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The founding of the Vegetarian Society of America
From the Dietetic Reformer and Vegetarian Messenger (Manchester,
England), September 1886, p279-281:
Philadelphia, U.S.A. - The following paragraph, headed "A Vegetable
Pic-nic : Two Hundred Persons who do not eat Meat or Fish Celebrate
(sic) at Alnwick Park," appeared in the Times
(Philadelphia) of Friday, June 26th : "In a cluster of stately
poplars at Alnwick Grove, in Montgomery County, about two hundred Philadelphia
Vegetarians gathered in annual meeting yesterday to feast and celebrate.
The spot chosen for the event is a delightful one, nestling between
the hills eleven miles out on the Newtown branch of the Reading Road,
with Pennypack Creek winding irregularly through woods and foliage,
and completing a romantic and picturesque scene. It was not a day to
heartily enjoy such surroundings, as the intermittent showers compelled
all hands to remain under cover most of the time. Three Italians, with
a harp and two violins, furnished the music in the dancing pavilion,
but as there were only two gentlemen on the floor to some thirty ladies,
this branch of the festivities was rather tedious.
The first real signs of life and activity were visible when the matrons
and misses of the party spread a half-dozen rustic tables and invited
all present to a bountiful supply of vegetables, fruits and nuts, and
pie in great variety. The Vegetarians are, with hardly an exception,
teetotalers, and the regulation libation was lemonade without any embellishments.
The appetites of young and old appeared to be whetted for the occasion,
and the absence of animal food did not seem to divest the guests of
a hearty relish for the other good things liberally provided. One of
the lady managers remarked to the Times reporter: 'You see it
is a mistake to suppose, as many people do, that we Vegetarians starve
ourselves. On the contrary, we draw without reserve on nature's storehouse
for pure and healthful food, rejecting meat and fish.'
After dinner a meeting was convened in one of the pavilions, with the
Rev. Henry S. Clubb, a Pastor of Christ Church (Bible Christians), as
chairman and director general, and Miss Belle Smith as secretary. Mr.
Clubb opened the proceedings by briefly explaining the true meaning
and purpose of Vegetarianism. Dr. J. Harvey Lovell followed, and indorsed
all the preceeding speaker said, both from his observations as a physician
and experience as a Vegetarian. In the course of his remarks he said:
'Vegetarianism promises more help towards reform, more for the advancement
of truth, the elevation of humanity, the eradication of disease and
the preservation of health, the accumulation and enjoyments of wealth,
for longevity and comfortable old age, more for the moral and sipritual
elevation of mankind and general happiness, than any ism with which
I am acquainted.'"
- We have also received the following report of the proceedings from
the Rev. H. S. Clubb: On Thursday, June the 24th, 1886, a convention
of the friends of food reform took place at Alnwick Park, near Philadelphia,
in the pavilion. Every seat was occupied, and quite a number were present
who had been life-long Vegetarians. After a musical selection by the
band, on the motion of Mr. Fell, the Rev. Henry S. Clubb was elected
president. He called on the Rev. Edwin W. Rice, D.D., who invoked the
divine blessing in an appropriate and fervent prayer. Letters from the
following friends were read : Jas. Crutchet, C.E., New York; J. S. Galloway,
Montgomery, Ohio; J. Lundy Brotherton and A. L. Morrison, Philadelphia;
J. H. Kellogg, M.D., Battle Creek, Michigan; James C. Jackson, Dansville,
N.Y.; Caroline H. Spear and Sarah T. Rogers, both M.D.'s, Philadelphia;
Seth Ely, 1st National Bank, Trenton, N.J.; and Joseph Knight, Sec,
Vegetarian Society, Manchester, England.
On the motion of Wilmer Atkinson Miss Belle Smith was elected secretary.
The Rev. Henry S. Clubb, on taking the chair, briefly explained Vegetarianism,
and said: [a verbatim copy of his 'brief' speech followed]. J.
Harvey Lovell, M.D., then read an able paper on a Vegetarian diet. Pusey
Heald, M.D., of Wilmington, Delaware, fully concurred in the statements
of Dr. Lovell, and enlarged upon them at length.
