A request has been made for me to post the manuscript that I wrote about dress reform. Because it is many pages long, I will post it chapter by chapter. Following is the first chapter. But first a little background.

Ellen G. White had a lot to say about dress reform and proper dress. Her writings expanded on the words of scripture which show how we are to dress, especially women. This topic has interested me for many years, and about 8 years ago I began studying what the Bible and Ellen White says about dress and researching the history of dress, particularly that of the nineteenth century. This was necessary in order to define the principles of dress reform and apply them today. From that study and research came a manuscript I will begin posting here. It has never been printed or published. It is my desire simply to help others learn what God expects of us.

I want to point out that EGW mentions three different items that are not to be made a test of fellowship: Tithing, vegetarian diet, and dress reform. That doesn't mean they are unimportant. We are not to judge our sisters and brothers by what they wear. But each should see for him/herself how God expects His children to dress. The world judges the truth of our profession of Christianity by what we wear, what we say, and how we act.

The entire manuscript is actually divided into three sections, one each for dress, speech, and deportment. May God bless you as you read. Ask questions if you like. It is certain that we will not all be in agreement on every point. It is best to take what the Bible and SOP say, study and pray about it, and seek God's guidance in applying the principles to your own life.
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Even so come, Lord Jesus
Linda

[This message has been edited by Linda Sutton (edited August 14, 2000).]

APRONS, COATS, AND GARMENTS OF LIGHT

"In the beginning was the Word,...and the Word was God" who is "clothed with honor and majesty" and covers Himself "with light as with a garment." He makes "his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire," (John 1:1; Ps. 104:1,2,4).

"In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth." "All things were made by Him." He "created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him, male and female created he them." "And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good." (Gen. 1:1; John 1:3; Gen. 1:27,31). The male and the female, Adam and Eve, came forth from the Creator's hands perfect in every way.

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He was of lofty stature and perfect symmetry. His countenance bore the ruddy tint of health and glowed with the light of life and joy. Adam's height was much greater than that of men who now inhabit the earth. Eve was somewhat less in stature; yet her form was noble, and full of beauty. (PP 45:3).

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"And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed." (Gen 2:25). They were perfect, not only in physiology, but spiritually, as well. "The sinless pair wore no artificial garments; they were clothed with a covering of light and glory, such as the angels wear. So long as they lived in obedience to God, this robe of light continued to enshroud them." (PP 45:3). They were clothed with "the light of God." (COL 310:4).

In perfect innocence, peace, and happiness, the pair began life in Eden, a beautiful garden planted by God Himself for their contentment. True happiness was theirs, the happiness that is found "in communion with God through His created works." (PP 49:3). They had been given dominion over every living thing and not one thing had been withheld from them that would bring them joy and delight.

While Adam and Eve continued obedience to their Maker, they continued to be clothed with the garment of light, which is the righteousness of saints. "Light is sown for the righteous," "and he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light." (Ps. 97:11; 37:6). "This light illuminated everything which they approached. There was nothing to obscure their perception of the character or the works of God." (MH 461-2). That light allowed them to read nature aright, to discern the character of God in his works.

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The book of nature, which spread its living lessons before them, afforded an exhaustless source of instruction and delight. On every leaf of the forrest and stone of the mountains, in every shinning star, in the earth and sea and sky, God's name was written. With both the animate and inanimate creation — with leaf and flower and tree, and with every living creature, from the leviathan of the waters to the mote in the sunbeam — the dwellers in Eden held converse, gathering from each the secrets of its life. God's glory in the heavens, the innumerable worlds in their orderly revolutions, 'the balancings of the clouds' (Job 37:16), the mysteries of light and sound, of day and night — all were objects of study by the pupils of earth's first school. (Ed 21:3).

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With undimmed vision they could study with microscopic detail the inner workings of leaves and flowers. Through telescopic vision they could study the heavenly bodies of the far flung universe. Oh, what a wonderful garment to have, this garment of light which was the light of God. How great were the opportunities their cloaks gave them for incomparable study of nature and the joy and delight of discovery. But Adam and Eve would keep their garments only as long as they maintained their loyalty and obedience to God.

