What was the original purpose in creating this club?

Tonight truly marks a milestone in the history of this association. When it was created 100 years ago with the intention of encouraging the conservation of English culture, (80)who would have thought that it would not only survive but also prosper until the present day? From one club with 36 members meeting in one venue in England, we have grown into a nationwide association of 50 clubs with over 600 members.
     (81)And the annual prize for a special contribution to English cuIture, which has been made possible by the generosity of our local businessmen, has become one of the nation’s most prestigious awards.(82)