In answer to letters of inquiry from many
sisters relative to the proper length of the reform dress, I
would say that in our part of the State of Michigan we have adopted
the uniform length of about nine inches from the floor. I take
this opportunity to answer these inquiries in order to save the
time required to answer so many letters. I should have spoken
before, but have waited to see something definite on this point
in the Health Reformer. I would earnestly recommend uniformity
in length, and would say that nine inches as nearly accords with
my views of the matter as I am able to express it in inches.
As I travel from place to place I find
that the reform dress is not rightly represented, and am made
to feel that something more definite should be said that there
may be uniform action in this matter. This style of dress is
unpopular, and for this reason neatness and taste should be exercised
by those who adopt it. I have spoken once upon this point, yet
some fail to follow the advice given. There should be uniformity
as to the length of the reform dress among Sabbathkeepers. Those
who make themselves peculiar by adopting this dress should not
think for a moment that it is unnecessary to show order, taste,
and neatness. Before putting on the reform dress, our sisters
should obtain patterns of the pants and sack worn with it. It
is a great injury to the dress reform to have persons introduce
into a community a style which in every particular needs reforming
before it can rightly represent the reform dress. Wait, sisters,
till you can put the dress on right.
In some places there is great opposition
to the short dress. But when I see some dresses worn by the sisters,
I do not wonder that people are disgusted and condemn the dress.
Where the dress is represented as it should be, all candid persons
are constrained to admit that it is modest and convenient. In
some of our churches I have seen all kinds of reform dresses,
and yet not one answering the description
presented before me. Some appear with white muslin pants, white
sleeves, dark delaine dress, and a sleeveless sack of the same
description as the dress. Some have a calico dress with pants
cut after their own fashioning, not after "the pattern,"
without starch or stiffening to give them form, and clinging
close to the limbs. There is certainly nothing in these dresses
manifesting taste or order. Such a dress would not recommend
itself to the good judgment of sensible-minded persons. In every
sense of the word it is a deformed dress.
Sisters who have opposing husbands have
asked my advice in regard to their adopting the short dress contrary
to the wishes of the husband. I advise them to wait. I do not
consider the dress question of so vital importance as the Sabbath.
Concerning the latter there can be no hesitation. But the opposition
which many might receive should they adopt the dress reform would
be more injurious to health than the dress would be beneficial.
Several of these sisters have said to me: "My husband likes
your dress; he says he has not one word of fault to find with
it." This has led me to see the necessity of our sisters'
representing the dress reform aright, by manifesting neatness,
order, and uniformity in dress. I shall have patterns prepared
to take with me as we travel, ready to hand to our sisters whom
we shall meet, or to send by mail to all who may order them.
Our address will be given in the Review.
Those who adopt the short dress should
manifest taste in the selection of colors. Those who are unable
to buy new cloth must do the best they can to exercise taste
and ingenuity in fixing over old garments, making them new again.
Be particular to have the pants and dress of the same color and
material, or you will appear fantastic. Old garments may be cut
after a correct pattern and arranged tastefully, and appear like
new. I beg of you, sisters, not to form your patterns after your
own particular ideas. While there are correct patterns and
good tastes, there are also incorrect patterns
and bad tastes.
This dress does not require hoops, and
I hope that it will never be disgraced by them. Our sisters need
not wear many skirts to distend the dress. It appears much more
becoming falling about the form naturally over one or two light
skirts. Moreen is excellent material for outside skirts; it retains
its stiffness and is durable. If anything is worn in skirts,
let it be very small. Quilts are unnecessary. Yet I frequently
see them worn, and sometimes hanging a trifle below the dress.
This gives it an immodest, untidy appearance. White skirts, worn
with dark dresses, do not become the short dress. Be particular
to have your skirts clean, neat, and nice; make them of good
material and in all cases at least three inches shorter than
the dress. If anything is worn to distend the skirt, let it be
small and at least one quarter or one half a yard from the bottom
of the dress or outside skirt. If a cord, or anything answering
the place of cords, is placed directly around the bottom of the
skirt, it distends the dress merely at the bottom, making it
appear very unbecoming when the wearer is sitting or stooping.
