W. J. Monk Explained

William John Monk (– 10 July 1896) was an English clergyman and activist for vegetarianism and temperance. He was a vice-president of the Vegetarian Society.^{[1] [2]}

Life and career

Monk was born in Kent around 1820.^[3] He obtained his BA in 1842 and MA in 1857 from the University of Cambridge.^[4] He became an ordained deacon in 1843 in Chester and priest in 1844.^[4]

Monk was the curate at Christ Church, Preston (1843–1845), Walton-le-Dale (1846–1847), Blackburn (1850–1853), Great Grimsby (1853–1858), St Alphege, Canterbury (1859–1863), Chartham, Kent (1863–1871) and vicar of Doddington (1872–1896).^[4]

Monk suffered from indigestion and became a teetotaller in 1876.^[5] In 1878, Monk commented "I am now a strict vegetarian, living on farinaceous food, fruit and vegetables. I drink nothing, not even water, a little milk and oatmeal porridge suffices for breakfast–butter and eggs I seldom touch".^[5] He was chairman and a speaker at Vegetarian Society meetings where he argued that vegetarianism is not a costly practice and that people could do well on a diet that contained no animal flesh.^[6]

Monk was President of the National Food Reform Society which later became the Vegetarian Society's London Auxiliary.^[5] He resigned in 1888.^[3] Monk was also a vice-president of the Anti-Narcotic League and the Vegetarian Society for many years. He was on the committee of the East Kent Branch of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.^[5] He was on the council of the United Kingdom Alliance and was secretary of the Canterbury Church of England Temperance Society.^{[1] [7]}

Personal life and death

Monk married Alice Pickup in 1852, after her death he married W. Gardner in 1857.^[4] He died on 10 July 1896 at Doddington Vicarage, aged 76.^[4] His death was caused by a malignant growth.^[7]

External links

• Doddington Church

Notes and References

1. [Kean, Hilda]
2. Preece, Rod. (2008). Sins of the Flesh: A History of Ethical Vegetarian Thought. UBC Press. p. 274.
3. Book: Gregory, James Richard Thomas Elliott . The Vegetarian Movement in Britain c.1840–1901: A Study of Its Development, Personnel and Wider Connections . University of Southampton . 2002 . 2 . 82 . en . Biographical Index of British Vegetarians and Food reformers of the Victorian Era . 2022-10-02.
4. Book: Venn, John Archibald . Alumni cantabrigienses; a biographical list of all known students, graduates and holders of office at the University of Cambridge, from the earliest times to 1900; . 1922 . Cambridge University Press . 441.
5. Book: Forward, Charles Walter . Charles W. Forward . Fifty Years of Food Reform: A History of the Vegetarian Movement in England . The Ideal Publishing Union, The Vegetarian Society . 1898 . London, Manchester . 82.
6. News: May 16, 1888 . The Vegetarian Society . . 3.
7. News: Doddington. East Kent Gazette . 27 July 1946. 2.