About

Born in 1894, he was the son of a hardworking tailor from New York’s Lower East Side. While much of his early life remains unknown, his marriage to Eve and the birth of their son, Raphael, offer glimpses into a life filled with deeper significance. His eventual decision to embrace vegetarianism adds an intriguing dimension to his character, suggesting a personal journey that would later shape his advocacy and life’s work.

Growing up during a period marked by rapid industrialization and urbanization, Gould was exposed to the contrasting effects of modernity on human health and the environment. His sensitivity to these issues—particularly how industrial practices impacted the food system and individual well-being—was a theme that would resonate throughout his career.

As a young man, Gould was drawn to ideas surrounding personal health, nutrition, and the interconnection between physical well-being and ethical living. During these formative years, he began to embrace a vision of health that went beyond the conventional approaches of his time. Influenced by early health reform movements, Gould became particularly interested in the concept of “natural hygiene,” a holistic approach to health that emphasized clean living, whole foods, and the avoidance of processed or unnatural substances.

This growing interest in health and wellness led Gould to explore the emerging world of vegetarianism, a dietary choice that would later become central to his advocacy. The idea that a plant-based diet could promote both individual health and societal well-being resonated deeply with him, fueling a lifelong commitment to spreading the benefits of vegetarianism to the broader public.

In 1946, New York City became the backdrop for a compelling debate moderated by Gould and hosted by the League for Public Discussion. The topic—“Is Meat Essential to Health?”—brought together passionate voices from both sides of the argument. On the vegetarian side, Dr. John Maxwell, an 84-year-old naturopathic physician from Chicago, and Dr. Christopher Gian-Cursio, a fervent natural hygienist and raw food advocate, offered their expertise. The pro-meat side featured health journalist Thomas Gaines and Professor Frank Sauchelli, a chiropractor and former vegetarian. Gould skillfully moderated the intense exchange, drawing out key points from both perspectives. The debate culminated in the publication of two letters reflecting the opposing views, which were featured in American Mercury, an influential magazine that ran from 1924 to 1981. These letters further enriched the ongoing discourse around nutrition and health, adding depth to the broader conversation.

The American Vegetarian Party was a pioneering political movement founded on July 28, 1947, at the Commodore Hotel in New York City, during the American Naturopathic Association’s convention. Co-founded by Dr. John Maxwell and Symon Gould, the party aimed to promote a deep respect for life, grounded in its core principles of anti-killing and pacifism. Gould saw the party as more than just a political platform; he envisioned it as a dynamic public relations campaign designed to raise awareness about vegetarianism and ethical living. His innovative approach caught the attention of major media outlets like The New York Times and Newsweek, sparking national conversations on these critical issues. At the time, Gould also served as secretary of the Vegetarian Society of New York, further solidifying his dedication to advancing vegetarian ideals and spreading their message far and wide.

Dr. John Maxwell, a passionate naturopathic physician and owner of a vegetarian restaurant, made history as the first presidential nominee for the American Vegetarian Party. Although technically ineligible to run due to not being born in the U.S., his candidacy marked the beginning of a groundbreaking movement. Symon Gould, a staunch advocate for political engagement, served as the vice-presidential nominee. In 1952, Gould returned to the race as vice-presidential nominee alongside Daniel J. Murphy, and again in 1956 with Dr. Herbert Shelton. By 1960, Gould stepped into the role of presidential nominee, with Dr. Christopher Gian-Cursio as his running mate.

Gould was nominated again for the presidency in 1964, but tragically, he passed away in 1963 before he could campaign. Despite holding four national conventions, the Vegetarian Party never achieved ballot access in any state, leaving its candidates unrepresented at the polls. After Gould’s untimely death, the party disbanded. Still, the ideals it championed have inspired determined efforts to revive the movement, reflecting a lasting commitment to its vision of ethical living and political change.