Tragically, there came a day when things went terribly wrong. Eve wandered away from Adam, and became fascinated by a talking serpent — so fascinated that she ate of the one tree in the garden God had said they must not eat of. Adam, horrified by the thought of being separated from Eve, also ate of the forbidden fruit. Loyalty and obedience had been flung aside and the darkness of sin entered their lives; alas, it entered the whole world. "And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked." (Gen. 3:7). As they looked at themselves, at each other, they were, for the first time, aware that they had no covering. The light, the precious light, was gone. They were no longer righteous, no longer perfect. Though their eyes were opened, their vision was dimmed. "In losing the garments of holiness, they lost the light that had illuminated nature. No longer could they read it aright. They could not discern the character of God in His works." (MH 462:0). What fear must have found its way into their hearts, what recriminations must have formed in their minds as the world around them went dark, as the glorious wonders of creation grew dim and gray to their eyes.

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The halo of glory, which God had given holy Adam, covering him as a garment, departed from him after his transgression. The light of God's glory could not cover disobedience and sin. In the place of health and plenitude of blessings, poverty, sickness, and suffering of every type were to be the portion of the children of Adam. (1SM 270:1).

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Standing alone in the twilight, trying to find some excuse for what they had done, shivering in the coolness of the evening air — shivering? They had never felt chilled before. And they felt so naked. So "they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons." (Gen. 3:7). Clothed in the garments of their own making, they heard a familiar voice calling their names. Fear, shame, and embarrassment flooded over them, and instead of running to meet their Lord, they hid among the trees. But the One who knows all things and sees all things came to their hiding placed and called, "Adam,...where art thou? And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked and I hid myself. And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee thou shouldest not eat?" (Gen. 3:9-11). Standing before the Lord covered only in the skimpiest of garments, they had to face the horrible, terrible reality. Nothing was ever going to be the same again. Everything had been forever changed.

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After Adam's transgression he at first imagined that he felt the rising to a new and higher existence, But soon the thought of his transgression terrified him. The air that had been of a mild and even temperature, seemed to chill them. The guilty pair had a sense of sin. They felt a dread of the future, a sense of want, a nakedness of soul. The sweet love, and peace, and happy, contented bliss seemed removed from them, and in its place a want of something came over them that they never experienced before. They then for the first [time] turned their attention to the external. They had not been clothed, but were draped in light as were the heavenly angels. This light which had enshrouded them departed. To relieve the sense of lack and nakedness which they realized, their attention was directed to seek a covering for their form; for how could they meet the eye of God and angels unclothed?

Their crime is now before them in its true light. Their transgression of God's express command assumes a clearer character. Adam censured Eve's folly in leaving his side, and being deceived by the serpent. They both flattered themselves that God, who had given them everything to make them happy might yet excuse their disobedience, because of his great love to them, and that their punishment would not be so dreadful, after all. (1SP 41-2).

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[This message has been edited by Linda Sutton (edited August 14, 2000).]

But as they stand looking into the face of Jesus, as they hear Him pronounce the curse upon the serpent and on themselves, a sense of the enormity of sin begins to pervade their senses. They hear, with joy, the promise of hope, that a Redeemer will come and die that they might be pardoned. Then the

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angels of God were commissioned to visit the fallen pair and inform them that although they could no longer retain possession of their holy estate, their Eden home, because of their transgression of the law of God, yet their case was not hopeless. They were then informed that the Son of God, who had conversed with them in Eden, had been moved with pity as he viewed their hopeless condition, and had volunteered to take upon himself the punishment due to them, and die for them that man might yet live, through faith in the atonement Christ proposed to make for him. Through Christ, a door of hope was opened, that man, notwithstanding his great sin, should not be under the absolute control of Satan. Faith in the merits of the son of God would so elevate man that he could resist the devices of Satan. Probation would be granted him in which, through a life of repentance, and faith in the atonement of the Son of God, he might be redeemed from his transgression of the Father's law, and thus be elevated to a position where efforts to keep his law could be accepted. (1SP 50-1).

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Standing there in their brief garments which are typical of man's righteousness, the plan of salvation is laid out to them. They are told that God's law requires the punishment of death for disobedience, that until the Redeemer should come, a lamb will represent Him. The lamb is brought forth, a quiet, gentle creature; Adam, with a breaking heart, must slay this animal and burn its flesh upon an altar. How their hearts must have wrung, how the inhabitants of heaven and the unfallen worlds must have watched with grief and amazement as the lamb died. There had never been death before in the universe. Not so much as a leaf or an insect had died, for God is not the bringer of death but of life. But the transgression of the law required the shedding of blood.

