The advantages of vegetarian diet

by Bramwell Booth

This article originally appeared in The Herald of the Golden Age many years ago, and is being reprinted now to bring to mind again the great importance attached by the writer to the vegetarian way of living.  His views were also shared by his illustrious father, General William Booth, the founder of the world-wide Salvation Army which has done, and continues to do, such noble work among the poor.

Unfortunately, as in the case of John Wesley, this aspect of their teaching has been largely lost in later developments, though not entirely, for recent experiments made in Salvation Army Homes, although not purely vegetarian in nature, have established the important fact that diet does affect the moral character, surely a most important contribution to modern knowledge in view of the present increases in juvenile delinquency.

Even at the time when this article was written The Salvation Army, chiefly due to the initiative of Mrs. Bramwell Booth, had established the fact that drunkenness and flesh-eating were related and that the quickest way to cure drunkenness was to put the “patient” on to a non-flesh diet:  another significant fact which, to our knowledge, has not been sufficiently appreciated by would-be temperance reformers.

We are indebted to Miss Catherine Bramwell Booth, the daughter of the writer, for slight alterations to the original text which are shown in square brackets.  It will be appreciated that some of the statements occurring, as for instance in paragraph 6, while being undoubtedly true at the time of writing, may no longer apply and that some of the views expressed on dietary need to be reconsidered in light of the fuller scientific knowledge of dietetics now available.—Editor | The London Vegetarian Society

THE ADVANTAGES OF VEGETARIAN DIET

I have been frequently asked to write something on this subject.  In fact, on one occasion, I received from no less than forty Local Officers of The Salvation Army a request that I would explain to them all I meant by what I had called, when speaking in one of the [Conferences], the Gospel of Porridge.  I do not think I shall be able to do all that, but I will try and briefly reply to one question, which I often hear: “Why do you recommend Vegetarianism?”

Here are, at any rate, some of my reasons for doing so.

