Official Announcements
The Executive have received from their deputation the following report,
a perusal of which will be instructive to the members and friends of
the Society generally :-
TO THE EXECUTIVE OF THE VEGETARIAN SOCIETY.
Report from the Deputation attending the last meeting of the Vegetarian
Federal Union.
At the meeting of the Federal Union, held at the Church of England
Young Men's Society, Norwich, on Tuesday, 20th May, 1890, The Vegetarian
Society was represented by five delegates, as follow: Mrs. W. Harrison,
Rev. James Clark, Messrs. P. Foxcroft, W. Harrison, and Joseph Knight.
Upon the reading of the minutes of the last meeting, a letter was submitted
from Mr. Axon (who was unable to be present personally) challenging
the accuracy of the minutes, so far as a regards the statement that
at the last meeting the constitution of the Union was altered by the
adoption of a new rule, authorising the payment of delegates' expenses
by the Union. There was a minute to the effect that it was understood
that The Vegetarian Society and the London Vegetarian Society would
not in the future affiliate local societies; the inaccuracy of which
supposition, so far as regards The Vegetarian Society, was pointed out
by the Rev. James Clark. The minutes also contained a statement that
a grant of £5 was voted to the Norwich Society at the last meeting,
upon which point Mr. Kight inquired as to its accuracy, poiting out
that our own delegate at that meeting (Mr. Axon) reported to the executive
that a grant of £5 was offered to The Vegetarian Society if the
Executive would accept it and arrange for a week's mission at Norwich
in connection with its May Meetings. Mr. Knight asked that the discrepancy
between the minutes and the report of our delegate might be explained.
It was stated in reply that the grant was offered not to The Vegetarian
Society, but to the Norwich Society, but there being no duly organised
society at Norwich, the Union had been unable to make the grant. Further
consideration of these matters was deferred until they should be reached
in the business of the agenda, and the minutes were then passed.
After the report from the honorary secretary and the passing of the
statement of accounts, proposals were made by the chairman (Mr. Hills)
as to further grants, including a proposed grant of £5 to The
Vegetarian Society coupled with the erroneous assertion that Mr. Knight,
in his previous remarks, had asked for it. Mr. Knight replied that he
had not asked for a grant, but had simply pointed out the discrepancy
between the minutes and our delegate's report, and asked for an explanation.
He further, in reply to the pointed inquiry whether we wanted the £5,
said that The Vegetarian Society's deputation had no instructions to
ask for a grant. After a little further discussion, the proposed grants
were moved with the exception of the one to this society, which was
deleted from the motion.
On the motion for a new rule, "That the expenses of the delegates
to the Federal Union shall be paid, where necessary, out of the funds
of such Federal Union," delegates from various societies intimated
the feeling of their committees upon the question, and Mr. Knight stated
that the Executive of The Vegetarian Society gave their assent to the
principle embodied in the resolution (quoted above) as set forth in
the agenda. Various modifications were suggested, and eventually it
was resolved that the Union should he authorised to pay the travelling
expenses of one delegate from any society, it being understood that
request for such payment would only he made under pressure of necessity.
The following motion was proposed by Mr. Hills, in the name of the
London Vegetarian Society: "That inasmuch as the objects of the
Vegetarian Federal Union are to create a bond of mutual help and organisation
between existing Vegetarian Societies, and to strengthen the development
of local societies upon a self-governing and independent basis, that
the affiliation of smaller societies by larger societies is contrary
to the rules of the Union." The Rev. James Clark requested that
the rule referred to in the resolution, to which rule and policy of
the Union the affiliation of societies was stated to be contrary, might
be read. Mr. Hills then read section 2 and 5 of the constitution, as
follows:-
"No. 2. Definition. - It shall be defined as an association of
such Vegetarian Societies throughout the world as may be willing to
unite together for certain specific purposes hereinafter determined."
"No. 5 Function.- The function of the Vegetarian Federal Union
shall be primarily that of uniting in one common family all those who
are in sympathy with the principles and work of Vegetarianism, by receiving
and considering the reports of the affiliated Societies as to the work
done and advances made during the past session; and giving advice as
it shall think good in each case; discussing questions, and consulting
as to the best mode of further spreading Vegetarianism.
He stated that in these was embodied the principles which the resolution
before the meeting was framed to declare. Mr. Clark pointed out that
the sections read contained no rule and indicated no policy to which
the affiliation of one society by another would be contrary, but referred
to the printed rules of The Vegetarian Society, in which definite provision
was made for the affiliation of local societies by the Vegetarian Society.
When the Vegetarian Federal Union was being established, no suggestion
whatever was that The Vegetarian Society, if becoming connected with
the Union, would have to alter its rules in this respect. It was understood
that the Union was organised to proceed by way of advice, but from the
present proposal it would appear to be endeavouring to proceed by legislation
or even by castigation. Considerable discussion followed, in the course
of which it was pointed out that the resolution before the meeting was
one which could not be taken into consideration, there being no such
rule in existence as was stated in resolution. On this point Mr. Hills
replied that the purport of the resolution was the formation of a new
rule, and that the resolution did not declare the existence of a rule
at present . Although it was pointed out that the resolution distinctly
stated that affiliation "is contrary to the rules," &c.,
Mr. Hills failed to see that it was incorrect but eventually agreed
to the substitution of the words "shall be contrary" in place
of "is contrary" Mr. Foxcroft and Mr. Harrison condemned the
proposal as being inconsistent with the purpose for which the Union
was formed. Mr. Hills stated that the London Vegetarian Society had
relinquished its affiliates, and that the Vegetarian Society would be
in no worse position in this respect than that organisation. Several
delegates from other societies took part in the discussion, and among
the remarks made were some in deprecation of privileges being offered
by societies like our own to such other organizations as become affiliated
with them. The present proposal was asserted to be intended to prevent
friction. Mr. Forward stated that when collecting information, some
time since, he found that the Vegetarian Society had three societies
affiliated with it, while the London Vegetarian Society had thirteen,
so that the London organisation lost far more by this arrangement than
would be lost by the Vegetarian Society.
