3rd International Vegetarian Congress
Brussels, Belgium 1891 (cancelled)

The report of the 1890 International Congress, held in London, stated:

Considerable discussion then ensued upon where the next sitting of the Congress should be held, Paris and Brussels having an equal number of supporters. Utimately Brussels was selected and the Congress adjourned for luncheon.

The Vegetarian Federal Union Secretary's notes in the July 4, 1891 issue of The Vegetarian refers to the planned 3rd International Congress:

As to the proposed Vegetarian International Congress it was arranged that Wednesday and Thursday, 9th and 10th of September next should be the days of the meeting. Inasmuch, however, there was no Society in Brussels and the information firnished to the Committee showed a great lack of interest in that city, it was urged that the Congress had better be postponed to permit of greater interest and sympathybeing created in Belgium, the more so as there was to be an International Health Congress in London the preceeding month, which mst undoubtedly handicap the Brussels Congress.

It was determined ultimately, however, to send out a letter to all whom it might concern intimating that t was proposed to hold such a Congress in Brussels on the dates given, provided it was shown a sufficient number would be present and asking for promises of attendance. The wisdom of this course is obvious, and as there is no time to spare in obtaining this information and making the necessary arrangements, it behoves all who intend being present in Brussels to signify at once the same to me. I give the fares from London to Brussels by various routes, to which must be added the fares from the provincial towns to London. [details of fares followed].

The follow-up was in the August 1, 1891, issue of The Vegetarian:

I mentioned last month that there were grave doubts as to whether the International Congress at Brussels would take place for inter alia reasons then given, but that if sufficient promises of attendance could be obtained it might still be held. I regret to say that the responses to my circular letters have been most meagre. Most of the Societies for divers good reasons are prevented from sending delegates. The time fixed is apparently a sungularly inconvenient one for most of our representatives, whilst not a few have doubted whether a Congress in Brussels would achieve the results desired. Be that as it may, the prospects all round of a successful conference seemed so unsatisfactory that the Union Commitee have decided to relinquish the attempt and to postpone the Congress for this year. All, therefore, whom this may concern, please take note. What the outcome of the Committee's decision will be remains to be seen, and will probably be fully discussed at their meeting within the next week or so. Possibly it may be reserved until the next Union Conference in Cambridge on October 6th.

It was suggested that the International Labour Congress at Brussels this year might be of assistance to us should we there meet, but inasmuch as this takes place early in August, and moreover, is likely to take up ground somewhat beyond our ken it was deemed better not to attempt any such arrangement.