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William Metcalfe

In today's article we will explore the fascinating world of William Metcalfe. From its origins to its relevance today, this topic has captured the interest of millions of people around the world. Over the years, William Metcalfe has proven to have a significant impact on various aspects of society, culture and everyday life. Through an exhaustive analysis, we will thoroughly examine the importance of William Metcalfe in different contexts and its position in the current landscape. Get ready to embark on a journey of discovery and learning about William Metcalfe that will leave you speechless.

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The Reverend
William Metcalfe
A sepia portrait of an elderly man with wavy side-parted hair, wearing a high-collared shirt with a cravat and a dark suit, gazing directly at the camera with a serious expression.
Portrait from History of the Philadelphia Bible-Christian Church (1922)
Born(1788-03-11)March 11, 1788
Orton, Westmoreland, England
DiedOctober 16, 1862(1862-10-16) (aged 74)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Occupations
  • Minister
  • physician
  • activist
Years active1811–1862
Organizations
Spouse
Susanna Wright
​
​
(m. 1810; died 1854)​
Children1

William Metcalfe (March 11, 1788 –  October 16, 1862) was an English-American Bible Christian Church minister, homeopathic physician, and advocate of vegetarianism, pacifism, temperance and abolitionism. Ordained by William Cowherd in 1811, he emigrated with fellow Bible Christians in 1817 and founded the Philadelphia Bible Christian Church. In 1850 he helped establish the American Vegetarian Society with figures including William Alcott, Sylvester Graham and Russell Thacher Trall; after Alcott's death in 1859 he served as the society's president. He also edited and published reform periodicals.

Biography

Early life

William Metcalfe was born in Orton, Westmoreland, on March 11, 1788, the son of Jonathan and Elizabeth Metcalfe. At the age of 19, he became a clerk in Keighly, Yorkshire. There, he encountered a congregation of Swedenborgians led by Rev. Joseph Wright, to whom Metcalfe became attached. Wright persuaded Metcalfe to study theology, leading him to an academy in Salford, presided over by William Cowherd, the founder of the Bible Christian Church. Cowherd ordained Metcalfe as a minister 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 

Philadelphia Bible Christian Church

Chapel of the Philadelphia Bible Christian Church, built in 1845 on the site of the original wooden chapel

In 1817, Metcalfe, and the Reverend James Clark,[note 1] along with around 40 members of the Bible Christian Church,[note 2] embarked on a journey to the United States under the guidance of Cowherd.[4] There they 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.[5] Among the group, a portion maintained their vegetarian lifestyle, becoming a foundational force in the emergence of the American vegetarian movement.[4]

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.[6] 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."[6]

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.[6] He also treated patients with homeopathy.[7]

Vegetarianism activism

Metcalfe in clerical attire

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.[5] In 1850 Metcalfe, Graham, Alcott and Russell Trall, established the American Vegetarian Society (AVS) in New York City, drawing inspiration from the Vegetarian Society,[8] a British organization formed in 1847,[9] who he served as Foreign Corresponding Secretary.[10]

Death

In 1854, Metcalfe's wife died. In 1859, following the death of AVS president William Alcott, he was elected as his successor.[11] 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.[12]

Publications

Notes

  1. ^ Not to be confused with James Clark (1830–1905). Clark's surname was also spelled Clarke.[2]
  2. ^ Among the group was Metcalfe's wife,[3] and his son.[1]: 58 

References

  1. ^ a b c d The Maintenance Committee (1917). History of the Philadelphia Bible-Christian Church: From 1817 to 1917. Philadelphia: J. P. Lippincott Company.
  2. ^ Shprintzen, Adam D. (2013). "CHAPTER ONE Proto-vegetarianism". The Vegetarian Crusade: The Rise of an American Reform Movement, 1817-1921. University of North Carolina Press. doi:10.5149/9781469608921_shprintzen. ISBN 978-1-4696-0891-4. JSTOR 10.5149/9781469608921_shprintzen.
  3. ^ "Vegetarianism in North America", Sins of the Flesh, University of British Columbia Press, pp. 308–332, July 1, 2009, doi:10.59962/9780774815116-015, ISBN 978-0-7748-1511-6, retrieved January 10, 2024
  4. ^ a b "History of Vegetarianism". Vegetarian Society. December 30, 2007. Archived from the original on December 30, 2007. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
  5. ^ a b Lehmkuhl, Vance. "Vegetarianism and Veganism". Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
  6. ^ a b c "History of Vegetarianism - Rev. William Metcalfe (1788-1862)". International Vegetarian Union. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
  7. ^ "Cornflake Crusade". The Vegetarian Resource Group (VRG). Retrieved January 10, 2024.
  8. ^ "American Vegetarian Society". International Vegetarian Union. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
  9. ^ Avey, Tori (January 28, 2014). "From Pythagorean to Pescatarian – The Evolution of Vegetarianism". PBS Food: The History Kitchen. Archived from the original on October 4, 2018. Retrieved September 15, 2016.
  10. ^ Forward, Charles W. (1898). Fifty Years of Food Reform: A History of the Vegetarian Movement in England. London: Ideal Pub. Union. p. 12 – via Internet Archive.
  11. ^ Williams, Howard (1883). "William Metcalfe M.D. 1788-1862". The Ethics of Diet – via International Vegetarian Union.
  12. ^ "Metcalfe, William, Md". McClintock and Strong Biblical Cyclopedia Online. Retrieved January 10, 2024.

Further reading

  • Works related to William Metcalfe at Wikisource
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