Mr. Knight urged the Union to proceed with very great caution in the
matter under discussion. He referred to several points that had been
raised, stating that the giving up of thirteen societies was a voluntary
action on the part of the London Vegetarian Society, which now sought
by coercion to force The Vegetarian Society to take the same step. He
pointed out that the London Society, which made this proposal, was the
continuation of The Vegetarian Society's former auxilliary, which had
become dissatisfied with the basis of organisation, and therefore separated
itself, and organised upon a different, and he believed, weaker basis.
The rules of The Vegetarian Society did not permit affiliation of any
other societies than those organised on a basis like its own, of which
there were but few, while the London Society was able to affiliate all
other societies organised on a weaker basis, as well as those which
could affiliate with The Vegetarian Society. The offer of privileges
to affiliated societies by The Vegetarian Society, which had been objected
to, was not a new thing; this offer was contained in the rules of The
Vegetarian Society, which were formulated long before the Vegetarian
Federal Union had been thought of. The present proposal was practically
a vote of censure against The Vegetarian Society by the Vegetarian Federal
Union - or rather by the London Vegetarian Society, who moved the resilution
- which, if carried, would be a very ungraceful act.
Mr. Clark proposed an amendment, "That the Vegetarian Federal
Union having been established on the basis of offering advice and co-operation
and not of using constraint, this meeting declines to declare the acceptance
of affiliated societies by any other society to be contrary to the rule,"
and stated that The Vegetarian Society would not submit to be forced
by the Vegetarian Federal Union in the way contemplated. The amendment
was seconded by Mr. Harrison,
Mr. Hills then put forward a somewhat novel interpretation of the new
rule, but did not wish to do anything which would cause The Vegetarian
Society to withdraw from the Union, the constitution of which left to
each affiliated society full freedom of action and power to from its
own rules, but the intention of the proposal was that, if any one society
was affiliated to another, the affiliated society should thereby be
precluded from affiliating with the Union. Mr. Knight suggested that
if this were the intention of the proposal, it would be better that
it were worded accordingly. Mr. Hills proposed that no decision should
be come to at that meeting, but that the question should be adjourned
to the next meeting of the Union, which would probably be held in London,
in connection with the International Conference in the autumn. Meantime
the question could be more fully considered by the committee of the
various societies. Mr. Harrisob urged that the matter having been fully
discussed should be diecided, and a vote taken upon it at once, stating
that, in seconding the amendment, he was acting upon the instruction
of the Executive. Mr. Clark then said he approved of Mr. Hills' suggestion
to defer the matter, which he hoped would be agreed to. He added, that
in what he had previously stated about our refusing to submit to the
resolution, he was guided by the instruction of the Executive. It was
then agreed to postpone decision upon this question to the next meeting.
Mr. Hills, in his further remarks, made a reference to The Vegetarian
Society and other local societies, upon which Mr. Knight asked whether
The Vegetarian Society was considered by the Union to be a local society?
Mr. Hills replied that there was a tendency for societies to become
local, and though The Vegetarian Society, from its extent and long establishment,
would resist this tendency for a time, it would doubtless, he thought,
eventually become a local society; to which Mr. Knight replied that,
for nearly 43 years The Vegetarian Society had existed, not as a local,
not as a national, but as a world-wide international society, and he
was satisfied it would never forsake its proud privilege in that respect.
(It was gratifying to hear two or three hearty voices respond "hear,
hear," to this statement.)
On the question of the Vegetarian Federal Union being asked to prepare
and issue free literature to its affiliates, no decision was arrived
at; this question considered to be closely connected with the former
matter, as also the proposed general catalogue of Vegetarian literature,
to which reference was made. On the item on the agenda, "the best
methods of mission work conducted under the auspices of the Union,"
Mr. Hills proposed, in the name of the London Vegetarian Society, that
any future mission work undertaken by the affiliated societies should
be conducted under the name and to the credit of the Union. Mr. Clark
was unable to see what was the object of the suggestion. He supposed
that if an individual should choose to conduct a mission in any part
of the world the Union would raise no objection. If this might be done
by an individual, why not by a society? Mr. Hills said the onject of
the proposal was not to hinder such work, but to unite the strength
of the various societies. This question was also postponed to the next
meeting. It was then arranged that the International Conference should
be held in London on the 11th, 12th, and 13th of September, the London
Vegetarian Society being requested to arrange for the Congress and for
the appointement of a reception committee of influential friends from
the country at large. For the next meeting of the Union, the 10th of
September at 3 p.m. at the Memorial Hall, London, was appointed.
