Page:Thirty-nine reasons why I am a vegetarian.djvu/17

 spiritual growth and development which must precede an intelligent acceptance of Christianity and a love of it in the human heart.

The above are a few of the reasons for not eating the flesh of animals; now for some of the reasons for living on the productions of the field, the orchard, and the garden:

19. The cereals, of which wheat is the chief, rice, barley, oats and corn and the pulses, peas, beans and lentils, contain all the elements required for human nourishment without any poisonous elements. They constitute a pure food.

20. When the cereals are made into bread or combined with fruits and vegetables in the various ways, so well known to Vegetarian ladies, we have an ideal food and may live ideal lives! Our food may be simple, if we so prefer, or considerable variety may be enjoyed, but in either case, it must be pure. No flesh, no lard, no blood, tainted with disease.

21. Some Vegetarians prefer uncooked food; others cooked in endless variety. I prefer simple methods of preparation and only two or three dishes at a meal.

22. Some Vegetarians prefer even their grain uncooked or as ripened by the sunshine. A great variety of fruits, nuts and even vegetables can be eaten without artificial cooking (salads, for