The Question of Dress by Editor

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · May 11, 1916

The Question of Dress

By Editor

THE question of proper dress for the Christian is one requiring the exercise of sanctified judgment. It is left for the most part with every individual to determine what he shall wear, and how he shall relate himself in detail to the conventionalities of society, the prevailing fashions, etc. The instruction of the Scriptures of truth regarding this subject deals for the most part with principles rather than with details. It admonishes the Christian woman to seek above outward ornamentation “the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.” It exhorts her to seek to represent Christ, her Saviour, in her dress as well as in her conversation and general deportment. The same principle of course applies to the dress of both men and women. If there ever was a time in the history of the world when there was needed by every Christian woman fine discrimination and sanctified judgment in the question of dress, that time is today.

The extravagances of fashion during the last few years have met hearty condemnation from every quarter, not alone from the leaders of Christian work, but from men of the world, from newspapers as well as from religious journals. It is not enough to excuse the wearing of abbreviated lengths or the use of gossamer material, with the plea of hygiene or a return to natural methods. The fact remains, and is recognized not alone by religious people, but by men of the world, that the styles of the last two or three years have made for impurity, and are a constant menace to the morals of the community. Speaking of this, the editor of the Lutheran says:—

“They tell us that to the pure all things are pure, and that, if there is any harm coming from the present fashion of female attire, it is the fault of the man who thinks evil. This is a very specious argument; it is about as thin as some of the raiment in which some reputable matrons array themselves, when they take pains to array themselves at all. One marvels that the testimony of the looking-glass counts for so little. One wonders that Christian husbands are so blind. We touch upon this matter with reluctance. We believe that much of the very evident offense against propriety is sheer thoughtlessness, and a blind following of fashion. But we also believe that it is none the less an offense against good morals. It furnishes a model and an excuse for younger women, less safeguarded by age and the restraints of wedlock, and makes them the possibly unwitting but nevertheless real tempters of young men wrestling with the hot passions of youth. To be very blunt about it, women have no moral right to dress as a vast host of them do today, and they must submit to be told that they are responsible for many errant thoughts which work out into sins against their own sex. And all for the lack of half a yard of stuff and a little resistance to the domination of the dressmaker.”

We feel that the question of proper dress is one deserving of the careful consideration of the members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Many, we are glad to note, in our various congregations are seeking to conform their dress to the simplicity and dignity of Christian manhood and womanhood. But with others there is great laxity. The tendency which we see on the part of some of our members to ape the fashions of the world, is but a demonstration of the drift of the worldly spirit which exists in their lives. The dress is but an indication of the character. The need of this class is not a course of lectures on the question of dress. This, as a rule, would only serve to irritate them. They need to obtain a new vision of God and of his great message of truth for this day, and of their relationship to that message. With that vision in their minds, they will seek to conform their dress as they do their conversation and their entire course of life, to that standard which will truly represent the character which they profess to the world.

And we believe that what is true of the question of dress is true in other particulars. It is proper that we should set before the members of our churches the dangers in the world today. We should uncover to their gaze the snares and pitfalls of the enemy. We should warn them against the baneful influences connected with worldly sports and pleasures; but when we see in their lives worldly tendencies, we should recognize that the true way to aid them is not by censure and faultfinding for the course they are pursuing, but by helping them to obtain a new vision of life and of life's responsibilities. Their slumbering senses need to be aroused to hear anew the call of God to them, and to recognize the position God would have them occupy in connection with this closing work.