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easily, and would wear longer. Such a dress would be in accordance
with our faith.”
I will now give an extract from what I have elsewhere said upon
this subject:
“Christians should not take pains to make themselves a gazing-
stock by dressing differently from the world. But if, when following
out their convictions of duty in respect to dressing modestly and health-
fully, they find themselves out of fashion, they should not change their
dress in order to be like the world; but they should manifest a noble
independence and moral courage to be right, if all the world differ
from them. If the world introduce a modest, convenient, and health-
ful mode of dress, which is in accordance with the Bible, it will not
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change our relation to God or to the world to adopt such a style of
dress. Christians should follow Christ and make their dress conform to
God’s word. They should shun extremes. They should humbly pursue
a straightforward course, irrespective of applause or of censure, and
should cling to the right because of its own merits.
“Women should clothe their limbs with regard to health and com-
fort. Their feet and limbs need to be clad as warmly as men’s. The
length of the fashionable dress is objectionable for several reasons:
“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.
“There is still another style of dress which is adopted by a class of
so-called dress reformers. They imitate the opposite sex as nearly as
possible. They wear the cap, pants, vest, coat, and boots, the last of
which is the most sensible part of the costume. Those who adopt and
advocate this style of dress carry the so-called dress reform to very
objectionable lengths. Confusion will be the result. Some who adopt
this costume may be correct in their general views upon the health