fifty years ago from The Vegetarian Autumn 1996 Since 1848, the Society has been producing a journal for the benefit of its members. Times change, but the issues surrounding the movement remain remarkably the same. Former Magazine Editor, now Local Network Co-ordinator, Bronwen Humphreys, looks at the way we were. It's that time of year when the Society has to publish its Annual Accounts so you can see where your money goes. At the time of writing, the auditors have been with us for several weeks, hard at work so you will get your copy of our accounts with this issue of the magazine. In 1946, the London Vegetarian Society included the accounts for the previous year in their summer magazine, the financial year running from January 1 to December 31. I'm sure our Accounts Office would be very pleased if today's telephone bill could be more like theirs, £17 7s 6d, or the postage bill - £43 12s 11d (this included telegrams), travel expenses at £5 14s and advertising at just £4. There's a note attached advising that a war damage claim of £189 5s had been settled, but not yet received.

Autumn's issue of The Vegetarian News sounded optimistic though. The London Vegetarian Society was able to put on a busy programme of activities, a refreshing change after the restrictions of the war years. Social events in the offing included a Grand Hallowe'en Party and Dance, The Vegetarian Social Club's dances, various lectures, cookery demonstrations and the Animals Fair. A public meeting planned for November 14 in the Caxton Hall, Westminster, was opened by a cycle roller competition staged by the Vegetarian Cycling and Athletic Club, to demonstrate that their fleshless diet was a big factor in maintaining fitness. There's a photograph of the finalists in the next issue, looking a little precariously balanced on their rollers but undoubtedly in fine fettle.

'The London Vegetarian Society was able to put on a busy programme of activities, a refreshing change after the restrictions of the war years'

One Can't help feeling a twinge of sympathy for S.E.N. who, writing in The Vegetarian News, complains that far too many caterers seem to think that they've made sufficient effort if they can offer vegetarian customers a dish of macaroni. Disgruntled S.E.N observes that even with rationing restrictions, there were still enough nuts, lentils, beans and dairy produce of activities, around to cook up something more appetising and nutritious. The recipe pages featured some 'healthy cocktails'. Cleopatra's Shake is supposed to be good for your hair, skin and Complexion: 'Shake well together one-third raw cabbage juice, one-third cauliflower juice and one-third carrot juice. Take it before dinner.' For Lustrous Locks we are advised to try 'one-third spinach juice, one-third carrot juice and one-third cucumber juice (don't peel the cucumbers)' and the Morning After Cocktail consisted of 'two-thirds of a glass of tomato juice mixed with one-third celery juice, then add a level teaspoon of finely chopped onion'. Er... I think I'll stick to my Sanatogen vegetarian vitamins, thanks! Up in Manchester, The Vegetarian Society was looking forward to its 99th Anniversary, to be marked by it's Annual General Meeting on November 9 and 11 (Saturday and Monday). On the Monday, Mrs Fay Henderson gave a cookery demonstration in the City Gas Department's Demonstration Theatre in the town hall featuring 'Savoury dishes without flesh meat and sweet dishes without eggs or milk'. A public meeting was held in the evening in the Albert Hall with lectures entitled 'A Re-Orientation of Life' and 'Diet in Middle Age'. The Executive Committee had started an appeal for contributions towards the cxpcnscs of celebrating the forthcoming centenary. As usual, some of thc concerns that were being aired on the pages of The Vegetarian Messenger have a familiar ring! There was some correspondence taking place con cerning whether or not it was a good thing for vegetarian foods to be given names that implied they were 'mock' meats. A protest against the cruel way in which cattle were treated during transportation was right on the front page and Moira Henry, in an article that discussed whether or not the biblical command 'Thou shalt not kill' extends to animals, pointed out '...if killing were right, one might expect animals to look for death at the hands of man. On the contrary, their well-developed instinct of self-preservation seems to indicate that what God has joined no man should put asunder!' On the other hand, now and then you spot an item that shows how opinions on some subjects have been completely turned around ill the last half-century. The Montgomeryshire War Agricultural Committee was praised for transforming many hundreds of acres of what they called 'waste' land into agricultural holdings. At the time, production of more food was vital. Now, though, we'd be more likely to call those 'waste' acres conservation areas and start a campaign to preserve them!

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The Vegetarian is published by The Vegetarian Society and is sent free of charge to all members.