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When Adam, according to God's special directions, made an offering for sin, it was to him a most painful ceremony. His hand must be raised to take life, which God alone could give, and make an offering for sin. It was the first time he had witnessed death. As he looked upon the bleeding victim, writhing in the agonies of death, he was to look forward by faith to the Son of God, whom the victim prefigured, who was to die man's sacrifice. (1SP 53:1).

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Now, the Lord takes the skins and from them He makes two coats, one for Adam and one for Eve. These are garments long enough to cover their nakedness, a coat with sleeves to protect from the chilly air. Man had made himself only an apron and that from fig leaves which would dry up and crumble in just a few days. God made coats from skins which both covered their bodies and were long lasting. Why did man feel satisfied with such a minute covering as his apron of leaves? With our dimmed vision we have little sense of our unrighteousness, our unfitness to stand before the King. We're quite content with only a little covering, but all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags, or a fig leaf apron. But when Jesus comes, He illuminates our eyes and we see our nakedness. In our distress, we give ourselves into His hands, He forgives our sins, and gives us coats of His righteousness so that the shame of our nakedness does not appear.

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Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel. And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment. And I said, Let them set a fair mitre upon his head. So they set a fair mitre upon his head, and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the Lord stood by. (Zech. 3:3-5).

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Morning by morning as Adam and Eve arose, they would look upon their coats and were reminded of the death of the lamb, and the future death of their own Creator. They were reminded daily of the consequences of sin, that He whose hands had fashioned these coats would one day come to earth as a man, and live and die that they might be restored to their Eden home. Man today must continue to wear the coat made for him by Jesus' hands, a robe invisible to the human eye, but not to the heavenly intelligences. "This robe, woven in the loom of heaven, has in it not one thread of human devising. Christ in His humanity wrought out a perfect character, and this character He offers to impart to us." (COL 311:4). This robe is a robe of Christ's own righteousness, a robe of light. Jesus has promised that when we "confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleans us from all unrighteousness." (1John 1:9). "Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." (Isa. 1:18).

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When we submit ourselves to Christ, the heart is united with His heart, the will is united with His will, the mind becomes one with His mind, the thoughts are brought into captivity to Him, we live His life. This is what it means to be clothed with the garment of His righteousness. Then as the Lord looks upon us He sees, not the fig-leaf garment, not the nakedness and deformity of sin, but His own robe of righteousness, which is perfect obedience to the law of Jehovah. (COL 312:0).

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"I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels." (Isa. 61:10). We cannot manufacture for ourselves garments of salvation or robes of righteousness. These are put on us by God; we accept them by faith in Jesus' spilled blood. When we try to cover ourselves, it's as though we are weaving spider's webs into garments. "Their webs shall not become garments, neither shall they cover themselves with their works: their works are works of iniquity, and the act of violence is in their hands." (James 2:17). Works alone will never cover us; they must be the outgrowth of a life that has been given into God's hands, of accepting that we can of our ownselves do nothing, but that we can do all things through Christ who gives us strength.

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Since that first sin committed by Adam and Eve, men have tried to sew together fig leaves to cover the nakedness caused by transgression. They have worn the garments of their own devising, by works of their own they have tried to cover their sins, and make themselves acceptable with God.

But this they can never do. Nothing can man devise to supply the place of his lost robe of innocence. No fig-leaf garment, no worldly citizen dress, can be worn by those who sit down with Christ and angels at the marriage supper of the Lamb.

Only the covering which Christ Himself has provided can make us meet to appear in God's presence. This covering, the robe of His own righteousness, Christ will put upon every repenting, believing soul. (COL 311:1-3).

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Someday soon, if faithful, Jesus will pronounce of His saints: "They shall walk in white, for they are worthy." (Rev. 3:4). They have prayed, as did Moses, "Lord, show me thy glory" and as they beheld the Lord, "The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin," they were changed "into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." (Ex. 33:18; 34:6,7; 2Cor. 3:18).

When this mortal shall have put on immortality, the garments of light will be restored. In the city that has no need of sun nor moon, whose light is the glory of God and the Lamb, the "saved shall walk in the light of it." (Rev. 21:23-24).

