The Primrose League Gazette from London, Greater London, England • Page 12

10 THE PBIMBOSB LEAGUE GAZETTE. August 8, 1801. Leaguers had to do. Col. Kenyon Slaney, M.P., seconded the resolution, and dwelt upon the successful foreign polioy of the present Government, and its earnest and continued efforts to improve the condition of the poorer classes.

On the motion of Mr. Muntz, M.P., it was unanimously resolved That the members of the Rugby Habitation of the Primrose League promise to use all legitimate means in their power to secure the return to parliament of Lord Feilding at the next General Election." Votes of thanks to Mrs. Caldeoott, Col. Kenyon Slaney, and to Col. Caldeoott for presiding, closed the meeting.

The remainder of the afternoon and evening was devoted to danoing and fireworks, about 2,500 persons being present in the evening. SALTERLEY HABITATION (NO. annual meeting of this Habitation was held on July 25th, in the grounds of Salterley Grange, the residence of Mr. T. E.

Williams, R.C. A military band from Cheltenham played during the afternoon and evening. Some 350 guests had refreshments in a marquee on the lawn, in which the annual meeting was afterwards held. Sir John Dorington, M.P., and Lady Dorington, Rainey, Mrs. and Miss Rainey, Mr.

and Mrs. G. B. Witts, Mr. C.

W. Lawrence, Miss Hicks Beach, the Misses Bush, Miss Vavasour, Colonel Godfrey, Moutray Read, Messrs. Coopey, Fewings, Lulham, and Walker were amongst those present. Tne balance sheet was presented and the officers re-elected. Sir John Dorington addressed the meeting, and alluding to the fact that his return was to be opposed, observed that the electors would be asked to support the Conservative cause at the General Election for exactly the same reason that had induced those present to enrol themselves as members of the Primrose League, in order that they might assist in preserving England, its empire, and its liberty.

During the past five years tne Conservative Government had, in resisting Radicalism, asserted the principles of liberty, and had restored freedom of action and, to a certain extent, prosperity to the island which was previously the scene of Radical tyranny and Radical despotism. Radicalism and despotism were nearly synonymous terms, and it was of the highest importance, remembering this, that the electors, before pledging themselves to support the Gladstonian party, should take into consideration the possible effect which would be produced by the wild changes which were now being advocated by that party. They had seen the effect of the Radical policy in Ireland, and were now able to contrast it with the results which had been achieved by Lord Salisbury's administration and both for the sake of their own country and for the sake of the sister isle, lie appealed to them not to entrust the destinies of the Empire to the party led it was at Mr. Gladstone, fcir W. Harcourt, and Mr.

Morley. A vote of confidence in Lord Salisbury's Government, and of determination to return Sir John Dorington at the next election, was carried. HABITATION (HOENCASTLE, NO. annual excursion of the members of this Habitation took place to Revesby Abbey on July 20th. Much regret was expressed that the Right Hon.

Edward and Mrs. Stanhope were unable to be present. Mr. Vinall, deputy-Ruling Councillor, presided over the meeting, and there were present on the H. Sharp, hon.

Dr. and Mrs. Hugh George, hon. sec. Rev.

R. Cowburn, Mr. Walker, and Mr. H. Harrison.

Mr. Greenwood Hartley, who was cordially received, gave an eloquent address in explanation of the objects and principles of the Primrose League. The Rev. R. Cowburn proposed a vote of thanks to Mr.

Hartley, which was seconded by Mrs. S. Roberts, and carried with acclamation. STOKE AND FENTON HABITATION (NO. annual meeting of this held on July 27th, by permission of Mr.

James Heath, at his residence, Clayton Hall. The meeting took place in a large marquee ereoted on the lawn, in which tea was also served. Mrs. James Heath presided, and there was a good attendance. Mrs.

Wilkinson, the hon. sec, in her report stated that the Habitation now numbered 22 Knights, 18 Dames, and 836 Associates, a total of 876, being a slight increase over last year. There was a balance in hand of 21 1. 13s. 8d.

The report having been approved and the offioers re-appointed, the meeting closed with the usual vote of thanks to the President, Mrs. James Heath. Mr. James Heath and Mr. Fitzherbert of Surmerton afterwards addressed the meeting, and the rest of the evening was spent in dancing and other amusements.

WANDSWORTH (NO. 682) AND PUTNEY (No. 2342) By permission of Mrs. Turner a most successful open air fete was held in her grounds at Oaklands, Wimbledon Park, on Monday last (Bank Holiday). The was organized by the Wandsworth and Wimbledon Park and the Putney and Roehampton Habitations, and included cricket, athletic sports, and dancing amon the attractions.

At the conclusion of the Bports the prizes were presented by Mrs. Turner to the successful competitors. Mr. Rene J. Tahourdin, Ruling Councillor of the Putney and Roehampton Habitation, in the absence through ill-health of Mr.

H. Kimber, M.P., Ruling Councillor of the Wandsworth and Wimbledon Park Habitation, presented the diploma of K.P.L.S. to Mr. H. Ellis, deputy Ruling Councillor of the Wandsworth Habitation.

WATLINGTON HABITATION (NO. Habitation held its annual on July 29th, in the grounds of Shirburn Castle, kindly lent by the Earl of Macclesfield. Tea and amusements of various kinds were provided. There was a good attendance in spite of the heavy rain which fell at intervals. After tea a meeting was held in the large tent to hear an address from Mr.

