Stone’s article “The English Mistery, the BUF, and the Dilemmas of British Fascism” analyses Fascist groups in Britain, arguing that despite their failure, “the English Mistery shows that fascism was just as much a British movement as it was a continental European one”.
Stone primarily looks at the workings of the English Mistery, which later becomes known as the English Array. He wishes to challenge the traditional view that fascism in Britain was merely an imitation of European fascism that had no impact or influence on British society and history. He begins the article by identifying fascism, using Robert Paxton’s definition of the concept: “a system of political authority and social order intended to reinforce the unity, energy, and purity of communities in which liberal democracy stands accused of producing division and decline”.
Stone then goes on to explain what the English Mistery was, explaining that it was founded in 1930 by William Sanderson. The group defined itself as a school for leadership, committed to salvaging the lost ways of governance, focusing on the concept of service of the English race. Sanderson divided the Mistery into a hierarchy, splitting the group into local kins, consisting of between ten and thirty people. Their aims were “to regenerate the English nation and to recreate a body politic with properly functioning members,” and establish “a sound ethical basis for national politics” built upon “principles derived from the instincts and traditions of English breeds.” Stone also emphasises the explicit racism and extreme nationalism within the group. Members were warned not to enter discussion with immigrants or the diseased. They were also told that the Nordic race is fundamentally different from the Latin races. Furthermore, the group “supports the elimination from public life in parliament or elsewhere of all those Jewish and other alien influences which, however worthy in themselves, cannot fail to work against English instincts and traditions”.
The English Mistery split after much antagonism that began to develop in 1933, particularly due to the clash of Sanderson and, Lymington, another member of the organisation. After the split, the English Array was formed, consisting of the more serious members of the Mistery, and as described by Stone, was more pro-Nazi. Moreover, Stone explains the struggle within this group of wishing to praise other fascist movements yet not wanting to sacrifice their own nationalism. Furthermore, the author mentions the cooperation between the English Array and the BUF, but states that a merger was not an option, due to conflict of leadership, as well as views on the monarchy and the House of Lords.
Stone concludes by arguing that the English Mistery proves that a movement that is distinctively fascist is able to develop in Britain, and demonstrates that fascism is not a completely foreign concept in the British political scene.
Overall, this article contains a coherent article and effectively explains the English Mistery and the issues surrounding the group, while depicting a convincing argument. Stone’s use of primary sources is also an effective feature of this article.