A discussion followed as to the form of resolution to be adopted by
the meeting, remarks being made by the Rev. Dr. Rice, and Messrs. Fell
and Atkinson, of Philadelphia, and Mr. Pickles, of Wilimington, Del.;
when on the motion of Dr. Lovell, it was resolved that a committee of
seven, three of whom shall be ladies, be appointed by the chair to prepare
a plan of organisation to submit to a meeting to be called by the said
committee at an early date, in Philadelphia. The chairman appointed
on the said committee J. Harvey Lovell, M.D., Wilmer Atkinson, The Rev.
E. W. Rice, D.D., Henry M. Taylor, Mrs. Mary C, Metcalfe, Mrs. Isabella
Caress, and Mrs. Annie Koenig. The names of nineteen persons, mostly
not hitherto known as Vegetarians, were received by the secretary for
membership.
It was later reported, see below, that the above committee formally became
the Vegetarian Society of America on November 30, 1886.
Henry S.Clubb (1827-1922) was a migrant from England and had been involved
with the first few years of the Vegetarian Society in Britain before moving
to the USA in 1853 and becoming actively involved with the Bible Christian
Church in Philadelphia. A detailed biography is on the Kansas Collection
website at: www.kancoll.org/voices_2001/0701gregory.htm
From the Vegetarian Messenger (Manchester, England), June 1887,
p182:
Philadelphia, U.S.A. - The Philadelphia Enquirer of Tuesday,
March 22nd, gave a repor of the Vegetarian Society's meeting, from which
the following is abridged: The Vegetarians met last night. The parlour
of Dr. H. J. Lovell's residence, No.936, Franklin Street, was the scene
of the gathering, which was not large, though intellectual. Dr. Lovell
introduced the orator of the evening, Rev. Henry S. Clubb, the president
of the society. Mr. Clubb is a hale, hearty man, in the sixties, born
in England, but an inhabitant of this country since 1853. He admits
of no compromise with the opponents of the gentle turnip or the complacent
cabbage [a slighly abridge text of Rev. Clubb's talk was given].
A letter was read from William Penn Olcott [sic], brother to
Bronson Olcott [sic], in which he said that during fifty years
spent in every climate from Greenland to Nubia, though he had sometimes
been forced to eat greasy vegetable food, he had never eaten meat. He
said he didn;t know the taste of fish, flesh or fowl, butter, alcohol,
or coffee; that he could work better and harder, and was never sick.
The letter closed by stating that there were more Vegetarians in Philadelphia
and its vicinity than anywhere else, and that " as sure as God
reigns the future belongs to the Vegetarians."
Dr. Heald, of Wilmington, an ascetic-looking gentleman, who was evidently
of the Vegetarian militant order, made a short address [details were
given]. A vote of thanks was tendered to Mr. Clubb for his eloquent
lecture, and to Dr. Lovell for his hospitality. The Vegetarian Society
was organised November 30, 1886, with Henry S. Clubb as president; J.
Harvey Lovell, treasurer; Robert J. Osborne, secretary, and with the
following executive committee: Mrs. A. L. Morrison, No. 122, South Thirty-third
Street; Henry M. Taylor, No. 1,607, Chestnut Street; William Atkinson,
Germantown; Mrs. Brotherton, No. 553, North Sixteeth Street; Charles
M. Stiles, Camden, N.J.; Mrs. Metcalfe, No. 1,219, North Third Street;
Harrison C. Sellers, No. 2,000, North Twentieth Street; Charles F. Koenig,
No. 1,714, North Twentieth Street.
From the Vegetarian Messenger (Manchester, England), April 1889,
p105:
Philadelphia, U.S.A. - The following is a list of the officials of
the Vegetarian Society of America, organised 1886, incorporated 1887.
President: Rev. Henry S. Clubb, 2,915, Fairhill Street, Phila.
