# Mary Pope (vegetarian)

Mary Pope was an English cookery teacher and writer. She worked as cookery teacher to the Vegetarian Society and authored two vegetarian cookbooks, Novel Dishes for Vegetarian Households (1893) and Vegetarian Savouries (1904). A committed Theosophist, Pope was a member of the Theosophical Society until 1909, co-founded the West London Lodge, and published two lectures on the subject in 1908 under the title Mysticism.

## Theosophy

Pope was a Theosophist and a member of the Athene Lodge of the Theosophical Society. She was friends with fellow Theosophist Edith Ward, with whom she lived in Bradford. Together, they worked as outfitters at Ward's father's company around 1891, which specialised in feminist dress reform clothing. In 1897, Pope and Ward co-founded the West London Lodge of the Theosophical Society, hosting its meetings in their home for the next decade. In 1908, Pope published Mysticism: Two Addresses Given to the West London Lodge of the Theosophical Society. In 1909, Pope and Ward resigned from the Society as a result of the Leadbeater crisis.

## Vegetarianism

After Pope and her family became vegetarian, she served as cookery teacher to the Vegetarian Society. Pope also sought to improve the reputation of vegetarian cuisine, addressing the perception that it lacked flavour. She noted that vegetarian meals were sometimes considered unappealing, which she believed contributed to the slow adoption of vegetarianism. Her 1893 cookbook, Novel Dishes for Vegetarian Households: A Complete and Trustworthy Guide to Vegetarian Cookery, featured a range of savoury dishes, including artichokes au gratin, aubergine fritters, maize curry, lentil fritters, endive with poached eggs, and asparagus loaves. It was dedicated to Lady Paget, whose opinions inspired Pope to write the book.
In 1904, Pope published the cookbook Vegetarian Savouries. Its introduction was authored by Lady Paget.The New York Times noted the book's focus on the practicality of vegetarianism and its suitability for refined dining. It also described how the book's preface emphasises the variety and flavour of vegetarian cuisine, as well as its ease of preparation and affordability.
Pope also authored a series of articles on vegetarianism in Reaney's Mothers & Daughters. Around 1895, Pope gave lectures in Lancashire. In the same year, she supervised the menu for a vegetarian restaurant in Halifax. In addition to her teaching and writing, Pope sold a variety of seasonings, food colourings, and grinders, which she stocked at a warehouse in Bradford.

## Legacy

Pope's recipes were included in Anne O'Connel's Early Vegetarian Recipes, exploring the history of vegetarian recipes. In 2019, a copy of Novel Dishes for Vegetarian Households was donated by William Russel Buck to the LuEsther T. Mertz Library. Another copy has been digitised by the Southern Adventist University, as part of their Domestic Science and Cookery Collection.

## Publications

* Novel Dishes for Vegetarian Households: A Complete and Trustworthy Guide to Vegetarian Cookery (Bradford; London: Percy Lund, 1893)
* Vegetarian Savouries (London: Theosophical Publishing Society, 1904)
* Mysticism: Two Addresses Given to the West London Lodge of the Theosophical Society (London: Theosophical Publishing Society, 1908)