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A Critique of the Book Prophetess of Health - Contents
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    Ellen White Initiates a Reform Dress

    On page 135 Ellen White is said to have had “second thoughts” about the reform dress. This is an inaccurate statement and is based entirely on the assumption that her expressions “reform dress” and “so-called reform dress” referred to the same attire.CBPH 65.16

    When she went to Dansville it is clear that she carried in her mind the view of women wearing a dress embodying reforms over the prevailing styles. See her description of the vision in exhibit A. See also her letter of September 14, 1864, to Mrs. Lockwood in Appendix D in which she makes mention of a style of dress shown to her in vision.CBPH 65.17

    At Dansville she had an opportunity to appraise several styles of reform dress for the American costume was not the only one worn there. She said, “They have all styles of dress here. Some are very becoming, if not so short.” But she consistently criticized the American Costume, referring to it as the “so-called reform dress.”CBPH 65.18

    In Testimony No. 10, which appeared in January, 1865, she declared, “God would not have His people adopt the so-called reform dress.” In that same Testimony she gave her reasons for this counsel. Prophetess of Health refers to these, but, for emphasis, we mention them here. There were four factors in Ellen White’s mind which led to her strictures against the American Costume, or “so-called” reform dress. These were:CBPH 66.1

    1. It was immodest—“It is immodest apparel, wholly unfitted for the modest, humble followers of Christ.... With the so-called dress reform there goes a spirit of levity and boldness just in keeping with the dress. Modesty and reserve seem to depart from many as they adopt that style of dress” (Testimonies for the Church 1:421)CBPH 66.2

    2. It was mannish—“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” (Ibid).CBPH 66.3

    3. It was identified with a certain kind of political movement—“Those who feel called out to join the movement in favor of women’s rights and the so-called dress reform might as well sever all connection with the third angel’s message” (Ibid).CBPH 66.4

    4. It was identified with spiritualism—“Spiritualists have, to quite an extent, adopted this singular mode of dress. Seventh-day Adventists, who believe in the restoration of the gifts, are often branded as spiritualists. Let them adopt this costume, and their influence is dead. The people would place them on a level with spiritualists and would refuse to listen to them” (Ibid).CBPH 66.5

    Since in the June 6, 1863, vision Ellen White had been given instruction about an improved dress for Adventist women, she doubtless then began to consider how such a reform could be effected. Of one thing she was certain: Any dress reform adopted by Seventh-day Adventists must be different from the American Costume. This she made crystal clear. Any one of the four reasons she gave should be enough to lead Adventists to adopt a style that would be distinct from the “so-called” reform dress. Her visit to Dansville, New York, in the late summer of 1864 provided a natural opportunity for her to consolidate her own thoughts on the subject. From Dansville, she wrote her friends, the Lockwoods, that she planned to develop a reform dress that would accord perfectly with that which had been shown her. “They have all styles of dress here,” she wrote,CBPH 66.6

    Some are very becoming, if not so short. We shall get patterns from this place and I think we can get out a style of dress more healthful than we now wear and yet not be bloomer or the American costume. Our dresses according to my idea should be from four to six inches shorter than now worn and should in no case reach lower than the top of the heel or the shoe and could be a little shorter even than this with all modesty. I am going to get up a style of dress on my own hook which will accord perfectly with that which has been shown me.CBPH 66.7

    Health demands it. Our feeble women must dispense with heavy skirts and tight waists if they value health. Brother Lockwood, don’t groan now. I am not going to extremes, but conscience and health require a reform. We shall never imitate Miss Doctor Austin or Mrs. Doctor York. They dress very much like men. We shall imitate or follow no fashion we have ever yet seen. We shall institute a fashion which will be both economical and healthful.—Letter 6, 1864. (Emphasis supplied. See full letter in Appendix D.)CBPH 66.8

    Thus it is seen that the visit to Dansville did not lead Ellen White to begin having “second thoughts” about the reform dress nor did she get her ideas on dress reform from Dansville. She got them, we believe, from the Lord. The Dansville experience helped her to implement them.CBPH 66.9

    On page 136 Ellen White’s reform dress is said to have been nothing but the American Costume with a lengthened skirt. But there were other differences. Note her letter to the Lockwoods, just quoted, where she objects especially to the mannishness of the American Costume. In her first appeal to her Adventist sisters for a reform dress (in June, 1865), she vigorously opposed anything like the Dansville sponsored American Costume because as we have noted it looked so much like the clothing worn by men.CBPH 66.10

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