Vice-presidents: Pusey Heald, M.D., Wilmington, Del.; Dr. J. S. Galloway,
Montgomery, Har. Co., O.; Elder F. W. Evans, Mt. Lebanon, Col., Co.,
N.Y.; Elder Robert Aitken, Shaker Station, Conn,; F. P. Doremus, 499,
Carlton Avenue, Brooklyn, N.Y. ; Rev. William Penn Alcott, Boxford,
Mass.; Susanna W. Dodds, M.D., St. Louis, Mo.; J. C. Jackson, M.D.,
Dansville, N.Y.; M. L. Holbrook, M.D. 15 Laight Street, N.Y.; James
Crutchett, C.E., Cooper Union, N.Y. Dr. W. H. Van Swartout, Box 248,
New York City; Henry L. Fry, 70 W. 40th Street, Cincinatti, O.; M. Augusta
Fairchild, M.D., Hannibal, Mo.; F. Wilson Hurd, M.D., Experiment Mills,
Monroe Co., Pa.; Lewis S. Hough, A.M., Media, Pa.; Wilmer Atkinson,
E. Coulter Street, Germantown, Ohila.; Rachel Swain, M.D., 334 N., New
Jersey Street, Indianapolis, Ind.; Dr. C. S. McKinney, 30 N., College
Street, Nashville, Tenn.; R. L. Lamb, Ransomville, Niag. Co., N.Y.;
A. S. Macbean, Lakewood, Ocean Co., N.J.
Secretary and Treasurer: Dr. J. Harvey Lovell, 936, Franklin Street,
Phila.
Executive Committee (for term of three years): Miss A. L. Morrison,
122 S., 33rd Street, Phila.; Rev. Henry M. Taylor, M.D., 1,607, Chestnut
Street, Phila.; Wilmer Atkinson, Germantown, Phila.; for term of two
years, Robert Osbourne, 136 N., 17th Street, Phila.; Charles M. Stiles,
Camden, N.J.; for term of one year, Mrs. Metcalfe, 1,219 N., 3rd Street,
Phila.; Harrison C. Sellers, 2,002, Norris Street, Phila.; Charles F.
Koenig, 1,174, N., 20th Street, Phila.;
The names of Dr. Jackson and Dr. Holbrook will be familiar to our readers,
the former as the venerable head of the Dannsville Sanatorium, and the
latter as editor of a journal devoted to hygienic subjects.
[same issue] : The American Vegetarian Society, Philadelphia,
U.S.A. - This society has just establishedan official journal called
Food, price 50 cents a year, and published monthly. The February
number records a social meeting of the society to receive Miss Lucy
Edwards, an English Vegetarian of eight years standing. The Rev. Henry
S. Clubb ( a Pastor of the Philadelphian Bible Christian Church, and
formerly member of the Bible Christian Church at Salford) was the first
to address the meeting. Mrs. Brotherton, who had recently returned from
a visit to England, also spoke.
From the Vegetarian Messenger (Manchester, England), July 1889,
p208:
Philadelphia, U.S.A. - The Vegetarian Society of America continues
its work wth vigour. The official organ of the Society, Food, Home
and Garden, reports a meeting at which the Rev. H. S. Clubb gave
an address. Among the other speakers was Mr. J. H. Bradford, of Connecticut.
This gentleman, who is a professional juggler, known to the public as
Nelton the Juggler, afterwards gave a very entertaining exhibition of
his professional skill. The next meeting is to welcome Mr. Williams
Thorn, a practical farmer of Blackhorse Pa., who writes: [detailed
article reprinted].
From the Vegetarian Messenger (Manchester, England), October
1889, p306:
America. - Food, the journal of the American Vegetarian Society,
reports a successful social meeting of the Society at Dr. Kellogg's
Sanatorium, Battle Creek.
In October or November 1889 a Chicago Vegetarian
Society was founded by Mrs. Le Favre, apparently unaware of the VSA
at the time, but they soon became affiliated to the national society.
From the Vegetarian Messenger (Manchester, England), March 1890,
p87:
Philadelphia, U.S.A. - Food, Home, and Garden, the journal of
the American Vegetarian Society, appears in an enlarged and improved
form. Mrs. Le Favre, of Chicago, has undertaken to edit the home department
of the magazine.
In early 1890 a Kansas City Vegetarian Society
was formed, which was also apparently affiliated to VSA.
