BRITISH CONSERVATISM AND THE PRIMROSE LEAGUE ... - ideals

299
in South Africa" and a donation to the Soldiers' and Sailors'
Association.65
Religious issues appeared to play a particularly prominent role
in Gloucestershire.
The geographical proximity to the Welsh border and
attendant disestablishment interests which prevailed in the latter
region may have been factors responsible for the heightened emphasis
placed on church matters.
Thus, in speaking to members of the Primrose League gathered in
Bristol
in April of 1889, Hicks Beach stressed the importance of
maintaining the Established Church, religious endowments, and
denominational education.
He emphasized that legislation introduced by
Liberals to further these ends would give impunity to those guilty "of
outraging the tenderest feelings of a great Christian nation and
poisoning the minds of its children."
The Times report noted Hicks
Beach urged those attending to heed the advice of Salisbury who had
emphasized that nothing could be preserved "merely by folding their
hands" and that they must be determined "to fight in defence of their
faith, and to spare neither work nor expense in defending the
principles in which they believed."66
Thornbury Habitation gave a great deal of emphasis to religious
themes.
At least two Anglican clergy members were active on the
executive, one of them, Rev. Jackson, serving as treasurer.
65 Nailsworth and Horsley Habitation Minutes, 9 November 1899,
citing the Stroud News, 10 November 1899.
6.
66
"Lord Salisbury at Bristol," The Times, 24 April 1889, p.