While Evans, like most of the Shaker community, was vegan, little is written about this specific aspect of their lifestyle. The origin of this restriction is found in the Israelites’ diet while erring in the desert, during which time Moses’ instructions supposedly “purged” them after overindulging in Egypt. Evans briefly suggests that wars originate in animal slaughter (Shakers, Who They Are and What They Believe, 33-34), noting elsewhere that while Shakers strictly condemn cruelty towards animals, they do not indulge in “undue familiarity with dumb beasts” (Compendium, 186). The moral or ethical connection between veganism and other aspects of Shakerism is never made explicit nor are links to other reform topics like Temperance, community property, gender equality, and dress. These issues are addressed independently.

Religious Communism: A lecture by F.W. Evans (Shaker) of Mount Lebanon, Columbia Co., New York, U.S.A. : delivered in St. George's Hall, London, Sunday evening, August 6th, 1871 : with introductory remarks by the chairman of the meeting, Mr. Hepworth Dixon : also some account of the extent of the Shaker communities, and a narrative of the visit of Elder Evans to England ; an abstract of a lecture by Rev. J.M. Peebles, and his testimony in regard to the Shakers. London: J. Burns, [1871].

Shakers, Who They Are and What They Believe. Mt. Lebanon, NY: F. W Evans, Sherman P. Hand and J. P. MacLean, s.n.

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