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There, when the veil that darkens our vision shall be removed, and our eyes shall behold that world of beauty of which we now catch glimpses through the microscope; when we look on the glories of the heavens, now scanned afar through the telescope; when, the blight of sin removed, the whole earth shall appear in "the beauty of the Lord our God," what a field will be open to our study! There the student of science may read the records of creation and discern no reminders of the law of evil. He may listen to the music of nature's voices and detect no note of wailing or undertone of sorrow. In all created things he may trace one handwriting — in the vast universe behold "God's name writ large," and not in the earth or sea or sky one sign of ill remaining.

There the Eden life will be lived, the life in garden and field. "They shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands." Isa. 65:21,22.

There shall be nothing to "hurt or destroy in all My holy mountain, saith the Lord." Isa. 65:25. There man will be restored to his lost kingship, and the lower order of beings will again recognize his sway; the fierce will become gentle, and the timid trustful. (Ed 303-4).

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Since the day millennia ago when "the eyes of them both were opened," and Adam and Eve saw their nakedness, man has had to cover his body with artificial garments of skins and furs, of vegetable and synthetic fibers, for the garments of light have been removed from the human race. In their demoralized state of sinfulness, men and women have always been content with only the most minimal covering, the briefest of garments. The more pagan and idolatrous a culture has been, the more immodest their clothing and demeanor has become, until virtual nudity has become the rule in some cultures and areas of the world. But God's presence brings about a change in people's lives and in their customs and habits. Wherever Christ has come, the people are dressed. "Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame." (Rev. 16:15). While these words refer to that spiritual robe of righteousness, should we not also consider that the same God who spoke these words also made the coats Adam and Eve wore to cover their nakedness? God requires of His children modesty of dress, simply and tastefully arranged upon the body.

Down through the ages God has given counsel again and again regarding the dress of His children. He has been most specific with regards to modest clothing, covering nakedness, and use of adornment. When the children of Israel were in the wilderness, God commanded that there be no steps up to His altar, but rather a ramp that the priest's "nakedness be not discovered thereon." (Ex. 20:26). The priestly garments made for Aaron and his sons included "linen breeches to cover their nakedness; from the loins even unto the thighs they shall reach." (Ex. 28:41). God gave specific commands concerning the garments for the whole of Israel.

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God had commanded the children of Israel to have a ribbon of blue in the border of their garments, upon which was embroidered words of the law, which expressed in short the ten commandments, to remind them of their duty to love God supremely, and to love their neighbors as themselves. (RH 3/4/73).

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They were ever to remember that they were a peculiar people, set apart to God as is the Israel of today. To us are given the commands to clothe the naked, dress modestly, and to not let the shame of our nakedness appear. We are not to be unnecessarily concerned with what we wear but rather seek "first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and these all these things shall be added unto you." (Matt. 6:33). Our heavenly Father knows we have these needs and He has promised to supply them when we make God first in our lives.

"Higher than the highest human thought can reach is God's ideal for His children. Godliness — godlikeness — is the goal to be reached." (Ed 18:3). Every facet of our lives must reach to meet this goal, even our dress. The dress reform is as needful for us today as it was for the children of Israel, as it was for the apostolic church, as it was for the early Adventist church. To some, the instruction given in the Spirit of Prophecy may seem terribly old-fashioned, totally antiquated, and completely out of time with today's culture and lifestyles. It may seem so hopelessly old-fashioned that no way can be seen to implement the instruction given without looking as though we had stepped out of the nineteenth century. But God does not give us instructions which we cannot follow. We believe that "All His biddings are enablings." (COL 333:1 emphasis added). He can and will empower us to keep His precepts and counsels.

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All true reformation begins with soul-cleansing. It is by the washing of regeneration and the renewing of the mind through the power of the Holy Spirit, that a change is wrought in the life. (SD 105:2).

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Unless you are willing to follow your Saviour wherever He leads, unless you are willing to take up your cross and follow Him, do not even consider dress reform. When you love Jesus so much you are willing to lay aside every weight of worldliness, when you are willing to perhaps be called odd, singular, and straight-laced, or narrow-minded and old-fashioned, then you will be willing to consider what God requires of His children in the areas of dress and adornment.

