THE VEGETARIAN SOCIETY.-A great gathering THnE VYnc&fv_uw Soc8 y.-A great gathering of the vegetarians and others interested in the cause of the propagation of abstinence and vegetarianiam took place last nigbt at the Freemasons Taverv, to asst in the almost mystic rites of a vegetarian soiree. To judge from the num- bers of persons of both aee that crowded the tables and the galleries, the new system of diet must be in the way of making many converts, and, unless the ladies and gentlemen that sasembled in the Freemasons' Tavern are too favourable specimens of the health and the general wellbeing of that much sneered-at clas, we should say that tbe mode of life they have adopted seems to do them much good. This applies especially to the female part of the company, whose quiet and less agitated systems eem to thrive marvelously under a moro innocent regimen than the one which is universally adopted. Although only a aecic was announced, a cold collation wu served such as would have called a flush of honest indignation into the cheeks of a civic dig- nitary, for it consited of savoury pies, bread and parley fritters, moulded ground rice, blancmange cheeseakes, aud fruit, l of whichishem were consumed witih an evident relish by the compny. When this practical demonstrtion of the resources of vegetarianism wa over, Mr. Brotherton, M.P, who presided on the occasionz, proposed the first and onlv toast of the evening " The Queen ;" and Her Majesty s health was drunk with loud acciamationa in iced water, milk, tea, and coffee, and the nation anthem was nmg with great fervour and enthusiasm by the company. A poem was then read by one of the members of the society, inculcating the old lesson that "Man wants but little here below, "Nor wants that little long ;" and the various lins a they were read were sung by a com- pany of singers. supported by the melodiously inclined among the guests. The chairman proceeded next to address the company. Ie entered upon that task with diffidence, for he suspected that many then and there present were not vegetrians. But still he would solicit their earnest atten- tion while he discused with them an object of the greatest importance, and one which was interesting to the philan- thTopist alld the pstriot. Tho lemeni human misery, the mcren of human happine"atho?ect of the philan- thropist, but on human happlneas the diet of human creea tures had a powerful influence. It was, therefore, impor- tant to everybody to know what to cat and drink or avoid. The vegetarians advocated a total abstinence from the flesh of animals, aud in doing this theywere aware that they addroeed themselve to a flesh-eating nation, and that nothing was more difficult than to change sational tastes and habits. They had to contend with their antagonists, viz.- with custom, prejudice, and appetite. These met them with the question-"Whabstain Ie (HMr. Brotherton) inhis turn would ask-' Wby eat'" Men ate meat because their forefathers ate it-it was a custom, but custom was every day schooled by progress and expetience. The reasons, indeed, for abstinence, were varioua, and well deserving the attention of pstriots. The greatest happiness of the greatest number was the great problem of the statesman. To attain that end there were various meDas proposed, such as poor law, police, peace societies, &c., but the master Sneans were the meas of correcting the drunken habits (tremendous. cheers) of the nation. Abstinenoe from intoxicating liquors would produce a sober nation.- Men who klled no animmal would refrain from banding thespelves together for the murder of man. This he knew was flying in the vero face of custom, but custom had at all times sanctioned all ab- surdities, as a reference. to the curiosities of the bitory of cvilization m all climes and ages, would amply show. Slavery, duelling, and capital punishments, had all been sanctioned by custom. The Spaniards had their bullfights, and the people in the island of Skewes, in Cornwall, ate rats smothered with onions. It was the same with frogs in France, and meat was exactly in the same case. No one would eat it raw, and the taste lor it was a vicious taste. The vegetarian system, on the contrary, was sanctioned by the law of nature, for anatomy showed that we were made to eat fuits and herbr, and, if man lired according to the dic- taea of nat-ure, he wrould live in enjoyment and health- Nature, scripture, and the Bractice of the wiest and best, in all ages, wrere in favour of ihe vegetuaran sytem. It was ood for individuals, good for families, pood forcoommunities. It was moreover economical. There was more nutriment in two- pennyworth of pea than in a shilling's worth of beef. He (Mr.Brotherton rwould recommend -the ystem from, a42 yar experiewne and he asked the public to give it fasir trial. iirewas Followed by Mr. Simpson, the President of the Vegetarian Society, who endeavoured to combat the arguments on which the consumen of nimal food have rested their practice; and he defended the nutritious quali- tiec of vegetable produce. Chicken broth, it had been proved, was more indigestible than pea soup, and new bresad stood on a level with mutton chops. The vaunted roast beot of Old England was very lnnut rUoue, nd very long in di. gestin ; and if men would perforce condescend to that animal, of which it had been -observed that it was " cursed under the old law, and never blesied under the now" (lNughter -need he my it wua the pig? (gret laughter)-if they would condescend to that most oofuloux and astyA animal (shoutaof laughter) whythoymwt be.contont to carryit in theirsomachslonger than ynytblhe Mr. Simpson remArked further,.that ot one -member of the Vegetarian BocietY, which Museed up to 718, had died of the chelwa, or other disteners The phoppy were furheradde~-ed y te Rv, r. Metalfand the Rev. Mr. Wolf, of ADeroca, of whom it wasstated tbal they id t'asllbd 7,000 mI9 to be present on tbe occasioi, an4 who r ym'nenod8dthe Fdcp14p gf *)eebi ,t,in