PART I: Who Was Dr. Herbert M. Shelton?
A Dr. Herbert M. Shelton TimeLine
years. In 1941, Dr. Benesh moves from Chiropractic to Hygienic Doctor. Today, only a few seasoned Hygienic Doctors of the last century remain in practice: Dr. Vetrano, Dr. Benesh, Dr. Esser, and Dr. Scott, among a few others. And many young doctors have stepped forward, some more Pure Hygienic than others.
1942 An amazing and inspirational book by Dr. Shelton is published: Health for All. Like so many of his books, this book was out of print for many, many years. It has just made available once again! In 1942, Dr. Shelton is brought to trial on a charge of "negligent homicide" for starving a patient to death at Dr. Shelton's Health School and for "treating and offering to treat a human being without a state medical license." Mrs. John Gillis dies while under Dr. Shelton's care at his school. The case, however, is never tried. The charges are dropped.
1943 Ghandi had long been inspired by Dr. Shelton's work, especially his treatises on fasting. Ghandi, accordingly, invites Dr. Shelton to work and study with him in India for a 6 year sabbatical. Dr. Shelton was giving the Ghandi invitation serious consideration when World War II forever interrupts their plans. Ghandi had referred to Volume III of The Hygienic System throughout his fasting career: more than half of his 17 fasts were political in nature, protesting The British occupation of what should have been a free India.
It was in 1943, also, that Dr. Shelton adopted the banner: "Let Us Have The Truth though The Heavens Fall!" At first glance, this may look like a delightful enough stance for all Truth Seekers! It is dramatic! It is emphatic! But I do see it another way. This statement, of which Dr. Shelton became so fond that he slapped it across his magazine front covers, is a subtle reflection of The Agnostic Shelton. "The Heavens," throughout Scripture, are known as that place wherein God resides. And God always stands for "The Truth." "The Heavens" could not harbor lies, deceit, exploitation, murder, poison, or any material or spiritual darkness! And "The Heavens" will never "fall," just because "The Truth" has been revealed! "The Heavens" are the home of "The Truth." No doubt, Dr. Shelton liked this iconoclastic and subtly blasphemous statement for the hyperbole involved. (A "hyperbole" is a literary term that means "an exaggeration, a bigger than life comparison used to make a shockingly dramatic, or amusing or sarcastic effect.") I believe this is why T.C. Fry picked up this Shelton banner and waved it with so much mocking bravado til the day he died: it was a way of slapping Christians and their beliefs right in the face and getting away with it, because they never stopped to realize what the statement was implying. God cannot lie, and The Heavens will not fall, and God will not fall one day with The Heavens when all Truth is revealed. When The Agnostic or The Atheist starts promoting Natural Hygiene to The Christian Health Seeker, this is the kind of statement that makes them leery of the promoter's total message. Who wants to listen to a promoter with a lot of knowledge but who is seeing through a dark glass and without wisdom? A better banner could have been chosen to declare: "Let Us Have The Truth So that The Heavens May Rejoice!"
1945 Dr. Shelton is kicked in the mouth by his stallion, and this marks the beginning of his slowing down. His teeth are badly jarred, and he begins to lose them, one at a time, over the years. This impairs some of his nutritional well-being.
1946 Dr. Shelton has taken on a number of nicknames over the years, including the following: "Sandbur of the Rio Grande," "The Diamond in the Rough," "The Quack", and "The Workaholic."
1947 By this time, Dr. Shelton's Health School has moved into its 6th location. Ida and Herbert have grown apart to a great degree. Both are becoming weary of the mountains of work and pile of responsibilities.
During the 1940s & 1950s More Hygienic doctors arrive on the scene and are arrested as was Dr. Shelton. Many arrests and incarcerations take place. Dr. Shelton speculates that the leaders of the 20th century Hygienic movement were being oppressed and harassed with a greater ferocity and tenacity than
