21.01.2014 Views

BRITISH CONSERVATISM AND THE PRIMROSE LEAGUE ... - ideals

BRITISH CONSERVATISM AND THE PRIMROSE LEAGUE ... - ideals

BRITISH CONSERVATISM AND THE PRIMROSE LEAGUE ... - ideals

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

157<br />

However, the declining membership rate of active Knights and <br />

Dames over the years when compared with the cumulative figures utilized <br />

by the League over time, alters the percentage rates rather <br />

significantly as the years progress.<br />

By 1899 Knights and Dames paying <br />

Tribute represented a mere thirty percent of their reported numbers. <br />

The percentage had dropped to 21.5 by 1901.53 <br />

Since no accurate figures were provided for total League <br />

membership, it is difficult to determine the exact extent of <br />

participation, let alone make a determination of the proportion of <br />

active members actually contributing to the League's political efforts. <br />

Only the 1888 Rolls provide a listing of the number of members <br />

contained in reputedly active Habitations.<br />

Of the 1,730 Habitations <br />

included, 29 percent contain no information regarding the number of <br />

Knights, Dames, and Associates.<br />

Nevertheless, it is the only detailed <br />

listing available and is therefore worthy of examination.54 <br />

By averaging the official<br />

Habitation and membership figures <br />

provided by the League for the Primrose years 1888 and 1889, we get an <br />

bcJ<br />

The calculations are based upon membership figures obtained <br />

from The Primrose League Gazette, 1 September 1899, p. 9; 1 June 1900, <br />

p. 8; 1 June 1901, p. 5. <br />

54 The numbers are derived from my computer tabulation of the <br />

1888 Roll of Habitations. It is assumed that the absence of Habitation <br />

and membership information on the Roll is, in some sense, an indication <br />

of the general level of activity. While a number of Habitations <br />

recording no membership information are sure to contain individuals, it <br />

is equally likely that the representations given for the Habitations <br />

named are well in excess of active participants. Therefore, the <br />

numbers provided in the 1888 Roll are tentatively accepted as a rough <br />

gauge of overall membership. Chapter Five shall examine some local <br />

registers.

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!