“Vegetative”

– an adjective – meaning –

“relating to vegetation or plant life”

 Here we share, for the first time on the Internet, an 1849 letter.

From the Reverend William Metcalfe to Joel Shew.

Writing to propose that there be an  American Vegetarian Society.

The original of the letter is in our Ernest Bell Library.

~ And now, Mr. Editor, may I be permitted to ask you, and the friends of this cause here, cannot a movement of this nature be got up in this country? America is distinguished throughout the civilized world for the noble stand she first made against intemperance in drinking. Shall she be less zealous in opposing a system of diet, as detrimental to the health and happiness of humanity as intoxicating liquors? Could not preliminary arrangements be made, and circulars subsequently addressed to all the known advocates of vegetative food throughout the length and breadth of the land, inviting them to assemble in convention at a certain time and place agreed on, and then and there organize an American Vegetarian Society? 

Why not make an associated effort to set this “ball in motion?” I have conversed with some of my friends who highly approve of the proposal – others with more cautiousness, perhaps, than I possess, think “the good time is coming,” but is not yet come. I submit the matter to you and your readers, willing to co-operate in any order that may work for the elevation of man from the bondage of an unnatural, destructive and barbarous custom. ~

William Metcalfe was a lacto-ovo vegetarian.

Many of his friends & connections were vegans – from as early as 1815.

Dr. William Lambe – writing in 1815

~ My reason for objecting to every species of matter to be used as

food, except the direct produce of the earth – as maybe seen in

my last publication – is founded on the broad ground

that no other matter is suited to the organs of man.

This applies then with the same force to eggs, milk, cheese, and fish, as to flesh meat. ~

———

The letter –

Transcribed –

To the Editor of the Water-Cure Journal.

DEAR DOCTOR,-

With great pleasure I have read the introductory number of the Water-Cure Journal for 1849. The zeal and talent you display in favor of the various Reforms of our day – physical, moral and intellectual – are worthy of all commendation, and I trust will be rewarded by a corresponding addition to your subscription list. Your dietetic doctrine – proving that a purely vegetable regimen is more conducive to the physical and moral well-being of man than a flesh or mixed diet is doubtless correct. Anatomical testimony and physiological facts sustain your views; and the lights of Science reflect, if possible, a still greater confirmation.

After much research, and carefully consulting the Bible, ancient traditionary records, comparative anatomy, physiology, chemistry, general history and private experience, I have long ago arrived at the full conviction, that the flesh of animals is not only unnecessary to the sustenance of man, but that its use, as food, is decidedly prejudicial to the health and moral well-being of all those who resort to it to satisfy their appetites. Accordingly, for the last forty years I have discontinued it as an article of diet, nor has it, during that period, been used by any member of my family, nor even introduced into my house. When I first adopted this dietetic course, many of my friends expressed their fears and their remonstrances on the subject, notwithstanding which I persevered, and soon became convinced of the superior adaptation of a diet derived exclusively from the vegetable kingdom, to secure greater health and a more intellectual enjoyment than I had ever experienced under an animal or mixed diet. The poetess has justly observed –

“Fatal effects of luxury and ease!

We drink our poison, and we eat disease;

Indulge our senses at our reason’s cost,

Till sense is pain, and reason hurt or lost.” (1)

In your excellent article on the Asiatic Cholera, addressed to the Editor of the New York Tribune, and republished in the first number of the Water-Cure Journal for 1849, you have been pleased to advert to the Society of Bible-Christians in Philadelphia, and also to insert an extract of a former letter of mine, corroborative of your views, in relation to the best mode of preventing the fatal effects of that much dreaded malady. I have no doubt, whatever, but that a purely vegetable diet, attention to cleanliness, bathing, clothing, &c., would be a more effectual preventive than any other that could be adopted.

The Bible-Christians of this country and in England continue to move onward in the propagation of their principles, and in the even tenor of their way. You are probably aware that in England the advocates of dietetic reform, some time ago, instituted an association, (somewhat after the manner of our American Temperance Societies,) under the appellation of “The Vegetarian Society,” which is creating quite an excitement throughout that country. Last summer its members held their first anniversary in Manchester, and had a banquet prepared in accordance with their dietetic principles, of which nearly 300 persons were partakers. Resolutions, expressive of the light in which they viewed this reformatory measure, and speeches demonstrative of its truth were delivered, which gave ample evidence that the affair was truly,

“A feast of reason and a flow of soul.” (2)

More recently, a number of these Vegetarians residing in London have had a social Vegetarian Supper, in the large room of the Crown and Anchor, of which about 160 ladies and gentlemen of that mighty metropolis partook. After supper the evening was devoted to addresses in favor of the excellency of this primitive mode of sustaining human life. The Association has a monthly periodical, ably conducted, called “The Vegetarian Advocate,” (3) and everywhere throughout the kingdom there are indications of progression in Vegetarianism.

And now, Mr. Editor, may I be permitted to ask you, and the friends of this cause here, cannot a movement of this nature be got up in this country? America is distinguished throughout the civilized world for the noble stand she first made against intemperance in drinking. Shall she be less zealous in opposing a system of diet, as detrimental to the health and happiness of humanity as intoxicating liquors? Could not preliminary arrangements be made, and circulars subsequently addressed to all the known advocates of vegetative food throughout the length and breadth of the land, inviting them to assemble in convention at a certain time and place agreed on, and then and there organize an American Vegetarian Society? 

Why not make an associated effort to set this “ball in motion?” I have conversed with some of my friends who highly approve of the proposal – others with more cautiousness, perhaps, than I possess, think “the good time is coming,” but is not yet come. I submit the matter to you and your readers, willing to co-operate in any order that may work for the elevation of man from the bondage of an unnatural, destructive and barbarous custom.

WILLIAM METCALFE,

Kensington, Philadelphia.

———

Reverend William Metcalfe’s proposal fructified.

Here is our article about the inaugural meeting of

The American Vegetarian Society which was held at

Clinton Hall, 129 & 131 Nassau St, New York City, NY,

on Wednesday 15th & Thursday 16th May 1850!

———

Notes

(1) Mary Chandler- Wiki.

TEMPERANCE, by MARY CHANDLER

Fatal effects of luxury and ease!

We drink our poison and we eat disease;

Indulge our senses at our reason’s cost,

Till sense is pain, and reason hurt or lost.

Not so, O Temperance bland! when rul’d by thee,

The brute’s obedient, and the man is free.

Soft are his slumbers, balmy is his rest,

His veins not boiling from the midnight feast.

Touch’d by Aurora’s rosy hand, he wakes

Peaceful and calm, and with the world partakes

The joyful dawnings of returning day,

For which their grateful thanks the whole creation pay; —

All but the human brute: ’tis he alone,

Whose works of darkness fly the rising sun.

‘Tis to thy rules, O Temperance! that we owe

All pleasures, which from health and strength can flow;

Vigour of body, purity of mind,

Unclouded reason, sentiments refin’d,

Unmixt, untainted joys without remorse,

The intemperate sinner’s never failing curse.

(2) “A feast of reason and a flow of soul.” – click here for the source of the saying.

(3) The Vegetarian Advocate was a vegan publication of Elizabeth & William Horsell. Much more in this 7.6MB .pdf file from John Davis.

(4) Click here for an article on New York vegans in the 1830s & 1840s.

 

 (5) Click here for an article here going more deeply into the life of  the  Rev. William Metcalfe.

(6) Click here for an article going more deeply into the life of  Joel Shew.

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