Royal Dixon | |
|---|---|
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| Born | 25 March 1885[1] |
| Died | 4 June 1962(1962-06-04) (aged 77) |
| Occupation(s) | Botanist, writer |
Royal Dixon (25 March 1885 – 4 June 1962) was an Americananimal rights activist,botanist, philosopher, and a member of theAmericanization movement. He was the founder of the First Church for Animal Rights in 1921.
Dixon was born atHuntsville, Texas on 25 March 1885 to Elijah and Francis Elizabeth Dixon.[1] He was educated at theSam Houston Normal Institute, Morgan Park Academy, Chicago and later as aspecial student at theUniversity of Chicago. His earliest career was as a child actor and dancer trained by Adele Fox. His last theatre appearance was in 1903 as an actor with the Iroquois theater in Chicago.[2] He became a curator at the department ofbotany at theField Museum of Chicago from 1905 to 1910.[3] He subsequently became a staff writer at theHouston Chronicle. He also made special contributions to the newspapers ofNew York City, where he lectured for theBoard of Education and founded a school for creative writing. His interest and attention were later directed toimmigration, as a director of publicity of theCommission of Immigrants in America, and as managing editor ofThe Immigrants in America Review. He published a book on how immigrants needed to be "americanized" into a single uniform culture.[4]
Dixon's philosophical world-view was essentiallypanpsychic. From his studies in botany and natural science he held the view that everything was alive and that eveninsects andplants have personality. For example, in his bookThe Human Side of Plants he argued that plants are sentient and have minds and souls. A review in theNature journal described the book as "partly a rebound from ahortus siccus botany, partly an uncritical vitalism, and partly a somewhat saddening illustration of the lack of critical balance."[5] The review was disappointed by this because Dixon cited many interesting facts about plants including their adaptations and movements but was criticized foranthropomorphism when comparing plant activities to humans.[5]
Dixon was a Christian who believed that the scriptures imply that "man and beasts" equally share a future life beyond physical death.[6] In his bookThe Personality of Water-Animals he wrote that "the Greatest of all teachers Christ knew the value of marine education for he chose as his disciples men thoroughly acquainted with the sea".[7]
In 1921, Dixon founded the First Church for Animal Rights in Manhattan and it had a membership of 300 people. The inauguration of the church was held on 13 March 1921 at theHotel Astor.[8] Speakers at the inauguration included MrsDiana Belais, Mrs Edwin Markham, Dr John Edward Oster, Mrs Margaret Crumpacker, MissJessie B. Rittenhouse, Dr. A. L. Lucas andMiles M. Dawson.[8][9]
The First Church of Animal Rights held a service each Sunday at the Hotel Astor.[9] An "Animal Bible" was to be used at the Sunday service. This Bible contained chapters from both the Old and New Testaments dealing with humaneness to animals.[9]
A full list of the church's objectives included:[2][10]
Dixon is cited as an early activist and philosopher of animal rights. HistorianRoderick Nash has commented that "Dixon tried to call Americans' attention to the idea that all animals have "the inalienable right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness".[11]
Dixon lived with his partner, a local artist,Chester Snowden. Dixon's letters and works are archived at the University of Houston Library.[12] Dixon was buried in Houston's Glenwood Cemetery.[13]
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