Reviewing the Past
It was about the middle of the nineteenth century that, here and there in our country, women with their heavy trailing or hoop skirts began to awaken to the fact that the clothes they were wearing had a decidedly detrimental effect upon their health. It was as though a new day were dawning, and a few brave individuals stepped forward to introduce a much-needed reform. This was not an easy thing to do, for previous to this time women had been accorded no “rights,” and in the matter of dress had always followed along as custom had decreed. The idea of a reform dress actually originated among progressive women in Europe, but was quickly championed in this country by many outstanding persons. Here in America we find that the dress reform was at first linked not only with health reform but also with temperance and rights for women.
BHP 253.2
The first actually to wear a dress intended to bring about an improvement in women’s clothing was Elizabeth Smith Miller. Her father, Congressman Gerrit Smith, had been very outspoken in favor of this needed reform; so she had his support as well as that of her husband in this new venture. She wore the dress first on the streets of Washington, D.C., where it was hailed as quite an item of news in the press. After wearing it for about three months, Mrs. Miller went to Seneca Falls, New York, to visit her cousin, Mrs. Elizabeth Cady Stanton, one of the honored women of the nation because of her efforts in the cause of women.
BHP 253.3
Speaking of the advantages of the new dress in contrast with the inconvenience of the prevailing styles, Mrs. Stanton wrote:
BHP 254.1
“To see my cousin [Mrs. Miller] with lamp in one hand, a baby in the other, walk upstairs with ease and grace, while, with flowing robes, I pulled myself with difficulty, lamp and baby out of the question, readily convinced me that there was sore need of a reform in woman’s dress, and I promptly donned a similar costume. What incredible freedom I enjoyed for two years! Like a captive set free from his ball and chain, I was always ready for a brisk walk through sleet and snow and rain, to climb a mountain, jump over a fence, and work in the garden, and, in fact, for any necessary locomotion.” Stanton and Blatch, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, vol. 1. Harper’s.
BHP 254.2
The next to join these two women was Mrs. Amelia Bloomer. She was editor of The Lily, a monthly paper for women, published at Seneca Falls, New York. In her position she was able to give great publicity to the reform dress. In fact, her name was given to an adaptation of the new costume, although she insisted that the credit really belonged to Mrs. Miller.
BHP 254.3
Some months after Mrs. Miller’s visit to Seneca Falls, Mrs. Stanton and Mrs. Bloomer, with others, visited Dr. Jackson’s health institute at Glen Haven, New York. Here they met Dr. Harriet Austin, who became an ardent promoter of the reform dress, and it was through her influence that the style was modified and became generally known as the American costume, concerning which Mrs. White says:
BHP 255.1
“It consists of a vest, pants, and a dress resembling a coat and reaching about halfway from the hip to the knee. This dress I have opposed.” Testimonies for the Church 1:465.
BHP 255.2
Dr. Austin and Dr. Jackson, as editors of the Water Cure Journal, gave prominence to this new style of dress.
BHP 255.3
Later the reform was advocated in Laws of Life, successor to Water Cure Journal. In all sections of the country were to be found those who adopted the new style of dress. Also there were those who criticized and ridiculed any attempt to change the fashion of the day.
BHP 255.4
654
BHP
Believe His Prophets
