WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT.
By E. A. H.
“Sisters, we may do a noble work for God if we will. Woman does not know her power. God did not intend that her capabilities should be all absorbed in questioning, What shall I eat? what shall I drink? and wherewithal shall I be clothed? There is a higher purpose for woman, a grander destiny. She should develop and cultivate her powers; for God can employ them in the great work of saving souls from eternal ruin.” “Simplicity of dress will make a sensible woman appear to the best advantage. We judge of a person’s character by the style of dress worn. Gaudy apparel betrays vanity and weakness. A modest, godly woman will dress modestly. A refined taste, a cultivated mind, will be revealed in the choice of simple and appropriate attire.” “To protect the people of God from the corrupting influence of the world, as well as to promote physical and moral health, the dress reform was introduced among us. It was not intended to be a yoke of bondage, but a blessing; not to increase labor, but to save labor; not to add to the expense of dress, but to save expense. It would distinguish God’s people from the world, and thus serve as a barrier against its fashions and follies. He who knows the end from the beginning, who understands our nature and our needs,—our compassionate Redeemer,—saw our dangers and difficulties, and condescended to give us timely warning and instruction concerning our habits of life, even in the proper selection of food and clothing.” Why has the “reform dress” given to Seventh-day Adventist women years ago, been laid aside? Has the Lord ever given any other style of dress to take its place? S. E. C. “The question may be asked, Why has this dress been laid aside? . . . The reason for this change I will here briefly state. While many of our sisters accepted this reform from principle, others opposed the simple, healthful style of dress which it advocated. It required much labor to introduce this reform among our people. It was not enough to present before our sisters the advantages of such a dress, and to convince them that it would meet the approval of God. Fashion had so strong a hold upon them that they were slow to break away from its control.” “As our sisters would not generally accept the reform dress as it should be worn, another, less objectionable style, is now presented. It is free from needless trimmings, free from the looped-up, tied-back overskirts. It consists of a plain saque, or loose-fitting basque, and skirt, the latter short enough to avoid the mud and filth of the streets. The material should be free from large plaids and figures, and plain in color.” If the sisters want further information on this subject, they will find it in “Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. IV, pages 635–648. Is it possible always to wear a neat, plain dress, and yet fail to reach the Bible standard of dress reform? A. G. W. Yes; our body is the temple of the Holy Ghost, and if, under a plain dress, we mar or injure that temple, we are dishonoring God. “Dress reform comprised more than shortening the dress, and clothing the limbs. It included every article of dress upon the person. It lifted the weights from the hips by suspending the skirts from the shoulders. It removed the tight corsets, which compress the lungs, the stomach, and other internal organs, and induce curvature of the spine, and an almost countless train of diseases. Dress reform proper provided for the protection and development of every part of the body.”