None need fear that I shall make dress
reform one of my principal subjects as we travel from place to
place. Those who have heard me upon this matter will have to
act upon the light that has already been given. I have done my
duty; I have borne my testimony, and those who have heard me
and read that which I have written must now bear the responsibility
of receiving or rejecting the light given. If they choose to
venture to be forgetful hearers, and not doers of the work, they
run their own risk and will be accountable to God for the course
they pursue. I am clear. I shall urge none and condemn none.
This is not the work assigned me. God knows His humble, willing,
obedient children and will reward them according to their faithful
performance of His will. To many the dress reform is too simple
and humbling to be adopted. They
cannot lift the cross. God works by simple means to separate
and distinguish His children from the world; but some have so
departed from the simplicity of the work and ways of God that
they are above the work, not in it.
I was referred to Numbers 15:38-41: "Speak
unto the children of Israel, and bid them that they make them
fringes in the borders of their garments throughout their generations,
and that they put upon the fringe of the borders a ribband of
blue: and it shall be unto you for a fringe, that ye may look
upon it, and remember all the commandments of the Lord, and do
them; and that ye seek not after your own heart and your own
eyes, after which ye use to go a whoring: that ye may remember,
and do all My commandments, and be holy unto your God. I am the
Lord your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, to
be your God: I am the Lord your God." Here God expressly
commanded a very simple arrangement of dress for the children
of Israel for the purpose of distinguishing them from the idolatrous
nations around them. As they looked upon their peculiarity of
dress, they were to remember that they were God's commandment-keeping
people, and that He had wrought in a miraculous manner to bring
them from Egyptian bondage to serve Him, to be a holy people
unto Him. They were not to serve their own desires, or to imitate
the idolatrous nations around them, but to remain a distinct,
separate people, that all who looked upon them might say: These
are they whom God brought out of the land of Egypt, who keep
the law of Ten Commandments. An Israelite was known to be such
as soon as seen, for God through simple means distinguished him
as His.
The order given by God to the children
of Israel to place a ribbon of blue in their garments was to
have no direct influence on their health, only as God would bless
them by obedience, and the ribbon would keep in their memory
the high claims of Jehovah and prevent them from mingling with
other nations, uniting in their drunken feasts, and eating swine's
flesh and luxurious food detrimental to health.
God would now have His people adopt the reform dress, not only
to distinguish them from the world as His "peculiar people,"
but because a reform in dress is essential to physical and mental
health. God's people have, to a great extent, lost their peculiarity,
and have been gradually patterning after the world, and mingling
with them, until they have in many respects become like them.
This is displeasing to God. He directs them, as He directed the
children of Israel anciently, to come out from the world and
forsake their idolatrous practices, not following their own hearts
(for their hearts are unsanctified) or their own eyes, which
have led them to depart from God and to unite with the world.
Something must arise to lessen the hold
of God's people upon the world. The reform dress is simple and
healthful, yet there is a cross in it. I thank God for the cross
and cheerfully bow to lift it. We have been so united with the
world that we have lost sight of the cross and do not suffer
for Christ's sake.
We should not wish to invent something
to make a cross; but if God presents to us a cross, we should
cheerfully bear it. In the acceptance of the cross we are distinguished
from the world, who love us not and ridicule our peculiarity.
Christ was hated by the world because He was not of the world.
Can His followers expect to fare better than their Master? If
we pass along without receiving censure or frowns from the world
we may be alarmed, for it is our conformity to the world which
makes us so much like them that there is nothing to arouse their
envy or malice; there is no collision of spirits. The world despises
the cross. "For the preaching of the cross is to them that
perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power
of God." 1 Corinthians 1:18. "But God forbid that I
should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by
whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world."
Galatians 6:14. [SEE APPENDIX.]