[{"para_id":"654.2","title":"Believe His Prophets","mp3":"\/mp3\/654\/0000_eng_f_preface_654_2.mp3#duration=99&size=670097"},{"para_id":"654.13","title":"Chapter 1\u2014The Kind of People God Wants","mp3":"\/mp3\/654\/0001_eng_f_chapter_1_the_kind_of_people_god_wants_654_13.mp3#duration=1046&size=6353047"},{"para_id":"654.74","title":"Chapter 2\u2014Three Basic Concepts of Christian","mp3":"\/mp3\/654\/0002_eng_f_chapter_2_three_basic_concepts_of_christian_654_74.mp3#duration=938&size=5700614"},{"para_id":"654.124","title":"Chapter 3\u2014Channels of Communication Between God and Man","mp3":"\/mp3\/654\/0003_eng_f_chapter_3_channels_of_communication_between_god_and_man_654_124.mp3#duration=44&size=339763"},{"para_id":"654.127","title":"God at Various Times Spoke by the Prophets","mp3":"\/mp3\/654\/0004_eng_f_god_at_various_times_spoke_by_the_prophets_654_127.mp3#duration=212&size=1347589"},{"para_id":"654.143","title":"The Call to the Prophetic Office","mp3":"\/mp3\/654\/0005_eng_f_the_call_to_the_prophetic_office_654_143.mp3#duration=145&size=942477"},{"para_id":"654.150","title":"Names Applied to the Messages of the Prophets","mp3":"\/mp3\/654\/0006_eng_f_names_applied_to_the_messages_of_the_prophets_654_150.mp3#duration=93&size=630664"},{"para_id":"654.161","title":"Prophets in the New Testament Church","mp3":"\/mp3\/654\/0007_eng_f_prophets_in_the_new_testament_church_654_161.mp3#duration=343&size=2133394"},{"para_id":"654.182","title":"Prophets in the Remnant Church","mp3":"\/mp3\/654\/0008_eng_f_prophets_in_the_remnant_church_654_182.mp3#duration=222&size=1402757"},{"para_id":"654.200","title":"Chapter 4\u2014Accepting or Rejecting the Prophets","mp3":"\/mp3\/654\/0009_eng_f_chapter_4_accepting_or_rejecting_the_prophets_654_200.mp3#duration=1507&size=9114798"},{"para_id":"654.280","title":"Chapter 5\u2014The Gift of Prophecy in the Advent Movement","mp3":"\/mp3\/654\/0010_eng_f_chapter_5_the_gift_of_prophecy_in_the_advent_movement_654_280.mp3#duration=207&size=1314008"},{"para_id":"654.290","title":"The Call of Ellen Gould Harmon","mp3":"\/mp3\/654\/0011_eng_f_the_call_of_ellen_gould_harmon_654_290.mp3#duration=256&size=1607577"},{"para_id":"654.304","title":"Reactions of Early Pioneers to the Claims of Ellen G. White","mp3":"\/mp3\/654\/0012_eng_f_reactions_of_early_pioneers_to_the_claims_of_ellen_g_white_654_304.mp3#duration=787&size=4793484"},{"para_id":"654.338","title":"The \u201cReview and Herald\u201d and the Visions","mp3":"\/mp3\/654\/0013_eng_f_the_review_and_herald_and_the_visions_654_338.mp3#duration=488&size=3003008"},{"para_id":"654.370","title":"Dr. Brown Comes to Scoff, Flees in Consternation","mp3":"\/mp3\/654\/0014_eng_f_dr_brown_comes_to_scoff_flees_in_consternation_654_370.mp3#duration=116&size=771701"},{"para_id":"654.377","title":"Advent Believers Accept the Seventh-day Sabbath","mp3":"\/mp3\/654\/0015_eng_f_advent_believers_accept_the_seventh_day_sabbath_654_377.mp3#duration=257&size=1614115"},{"para_id":"654.393","title":"Chapter 6\u2014Four Bible Tests of a True Prophet","mp3":"\/mp3\/654\/0016_eng_f_chapter_6_four_bible_tests_of_a_true_prophet_654_393.mp3#duration=242&size=1524048"},{"para_id":"654.408","title":"The Test of Fulfilled Predictions","mp3":"\/mp3\/654\/0017_eng_f_the_test_of_fulfilled_predictions_654_408.mp3#duration=707&size=4318215"},{"para_id":"654.464","title":"Did Mrs. White\u2019s Predictions Always Come to Pass?","mp3":"\/mp3\/654\/0018_eng_f_did_mrs_white_s_predictions_always_come_to_pass_654_464.mp3#duration=376&size=2331187"},{"para_id":"654.493","title":"The Test of Divine Guidance in Times of Crisis in the Advent Movement","mp3":"\/mp3\/654\/0019_eng_f_the_test_of_divine_guidance_in_times_of_crisis_in_the_advent_movement_654_493.mp3#duration=461&size=2842870"},{"para_id":"654.522","title":"The Test of Agreement With the