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Something must arise to lesson 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. (1T 525:1).

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"True dress reform regulates every article of clothing worn upon the person." (HR 1-1-1877). This is because dress reform is a part of health reform and is also part of victorious Christian living and overcoming the world. God designed and created our bodies and they are to be preserved to Him a living sacrifice which is our reasonable service. We belong to God and not to ourselves for we have been purchased with an infinite price. We must, therefore, keep ourselves in the best of health. We must dress in such a way that we do not draw other people's attentions to our poor, mortal bodies, but draw them to Jesus. Our clothing should reflect our connection with Him who is the Author and Finisher of our faith. When the world looks upon us they should see in us the inward adorning of a meek and quiet spirit "which God estimates as of great price. The apostle speaks of this as more excellent and valuable than gold or pearls or costly array. While the outward beautifies only the mortal body, the adornment of meekness adorns the soul and connects finite man with the infinite God. This is the ornament of God's own choice. He who garnished the heavens with the orbs of light has by the same Spirit promised that `He will beautify the meek with salvation' (Ps. 149:4). Angels of heaven will register as best adorned those who put on the Lord Jesus Christ and walk with Him in meekness and lowliness of mind." (SL 16:2). This is what it means to seek the kingdom of God first, to seek the inward adorning.

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The suffering caused among women by unhealthful dress cannot be estimated. Many have become life-long invalids through their compliance with the demands of fashion. Health and life have been sacrificed to the demands of the insatiable goddess. Many seem to think they have a right to treat their bodies as they please; but they forget that their bodies are not their own. The Creator who formed them has claims upon them that they cannot lightly throw off. Every needless transgression of the laws of our being is virtually a transgression of the law of God, and is sin in the sight of heaven. The Creator knew how to form the human body. He did not need to consult the mantua-makers in regard to their ideas of beauty. God, who created everything that is lovely and glorious in nature, understood how to make the human form beautiful and healthy. The modern improvements upon His plan are insulting to the Creator. They deform that which He made perfect. (CTBH 87-8).

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Most dress reform will be addressed to women, but not all. Very much in the precepts and principles of dress reform are applicable to all — men, women, and children, and there are special sections which deal with their needs specifically.

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We are to reveal our faith in our dress. The time and means that are often spent on outward adornment are in God's sight worse than wasted. The teachings of the gospel are to make us Christians in practice as well as in profession; the truth we hold is to sanctify the soul. Christ bids us seek not that outward adornment, but the adorning of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. It is the spirit of Christ's righteousness that we so greatly need. (YI 4/27/09).

Our words,our actions, our deportment, our dress, everything should preach. Not only with our words should we speak to the people, but everything pertaining to our person should be a sermon to them, that right impressions may be made upon them, and that the truth spoken may be taken by them to their homes. Thus our faith will stand in a better light before the community. (2T 618:0).

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There is a little chorus young people like to sing whose words are meaningful here:

Do you know, O Christian, you're a sermon in shoes?
Jesus calls upon you to spread the gospel news,
So walk it, and talk it, a sermon in shoes.

To the world our profession counts but little; it is what they see in us that they use to judge our religion. We are indeed sermons in shoes, for what we wear and say and do is preaching our faith to all who see and hear us. "Too often the influence of the sermon preached from the pulpit is counteracted by the sermon preached in the lives of those who claim to be advocates of truth." (9T 21:1).

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The life that Christ lived in this world, men and women can live through His power and under His instruction. In their conflict with Satan they may have all the help that He had. They may be more than conquerors through Him who loved them and gave Himself for them.

The minds of many take so low a level that God cannot work for them or with them. The current of thought must be changed, the moral sensibilities must be aroused to feel the claims of God. The sum and substance of true religion is to own and continually acknowledge, by words, by dress, by deportment, our relationship to God. Humility should take the place of pride; sobriety, of levity; and devotion, of irreligion and careless indifference. (4T 582:3).

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As we commence our study of dress, let us remember that Jesus is the Pattern we must copy, all that He says we must do, laying hold upon the overcomer's power which comes by faith in His promises.

