Viewpoint

Suitable for

vegetarians?

On World Vegetarian Day (1 October), Malcolm Dragon considers the Army’s place in today’s plant-based world

DID you know that The Salvation Army has a vegetarian history? Catherine and William Booth, along with their son, Bramwell, and daughter-in-law, Florence, were convinced of the spiritual and physical benefits of vegetarianism.

In the 1886 Orders and Regulations for Field Officers, William wrote: ‘It is a great delusion to suppose that flesh meat of any kind is essential to health. Considerably more than three parts of the work in the world is done by men who never taste anything but vegetable, farinaceous food… There are far more strength-producing properties in whole-wheat flour, peas, beans, lentils, oatmeal, roots and other vegetables of the same class, than there are in beef or mutton, poultry or fish, or animal food of any description.’

In Religion for Every Day, he wrote: ‘Animal food should not be taken, at most, more than once a day. There are multitudes of men and women who would be wiser, healthier, happier and holier without meat altogether. I recommend everybody who has not made the experiment of total abstinence from flesh meat in every form to do so at once. Give it a month’s trial.’

Bramwell thrived on a strict vegetarian diet for more than a decade and outlined many arguments in its favour. In Genesis 1:29, God intended the food of humans to be vegetarian. He didn’t design the human digestive system to process flesh, the consumption of which increases the risk of cancer, indigestion, constipation, dysentery, piles, worms, eczema, headaches, obesity and poor energy levels. Decaying flesh also carries a high risk of infection.

A vegetarian diet, Bramwell argued, favours a longer, healthier, more spiritual life. It is also more economical and less wasteful, leaving ‘money to spare for the poor and for the work of God’.

However, it’s not just about our health. David Newstead’s ‘Exploring faith and ethics’ (Salvationist 19 March) reminded us that our relationship with the animal kingdom is integral to ‘ethical Christian stewardship’. Drawing attention to animal products’ environmental impacts, he said many people today believe that ‘animals deserve the right to life’. I heartily agree, and so did Bramwell, who believed that God disapproved of all cruelty ‘to man or beast’.

Along with Staff Captain Tracy in The Official Gazette of the Life Assurance Department of The Salvation Army (May 1901–April 1902), I must emphasise that I’m not ‘making a religion of my diet’. Nor am I simply yearning for a return to the past. I certainly don’t advocate a condemnatory or prescriptive approach to Salvationists’ dietary choices.

But with 41 per cent of families in the UK now following a flexitarian or meat-free diet, and in the face of modern-day environmental, health and animal welfare concerns, the Army risks being seen as out of step if it doesn’t take a stance on this.

The Army no longer promotes, or even encourages, the abstention from animal-derived foodstuffs evident during its first half-century. As Samantha Jane Calvert noted in her thesis, Eden’s Diet: Christianity and Vegetarianism 1809–2009: ‘The Booth family’s commitment to vegetarianism, the Army’s recommendation of vegetarianism to officers in its Orders and its exclusive use of the vegetarian diet into the 20th century [in its homes and hospitals] is largely unappreciated by the Army today.’

Within our ranks, thousands will already have chosen vegetarian or vegan lifestyles and might appreciate the opportunity to link up with like-minded others. Many trying to adopt a flexitarian diet might find it helpful to have a source of advice within our organisation.

Would you be interested, therefore, in a Salvationist plant-based network? It could contribute towards two of our territory’s mission priorities: nurturing disciples of Jesus and caring for creation. If you would like to discuss vegetarianism or veganism further or chat with like-minded people, please email me at towardsveganism@gmail.com.

MALCOLM DRAGON

Maltby

Running on a prayer