Bible","mp3":"\/mp3\/654\/0020_eng_f_the_test_of_agreement_with_the_bible_654_522.mp3#duration=215&size=1364582"},{"para_id":"654.539","title":"The Test of the Kind of Fruit Borne in Life and Works","mp3":"\/mp3\/654\/0021_eng_f_the_test_of_the_kind_of_fruit_borne_in_life_and_works_654_539.mp3#duration=815&size=4961719"},{"para_id":"654.582","title":"Chapter 7\u2014Evidences That Ellen G. White Was Used by God","mp3":"\/mp3\/654\/0022_eng_f_chapter_7_evidences_that_ellen_g_white_was_used_by_god_654_582.mp3#duration=165&size=1063718"},{"para_id":"654.596","title":"The Timeliness of the Messages","mp3":"\/mp3\/654\/0023_eng_f_the_timeliness_of_the_messages_654_596.mp3#duration=757&size=4615153"},{"para_id":"654.642","title":"The Practical Nature of the Messages","mp3":"\/mp3\/654\/0024_eng_f_the_practical_nature_of_the_messages_654_642.mp3#duration=503&size=3091358"},{"para_id":"654.668","title":"Chapter 8\u2014God Revealed Secrets Through Ellen G. White","mp3":"\/mp3\/654\/0025_eng_f_chapter_8_god_revealed_secrets_through_ellen_g_white_654_668.mp3#duration=128&size=840355"},{"para_id":"654.676","title":"The Certainty of the Messages","mp3":"\/mp3\/654\/0026_eng_f_the_certainty_of_the_messages_654_676.mp3#duration=1067&size=6478741"},{"para_id":"654.732","title":"Chapter 9\u2014The Witness of Contemporaries","mp3":"\/mp3\/654\/0027_eng_f_chapter_9_the_witness_of_contemporaries_654_732.mp3#duration=47&size=354325"},{"para_id":"654.735","title":"Recognized by Contemporaries","mp3":"\/mp3\/654\/0028_eng_f_recognized_by_contemporaries_654_735.mp3#duration=1590&size=9616485"},{"para_id":"654.813","title":"The Relation to Outside Influences","mp3":"\/mp3\/654\/0029_eng_f_the_relation_to_outside_influences_654_813.mp3#duration=563&size=3453799"},{"para_id":"654.842","title":"The Physical Phenomena Attending the Visions","mp3":"\/mp3\/654\/0030_eng_f_the_physical_phenomena_attending_the_visions_654_842.mp3#duration=308&size=1924260"},{"para_id":"654.856","title":"Chapter 10\u2014The Relation of Ellen G. White to the Bible","mp3":"\/mp3\/654\/0031_eng_f_chapter_10_the_relation_of_ellen_g_white_to_the_bible_654_856.mp3#duration=223&size=1410963"},{"para_id":"654.868","title":"Ellen G. White Exalted the Scriptures","mp3":"\/mp3\/654\/0032_eng_f_ellen_g_white_exalted_the_scriptures_654_868.mp3#duration=416&size=2570261"},{"para_id":"654.903","title":"Spirit of Prophecy Relationship to Development of Doctrine","mp3":"\/mp3\/654\/0033_eng_f_spirit_of_prophecy_relationship_to_development_of_doctrine_654_903.mp3#duration=243&size=1534144"},{"para_id":"654.917","title":"The Greater Light and the Lesser Light","mp3":"\/mp3\/654\/0034_eng_f_the_greater_light_and_the_lesser_light_654_917.mp3#duration=121&size=801756"},{"para_id":"654.928","title":"What Others Have Said of the Relation of the Testimonies to the Bible","mp3":"\/mp3\/654\/0035_eng_f_what_others_have_said_of_the_relation_of_the_testimonies_to_the_bible_654_928.mp3#duration=1352&size=8187077"},{"para_id":"654.999","title":"Chapter 11\u2014Ellen G. White\u2019s Attitude Toward Her Own Writings","mp3":"\/mp3\/654\/0036_eng_f_chapter_11_ellen_g_white_s_attitude_toward_her_own_writings_654_999.mp3#duration=81&size=560089"},{"para_id":"654.1006","title":"Ellen G. White\u2019s Claim to Inspiration","mp3":"\/mp3\/654\/0037_eng_f_ellen_g_white_s_claim_to_inspiration_654_1006.mp3#duration=263&size=1653259"},{"para_id":"654.1026","title":"Ellen G. White\u2019s Definition of Inspiration","mp3":"\/mp3\/654\/0038_eng_f_ellen_g_white_s_definition_of_inspiration_654_1026.mp3#duration=998&size=6060518"},{"para_id":"654.1089","title":"Inspiration and Infallibility","mp3":"\/mp3\/654\/0039_eng_f_inspiration_and_infallibility_654_1089.mp3#duration=691&size=4218176"},{"para_id":"654.1134","title":"How the Writings Came to