H. J. Pettifer, who attended as a delegate from the Grand Council. The Hon. F.

Parker, M.P., presided, and was supported by the Earl and Countess of Macclesfield, the Hon. H. Parker, Lady Mary and Lady Evelyn Parker, the Rev. Foxley Morris, Rev. H.

Fanshawe, Rev. W. D. Coetlogan, Hon. Holmes a Court (chief constable of Oxfordshire), Mr.

Watson, Mr. W. Manby, At the conclusion of Mr. Pettifer's address the Chairman made a short speech, and the meeting concluded with cheers for Mr. Parker, M.P., and Mr.

Pettifer. WEST GOSCOTE HABITATION (LEICESTERSHIRE, NO. summer A te of this Habitation was held on July 22nd in the grounds of Hemington Old Hall, kindly lent by Mr. Fritchley. There was a large gathering, and 300 people sat down to tea.

The following ladies gave trays Story (hon. secretary), Mrs. Dalby, Mrs. Finney, Miss Clark, Miss Shakespear, Miss Fritchley, Mrs. Bywater, Mrs.

Launders, Mr. Sanford, Mr. Cotton, Dr. Harpur-Crewe, Ruling Councillor, presided, and spoke of the faithful manner in which the present Government had discharged their duties, and a most amusing and telling address was then given by Mr. Greenwood Hartley (who was sent down from Grand Council, London), to whom a vote of thanks was moved by the Rev.

Robert Storv, and seconded by Mr. Henry Sanford. After the meeting a capital programme of athletic sports was gone through, which gave much amusement to more than 1,000 people who had assembled. Dancing afterwards took place on the lawns. WHITBY AND ELLESMEKE PORT HABITATION (NO.

very successful was held by permission of Mr. Grace, J.P., in the grounds of Whitby Hall. The strength of the Primrose League has been increasing steadily at Whitby and Ellesmere Port from the time the Habitation was first started in 1880 by Mrs. Grace, the present Ruling Councillor, and there was a large attendance of members and friends. During the afternoon Mr.

Fincham (Delegate from Grand Council) spoke, and in the course of his remarks traced the origin of the League. It had often been said, and with a good deal of truth, that if Lord Beaconsfield had been successful at the polls in 1880, there would have been no necessity for a Primrose League. Everyone knew the disastrous succession of humiliations that followed Mr. Gladstone's advent to power, until men and women began to doubt the patriotism of their leaders. It was then, in 1884 and 1888, that men and women flocked to the banner of the League.

From that time until the present day the League had been increasing by leaps and bounds, until it had spread a great net-work over the whole of the United Kingdom. Mr. Fincham, after explaining the organization of the League, especially pointing out the great and increasing work done by the Grand Council, concluded his address by a resume of the benefits conferred on the country by the present Government. Amongst those present Hon. Mrs.

Trelawney and Miss Trelawney, Mr. and Mrs. Grace, Mr. and Mrs. T.

W. Grace, Miss Grace, and Mr. John Grace, Mrs. and the Misses Shands, the Rev. R.

W. Pritchard, WOODCHESTER HABITATION (NO. annual pic-nic of this Habitation was held in the Priory Wood, by permission of the Dame-President, on Saturday, July 25th. The refreshments were presided over by the Dame-President, Miss Cholmeley, Miss Critchley, Mrs. Fox, Miss Fox (for Mrs.

Mathew), Miss Naflett, Miss Etta Smith, Mrs. Wise, Miss Wise, and Miss Workman. After tea addresses were given by the Ruling Councillor, Mr. Woolbright, the Rev. Mountague Goodford, and Mr.

E. C. Little. Miss Etta Smith sang a spirited song, Stand by the Old Flag," the words by Mr. Howard Deazeley, Provincial Secretary, the Associates Joining heartily in the chorus.

A very pleasant evening was spent in games and listening to the music of the King Stanley Band. Amongst those present were Mr. and Mrs. E. Metcalfe, Miss Bavnes, Miss Stepney, Mrs.

Woolbright, Mr. Phelips, IRELAND. ST. BRENDAN HABITATION (TRALEE, NO. third annual fete of this Habitation was held on July 31st, at the Grove, Dingle, by permission of Mr.

Michael Moriarty. Lord Ventry, R.C.,and Lady Ventry received the members of the Habitatiou, 300 of whom came by special train from Tralee. The day was fine, the country looked beautiful, and, as the Ruling Councillor in his opening address happily remarked, Balfour's potatoes looked beautiful also." The allusion evoked a hearty cheer from the meeting, which had been increased to close on 700 by the attendance of the Dingle public. Mr. Richard Bagwell, an Irish Liberal Unionist, who works energetically with the Primrose League, gave an eloquent address upon the political situation.

The Hon. See's report snowed a satisfactory record of work. Fifty new members joined at the meeting. The Dame-President presented the Special Service Clasp for 1890 to Mr. Archibald Smith.

Mr. Brinsley FitzGerald was also to have received the same decoration but was unable to attend. Contingents from Camp, Castlegregory, Annascaul, and Ventry, made this the largest and most successful meeting the Habitation has yet held, owing mainly to the efforts of the Ruling Councillor, Lord Ventry, and the active Warden, Miss Susan D'Arcy..