The Methodist Preacher who likes a rasher!

Hull Unitarian Society [L.288] – Newspaper clipping on Vegetarianism

“I have a good mind to mind to leave the Primitives and join [the] Unitarians” – a Primitive Methodist who loves a rasher…..

This is a quotation from a newspaper clipping that was found in the Hull Unitarian Society’s booklet, “Think of yourself”.  The four paged booklet itself covers the principles and beliefs of the Unitarian Church.  The clipping is stuck into the booklet and made an interesting read!

Throughout history, Religious conversion [the adoption of a set of beliefs identified with one particular religious denomination to the exclusion of other] has occurred for numerous reasons including active conversion by free choice due to a change in beliefs; secondary conversion;  deathbed conversion; conversion for convenience; martial conversion, and forced conversion.

However the “conversion” threatened by the writer of the letter with respect to his Primitive preacher, Mr Kendall, being a vegetarian has surely got to be a first!

The said preacher had obviously written against eating meat and the writer was appalled:

“To think of all the bacon I’ve seen him eat, and smack his lips over it, and then to turn around in this way! Why, it’s shameful, and now that he has turn vegetarian, I’ve a good mind to leave the Primitives and join the Unitarians” [image 1]

Image one - Newspaper clipping

The writer, however, doesn’t want to act rashly and sets out his arguments in favour of being a meat-eater to the Preacher and public in general.  He uses his knowledge of the Bible to put forward the religious reasons for continuing to eat meat.  For instance, he points out that the father in the “Prodigal Son’s” story did not say “bring forth the largest cabbage and let us boil it, or go into the fields and pull the biggest turnip, and let us be merry” – no, he requested that fatted calf be killed. The writer also questions if anyone, and especially Primitive Methodist, could be “merry over peas, turnips and onions”.

This “Primitive Methodist who loves a rasher” also asks what would happen, if everyone turned vegetarian, to the Primitive Methodist seed crushers, butchers and bacon dealers.  It is very interesting to note that he refers specifically to the “Primitive Methodists” – perhaps if you were of another religious persuasion, he wouldn’t have been as concerned!

He further exalts the Conference to back him in his endeavour to change Mr Kendall’s mind. 

“I call upon the Conference to interfere in this matter and compel Mr Kendall to eat bacon for breakfast, a beast heart for dinner, sausages for tea and tripe for supper”.

In today’s more enlightened society, vegetarianism has been embraced by many people of all faiths and religions - in fact, it transcends class, colour, gender and creed.

The article also demonstrates how much food tastes have changed since this article was written – tripe is never on my menu of choice….

Caoimhe West, Reader Assistant, Unlocking the Treasures Project