1. Because I have myself tried a vegetarian diet with the greatest benefit, having been for more than ten years at one time a strict vegetarian.
2. Because, according to the Bible, God originally intended the food of man to be vegetarian. “God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed: to you it shall be for meat.”-Gen. i, 29
3. Because a vegetarian diet is favourable to purity, to chastity, and to perfect control of the appetites and passions, which are often a source of great temptation, especially to the young.
4. Because a vegetarian diet is favourable to robust health and strength.  With very few exceptions, and those only confirmed invalids, I believe the people would be better in spirits, stronger in muscle, and more vigorous in energy if they abstained entirely from the use of animal food.  The Spartans, who stand first among all the nations of history for power to endure hardship, were vegetarians, so also were the armies of Rome, when Rome was conquering the world.
5. Because tens of thousands of our poor people, who have now the greatest difficulty to make ends meet after buying flesh food, would, by the substitution of fruit and cheese, vegetables and other economical food, be able to get along in comfort, and have more money to spare for the poor and for the work of God.
6. Because a vegetarian diet of wheat, oatmeal and other grains, lentils, peas, beans, nuts and similar food is more than ten times as economical as a flesh diet.  Meat contains half its weight in water, which has to be paid for as though it were meat!  A vegetarian diet, even if we allow cheese, butter and milk, will only cost about a quarter as much as a mixed diet of flesh and vegetables.
7. Because a vegetarian diet would stop the enormous waste of all kinds of animal food which is now consumed with scarcely any advantage to those who take it.
8. Because a vegetarian diet is a great protection against our drinking, and because the growth of meat eating among the people is one cause of the increase of drunkenness.  One bad appetite creates another.
9. Because a vegetarian diet is favourable to industry and hard work, and because a flesh diet, on the other hand, favours indolence, sleepiness, growing fat, want of energy, indigestion, constipation, and other like miseries and degradations.
10. Because it is proved that life, health and happiness are all favoured by a vegetarian diet.  I have known many examples of this myself.  Most of the instances of great age are to be found among those who from their youth have lived principally, if not entirely, on vegetables and fruit.  All this is worth thinking about.
11. I favour a vegetarian diet because the digestive organs of man are not well adapted for the use of flesh.  Flesh meat contains a great deal of matter which, at the time the animal was killed, was being changed and prepared for being expelled from its system.  This matter often passes through the human stomach undigested into the blood and causes various diseases, especially rheumatism, gout, indigestion and the like.
12. Because it is very difficult, especially in hot weather and in warm climates, to keep flesh food sweet long enough to cook and eat it, and a great deal of meat is, therefore, eaten after it has begun to decay—that is, to rot.  This decay often begins long before the meat gives any sign of its real condition.  Neither its appearance nor its smell is a safe guide as to its being wholesome.
13. Because a great deal of the flesh meat which is supplied for human food is already diseased, and because it is nearly impossible to be sure that any flesh is quite free from the germs of disease.  Much common meat, which is often that of old animals, is well known to be sold to the butchers because the animal are sick, or unhealthy.  And the best meat is nearly always the flesh of young animals, which are fattened and killed before the germs of many diseases have had time to develop so as to show themselves.  So that many animals are killed, which though believed to be healthy, are really diseased.  This is especially the case with calves for veal, young bullocks for beef, and with lambs and young pigs.
14. Because I believe that the great increase in consumption and cancer during the last hundred years has been caused by the great increase in the use of animal food, and that a strict vegetarian diet would greatly help to ward off these most terrible and incurable diseases.
15. Because I believe that a flesh diet brings on many very painful diseases, which though not perhaps immediately dangerous to life, cause much suffering and loss.  I mean such complaints as eczema, constipation, piles, worms, dysentery, severe headaches, and the like.  A vegetarian diet would do much to relieve if not cure them.
16. Because of the awful cruelty and terror to which tens of thousands of animals killed for human food are subjected in travelling long distances by ship and rail and road to the slaughter houses of the world.  God disapproves of all cruelty—whether to man or beast.
17. Because of the terrible cruelties practised in killing animals in many slaughter houses.  The whole business of killing is cruel, even when it is done with care, and we know that in the case of millions of creatures it is done with very little care.  Ten thousand pigs are killed for food every hour in Europe alone.
18. Because the occupation of slaughtering animals is brutalising to those who are required to do the work.  “The highest sentiments of humane men,” says a certain writer, and I agree with him, “revolt at the cruelty, the degrading sights, the distressing cries, the perpetual bloodshed, and all the attendant horrors which must surround the transit and slaughter of suffering creatures.”
19. Because a flesh diet is not necessary to hard work.  A great part of the work of the world is done by animals which subsist on vegetable food, namely, horses, mules, camels, oxen, etc.

I believe this matter is well worthy of the serious consideration of [Christian Leaders].  It has been an important bearing not only upon their own health and happiness, but upon their influence among the people, as men and women who are free from the bondage of that selfish gratification which too often afflicts the professed servants of Christ.  Let us remember the Apostle’s direction: “Whether ye eat or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”

Think on these things!

Writer: General Bramwell Booth, London, 1856-1929 | General of The Salvation Army 1912–1929

Special thanks to Lt.-Col. Patricia Ryan for suggesting and inputting this article.

Query to readers: theRubicon has been unable to discover when the original article or the reprint was published. Might anyone know?

11 Comments to The advantages of vegetarian diet

1. I have been a vegetarian during my whole life (53 years) because I don’t want to eat fear.
Arno from Holland on November 27th, 2008

2. I’ll holla.
Jonathan Taube on November 28th, 2008

3. Haha, I’m not sure what that “eat fear” reference is about, but it made me smile.

   Yes, the Booth were vegetarians. But in the Victorian sense of the word. They likely still ate fish and eggs. It is interesting to know about some of the likes/dislikes of our founders and early leaders. Catherine Booth was known to be a huge animal rights advocate - a part of her life she did not separate from her faith.

