Reports from The Vegetarian (London) during, 1901:

February 2, 1901:

Our Brussels correspondent states that the Vegetarian Society of Belgium is organising an international congress of Vegetarians, to be held during the present year in the Belgium capital. So cosmopolitan is Vegetarianism becoming.

February 16, 1901:

VEGETARIAN FEDERAL UNION

Notes about the Secretary, Mr Harry Phillips, speaking at Netley and Guildford.

March 2, 1901 (Letters page):

VEGETARIAN CONGRESS, 1901 : BRUSSELS, OR WHERE?
To the Editor of THE VEGETARIAN

Sir, - I have received a notice of the annual meeting of the V.F.U. to be held on March 8th at the Memorial Hall. One part of the agenda proposes the Congress to be held in London in June. About sixty of us who had the great pleasure of being at Paris last year at the Congress will remember we had a meeting, when it ws unanimously decided that the next Congress should be at Brussels. Our French fellow-Vegetarians were much pleased with this decision, and promised to send as large a number as possible to represent the French Societies. Then, in The VEGETARIAN for February 2nd, we are told that in Brussels they are organising an International Congress of Vegetrians. I propose that the V.F.U. join them, and try to arrange the Congress for June or July ; and the Vegetarians, or others, of the United Kingdom endeavour to make their holidays at the time fixed upon. To be in the company of fellow-Vegetarians from many parts of the world is very inspiring and encouraging and a capital way to spend a holiday. I shall never forget Paris, June, 1900. The greater the number who the cheaper it can be proportinately.

Personally, I am not in favour of the Congress being held in London, but suggest that the majority rule by each Vegetarian (or otherwise) writing on a postcard the name of town or country he or she is in favour of, and forwarding to Mr. Phillips, Secretary V.F.U. For instance, Brussels Devonshire, West of England, Birmingham, Scotland, Dublin, or any others to be suggested. Also, if the Order of the Golden Age could take part in the Congress great good would be derived. I hope that many will write their opinions on this extremely important matter ; and may the Vegetarian Congress of 1901be the greatest and the best, and eclipse everything know in the history of Food Reform !

Yours Sincerely
W. Gill,
Secretary, Bradford V.S.

April 6, 1901:

VEGETARIAN FEDERAL UNION

The Annual Meeting of the Vegetarian Federal Union was held on March 18th, 1901.
Mr. J. W. Goddard, of Leicester, occupied the chair.
Present: Mesdames Yates, C. B. Cole, Matthews, Mddle. Veigelé, Palmer, Saunders ; and Messrs. Newcombe, Hanson, Nayler, Saunders, Nomati, Tayler, Cambridge, MacDonald, Slatter, Beech, Thomas, Brewster, Owen Smith, and others.
The meeting was opened with silent prayer.
The Secretary read the role-call, when seven societies - Bolton, Brighton, Women's Union, Ivy Leaf Society, Kalman Nemati, Bedford, and Leicester - answered.
The minutes of the previous meeting, held January 19th, 1900, were read and confirmed.
Mr. Phillips read Mr. Hills and the Secretary's Report. Mr. G. Jones read the Assistant Secretary's Report.
In the absence of the treasurer the Chairman read the Financial statement of the Auditors and proposed its acceptance. Seconded by Miss Cole.
The meeting then proceeded to the election of the officers for the ensuing year.
Mr. Newcombe proposed that Mr. Hills be elected President, and remarked that it was not only his great liberality which rendered him eminently qualified for that position, but the great influence which his name carried, and the hopeful spirit and enthusiasm shown by him in the movement. Mrs. Palmer seconded the resolution which was carried unanimously.
Mr. Saunders proposed that Dr. Oldfield be asked to continue as Treasurer. He knew of no-one more qualified than he was for that position. Mr. Nayler agreed with the proposer of the resolution and was very glad to second it.
The Chairman moved that Messrs. Cox & Lafone, solicitors, and Messrs. Sargent, Page & Taylor, auditors, be asked to act for the coming year.Mr. Newcombe seconded the resolution.
Mr. Jones, in proposing a vote of thanks to Miss Springer and the Press Committee said that it did a large amount of valuable work in conducting coreespondence in the papers and defending the movement from attacks made upon it, he also included those correspondents mentioned in the report. Mr. Nayler in seconding the resolution, said it was well know that effectual service was rendered by the Press Committee. Madame Veigelé spoke in support of the resolution.
Miss Yates proposed that the Annual Meeting in future years be held in June, and pointed out that from every standpoint it was wiser and more convenient. Mr. Slatter seconded the resolution and Mddle. Veigelé, Mrs. Palmer and Mr. Hanson spoke in support of it.
Mr. Newcombe proposed that a semi-annual meeting be held during the Congress in June. Mr. Nayler seconded.
Mr. Jones proposed "That the formation of the County Societies be proceeded with, wherever possible, and that a lady of gentleman Secretary be appointed where possible." He stated that this arrangement would be more effectual in reaching and helping Vegetarians in the country. Isolated members in villages could be more easily organised from local centres than direct from London. He had met many people of position and influence in the country who were in sympathy with the movement, and it would require very little persuasion to get them to join the movement and gather round them a small society. Mrs. Palmer seconded the resolutionand said it was just what was needed in the country.
The Chairman remarked that this was doing for Vegetarianism what was done in other movements.
The Chairman moved the following Resolution of condolence to the King:-
- details followed -

