From the former British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection
journal AV Times (August/September, 1974)
The Annual General Meeting of the Friends Animal Welfare and
Anti-Vivisection Society, which took place at Friends House on May 11,
approved a draft letter to the Home Secretary which had been prepared by
the Chairman, Edward Osmotherly. The letter expressed sadness and deep
concern that, in this country alone, 5,000,000 animals had been used in
experiments during 1972. It continued, "we feel that there is a
spiritual connection between the widespread exploitation of animals
which is taking place today and the increase of violence in our midst
which must cause uneasiness in every thinking person."
Florence Surfleet, the Chairman of Friends Vegetarian Society, which
met on the same occasion, reported a year in which requests for
literature had greatly increased and had been received from all over the
world. She also gave details of a fund which has been started to provide
homes for elderly vegetarians. The work of FVS could be greatly
strengthened, she said, if more vegetarian Friends felt able to support
the Society.
The gathering was addressed by E. Sewell Harris, whose talk was
entitled: 'The Body of Man is the Temple of the Lord.' It explored the
relationship between humanity and the rest of the creation, emphasising
the great power and therefore the great responsibility which was man's.
So often, he said, the power was used without sufficient spiritual
wisdom, in a mood of arrogance rather than humility. Other living
creatures, inanimate objects also, were expressions of God's creative
nature and we must re-examine our attitude towards them.
A.S. and T.L
Reproduced with thanks
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