Cause in the East
393
those who pursue a course to make the world hate them. If a Christian
is hated because of his good works and for following Christ, he will
have a reward; but if he is hated because he does not take a course
to be loved, hated because of his uncultivated manners and because
he makes the truth a matter of quarrel with his neighbors, and takes a
course to make the Sabbath as annoying as possible to them, he is a
stumbling block to sinners, a reproach to the sacred truth, and unless
he repents it were better for him that a millstone were hung about his
neck and he were cast into the sea.
No occasion should be given to unbelievers to reproach our faith.
We are considered odd and singular, and should not take a course to
lead unbelievers to think us more so than our faith requires us to be.
[421]
Some who believe the truth may think that it would be more health-
ful for the sisters to adopt the American costume, yet if that mode of
dress would cripple our influence among unbelievers so that we could
not so readily gain access to them, we should by no means adopt it,
though we suffered much in consequence. But some are deceived in
thinking there is so much benefit to be received from this costume.
While it may prove a benefit to some, it is an injury to others. [
See
Appendix.
]
I saw that God’s order has been reversed, and His special direc-
tions disregarded, by those who adopt the American costume. I was
referred to
Deuteronomy 22:5
: “The woman shall not wear that which
pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman’s garment:
for all that do so are abomination unto the Lord thy God.” God would
not have His people adopt the so-called reform dress. It is immodest
apparel, wholly unfitted for the modest, humble followers of Christ.
There is an increasing tendency to have women in their dress and
appearance as near like the other sex as possible, and to fashion their
dress very much like that of men, but God pronounces it abomination.
“In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel,
with shamefacedness and sobriety.”
1 Timothy 2:9
.
Those who feel called out to join the movement in favor of woman’s
rights and the so-called dress reform might as well sever all connection
with the third angel’s message. The spirit which attends the one
cannot be in harmony with the other. The Scriptures are plain upon
the relations and rights of men and women. Spiritualists have, to
quite an extent, adopted this singular mode of dress. Seventh-day