Chapter 6
My sisters, there is need of a dress reform among us. There are
many errors in the present style of female dress. It is injurious to health,
and, therefore, sin for females to wear tight corsets, or whalebones,
or to compress the waist. These have a depressing influence upon the
heart, liver, and lungs. The health of the entire system depends upon
the healthy action of the respiratory organs. Thousands of females
have ruined their constitutions, and brought upon themselves various
diseases, in their efforts to make a healthy and natural form unhealthy
and unnatural. They are dissatisfied with nature’s arrangements, and
in their earnest efforts to correct nature, and bring her to their ideas of
gentility, they break down her work, and leave her a mere wreck.
Many females drag down the bowels and hips by hanging heavy
skirts upon them. These were not formed to sustain weights. In
the first place, heavy quilted skirts should never be worn. They are
unnecessary, and a great evil. The female dress should be suspended
from the shoulders. It would be pleasing to God if there was greater
uniformity in dress among believers. The style of dress formerly
adopted by the Friends, is the least objectionable. Many of them
have backslidden, and although they may preserve the uniformity of
color, yet they have indulged in pride and extravagance, and their
dress has been of the most expensive material. Still their selection of
plain colors, and the modest and neat arrangement of their clothing, is
worthy of imitation by Christians.
The children of Israel, after they were brought out of Egypt, were
commanded to have a simple ribbon of blue in the border of their
garments, to distinguish them from the nations around them, and to
signify that they were God’s peculiar people. The people of God are
not now required to have a special mark placed upon their garments.
But in the New Testament we are often referred to ancient Israel as
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examples. If God gave such definite directions to his ancient people in
regard to their dress, will not the dress of his people in this age come
under his notice? Should there not be in their dress a distinction from
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