12th
IVU World Vegetarian Congress 1950
Oosterbeck, Netherlands
North American participation
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1950 -
Gloria (Maude) Gasque [photo right]. of California started
funding IVU to provide a full time Secretary and office. She became the
first non-European IVU President from 1953-59. The Congress in Holland, however, will certainly be a turning point in the history of the Union. Chiefly as a result of the kindly interest and generosity Mrs. Clarence Gasque (U.S.A.) .. More than all else, the Congress was noteworthy for the participation,
for the first time, of delegates from North America. The new American
Vegetarian Union was represented by Mrs. Clarence Gasque (widely known
as Mother Gloria) who for sheer eloquence and vitality is not easily to
be surpassed, and by Mrs. Sorge and Mr. and Mrs. Henry Sorge. ... there were interesting lectures from ... Mrs. Gasque on "The
Vegetarian Movement in North America ".... The Canadian Vegetarian Union was vigorously represented
by Professor Arthur Stevenson. of Toronto, ... Brief speeches were made by delegates from the countries represented.
... Professor Arthur F. Stevenson (Canada), ... Mrs. Clarence
Gasque (U.S.A.), in speaking on behalf the American Vegetarian Union,
brought with her a huge banner which was inscribed: "Vegetarians
of all nations unite; you have a world to gain for justice, kindness,
health, happiness, peace, progress and prosperity." ... Messages and greetings were read from the Los Angeles Vegetarian
Society and from the President of the American Vegetarian Union (Dr.
Gehman). ... Brief reports of work accomplished in the various countries -
given by delegates from ... Canada, .... America, The following applications for membership of the International
Vegetarian Union were confirmed: (1) American Vegetarian Union, (2) Canadian
Vegetarian Union; ... The officers of the I.V.U. were elected as follows-- ... Vice-Presidents:
Mrs. Clarence Gasque (U.S.A.) .... Mrs. Gasque offered to subsidise an I.V.U. office and Secretary,
provided it was in London, and suggested that the Secretary should be
a woman. The Committee will decide about the Secretary at a meeting in
September.... The President announced that through the generosity of Mrs Gasque
it would be possible for the I.V.U. to appoint a paid Secretary, with
Headquarters in Gt. Britain, ... and that such an appointment would be
made by the officers of the Union by the end of 1950. Mrs. CLARENCE GASQUE (U.S.A.) said that she did not recognize
nations as such - she was more concerned with human life and with whatever
was noble - in that she was interested. She referred to the many phases
of our vegetarian philosophy-humanitarian, economic, psychological, physiological,
health, philosophical, religious, no less than the important aspect of
the treatment-or maltreatment--of the soil. Speaking of America, she said
that the advertizing companies required to he called to a halt : they
were "psuchologizing" the human mind, and had reached a stage
which made her refrain from turning on her radio. She described an incident
in Kashmir in which the carrots, potatoes and other garden produce had
been grown on foul land, and where it was necessary to cleanse the soil
before the vegetables were fit to eat. If this were done, she said, the
soil could live naturally and healthily, and nature would be certain to
give her best in return. Mrs. Gasque stressed the great importance of
demonstrating vegetarian meals. She had, herself, done much in that direction
but she made it clear how vital it was to present those dishes in a nice
and attractive form, and how necessary it was for us to be reasonable
in our approach, other-wise we should never get adherents to our cause. ... [resolution passed] "That representation should be made
to all national Governments requesting that provision should be made to
enable vegetarian soldiers, sailors, and airmen to maintain their fleshless
regimen. " (Professor A. F. Stevenson, Canadian Vegetarian Union)
... ... At the concluding session Mr. Sibly, said that the Congress
had been a very successful and happy one and that it had been distinguished
for the first time by the presence of delegates, as distinct from visitors,
from North America and Canada. ... ... Mr. Sibly was followed, in his expression of thanks to our
Dutch hosts, by Mrs. Gasque (U.S.A.), ... Prof. Stevenson (Canada), ...
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