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Counsels on Health
Fashionable Dress a Stumbling Block
The plain, neat dress of the poorer class often appears in marked
contrast with the attire of their more wealthy sisters, and this difference
frequently causes a feeling of embarrassment on the part of the poor.
Some try to imitate their more wealthy sisters, and frill and ruffle and
trim goods of an inferior quality, so as to approach as nearly as possible
to them in dress. Poor girls, receiving but two dollars a week for their
work, [
Written in 1875, when money values were much greater than
in later years.
] will expend every cent to dress like others who are
not obliged to earn their own living. These youth have nothing to put
into the treasury of God. And their time is so thoroughly occupied in
making their dress as fashionable as that of their sisters, that they have
no time for the improvement of the mind, for the study of God’s word,
for secret prayer, or for the prayer meeting. The mind is entirely taken
up with planning how to appear as well as their sisters. To accomplish
this end, physical, mental, and moral health is sacrificed. Happiness
and the favor of God are laid upon the altar of fashion.
Many will not attend the service of God upon the Sabbath, because
their dress would appear so unlike that of their Christian sisters in style
and adornment. Will my sisters consider these things as they are, and
will they fully realize the weight of their influence upon others? By
walking in a forbidden path themselves, they lead others in the same
way of disobedience and backsliding. Christian simplicity is sacrificed
to outward display. My sisters, how shall we change all this? How
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shall we recover ourselves from the snare of Satan and break the chains
that have bound us in slavery to fashion? How shall we recover our
wasted opportunities? how bring our powers into healthful, vigorous
action? There is only one way, and that is to make the Bible our rule
of life....
Many dress like the world, in order to have an influence over
unbelievers; but here they make a sad mistake. If they would have
a true and saving influence, let them live out their profession, show
their faith by their righteous works, and make the distinction plain
between the Christian and the worldling. The words, the dress, the
actions, should tell for God. Then a holy influence will be shed upon
all around them, and even unbelievers will take knowledge of them
that they have been with Jesus. If any wish to have their influence tell