Vegetarianism vs. Flesh Foods by Francis McLellan Wilcox

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 26, 1911

Vegetarianism vs. Flesh Foods

By Francis McLellan Wilcox

THE LORD originally designed that mankind should subsist upon a vegetarian diet. Flesh food was entirely excluded from the dietary of our first parents. The Scriptures of truth indicate that God's original plan will eventually be carried out. Both revelation and science teach that the vegetable products are the foods best suited to the needs of the human family at the present time. The increase of disease, which has affected the brute creation as well as the human family, causes the eating of flesh food to be attended with danger and considerable risk. A vegetarian dietary meets every need; thousands can testify that it supplies needed strength and energy for the performance of the hardest physical and mental labor.

Personally, the writer of this article has been a strict vegetarian, so far as the use of any kind of flesh-meats is concerned, for fifteen years. Born of a consumptive family, he went down almost into a consumptive's grave using flesh foods. Through the blessing of God he came back to health and vigor on a diet which entirely excluded flesh foods. From the light given and from his study of the question, he believes that a vegetarian diet is far better than a mixed dietary. But he has never felt that he should take his experience and set it up as a standard by which to judge the religious experience of his brother. “The kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.” Rom. 14:17.

Each one should study the question for himself, and not for his brethren. We have the right to be the censors of our own dietary, but not of our neighbor's table. Let each determine from the study of the Scriptures of truth, from the study of the “Testimonies for the Church,” from the study of science, and from his own experience the particular foods which are best suited to his needs, and which he himself should eat and place upon his own family table.

If in his study he shall find, as he doubtless will (for the instruction which has come to this people is clear and definite) that he should exclude flesh foods from his dietary, let him make the change without self-glorying, and without any spirit of censure or criticism for those who may not read their duty in the same way. The Jews of old were zealous for the outward forms of the law. They tithed mint and anise and cummin, but failed to exercise mercy and love toward their fellows. Let us judge our own course of conduct, but leave the Father above to deal with his own servants. He will call every man to account at last for the manner in which he has related himself to the light bestowed upon him.

“Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth. . . . Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth.”

Let each seek to live as he believes it to be his privilege and duty, determining the question not from caprice or desire, but from the instruction which he has received, and then exercise toward his brethren charity, allowing his life to bear witness to his profession. This course will commend itself to heaven and to men. F. M. W.