From The Vegetarian Messenger (Manchester), July 1890, p.194:
THE AMERICAN VEGETARIAN SOCIETY AT THE WORLD'S FAIR. - The World's
Fair, which is to be held at Chicago in 1892 (sic, it was 1893),
is not to be without representatives of Vegetarianism. A correspondent
of Food, House, and Garden says:- "I hope that as many of
our vice-presidents as can will try and meet one another at a certain
specified time. We should doubtless have great pleasure in meeting and
obtaining a better knowledge of each other. It would be well if we could
secure some home for the reception of our members and securing for them
proper food and other necessities. Many stranger might be attracted
thereto, and know more of our ways and the manner in which we live."
"This idea," adds the editor, "is worth considering.
Of course it is and we have been considering and working toward it for
some time. We hope the V.S.A. will be so strong by that time that it
can have a good Vegetarian restaurant in the principal building of the
Fair, and a large hotel secured for its adherents." We trust that
there will be some representatives of European Vegetarianism present
also at the World's Fair to make acquaintance with its American representatives.
From The Vegetarian (London), September 20, 1890 (also reprinted
in The Vegetarian Messenger (Manchester) October, 1890, pp294-297)
[Report of the International Vegetarian Congress, held in London, September
1890]:
The Rev. Henry S. Clubb, chairman of the Vegetarian Society of America,
sent over a short paper, in which he stated that Vegetarianism was receving
support from persons connected with many of the various religious denominations
of the country, proving that it was in no way sectarian in its character.
From The Vegetarian (London) September 6, 1890 [report of a
meeting of the Vegetarian Federal Union on September 10, during the above
Congress] :
The Hon. Sec. reported that since their last meeting five societies
had applied for affiliation with the Union, viz. : The Vegetarian Society
of America, The Irish Vegetarian Union of Belfast, the Bolton and Norwich
Vegetarian Societies, and the Dover Food Reform Society. These Societies
were thereupon duly elected into the Union.
The Vegetarian Federal Union
was an early attempt at creating an international federation, but was
mostly just all the local groups that had set up in Britain since the
first Vegetarian Society in 1847.
From The Vegetarian Messenger (Manchester), February 1892, p.51:
Philadelphia, U.S.A. - A Roman Catholic priest has joined the Vegetarian
Society of America. Food, Home, and Garden prints the following
very interesting communication from the Rev. Luigi Paroli (Pastor of
Italian R. C. Church of the Holy Ghost, Providence, R.I.). It was a
very happy day for me when I read a sample copy of that sterling paper
Food, Home, and Garden and the articles of incorporation of the
Vegetarian Society of America, and found that, having been from childhood
a convinced and experienced Vegetarian myself, but privately, I could
now become also a courageous and public holder of Vegetarian principles.
[his personal story coniued at length].
In 1893 there was an International
Vegetarian Congress in Chicago, at the World's Fair, with delegates
from Britain, Germany and India as well as America.
From The Vegetarian Messenger (Manchester, England), October 1893,
419 [extracts]:
THE VEGETARIAN SOCIETY OF AMERICA
To the Vegetarian Society [UK], at its forty-sixth anniversary.
. . . I believe I express the sentiment of every Vegetarian on this
side of the Atlantic when I say that the visit of the delegates from
Europe to the World's Vegetarian Congress has created a new bond of
sympathy and affection between teh Old and new World.
. . . A movement is on foot to carry the Vegetarian movement, thus
fortified, to the Midwinter Exposition at San Francisco this winter.
A restaurant at the Exposition and a Vegetarian Convention are contemplated,
to which your hearty co-operation is invited. I only regret that the
expense of the long overland journey will prevent the attendance of
the Vegetarians of the Eastern States, except such as other business
may call there. But there are many adherents to our cause in California,
Oregon, and Washington, who can make quite a respectable Convention.
- Henry S. Clubb, President Vegetarian Society of America.
From The Vegetarian Messenger (Manchester, England), February
1899, p68:
Our Postscript. - The Vegetarian Society of America, has in
addition to continuing Food, Home, and Garden, started a four-page
quarterly, entitled, Our Postscript, and intended for enclosing
in letters. The number before us consists of an excellent "Vegetarian
synopsis" by the Rev. Henry S. Clubb.