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In the night season I was in a company of people whose hearts were filled with vanity and conceit, and Christ was hid from their eyes. Suddenly, in loud, clear accents, the words were heard, "Jesus is coming to take to Himself those who on this earth have loved and served Him, to be with Him in His kingdom forever." Many of those in the company went forth in their costly apparel to meet Him. They kept looking at their dress. But when they saw His glory, and realized that their estimation of one another had been so largely measured by outward appearance, they knew that they were without the robe of Christ's righteousness, and that the blood of souls was on their garments.

When Christ took His chosen ones, they were left; for they were not ready. In their lives, self had been given the first place; and when the Saviour came, they were not prepared to meet Him.

I awoke with the picture of their agonized countenances stamped on my mind. I cannot efface the impression. I wish I could describe the scene as it was presented to me. O, how sad was the disappointment of those who had not learned by experience the meaning of the words, "Ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God"!

The treasure of the grace of Christ is of more value than gold or silver or costly array. When my sisters catch a glimpse of what Christ has suffered in their behalf, that they might become children of God by adoption, they will no longer be satisfied with worldly pride and self-love. No longer will they worship self, but God will be the object of their supreme regard. (RH 10/29/08).

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End of chapter 1

Below is chapter 2 from A Christian Guide to Dress. There are illustrations that go with this chapter, but they cannot be posted here in the forum. I have put the figure number and caption in brackets [] where they should go in the text. I have prepared the graphics for sending by email. If you would like to receive them, please email me and ask for them.

WHY DRESS REFORM?

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I was shown that the people of God should not imitate the fashions of the world. Some have done this, and are fast losing the peculiar, holy character which should distinguish them as God's people. I was pointed back to God's ancient people and was led to compare their apparel with the mode of dress in these last days. What a difference! what a change! Then the women were not so bold as now. When they went in public, they covered their faces with a veil. In these last days, fashions are shameful and immodest. They are noticed in prophecy. They were first brought in by a class over whom Satan has entire control, who, "being past feeling [without any conviction of the Spirit of God] have given themselves over to lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness." If god's professed people had not greatly departed from Him, there would now be a marked difference between their dress and that of the world. The small bonnets, exposing the face and head, show a lack of modesty. The hoops are a shame. The inhabitants of earth are growing more and more corrupt, and the line of distinction between them and the Israel of God must be more plain, or the curse which falls upon worldlings will fall on God's professed people. (1T 188-9).

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There is a "line of distinction" between God's children and the children of the world. We show by what we wear who has the allegiance of our hearts. "Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you." (2Cor. 10:18). To those who ask why we need dress reform, this is the answer. We are God's sons and daughters, bought with the priceless gift of calvary; we show our high calling in the modesty and simplicity of a life that is hid with Christ in God. By our fruits we are known; by our dress we are judged.

When Ellen White first wrote of the need for dress reform among Seventh-day Adventists, the right arm of the message had not yet been revealed. Not until 1863 when she received the health reform vision, did dress reform take on an aspect of health. It is important to understand that dress reform involves both health reform and separation from the world with its devotion to fashion. We will study both sides of the issue; but before we do we must also understand that while this is an important subject, while it is indeed a required reformation that must take place among us as a people, it is not a test question.

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The dress reform was among the minor things that were to make up the great reform in health, and never should have been urged as a testing truth necessary to salvation. (RH 10/8/67).

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Notice that dress reform was a minor part of health reform which also includes reforms in diet, medical care, drug use and overall lifestyle. Minor does not constitute unimportant. Nor does it lessen the importance of dressing modestly and simply and not being a slave of fashion. Nothing is ever unimportant in the Christian life, especially to those who are striving to imitate the pattern, Jesus Christ.

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Every effort made for the physical and moral health of the people should be based on moral principles. The advocates of reform who are laboring with the glory of God in view will plant their feet firmly upon the principles of hygiene; they will adopt a correct practice. The people need true knowledge. By their wrong habits of life, men and women of this generation are bringing upon themselves untold suffering. Physicians have a work to do to bring about reform by educating the people, that they may understand the laws which govern their physical life. They should know how to eat properly, to work intelligently, to dress healthfully, and should be taught to bring all their habits into harmony with the laws of life and health, and to discard drugs. There is a great work to be done. If the principles of health reform are carried out, the work will indeed be as closely allied to that of the third angel's message as the hand is to the body. (13MR 177:3).

