Chapter 9—Mrs. White’s Remarks on Dress

Concerning the view given her at that time, Mrs. White wrote:SDARD 6.2

“I saw that some professed Sabbathkeepers spend hours that are worse than thrown away, in studying this or that fashion to decorate the poor, mortal body. While you make yourselves appear like the world, and as beautiful as you can, remember that the same body may in a few days be food for worms. And while you adorn it to your taste, to please the eye, you are dying spiritually.... I saw that the outside appearance is an index to the heart. When the exterior is hung with ribbons, collars, and needless things, it plainly shows that the love for all this is in the heart; unless such persons are cleansed from their corruption, they can never see God, for only the pure in heart will see Him.”—Testimonies for the Church 1:134, 136.

Thus for a time were set forth general principles that should govern the Christian who seeks to follow the injunction of the apostle against the “love of the world.” The first word of opposition found in our denominational literature against a specific style of dress is in the The Review and Herald, August 5, 1858, where Elder J. Byington makes the following innuendo in the form of a question and a conclusion:SDARD 6.3

“Are sleeves which are largest at the little end, and round tires like the moon, or hoops (Isaiah 3:18), articles of dress that are modest apparel? 1 Timothy 2:9. If so, let them be recommended to the church generally.”—The Review and Herald, August 5, 1858.

Only four ladies, apparently ventured to respond to the question, with its implication. All these were agreed in condemning the first style, and three agreed that the wearing of hoops was a practice “unbecoming women professing godliness.” One, however, expressed her opinion that the hoops were unobjectionable and might be “recommended to the church generally in this season of the year, when used with moderation.”—The Review and Herald, September 23, 1858.SDARD 6.4

In the latter part of 1861, Mrs. White said of this oddity, “Hoops, I was shown, were an abomination, and every Sabbathkeeper’s influence should be a rebuke to this ridiculous fashion, which has been a screen to iniquity.”—The Review and Herald, August 27, 1861.SDARD 6.5

Hoops continued to be frequently denounced in the church paper, both by ministry and laity. The general stand of the church against them is reflected in a letter from a lady correspondent who wrote of her experience in accepting the message. At a tent meeting she asked one good sister if she could be an Adventist and continue wearing her hoops. A negative reply caused her to assert that she could not become a member if that were the case. However, after hearing a lecture on dress by Elder Waggoner, she decided that she “could lay them off forever if it would be pleasing in the sight of the Lord.”—The Review and Herald, April 28, 1863.SDARD 6.6