BRITISH CONSERVATISM AND THE PRIMROSE LEAGUE ... - ideals

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CHAPTER TWO
Development, 1885-1888
At its birth great doubt was expressed by the political
doctors as to its chance of life, however after its
baptism at November and July elections all fear
pass[ed] away, and now we see it developing into a
healthy child, with the stamina for making a strong
man. If carefully nourished it will pass from youth to
manhood and from manhood to old age, only to die, when
the cause for which it has fought remains triumphant
all along the line.
Octavius Curtis from The Primrose
newspaper, Bournemouth (1 February 1887)
I
If the Primrose League experienced growing pains between the
years 1883 and 1884 associated with birth and early development, the
subsequent four years marked its transition to a full-fledged political
institution with a capacity for influencing a popular electorate.
Total membership rose from 11,366 and 169 Habitations on Primrose day,
1885 to 672,606 and 1,877 Habitations three years later. Particularly
significant was the rise in the number of Esquires, now comprising men
and women termed "Associates," from 1,914 to 575,235 individuals. It
marked substantial progress from the 5,650 members, 260 of which were
Esquires, and the one hundred Habitations recorded in late November,
1884.1
1 The 1885 and 1888 figures cited are contained in The
Primrose League Gazette, 1 September 1899, p. 9 and Robb, The Primrose
League, Appendix III. The November, 1884 numbers are found in the
Minutes of the Grand Council of the Primrose League, 26 November 1884.