BRITISH CONSERVATISM AND THE PRIMROSE LEAGUE ... - ideals

Periodic meetings were held to promote activities and bolster
246
support for constitutional causes.
Badges, primroses, banners, and
other symbols served as a means of identification, revealing adherents
of the faith.
The "communion" of members was achieved through the
widespread observation of Primrose day and through the attendance of
local representatives at the yearly meeting of Grand Habitation. The
above practices had their origin in masonic rituals.
Nevertheless, it would be wise not to overemphasize the links
between the forms of symbolism adopted by the Primrose League and those
practiced by early nineteenth century fraternal organizations. Only
during its initial
stages of formation did the League operate as a
secret society.
It quickly expanded it ranks from a rather elite
corps, comprising of some relatively prominent members of the middle
class and a sprinkling of aristocrats, to include a broad selection of
the British community.
In doing so, the League distinguished itself
quite visibly from the selective, quasi-intellectual
corps which
typically represented the masonic brotherhoods.
Men, women, and
eventually children were permitted to join, making the League the first
political organization to encompass families as a central
feature of
its membership.
Unlike secret societies of the early nineteenth century, which
were based on hierarchical
patterns of organization, most of which were
unknown to the participants, the Primrose League recognized only four
gradations of membership.
importance, Knight Imperial
These included, in descending order of
and Dame of the LGC, Knight Harbinger and
Dame, Knight Companion and Dame Order of Merit, and Associate. All