Ellen G. White and Her Critics

Her Remark on “Gazing-stocks”

A few pages farther on in this pamphlet she makes a key statement of principle from which the critics have quoted only a part of one sentence: EGWC 145.3

“Christians should not take pains to make themselves gazing-stocks by dressing differently from the world. But if, in accordance with their faith and duty in respect to their dressing modestly and healthfully, they find themselves out of fashion, they should not change their dress in order to be like the world. But they should manifest a noble independence, and moral courage to be right, if all the world differ from them. If the world introduce a modest, convenient, and healthful mode of dress, which is in accordance with the Bible, it will not change our relation to God, or to the world to adopt such a style of dress.”—Testimonies for the Church 1:61, 62. EGWC 145.4

She then indicts current styles and follows with a criticism of a certain kind of reform dress: EGWC 145.5

“There is still another style of dress which will be adopted by a class of so-called dress reformers. They will imitate the opposite sex, as nearly as possible. They will wear the cap, pants, vest, coat, and boots, the last of which is the most sensible part of the costume. Those who adopt and advocate this style of dress, are carrying the so-called dress reform to very objectionable lengths. Confusion will be the result. Some who adopt this costume may be correct in their views in general upon the health question, and they could be instrumental in accomplishing vastly more good if they did not carry the matter of dress to such extremes.... EGWC 145.6

“The dress should reach somewhat below the top of the boot; but should be short enough to clear the filth of the sidewalk and street, without being raised by the hand. A still shorter dress than this would be proper, convenient, and healthful for females, when doing their housework, and especially, for those women who are obliged to perform more or less out-of-door labor.”—Testimonies for the Church 1:62-64. EGWC 146.1

Before passing on to Mrs. White’s next declaration, we wish the reader particularly to note two points concerning the statement on “gazing-stocks,” which, according to the charge, was made in 1863. Note, first, how differently Mrs. White’s words concerning “gazing-stocks” sound when placed in the larger context. There her true meaning is revealed. Second, note that this “gazing-stock” statement appears first in Number 6 of the How to Live pamphlets, published in January, 1865, ^* which fact means that Mrs. White made this statement after she and her husband made that much-discussed visit to Dansville, not before. ^† EGWC 146.2