William Metcalfe
William Metcalfe (March 11, 1788 – October 16, 1862) was a British-American minister in the Bible Christian Church, homeopathic physician, and activist for vegetarianism, pacifism, temperance and abolitionism. He was a prominent figure in the American vegetarian movement.
Born in 1788, he was converted by William Cowherd in 1809, becoming a Bible Christian Church minister in 1811. He embarked on a journey to the United States in 1817, establishing the Philadelphia Bible Christian Church with Reverend James Clark. Metcalfe and his wife faced challenges due to the beliefs they promoted. Despite the church's financial struggles, Metcalfe actively engaged in preaching, education, and publications addressing societal issues. He played a pivotal role in founding the American Vegetarian Society in 1850 and succeeded William Alcott as its president in 1859. Metcalfe's influence extended through his friendship with leading advocates like Alcott and Sylvester Graham. Metcalfe died in 1872, at the age of 74.
Biography
William Metcalfe was born in Orton, Westmoreland, on March 11, 1788, the son of Jonathan and Elizabeth Metcalfe. At the age of 19, he found employment as a clerk in Keighly, Yorkshire. In the village there was a congregation of Swedenborgians, led by Rev. Joseph Wright, who Metcalfe became attached to. Wright persuaded Metcalfe to study theology, which led him to an academy in Salford, presided over by William Cowherd, the founder of the Bible Christian Church; he ordained Metcalfe as a minster in 1811. In 1810, Metcalfe married Susanna, a fellow vegetarian and abstainer, who was the daughter of Rev. Joseph Wright;[1]: 23 their son, Joseph, was born in the same year.[1]: 58
In 1817, Metcalfe, and the Reverend James Clark, along with around 40 members of the Bible Christian Church,[note 1] embarked on a journey to the United States under the guidance of Cowherd.[3] There they formed the formed the Philadelphia Bible Christian Church; it was not only the United States' first vegetarian church but also the inaugural assembly of a substantial community embracing vegetarianism.[4] Among the group, a portion maintained their vegetarian lifestyle, becoming a foundational force in the emergence of the American vegetarian movement.[3]
After establishing themselves in the United States, Metcalfe and his wife, endeavored to impart lessons on pacifism, temperance, abolitionism, and vegetarianism to their neighbors—core principles of their faith. Although their church did not achieve widespread popularity, its smaller size was compensated by a dedicated and loyal following.[5] The community Metcalfe led were vegetarians who not only refrained from consuming meat but also held the conviction that Jesus himself was vegetarian. Despite his amiable and well-regarded nature, Metcalfe faced challenges in expanding his congregation due to his promotion of this belief. Occasionally, he encountered resistance and criticism for his stance on vegetarianism, with newspapers questioning his preaching and character, even labeling him as an "Infidel."[5]
Metcalfe consistently faced the challenge of maintaining the church's financial stability. Beyond his preaching duties, he devoted his time to instructing in the church's modest school and authored and published two newspapers addressing topics like slavery, temperance, and presumably, vegetarianism.[5] He also treated patients with homeopathy.[6]
Metcalfe was the first outspoken advocate of vegetarianism to gain recognition throughout the Northeastern United States. He later befriended the prominent vegetarianism advocate William Alcott. He also invited guest speakers to Philadelphia, with Sylvester Graham being one of the notable figures.[4] In 1850 Metcalfe, Graham, Alcott and Russell Trall, established the American Vegetarian Society (AVS) in New York City, drawing inspiration from the Vegetarian Society,[7] a British organization formed in 1847.[8]
In 1854, Metcalfe's wife died. In 1859, following the death of AVS president William Alcott, he was elected as his successor.[9] Metcalfe himself died on October 16, 1862, at the age of 74, from a pulmonary hemorrhage.[1]: 51 In 1872, his son published his father's discourses under the title, Out of the Clouds into the Light.[10]
Publications
- Bible Testimony, on Abstinence from the Flesh of Animals as Food: Being an Address Delivered in the Bible-Christian Church (1840)
- Memoir of the Rev. William Metcalfe, M.D. Late Minister of the Bible-Christian Church, Philadelphia] (1866)
- Out of the Clouds: Into the Light (1872)
Notes
References
- ^ a b c d The Maintenance Committee (1917). History of the Philadelphia Bible-Christian Church: From 1817 to 1917. Philadelphia: J. P. Lippincott Company.
- ^ "Vegetarianism in North America", Sins of the Flesh, University of British Columbia Press, pp. 308–332, 2009-07-01, doi:10.59962/9780774815116-015, ISBN 978-0-7748-1511-6, retrieved 2024-01-10
- ^ a b "History of Vegetarianism". Vegetarian Society. 2007-12-30. Archived from the original on 2007-12-30. Retrieved 2024-01-10.
- ^ a b Lehmkuhl, Vance. "Vegetarianism and Veganism". Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia. Retrieved 2024-01-10.
