Sidney H. Beard

Sidney Hartnoll Beard (1862 - 20 October 1938) was an English fruitarian, vegetarian activist and writer. He was President of the Order of the Golden Age. Beard was born in London. He became a vegetarian in 1894. He re-established the Order of the Golden Age in 1895. The Order's headquarters were located at Beard's residence in Ilfracombe. In 1904, the Order's new headquarters were located at Barcombe Hall in Paignton. Beard was the editor of the Herald of the Golden Age (1896-1918), the official journal for the Order of the Golden Age. The aim of the journal was to promote the "fruitarian system of living, and to teach its advantages." The journal promoted vegetarianism from a Christian perspective. Beard believed that a vegetarian diet should be pursued as a moral duty. Charles W. Forward described Beard as having "militant enthusiasm, intense earnestness and unswerving faith". He was married to Annie Patterson. Beard and his wife were spiritualists. He campaigned for the humane treatment of animals as part of his Christian spiritual belief system. Beard authored A Comprehensive Guide-Book to Natural, Hygienic and Humane Diet, in 1902. The book was criticized by health writer Carl Malmberg for making extremist claims. Beard died in Putney on 20 October 1938.