EXTRACTS FROM CORRESPONDENCE.
The following letter contains principles which are so true that although it was written from an entire miscomprehension of the case, I feel like giving it to our readers. But that the writer, and all who read, may understand, I will say that the catalogue referred to is an explanation of how to make healthful dress for women who will be fashionable or nothing, and whom we would like to keep alive, and as near sane as possible until they can have an opportunity to hear the truth and be saved. It is not supposed that Seventh-day Adventist women will put on all the trimmings indicated; but we do hope to induce fashionable women to lay off their corsets and heavy skirts, and adopt a dress, which, even if it is bedecked and be-trimmed, will be a starting point toward the kingdom. We must take people as they are, and try to make them what they ought to be. It is supposed that Seventh-day Adventist women will be able to make the dress without the trimmings. The same hygienic principles prevail whether the dress is trimmed or not. You can take the catalogue and show it to your sisters, and explain to them that this is made for the eye of the world, who would not look at it if it did not have about it something which the fashionable woman considers attractive. Any woman who knows the truth ought to be able to see below all the superficial show of such a diagram as is contained in this catalogue, and we have the promise that nothing shall offend those who have the peace of God in their hearts: “Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.” Let us cultivate that peace, and instead of criticizing, stand by and pray for those who are trying to reach the souls that are at present entangled in the maze of this world's customs and pretenses.
S. M. I. H. I received the catalogue of fashion of how to make our dresses, and, oh, how my heart sank within me when I opened it and saw the figure plates; for it said to me as plain as could be, “My Lord delayeth his coming.” I could not show that catalogue to my sisters, for it would license them to think that they might spend their money for that which is not bread, and they do that enough now. Oh, how can we put so much trimming on our clothes when there is such a call for money to pay our workers, and when the Conference is so in debt, and when souls for whom Jesus died are perishing all around us, and we know that in foreign lands many souls will perish unless we do warn them. The Conference called for ten cents apiece a week from the members of our churches at the camp-meeting, but it seems that they have not responded very well. I believe that we as a people spend more than that amount in a year for things that are of no account to us who are looking for the soon-coming of our Saviour; and will not God require this at our hands?—Surely he will. We have been praying for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, but how can he pour out his Spirit upon us when we are so fussed up with the fashions of the world. I know he can not do this, for he says so in his Word, and in the Testimonies. The cost of extra cloth, and other trimmings, would go a good ways to make up the ten cents a week for a year; that is, what we spend on one dress, the material ranging from fifty cents to one dollar a yard, which is all unnecessary, and only to gratify our pride. The Testimonies teach that we must overcome pride and every evil thing. We know that we must not please self, but God; not because we have to, but because we love him, and want to obey him. The lack of money to forward the message is on account of the unbelief on the part of God's people. It was unbelief that kept the children of Israel out of the promised land, and it will be unbelief that will keep us out of the kingdom. When the call to give ten cents a week was made, I raised my hand, but I did not know where it was coming from. I said in my heart, Lord, you give it to me; and praise his holy name, he has given it to me, and more. Perhaps it would not be out of place to tell something of my circumstances for the benefit of others. For almost two years three dollars a month is all I have had to depend upon in money. My health has been very poor for ten years. Six years of that time I was able to do scarcely anything, but the last two years I have kept house alone, and have raised a garden, which has supported me. I kept out one tenth for tithes, and one ninth for missionary money. The Lord has greatly blessed me, and now I am ahead with my ten cents a week, for which I praise his holy name. The house in which I live is my own, so I have no rent to pay. I rent the front part of it for a meeting-room, in which we hold our church services every Sabbath, and that is where the three dollars a month comes from. I have one son, and he gave me money enough to pay my taxes this year. I have sold from twenty-five to one hundred copies of the extra number of the Signs. I give to the Religious Liberty Association one dollar a year, and I also tithe the three dollars a month. I do not say this to boast of what I have done. God forbid. It is only to show what God will do for us if we let him. Now where does the fault lie? The Bible says, Like priest, like people. Oh, let us put off the works of darkness, and have faith in God. What shall we call our meetings? People ask me about it, and I do not know what name to give. I don't like to call them mothers' meetings. As to what you shall call your meetings, call them Women's Gospel Meetings. Invite both old and young, men and women, to attend the meetings, and make them as practical as possible. Take up subjects which are of everyday interest to the family,—fathers, mothers, and children together.
S. M. I. H.