p. 93 | Dress Reform Convention

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 5, 1872

Dress Reform Convention.

By James White; J. H. Waggoner

The Convention assembled in the house of worship in Battle Creek, Mich., Feb. 16, at 6, P. M. Eld. James White was elected Chairman, and J. H. Waggoner, Secretary. A Committee, which had been appointed at a preliminary meeting, reported as follows:—

REPORT OF COMMITTEE.

We believe that it is our duty to effect a reform in dress, as well as in diet; and that this reform should extend to our clothing, boots and shoes, and hats; and to secure uniformity and relieve our sisters from perplexity, we offer the following recommendations:—

1. The dress should be nine or ten inches from the floor, according to the hight and age of the wearer. Aged persons should have them longer, or retain the long dress at their own discretion. The pants should be straight, tapering so as to meet the shoe at the instep. The dress about the waist should be loose enough to give perfect freedom to the lungs, and to avoid a cramped or trammeled action in the motions of the body. We recommend uniformity in color, as far as possible, avoiding large plaids, and gay colors. Plain and substantial cloth should be preferred.

2. The hat, or head-dress, should have a rim varying from two to two and three-fourths inches in width, and a crown from two to two and a half in hight. Aged sisters should have a plain bonnet that will serve as a protection to the head.

3. The present style of shoes and boots is not adapted to the shape of the foot, and consequently they are not fit to wear. The high, small heels throw the body out of balance, give awkwardness to the gait and strain the muscles, and are, therefore, a great cause of ill health. Shoes should be of material heavy enough, and have soles thick enough, to protect from the weather. And their shape and size should be such as to leave the foot free in motion, and to retain the natural position in standing.

4. The dress should be worn from principle, and when once adopted should not be laid aside, or changed for the long dress, for the sake of convenience or for pride, either for traveling, or for other purposes.

We believe that this reform is, in the hands of God, the means for distinguishing, and separating us from the world and its fashionable follies, as much as the ribbon of blue distinguished the children of Israel from the surrounding nations; and that yielding the principles of the dress reform has been the means of stifling convictions of duty, and a fruitful source of backsliding, and of yielding other principles which we hold near and dear to us as followers of the Lord Jesus Christ.

This report was accepted.

It was moved and voted that a Dress Reform Association be formed.

Several spoke on the subject of the report of the committee, mostly fully endorsing the principles set forth. The Chairman called for a vote of the male portion of the audience to show that all the brethren were in favor of the dress reform and the report of the committee.

It was moved and voted to appoint a Committee on Organization.

U. Smith, B. Salisbury, P. M. Lamson, Aurora B. Lockwood, and Jennie Trembley, were appointed that committee.

Also voted to have a Committee on Nominations. The same committee was appointed to act as such.

Adjourned till next day, at 10:30, A. M.

SECOND SESSION.

Committee on Organization reported progress. Report was accepted, and matter referred back for further action.

Reported on nominations. Report accepted, and persons nominated as a Board of Directors were elected, as follows: James White, Ira Abbey, H. S. Woolsey, E. H. Root, E. G. White, P. M. Lamson, Addie Chamberlain, Emma H. Woolsey, Aurora B. Lockwood.

After remarks by quite a number of the brethren and sisters present, the meeting adjourned to 6½, P. M.

The Committee on Organization further reported. The report was accepted.

After a third reading, the following constitution, recommended by the committee, was adopted:—

CONSTITUTION.

In order to carry out the principles of the Dress Reform, to secure uniformity and consistency of action, and to enable those who believe in this Reform to procure the proper materials and styles for apparel, we hereby form ourselves into an Association, and adopt the following Constitution:

ARTICLE I.

This Association shall be called the Dress Reform Association, and shall be located in Battle Creek, Michigan.

ARTICLE II.

The officers of this Association shall consist of a Board of nine Directors, who shall choose a President, Secretary, and Treasurer, from their own number; and they shall be elected annually.

ARTICLE III.

Any person may become a member of this Association by subscribing to the principles adopted at its organization.

ARTICLE IV.

It shall be the duty of the Board of Directors to establish supply depots of materials, dress patterns, hats, boots and shoes, &c. And for this purpose they may raise funds in such ways as they may consider expedient, and therewith establish a store under their own direction, or they may establish it on the basis of a union store.

ARTICLE V.

It shall devolve upon the Secretary, in addition to his ordinary duties, to keep, in a book suitable for that purpose, a list of the names of all the members of the Association.

ARTICLE VI.

SEC. 1. The first annual meeting of this Association shall be held in connection with the next annual meeting of the Health Reform Institute, and the term of office of the Directors shall thereafter co-incide with that of the Directors of the Health Institute.

SEC. 2. Due notice of each annual meeting, stating the time and place, shall be given by the Directors.

SEC. 3. Special meetings may be called at the option of the Directors.

ARTICLE VII.

This Constitution may be amended by a vote of two-thirds of the members present at any regular meeting of the Association.

There being no other business to come before the meeting, the convention adjourned sine die.

JAMES WHITE, Chairman.

J. H. WAGGONER, Sec’y.