful for the later, post W.W.11, history of The Primrose League.

The Primrose League was an organization for spreading Conservative principles in Great Britain. It was founded in 1883 and active until the mid 1990's. It was finally wound up in December 2004.

Its aims (published in the Primrose League Gazette, vol.83, no.2, March/April 1979) were:

The primrose is associated with the name of Benjamin Disraeli, 1st Earl of Beaconsfield, as being preferred by him to other flowers. On a card affixed to the wreath of primroses sent by Queen Victoria to be placed upon his coffin was written in Her Majesty's own handwriting: "His favourite flowers: from Osborne: a tribute of affectionate regard from Queen Victoria." On the day of the unveiling of Lord Beaconsfield's statue all the members of the Conservative party in the House of Commons were decorated with the primrose.

A small group had for some time discussed the means for obtaining the support of the people for Conservative principles. Sir Henry Drummond Wolff said to Lord Randolph Churchill, "Let us found a primrose league." The idea was accepted by several gentlemen in the habit of working together, and a meeting was held at the Carlton Club shortly afterwards, consisting of Churchill, Wolff, Sir John Gorst, Percy Mitford, Colonel Fred Burnaby and some others, to whom were subsequently added Satchell Hopkins, J. B. Stone, Rowlands and some Birmingham supporters of Burnaby, who also wished to return Lord Randolph Churchill as a Conservative member for that city. These gentlemen were of great service in remodelling the original statutes first drawn up by Wolff. The latter had for some years perceived the influence exercised in benefit societies by badges and titular appellations, and he further endeavoured to devise some quaint phraseology which would be attractive to the working classes. The title of "Knight Harbinger" was taken from an office no longer existing in the Royal Household, and a regular gradation was instituted for the honorific titles and decorations assigned to members. This idea, though at first ridiculed, was greatly developed since the foundation of the order; and new distinctions and decorations were founded, also contributing to the attractions of the league.

The League was partially copied from the organization of the Orange Order in Ireland. In lieu of calling the different subsidiary associations by the ordinary term "lodges", the name was given of "habitations", which could be constituted with thirteen members. These were intended as a substitute for the paid canvassers, about to be abolished by Gladstone's Reform Bill. The principles of the League are best explained in the declaration which every member was asked to sign:

"I declare on my honour and faith that I will devote my best ability to the maintenance of religion, of the estates of the realm, and of the imperial ascendancy of the British Empire; and that, consistently with my allegiance to the sovereign of these realms, I will promote with discretion and fidelity the above objects, being those of the Primrose League."

The motto was Imperium et libertas; the seal, three primroses; and the badge, a monogram containing the letters PL, surrounded by primroses. Many other badges and various articles of jewellery were designed later, with this flower as an emblem.

A small office was first taken on a second floor in Essex Street, The Strand; but this had soon to be abandoned, as the dimensions of the League rapidly increased. Ladies were generally included in the first organization of the League, but subsequently a separate Ladies Branch and Grand Council were formed. The founder of the Ladies Grand Council was Lady Borthwick (afterwards Lady Glenesk), and the first meeting of the committee took place at her house in Piccadilly in March 1885.

The ladies who formed the first committee were: Lady Borthwick, the dowager Duchess of Marlborough (first lady president), Lady Wimborne, Lady Randolph Churchill, Lady Charles Beresford, the dowager Marchioness of Waterford, Julia Marchioness of Tweeddale, Julia Countess of Jersey, Mrs (subsequently Lady) Hardman, Lady Dorothy Nevill, the Honourable Lady Campbell (later Lady Blythswood), the Honourable Mrs Armitage, Mrs Bischoffsheim, Miss Meresia Nevill (the first secretary of the Ladies Council).

Sir Winston Churchill (in his book on his father, Sir Randolph Churchill) stated that, at its peak, the Primrose League had one million paid up members "determined to promote the cause of Toryism". (The Primrose League Gazette, vol.82, no.2, March/April, 1978).

Prior to World War II, the League was still able to pack the Royal Albert Hall for its annual Grand Habitation. It continued its activities after the war and celebrated its Centenary in 1983 with its usual round of social and political events.

The League's Gazette carried articles by leading politicans of the day - Margaret Thatcher included (September/October 1977). But following the resignation of its industrious secretary of 45 years, Evelyn Hawley, C.B.E., at the end of 1988, it went into decline, from which it did not recover.

The League was represented at the Memorial Service for Alec Douglas-Home, (Lord Home of The Hirsel), at Westminster Abbey on Monday 22 January 1996, by Judith, Lady Roberts.

The Daily Telegraph reported on 16 December 2004: "this week saw a significant event for any observers of political history: after 121 years, the Primrose League was finally wound up. The league's aim was to promote Toryism across the country. 'In recent years, our meetings have become smaller and smaller,' says Lord Mowbray, one of the league's leading lights. Its remaining funds have been donated to Tory coffers. 'On Monday, I presented Michael Howard and Liam Fox with a cheque for £70,000,' adds Lord Mowbray proudly."

Administration

League events

The Primrose League held many social functions where their membership would gather. They would often be addressed by, and have the opportunity to meet, parliamentarians of distinction. The following events, though not exhaustive, give some idea of these and the League's activities:

References

History Page.