COMMITTEE MEETING HELD APRIL19 , 1901.

Present : Mesdames Springett, Wallace, Cole, Nicholson, Yates, Messrs. Emery, Cambridge, Becker, Light and Major Richardson.
In the absence of Mr. Hills, Mrs. Leigh Hunt Wallace was voted to the chair.
The minutes of the previous meeting were read, and, after the addition of Mr. Newcombe's name as a co-opted member, were confirmed.
The Secretary stated that he had not been able to see the author of the text book on 'Domestic Economy'.
The engrossed address to the King was laid before the Committee, when the Secretary was directed to get the signatures of Miss Yates and Mr. Goddard and forward it.
The Financial Statement was adopted and signed by Mrs. Wallace.
Correspondence was read from America with regard to an island in Australasia, occupied solely by Vegetarians.
A list of names was presented which had been written to for papers for the Congress in June.
The following names were added : Lady Anglesea, Mrs. Bevan, the Mayoress of Leicester, Mrs. Eccles, Dr. Harris and Mr. Axon.
It was decided to give free concerts in the evenings during the Congress.
The Secretary was requested to ask Mrs. Hills to open the Exhibition on Tuesday, June 25th.
Mr. Phillips suggestion that a Guide to the Congress be prepared was approved.
After some conversation on the matter of Receptions, it was decided to hold them on Thursday and Friday, and it was left to the Secretary to get friends to preside.
It was resolved that an Experience Meeting be held after the Semi-Annual meeting, the speakers to be obtained by the secretary before the meeting, which would be followed by questions. Proposed by Miss Yates, seconded by Major Richardson.
It was proposed by Mr. Becker and resolved that the following be the sub-committee to adjudicate on the prize essay.
It was suggested that each of the sub-committee read all the papers presented, and that they meet on May 7th. Mrs. Wallace invited the Committee to meet at her house on that date.
The Secretary reported meetings at Bourneville, Bradford, Plymouth, Ottery St. Mary, Torquay, Croydon, Tring, and the Polytechnic, Regent Street.
Miss Springett gave a verbal report in which she referred to a lengthy correspondence with the Hereford Times, in which a Mr. Aylworth had taken a prominent part.
An opinion was expressed in favour of obtaining a column in the VEGETARIAN for Queries, and the Secretary was requested to ask if it could be arranged. Proposed Mr. Cambridge, seconded by Mr. Light.

In later issues there were reports of the VFU Congress, held in London in June 1901. One article headed it as an 'International Congress' but there was very little evidence of any international attendance, apart from a few from overseas that appeared to be in London at the time by chance.