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"True dress reform regulates every article of dress worn upon the person." (HR 1/1/1877). "If women make the customs of the world their criterion, they will become unfitted, both physically and mentally, for the duties of life (CTBH 88:1). "Let women thensleves, instead of struggling to meet demands of fashion, have courage to dress healthfully and simply." (MH 294:1). For nearly 120 years such words of caution have been coming to us, urging us to leave off conformity to the world, and follow Jesus. We can no more serve God and mammon today than the Seventh-day Adventist pioneers could or the Jews could. Dress reform is as much for us in the 1990's as it was in the last half of the nineteenth century.

In the 1860's dress reform took on a new emphasis after the introduction of health reform. Movies and TV have romanticized the Victorian era with its long, street-sweeping dresses and helpless femme fatales. Many women imagine they missed something wonderful by not having lived in that era, but close investigation of the fashions of that time should make all thankful they did not. Most people are aware of hoop skirts and corsets, but they do not realize that these romanticized fashions were lethal torture devices pushed upon the populace by the tyrannical goddess of Fashion. She ruled, and still rules, with a heavy iron hand. Let's go behind the Scarlet O'Hara look and see what made God denounce these fashions as evil. [See figure 1 "The hoop-skirted dress of the mid-nineteenth century"]

By the 1850's skirt had become very full and had become long enough to sweep the ground. To extend, or hold out the skirts, petticoats, some of which were quilted, were worn in multiple layers. This required the use of up to 40 yards or more of cloth around the waist. The invention of the hoop skirt, called a crinoline, lessened the use of petticoats for now the skirt could be distended by means of this cage-like contraption. The hoop consisted of concentric circles of steel usually fastened together with tapes and reaching diameters of six feet or more. How does a woman walk through a three-foot-wide doorway in a six-foot-wide skirt? Some crinoline manufacturers tried to solve these problems in a variety of ways, but not one preserved modesty. The simplest way to get through the door was to lift the hoop and skirt high enough to pass through the door. Much the same process had to be followed when climbing stairs. Modesty at these moments was impossible.

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I have traveled much, and have seen a great deal of inconvenience attending the wearing of hoops.... While traveling in the cars and stages, I have seen large companies crowding into the cars, and in order to make any headway, the hoops had to be raised and placed in a shape which was indecent. And the exposure of the form was tenfold more with those who wore hoops, than with those who did not. Were it not for fashion, those who thus immodestly expose themselves would be hissed at; but modesty and decency must be sacrificed to the god of fashion. (1T 277-8).

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Ellen White and history both inform us that the hoops were first worn in a Paris brothel and their use spread out from there. Hoops were one of the evils women were to avoid. "From what has been shown me, hoops are an abomination. They are indecent; and God's people err if they in the least degree follow, or give countenance to, this fashion." (1T 278).

The crinoline went through a number of changes until it had metamorphosed into the bustle of the 1870's. Throughout those years the skirt length remained long and actually trailed upon the ground. By the 1860's, hoops had been flattened in the front while remaining full on the sides and back. This permitted the dress to have a small train in back. Such skirts were very dangerous and unhealthy. It was the age of industrialization and many young women were working in the factories and shops, wearing the crinolines and sweeping skirts. Imagine a showroom where glassware is displayed and a sales clerk walking through with her full skirts sweeping off glassware with one swish of her outfit. Other girls, clad in the same style, had their garments caught in the machinery at which they were working, often maiming or killing them before they could possibly be freed. In the fields, peasant girls would be lifted off their feet by strong gusts of wind blowing up their hoop skirts. Other women had the terrible misfortune of moving to close to a hot grate where a fire blazed and their skirts would catch fire. Because of the crinoline, it was nearly impossible to wrap the victim in something which would have smothered the flames. Many died as a result. Others were left scarred and deformed for the rest of their lives. [see figure 2: "Two examples of crinolines or hoops used to extend dresses"]

Because the skirts swept the streets, they gathered up everything lying in the streets or on the ground. If the ground was wet, the moisture would be soaked up by the skirts. Any filth, such as tobacco spittle, was also picked up by the skirts. There was all manner of filth in the streets and roads. The predominate transportation in service was animal conveyance, which polluted the often unpaved streets in a different manner than our modern cars do. Sister White listed five reasons why the long skirts were a serious health hazard, among other problems.