Be","mp3":"\/mp3\/654\/0040_eng_f_how_the_writings_came_to_be_654_1134.mp3#duration=40&size=312578"},{"para_id":"654.1136","title":"Purpose of the Testimonies","mp3":"\/mp3\/654\/0041_eng_f_purpose_of_the_testimonies_654_1136.mp3#duration=290&size=1814182"},{"para_id":"654.1152","title":"Attitudes Toward the Testimonies","mp3":"\/mp3\/654\/0042_eng_f_attitudes_toward_the_testimonies_654_1152.mp3#duration=138&size=898962"},{"para_id":"654.1164","title":"Wrong Use of the Testimonies","mp3":"\/mp3\/654\/0043_eng_f_wrong_use_of_the_testimonies_654_1164.mp3#duration=269&size=1689513"},{"para_id":"654.1183","title":"Chapter 12\u2014Ellen G. White\u2019s Message on Health","mp3":"\/mp3\/654\/0044_eng_f_chapter_12_ellen_g_white_s_message_on_health_654_1183.mp3#duration=3765&size=22674289"},{"para_id":"654.1432","title":"Chapter 13\u2014Ellen G. White\u2019s Message on Dress ","mp3":"\/mp3\/654\/0045_eng_f_chapter_13_ellen_g_white_s_message_on_dress_654_1432.mp3#duration=389&size=2405758"},{"para_id":"654.1462","title":"Reviewing the Past","mp3":"\/mp3\/654\/0046_eng_f_reviewing_the_past_654_1462.mp3#duration=240&size=1515904"},{"para_id":"654.1475","title":"Reasons for Reform","mp3":"\/mp3\/654\/0047_eng_f_reasons_for_reform_654_1475.mp3#duration=286&size=1790333"},{"para_id":"654.1497","title":"Instruction From Ellen G. White","mp3":"\/mp3\/654\/0048_eng_f_instruction_from_ellen_g_white_654_1497.mp3#duration=296&size=1850120"},{"para_id":"654.1516","title":"Avoiding Extremes","mp3":"\/mp3\/654\/0049_eng_f_avoiding_extremes_654_1516.mp3#duration=397&size=2455134"},{"para_id":"654.1544","title":"Renewal of Agitation Discouraged","mp3":"\/mp3\/654\/0050_eng_f_renewal_of_agitation_discouraged_654_1544.mp3#duration=287&size=1797885"},{"para_id":"654.1558","title":"Fundamental Principles","mp3":"\/mp3\/654\/0051_eng_f_fundamental_principles_654_1558.mp3#duration=377&size=2336928"},{"para_id":"654.1580","title":"Appropriate Length of Dress","mp3":"\/mp3\/654\/0052_eng_f_appropriate_length_of_dress_654_1580.mp3#duration=250&size=1572759"},{"para_id":"654.1593","title":"Represents Character","mp3":"\/mp3\/654\/0053_eng_f_represents_character_654_1593.mp3#duration=353&size=2192113"},{"para_id":"654.1612","title":"Chapter 14\u2014What Manner of Persons Ought We to Be?","mp3":"\/mp3\/654\/0054_eng_f_chapter_14_what_manner_of_persons_ought_we_to_be_654_1612.mp3#duration=1384&size=8377987"},{"para_id":"654.1710","title":"Chapter 15\u2014My Attitude on the Life and Work of Ellen G. White","mp3":"\/mp3\/654\/0055_eng_f_chapter_15_my_attitude_on_the_life_and_work_of_ellen_g_white_654_1710.mp3#duration=664&size=4060486"},{"para_id":"654.1752","title":"My Salvation and the Writings of Ellen G. White","mp3":"\/mp3\/654\/0056_eng_f_my_salvation_and_the_writings_of_ellen_g_white_654_1752.mp3#duration=51&size=382081"},{"para_id":"654.1756","title":"What Doth the Lord Require?","mp3":"\/mp3\/654\/0057_eng_f_what_doth_the_lord_require_654_1756.mp3#duration=291&size=1819297"},{"para_id":"654.1771","title":"The Conclusion From Her Own Statement","mp3":"\/mp3\/654\/0058_eng_f_the_conclusion_from_her_own_statement_654_1771.mp3#duration=468&size=2881110"},{"para_id":"654.1801","title":"Righteousness by Faith\u2014the Latter Rain and the Loud Cry","mp3":"\/mp3\/654\/0059_eng_f_righteousness_by_faith_the_latter_rain_and_the_loud_cry_654_1801.mp3#duration=227&size=1435952"},{"para_id":"654.1817","title":"The Attitude of the Brethren Toward the Writings of Ellen G. White","mp3":"\/mp3\/654\/0060_eng_f_the_attitude_of_the_brethren_toward_the_writings_of_ellen_g_white_654_1817.mp3#duration=454&size=2797272"},{"para_id":"654.1848","title":"My Attitude Toward the Life and Work of Ellen G. White","mp3":"\/mp3\/654\/0061_eng_f_my_attitude_toward_the_life_and_work_of_ellen_g_white_654_1848.mp3#duration=810&size=4936698"}]