In 1948, Gould, attorney Irving Davidson, and esteemed doctors Herbert Shelton, William Esser, Christopher Gian-Cursio, Gerald Benesh, Jesse Mercer Gehman, and film producer Jack Dunn Trop came together to establish the American Natural Hygiene Society. Dr. Herbert Shelton was unanimously elected as the first president, driving a powerful movement. Through dedicated educational initiatives, the Society successfully reignited the Hygienic revolution, empowering thousands to embrace and apply the transformative principles of Natural Hygiene. This organization evolved into the National Health Association in 1998 and continues its mission to promote health and well-being for all.

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At the convention in 1950, noted by Symon Gould, the chairman, in Dr. Shelton’s Hygienic Review (July 1950), Dr. Herbert Shelton took the stage as the principal speaker, delivering a powerful address that left a lasting impact on the audience. With a masterful blend of factual insights and inspirational rhetoric, Dr. Shelton successfully converted many to the principles of Natural Hygiene. He guided his listeners through the intricate workings of the body’s cells and tissues, explaining how their optimal function is key to achieving true health and well-being.

Adding an unexpected but compelling twist to the event was the appearance of Dr. Gerald Benish, recently convicted in Ohio for practicing natural hygiene. This added a layer of urgency and significance to the proceedings. Dr. Shelton was reelected as president of the society, and with the addition of more than 80 new members, the American Natural Hygiene Society was officially incorporated under Texas law. This milestone marked a pivotal moment in the growth and formalization of the movement, further solidifying its place in the landscape of health and wellness advocacy.

Gould took the initiative to organize a series of exclusive classes led by Dr. Herbert Shelton and arranged a captivating lecture at the prestigious Roosevelt Auditorium. Working closely with Irving Davidson and J.D. Trop, he successfully attracted substantial media attention to these events, including a well-received radio address by Dr. Shelton that further amplified their impact.

As publicity director, Gould crafted an eye-catching circular to announce the upcoming annual convention. The cover featured a powerful excerpt from Dr. Norman Jolliffe, head of the Nutrition Bureau of the New York Health Department, which underscored a pressing public health crisis. The statement revealed that two-thirds of New York City’s residents were undernourished and at risk of disease, a stark reminder of the urgent need for better nutrition. This quote, published in The New York Times, added weight and credibility to Gould’s message, helping to draw attention to the convention and the larger movement it represented.

Dr. Jolliffe expressed serious concerns about using his name and statements and, through his attorney, formally demanded that Mr. Gould cease distribution of the circulars. In a bold and defiant move, Gould challenged Dr. Jolliffe to a “court duel,” suggesting that if the health official was genuinely committed to improving the health of New Yorkers, he should attend Dr. Shelton’s enlightening lectures on nutrition. Gould’s challenge was a provocative way of asserting the validity of the movement’s message while calling attention to what he saw as the disconnect between official rhetoric and practical solutions for public health.

Gould played a pivotal role in helping Dr. Herbert M. Shelton publish the groundbreaking article “The Case for Natural Hygiene” in the August issue of American Mercury, a respected magazine that ran from 1924 to 1981. This article marked a historic moment as the first time natural hygiene concepts were featured in a widely circulated mainstream magazine, reaching far beyond the typical audience of health publications. Co-authored by Dr. Herbert Shelton and Gould, it captivated an estimated half-million readers, significantly expanding awareness of natural hygiene and promoting its principles to a much broader audience. The article helped to elevate the movement, introducing new ideas on health and wellness to a diverse and influential readership.

In 1949, Gould embarked on a pioneering mission to promote vegetarianism in Israel, bringing with him a selection of innovative meat substitutes. He aimed to demonstrate how these alternatives could help address the urgent challenge of feeding a rapidly growing population. Upon his arrival, he hosted a groundbreaking vegetable dinner, inviting influential figures from the cabinet, farmers, physicians, and restaurant owners to experience the potential of these sustainable foods firsthand. Through this event, Gould sought not only to introduce the concept of plant-based nutrition but also to inspire a new, forward-thinking approach to food production that could help secure the future of Israel’s food system.