   I think it is beneficial to be vegetarian from a health perspective, but this should not be overly spiritualized. The Booths were very much a product of their age, and they had a lot of other notions about things that some would say were quite crazy. The big thing back then was taking mineral baths; in the early days of the ministry, William was often sick and took extensive time off in the country, re-cooperating, frequenting these mineral baths. Often, mineral baths were treated with lead, which we know to be poisonous today - this you may remember, is how they suspect Beethoven died. Catherine believed that remedies such as dunking oneself in freezing water was in someway beneficial. Bramwell himself spent months in Scotland, engaging in such treatments.

   We can probably guess that all three Booths (William, Catherine, and Bramwell) were suffering from periodic nervous breakdowns. Read the early history and you’ll understand why. My point is though that their medical/health beliefs (including vegetarianism) were no doubt influenced by these circumstances, and the scientific knowledge available to them at the time.

   As for me - bring on the bacon!
Rob Jeffery on December 5th, 2008

4. “bring on the bacon”?
   Would you kill a cow with your bare hands. And than eat it without cooking, without using salt and spices?
Arno from Holland on December 10th, 2008

5. Not if I wanted bacon. Bacon’s made from pork.
Rob Jeffery on December 10th, 2008

6. Have just got round to this article… Bram Booth was so on to it! I think his points are so salient and I would add another major reason:

   the whole process of consuming meat accounts for 17% of the worlds carbon emissions! That is more than all of our transport put together.

   Eating meat = climate change = injustice.

   Archbishop Rowan Williams said recently (in reference to climate change) that driving a 4wd around town was a sin.

   Perhaps eating meat as much as we do is also a sin?
Lucy ar on December 11th, 2008

7. It is interesting to see the social/cultural history of our founders. What one chooses to eat is a personal choice, sometimes dictated by health. What one chooses to eat (or drive) is not, however is not in itself sinful. It is the gluttony or selfishness it represents that can be ascribed as sinful. Beware of declaring someone else’s actions as sinful because you have chosen to live a certain lifestyle.
Sheila on December 11th, 2008

8. Man made climate change on the level some would have us believe is a debatable issue, Lucy.

   Check out this article, about over 600 leading scientists who dissent from the religion of global warming doomsday hysteria. Among them a Nobel Prize winner, several Ph.Ds and the like:

   http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=83323

   No doubt we should take care of the earth that was entrusted to our stewardship, but let’s be reasonable as well. I like the recent article by David Greusel here on the Rubicon. It gives a balanced perspective on environmental issues.

   As far as not eating meat is concerned, I always think of Paul’s letter to Timothy whenever a well-meaning Christian tries to persuade me that Jesus was a vegetarian and I should be as well:

   “The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth. For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.”
Phil on December 11th, 2008

9. The success rate of vegetarian diet as a healing
   for alcohol in early SA London clinics
   helped spread the SA around the world.
American Vegetarians on January 16th, 2009

10. The article has me more convinced that edibles excluding meat from animals is healthier. Our bodies need amino acid
    so that and other nutrients and vitamins are needed through other means if we no longer eat meat. What did Jesus eat?
    Fruits, vegeatables , fish , probably chicken. Anyway our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit and we do need to watch what we put into our bodies. I think as Bramwell that much of what we eat causes or supports disease. What we eat is what we are. Clogged arteries, heart and liver problems are often from eating too much meat.

    I seem to be convinced. Will I completely stop eating meat ?
    No , but I need to watch my intake and eat a healthier diet.
    Oh yes, I must pray and thank God for His provision and the wisdom to consume what is good for me as well as using common sense.
Robert Deidrick on August 21st, 2009

11. While Catherine might not have been as strict, William was a vegetarian for the last 40 or so years of his life. In fact, a letter was sent out to those who hosted Booth in the early 20th century that read, “the General does not take fish, flesh, or fowl in any form.” (taken from the General:William Booth, by David Malcom Bennett)

    Check out some quotes from Booth about the subject:
    http://www.ivu.org/history/europe20a/william-booth.html
erica johnson on August 30th, 2009

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