- ^ a b c "History of Vegetarianism - Rev. William Metcalfe (1788-1862)". International Vegetarian Union. Retrieved 2024-01-10.
- ^ "Cornflake Crusade". The Vegetarian Resource Group (VRG). Retrieved 2024-01-10.
- ^ "American Vegetarian Society". International Vegetarian Union. Retrieved 2024-01-10.
- ^ Avey, Tori (January 28, 2014). "From Pythagorean to Pescatarian – The Evolution of Vegetarianism". PBS Food: The History Kitchen. Retrieved September 15, 2016.
- ^ Williams, Howard (1883). "William Metcalfe M.D. 1788-1862". The Ethics of Diet – via International Vegetarian Union.
- ^ "Metcalfe, William, Md". McClintock and Strong Biblical Cyclopedia Online. Retrieved 2024-01-10.
- v
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Veganism | |
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Vegetarianism | |
Lists |
Secular | |
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Religious |
and drink
- Agave syrup
- Chicken fillet roll
- Coconut burger
- Coconut milk
- Fruits
- Grains
- Gelatin substitutes
- Jambon
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- Miso
- Mochi
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- Beer
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and events
reports,
journals
- On Abstinence from Eating Animals (3rd century)
- An Essay on Abstinence from Animal Food, as a Moral Duty (1802)
- Vegetable Cookery (1812)
- A Vindication of Natural Diet (1813)
- Reasons for not Eating Animal Food (1814)
- Moral Inquiries on the Situation of Man and of Brutes (1824)
- Nature's Own Book (1835)
- Fruits and Farinacea (1845)
- The Pleasure Boat (1845)
- The Ethics of Diet (1883)
- What is Vegetarianism? (1886)
- Shelley's Vegetarianism (1891)
- Behind the Scenes in Slaughter-Houses (1892)
- Why I Am a Vegetarian (1895)
- Figs or Pigs? (1896)
- Thirty-nine Reasons Why I Am a Vegetarian (1903)
- The Meat Fetish (1904)
- The New Ethics (1907)
- A Fleshless Diet (1910)
- The Benefits of Vegetarianism (1927)
- Living the Good Life (1954)
- Ten Talents (1968)
- Diet for a Small Planet (1971)
- The Vegetarian Epicure (1972)
- Moosewood Collective Cookbooks (1973)
- The Farm Vegetarian Cookbook (1975)
- Laurel's Kitchen (1976)
- Moosewood Cookbook (1977)
- Fit for Life (1985)
- Diet for a New America (1987)
- The Sexual Politics of Meat (1990)
- Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone (1997)
- The China Study (2005)
- Skinny Bitch (2005)
- Livestock's Long Shadow (2006)
- The Bloodless Revolution (2006)
- Eating Animals (2009)
- Why We Love Dogs, Eat Pigs, and Wear Cows (2009)
- The Vegan Studies Project (2015)
- Animal (De)liberation (2016)
- The End of Animal Farming (2018)
- Vegetable Kingdom (2020)
- Making a Stand for Animals (2022)
- Meat Atlas (annual)
- The Animals Film (1981)
- Diet for a New America (film) (1991)
- A Cow at My Table (1998)
- Meet Your Meat (2002)
- Post Punk Kitchen (2003–2005)
- Peaceable Kingdom (2004)
- Earthlings (2005)
- A Sacred Duty (2007)
- Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead (2010)
- Planeat (2010)
- Forks Over Knives (2011)
- Vegucated (2011)
- Live and Let Live (2013)
- Cowspiracy (2014)
- PlantPure Nation (2015)
- What the Health (2017)
- Carnage (2017)
- Dominion (2018)
- Eating You Alive (2018)
- The Game Changers (2018)
- You Are What You Eat: A Twin Experiment (2024)
authors,
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- Nava Atlas
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- Hannah Che
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- Yamuna Devi
- Sue Donaldson
- Crescent Dragonwagon
- Rose Elliot
- Rip Esselstyn
- Carol Lee Flinders
- Dick Gregory
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- Madhur Jaffrey
- Mollie Katzen
- Frances Moore Lappé
- Deborah Madison
- Linda McCartney
- Mary McCartney
- Tracye McQuirter
- Joanne Lee Molinaro
- Moosewood Collective
- Isa Chandra Moskowitz
- Bawa Muhaiyaddeen
- Gaz Oakley
- Colleen Patrick-Goudreau
- Mathew Pritchard
- Satchidananda Saraswati
- Derek Sarno
- Miyoko Schinner
- Alicia Silverstone
- Bryant Terry
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- Lauren Toyota
- Jeeca Uy
- Umberto Veronesi
- Nisha Vora
- Alan Wakeman
- Ben & Esther's Vegan Jewish Deli
- Cinnaholic
- Crossroads Kitchen
- Greens Restaurant
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- Slutty Vegan
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