Gould passionately believed that to truly advance the cause of vegetarianism, individuals must first embody the principles they champion. Only by living as authentic examples of their beliefs can they genuinely inspire and persuade others of this lifestyle’s profound benefits and truths. Each day, they should seize the opportunity to take purposeful action—demonstrating, through both words and deeds, the power of vegetarianism to transform lives and communities. By living their values with conviction and integrity, they become beacons of change, spreading the message far and wide.

Symon Gould’s ability to garner attention and articulate the benefits of Natural Hygiene—a lifestyle centered on clean living, plant-based diets, and holistic health—was instrumental in bringing these ideas to a broader audience. He was a passionate and tireless promoter of his beliefs, and his legacy remains a testament to the power of vision, media, and political engagement in creating lasting societal change. His contributions to the vegetarian movement, health reform, and social activism inspired many who sought to align their values with their actions, striving for a world that is healthier, more ethical, and more compassionate for all.

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HYGIENE — THE HIGHWAY TO HEALTH

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The proper study of mankind is man. Our doctors should heed this admonition and stop their cruel and futile experiments on dogs, rabbits, guinea pigs, cats, rats, and other innocent animals in an attempt to ferret out the causes of disease or affect their cure. While there is a physiological resemblance between man and beast, the highly evolved human specimen with his psychological reflexes puts a wide chasm between the two and provides no honest basis for truly scientific conclusions.

I would recommend to these medical that they retreat to Nature and conjecturers there seek that esoteric and indigenous relationship of man to his environment, long since abandoned by moderns in their anti-natural form of existence, and attempt to discover the fundamental clues of those physical derangements which end in disease, instead of looking for them in bottled-up retorts, chemical effusions, elec- trical discharges all set forth in endless medical mumbo jumbo.

Such great teachers as Francis Bacon and Aristotle cautioned their fellow humans to be more observant of Nature and to be guided by its restrictions. Hippocrates, the father of humane medicine, was the first Hygienist when he taught that “in order to cure the human body it is necessary to have a knowledge of the whole of things.” Modern medical theory and practice, with its intensive specialization, is more hypocritical than Hippocratic.

Doctors, in order to achieve their true position in the humanistic scheme, must stop toying with dangerous “miracle” drugs which slowly kill as they cure (?) and concentrate on a more fundamental appreciation of the origins of disease. Hygiene would be for them a clear-cut way out of the chaos of materia medica, which piles one disease upon another to build a towering, ever-growing pyramid of death-dealing chronic ailments. Hygiene means true, basic health. One cannot, however, achieve that ideal state by obstructing the functions of nature with drugs, unnecessary surgery, adulterated and refined foods, unbalanced diets, and therapeutic gadgets.

Hygienists are the traffic police force on the highways of health. They seek to enforce a proper recognition of and respect for the natural laws which modern man, aided and abetted by the laissez-faire policy of patent-medicine endorsing physicians, ignores and deliberately violates. He figures, of course, to “beat the rap” with drug-store medication or the jazzed-up ministrations of barber-shop serum-vendors.

Hygiene is the green light on the road to real health. Watch for it. Be guided by it. Then go full speed ahead. Help yourself and help others reach that much-desired destination and thereby create a hygienically healthy nation which, in the final analysis, is the only lasting basis for a true, virile, and humane democracy.

By Symon Gould – From the 1949 Conference Program

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The NHA wishes to remind the readers that nothing in this or other publications is intended to constitute medical treatment or advice. Readers should be aware that some previous publications do not reflect the NHA’s current health teachings or approach to health in several areas.

Our Mission

The mission of the National Health Association is to educate and empower individuals to understand that health results from healthy living. We recognize the integration of all aspects of health: personal, environmental, and social.

We communicate the benefits of a plant-based diet, exercise and rest, a healthy environment, psychological well-being, and when indicated, the use of fasting.