The Story of our Health Message

CHAPTER 10 THE QUEST FOR MODERATION

HAVING noted the fashions of the time and the movements of the dress reformers, we should consider the attitude of Seventh-day Adventists to these questions. SHM 120.1

Between 1840 and 1844, when the believers in the advent movement were looking for the imminent coming of Christ, they sought earnestly for such a preparation of heart and of life as would enable them to meet Him with a conscience void of offense. Many of them felt as did the youthful Ellen Harmon, who, in recounting later the experience of herself and her sisters, wrote: SHM 120.2

“We talked the matter over among ourselves, and decided to earn what money we could, and spend it in buying books and tracts to be distributed gratuitously. This was the best we could do, and we did this little gladly. ... I had no temptation to spend my earnings for my own personal gratification. My dress was plain; nothing was spent for needless ornaments, for vain display appeared sinful in my eyes. ... The salvation of souls was the burden of my mind.”—Life Sketches of Ellen G. White, 47, 48. SHM 120.3