BRITISH CONSERVATISM AND THE PRIMROSE LEAGUE ... - ideals

35
The Ruling Council enlarged its ranks to include twenty-six
Knights elected perfunctorily at the annual meeting of executives and
local representatives, the Grand Habitation.
The newly chosen Council
was in turn able to coopt thirteen additional members (men) to its
ranks.
The Grand Habitation was typically set as close to April
nineteenth as possible and the statutes made provisions for male or
female representatives allocated at one per hundred members of a
Habitation.
The executive of the London office attended and was given
a prominent position on the dais.
The meeting was largely pro forma in
character, though it served as an opportunity for local leaders to air
grievances and in a few instances actually helped to bring about
changes.
In general, however, it served as a rubber stamp for the
policy already initiated by the Grand Council.
It was, above all, a
celebratory affair, proclaiming the League's growing numbers and
influence and affirming its allegiance to the Conservative party.
At the intermediate level, the organization had expanded to
include Divisional Habitations, which were intended to facilitate the
flow of information between London and local associations.
They were
to be composed of Ruling Councillors and executive^members of the
surrounding Habitations.
The statutes called for Divisional
Habitations to meet twice yearly and report to the Grand Council.
Nevertheless, it was some time before they would be distributed
uniformly around the country.
Consequently, communications generally
emanated directly from the Central Office to the local associations.