From The Vegetarian Messenger (Manchester, England), July 1899,
p227:
A Vegetarian Census. - The Vegetarian Society of America is
attempting to make a census of American Vegetarians. It has issued a
form of which we reproduce below the essential features. A similar census
of English vegetarians would be useful if it were even approximately
complete. [reprint of the form followed]
From The Vegetarian Messenger (Manchester), May 1900, p.141/2:
"Vegetarian Magazine." - Food, Home and Garden,
which the Rev. H. S. Clubb has conducted for ten years, has been incorporated
with the Chicago Vegetarian Magazine, which was established three
or four years since as the Vegetarian. The Vegetarian Magazine
describes itself as "an illustrated magazine of better living,
an authority on foods, their selection and preparation," and it
"discountenances the use of flesh, fish and fowl for food, upholds
the right of life for the whole sentient world, advocates justice, humanitarianism,
purity, hygeine, temperance, stands for a stronger body, a healthier
mentality, a higher morality." This is a worthy programme. The
Vegetarian Magazine shows that Chicago is not given over entirely
to slaughter-houses.
In 1908 VSA sent a letter of support to the
first meeting of the International Vegetarian Union in Dresden, Germany.
At the 2nd IVU Congress, in Manchester, England, 1909, there was a report
from an American delegate:
... Mr. Scott spoke for the "Battle Creek Idea," and explained
how from very small beginnings Dr. Kellogg's movement had now grown
to what one might fairly call gigantic dimensions. Vegetarianism is
not their only tenet, but it is a very important one. ...
The above quote is from the Vegetarian Messenger (VSUK magazine)
December 1909. The full text of Mr Scott's talk was printed early in 1910
and should be added here later. 'Battle Creek' refers to the sanitorium
run by Dr John Harvey Kellogg in Battle Creek, Michigan, since 1876, in
conjunction with the Seventh Day Adventists.
We know that Henry S. Clubb was still the President of VSA in 1909, when
he was 82 years old. At that time he was also a Vice-President of the
original British Society in Manchester - this was a purely ceremonial
role but Clubb was sending occasional letters from America. He was still
president in 1913 when the Vegetarian Messenger printed: 'The Vegetarian
Principle, by Rev. Henry S. Clubb, President of the Vegetarian Society
of America'. In 1909 Clubb was the pastor of the only remaining Bible
Christian Church in the USA, in Philadelphia. This church appears to have
become the focus of VSA and there is little indication of much VSA acitivty
further afield for many years.
The 1913 IVU Congress was held at The Hague in the Netherlands. The subsequent
report in the Vegetarian Messenger, gave a a list of 34 papers
presented at the Congress, including:
Mrs. Wright-Sewall, of America, "Vegetarianism and the Great Moral
Reforms."
Dr. Kellogg, of Battle Creek (U.S.), "Recent Scientific Discoveries
confirming the Principles of Natural Food Reform."
It appears that neither of these speakers presented their papers in person.
The report also said:
Mrs. Wright-Sewall, who came to The Hague to attend the Peace Congress
and also the Vegetarian Congress, was prevented by an unfortunate accident
from attending the meetings, but I had the pleasure of an interview
with her in the Hotel Pomona, and believe that she has since been able
to return to her home in the States. Mrs. Wright-Sewall is the Hon.
President of the International Council of Women, Hon. President of the
National Council of Women of U.S.A., and Chairman of the International
Council's Committee on Peace and Arbitration. She has been a Vegetarian
for eight years, and stands in close touch with the movement in America.
Mrs. Sewall was the bearer of an invitation from the President of the
Committee of the International Exposition to be held in San Francisco
in 1915 to the International Vegetarian Union.
... 'close touch with the movement in America' presumably meant the VSA
and the Battle Creek Sanitorium as we're not aware of much else at that
time. Reports from a later Congress say that the IVU Committee had decided
that it was 'not found practicable to accept this invitation [to San Francisco]'
and the next Congress was planned for Paris, France in 1916.
Henry S. Clubb had already been President of VSA for a very long time
by 1913, at least 23 years, possibly much longer, but this needs clarifying.
It is rather likely that the society died when he did, in 1922.
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