1. It is extravagant and unnecessary to have the dress of such a length that it will sweep the sidewalk and street.
   
2. A dress thus long gathers dew from the grass, and mud from the streets, and is therefore unclean.
   
3. In its bedraggled condition it comes in contact with the sensitive ankles, which are not sufficiently protected, quickly chilling them, and thus endangering health and life. This is one of the greatest causes of catarrh and of scrofulous swellings.
   
4. The unnecessary length is an additional weight upon the hips and bowels.
   
5. It hinders the walking, and is also often in other people's way. (1SM 477 & 1T 459).
   

Catarrh and scrofula are old terms for diseases which still exist. The first is a naso-pharyngeal infection. Today we might call it a cold or it might be allergic rhinitis, hay fever. Scrofula is tuberculosis of the legs. TB is a disease which is currently resurgent in the U.S. Known mostly as a lung disease, called consumption in the Victorian era, TB can attack any part of the body. On the legs it caused swelling and disfiguring scars. Often, it never healed.

Beneath the long skirts, and multiple petticoats which hung around the waist and over the crinoline, was another instrument of torture which fashion used to maim, incapacitate, and snuff out the life of women. The corset. The history of the corset goes back several centuries and changed very little in its actual makeup during that time. Its sole purpose was to reshape the woman's body to conform to the current fashion. The corset was a garment which began at the bust and came down over the hips. They might lace up the front or the back or both. In the beginning they held their shape by means of whalebone stays. Later steel was used and the garments were steam molded on presses.

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In my early life, I was intimate with a near friend who persisted in lacing. There was not much said in those days condemning this health-destroying practice. I knew but little of the evils resulting from tight lacing. I was solicited, at one time, to lace the corset of this friend. I drew the strings as firmly as I possibly could, which started the blood from the ends of my fingers. But this did not satisfy her, and she declared that I did not know how to lace one. She called for a stronger person, who also worked to the best of her ability to get her form squeezed to the desired dimension. But she scolded, and declared that we did not half try. She even shed tears.

She then thought of a plan that might bring more strength to bear. She fastened the strings of her corset to the bed-post, and then wrenched from side to side, gaining a little at each effort, while two of us held fast what she had gained, that the strings should not loosen when removed from the bed-post. She seemed satisfied that she had done all she could to lessen her size....

This young lady was naturally a rare specimen of health. Her skin was clear, and her cheeks red as a rose. Her chest and shoulders were broad, and her form was well-proportioned, her waist corresponding with the healthy proportions of her body. She was a slave to the tyrant, fashion. She was literally deformed by lacing. Her broad shoulders and large hips, with her girded, wasp-like waist, were so disproportionate that her form was anything but beautiful. And the most of her time was devoted to the arrangement of her dress in keeping with fashion, and laboring to deform her God-given healthful, and naturally beautiful form. (HR 12/71). [see figure 3: "Deformation caused by corsets from a nineteenth century drawing" and figure 4: "A Standard Corset"]

The corsets which are again being generally worn to compress the waist is one of the most serious features in women's dress. Health and life are being sacrificed to carry out a fashion that is devoid of real beauty and comfort. The compression of the waist weakens the muscles of the respiratory organs. It hinders the process of digestion. The heart, liver, lungs, spleen, and stomach, are crowded into a small compass, not allowing room for the healthful action of these organs. (HR 11/71).

Where tight-lacing is practiced, the lower part of the chest has not room for action. The breathing, therefore, is confined to the upper portion of the lungs, where there is not sufficient room to carry on the work. But the lower part of the lungs should have the greatest freedom possible. The compression of the waist will not allow free action of the muscles. (HR 11/71).

By lacing, the internal organs of women are crowded out of their positions. There is scarcely a woman that is thoroughly healthy. The majority of women have numerous ailments. Many are troubled with weaknesses of most distressing nature. These fashionably dressed women cannot transmit good constitutions to their children. Some women have naturally small waists. But rather than regard such forms as beautiful, they should be viewed as defective. These wasp waists may have been transmitted to them from their mothers, as a result of their indulgence in the sinful practice of tight lacing, and in consequence of imperfect breathing. Poor children born of these miserable slaves of fashion have diminished vitality, and are predisposed to take on disease. The impurities retained in the system in consequence of imperfect breathing are transmitted to their offspring. (HR 11/71).

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