New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-05-16
VEGETARIAN CONVENTION.
ORGANIZATION OF the American Vegetarian

Hal for the purpose Of organizing an american
Vegetarian Society, AMI 10 disseminate kno"i'
edge of The true system Of Dietetics
At 10 o C eek the meeting was called to order by
DIR. ALcoTr Of Boston, and DR.. JOEL SHEw OF
New.York was appointed President Of the Con-
venton, ~ tenn. A number Of letters from invited
guests unable to attend, were read by the Score
taries Among these were friendly conm1nica'
tons from Gerritt Smith, Peterboro'i DR.. David
Prince st. Louis Prof Musseyol CINCINNATI Mr..
VIM. C. CHARM OF r. l.; Mr.. Horsell of London,
and other,-all expressing sympathy with the OBJ
jects Of the Convention.
These letters having been read, Committee Of
three was appointed to nominate Officers OF the
Convention who soon returned and reported the
following names, which were adopted, and the
Convention stood organized, viz;
pyesident-Rev. WIN. MEIcALFe, Philadelphia.
Y PySentRsv o. H. Wellington 1s sss; s ST9o, Get
Secretdrie,-joseph mecalfe Philadelphia Dr. Colin NJ
Dick, Long Island %.
Rev. MIR. METcALFE, on assuming the Chair adj
dressed the Convention in few appropriate re-
misunderstanding his own experience In Fegeta-
bles, and iatng briefly the objects OF the meeting
We are here he said, to endeavor to form Nege-
tartan Society OF individuals favorable to the dis
semination OF the principles advocating Negeta-
bic Diet. 1t will be for you to consider whether II
is well to form an Association OF this kind. The
subject is one of a deeply interesting nature Its
near forty-one yearsE continued Mr.. M since
have made use of any kind of fish or meat. have
raised famy-some o. whom are here present.
and have children and grandchildren who have
never tasted any meat. The consequences OF this
system OF Detetcs has been altogether satisfactory
We have passed unframed through epldemics OF
the most viruent Characteristic Y elbow Fever, and
the two sc asons OF the Cholera. All these things
go TO confirm more fully the sentiment long ago en-
braced that the diet best adapted to health, best
adapted to the enjoyment OF life, and to the deyel-
opment ofthe higher powers OF our nature, is that
OF the Vegetarian nature.
Some discussion followed these remarks oil the
President-and Committees were appointed to
draft n Constitution and Resolutions expressive OF
the sense Of the Convention These Committees
having retired, the discussion was renewed
DR.. BEDoRTHA Of Lebanon Springs, gave in his
experience. He had been Vegetarian oEand-
on, Tor several years; but had used animal ioOd IN
small quantities. However, though not strict
disciple, he went heart and hand with the movers
! Of this Reform in Detetics.
Mr.. JONATHAN WRIGHT Of Philadep hia-Had
been Vegetarian for forty years; reared family
Of eight children originally had eleven-lost three,
| some by the Group, and could not tell whether that
complaint or the doctors finished their career Mr..
/ w first adopted Vegetarianism from gious mo
tives Iie believed that God designed Man 10 exist
on Vegetables-had placed him in Paradise to live
on the fruits of the earth-and aiterwar1 com
handed him 10 draw his sustenance from the ground
he was TO till in the sweat of his brow Ths
Divine will said Mr. Wright has evidently been
expressed in favor Of sustaining human lie from
the Vegetable Kingdom; and Humanity might
easily save itself much labor and excitement II
people would simply escbew meat.
- The Committee on the Constitution now re-
turned and reported. We annex rapid summs-
al. C.og r
as finally agreed upon-unde the title of the
AMERICAN VEGETARIAN SOCIETY.
PREAMBLE.
The objects Of this Association are 10 Induce
habits OF abstinence from the flesh of animals ns
food by the dissemination of information upon the
subject by means of verbal discussions, tracts,
essays ard lectures, exhibiting the many afvan.
tages Of q physical, intellectual and moral char
acter, resulting from Vegetarian habits OF Diet and
thus to secure through the association, example
and efforts of its members, the adoption Of prnci
pie which will tend essentially u true Civilization,
to universal Arotherbood and to the increase OF
human happiness generally.
The Constitution provides that the officers OF the
Society shall consist Of President. nine Vice
Presidents Recording Secretary Corresponding
secreisIy and Treasurer These officers form Business
Comnillee-sny four Of whom form quorum
ciey may become member BY registering his name its
roll and paying 10 funds sum Of cts Annual sub
tcrpuon 81 The payment Of $40 constitutes afe member
Tie annual meetings OF The Society shall be he'd In tbs
euumn Of each year at such time and place as shall be
determined by the Executive Committee. Special meet
iIgs may be called by the Executive Committee. The
officers fha be e.ecied al each annual meeting and shall
have The entire nansf emen Of The Society and be auaor
lied 10 raiss voluntary subscriptions In lis behalf
AT the Afternoon Session, the chief business
was the fi1al adoption and completion Of the Con-
stitution, The main facts of which are given above.
The Re solutiors reported by the Committee
were read and adopted, with the preceding Decla-
ration and Preamble We slbjon these entire, as
follows:
Man is evidently responsible to certain physical,
mental and MOI al laws Obedience 10 these will
secure health and happiness while disobedence
Inevitably produces misery and evil Natural laws form
unique harmonious system, aud Nan porskss Of this
prevailing beauty in every Jaw Of his being Constitutions
may indeed difeI-but there must be Unversa law FOR
The siousoh wei as for the lungs And the species OF
food prescribed by he universal for human sIJn-
Rch viii be fund to comp0r best with the physical ab.
uef health ara the exercise OF the Intellectual ana moral
powers. VEGETARIANIsM unolds this UNIVERSAL Law Of
Mans being Is Observance Is stepping stone higher
TIE fuhment OF Mans hghes aspirations and II ia The n-
1T 10 a and holier life.
With these views impressed on minds, we who are
hereassembled in American Vegetarian Convention have
hereby
Re,cired, That Comparative Anatomy Human Physioo-
ey ard The chemical analysis Of different animal and ar
nseeous substances uniiedy proclaim the position that
only he hum Race may but SHOULD subsisi upon the
productions Of the Vegetable Kingdom.
Resored That the Vegetarian principle OF Diet dervess
most ancient authority from the appointment Of the
10 han, when he lived In purity peace and was
with he aih and happiness In Paradise
Resored That though the OF animal food be claimed
under tie sanction OF succeeding times only
Ie,misen accorded to Man In lis degraded condition. and
is departure from the appointment Of the Creator.
Rssoired, That II Man would Paradise and Pa.
rity-to mental and PHI seal enjoyment
The Psrsd.scsl Diet and abstain from killing and eat
ing Of animals az food.
ssoired Thai there s found in the Vegetable Weird ev-
cry element which enters into the animal and
thai combinations Of those elements In the Vegetable King
dom best adapted TO the natural and healthy
rishnent OF Man.
Re'olred That the appreciation Of Mans unsophistcasd