BRITISH CONSERVATISM AND THE PRIMROSE LEAGUE ... - ideals

The response of the London headquarters was typical of future
practices since it sought to legitimize spontaneous actions emanating
34
from "below."
The need on the part of the executive to establish
formal and consistent practices was a characteristic feature of the
Primrose League and was responsible in large measure for ensuring
fairly uniform procedures amongst the Habitations.
The League's emphasis on standard codes of behavior was further
indicated in the revised statutes and the newly proposed bylaws for
Habitations presented in May, 1884.46
in these documents the Central
Office laid out in greater detail the organizational and philosophic
guidelines to be followed by members.
The provisions suggest that the
basic character of the League was already well formulated by this time.
The motto, seal, and badges of the League were retained,
although the addition of Dames and Esquires necessarily expanded the
categories of membership and the decorations offered.
The oath was
shortened and its vow of secrecy removed, but its emphasis was not
significantly altered.^7
46
Ibid., 10 May 1884, Statutes and Ordinances contained in
the Minutes.
47
Ibid.
The revised oath as it appeared in the Minutes read,
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 promote
with discretion and fidelity the above objects, being
those of the Primrose League.