Daily Republican., 1879-06-07
A eddlng Ring.


at an eastern New York camp meeting
recently, where . pious lady became
exercised upon the subject Of sancti6-
cation. After vainly seeking this bles.
sing for several days she protested 10
have found it, and for the profit Of her
erring sisters related her experience.
She had great struggle to give up
certain articles Of ornament and gay
attire which she had loved. She said
that at first she resolved to wear no
more artificial flowers, no more gay COL
ored ribbons, handsome silks, nor ear
ornaments, nor brooches. But one idol
remained. II was her wedding ring.
At last she resolved to threw this away
too, and whom she did it, the blessing
of sanotifcation came. I,.-
1t is not tho purpose Of this article
to question for moment this woman's
sincerity of her emotional experience.
We note some facts in the case:
As she stood in the audience relating
tho great change which had come over
her, she displayed an immense mass Of
false hair wound up on the back of her
head, upon which was mounted a top
knot of hat, neither protection from
sun or cold, nor ornamental to behold.
She disclosed beneath half cast of
shawl a corseted waist which was re-
duced to such diminutive proportions
as to appear painfully abnormal. She
supported paddings, pufings, pannier,
and "pin. back, and dress skirt sadly
bedrabbled to a depth Of the several
inches which it dragged upon the
ground. As she sat down after her tes
timony and an exhortation to erring
sisters to renounce all pomp and glory
of the world she piled her fan and
painted very like ballroom belle who
had waltzed too long and was dressed
too tightly to breathe with ease. When
at the close Of the meeting the woman
walked away, she had a parasol, fan,
and hymn book to hold in one hand
and the other was employed in gather
ing and holding the front breadth of
her skirts high enough to enable her to
step, while the limit Of her mincing
gait was determined by her contracted
pin back and stilted boot-heels. And
away she went sanctified woman.
But what means that word sanctiied ?
Popularly, it may mean state of spir-
itual eostacy, great emotion Of joy, or
abiding peace. Scripturally, it means
Setting apart for Gods service" civ.
ing unto Righteousness and good works,
separating from a common to holy
purpose, consecrating to Gods service"
Christ said, "For their sakes sanotify
myself" that is, Christ dedicated him
self to be a sacrifice to God for men.
The Old Testament idea was that all
dsfiled persons ~. r. 'cNnm,.. a..
lAded from drawing nigh to God ; but
ny purfcation they were separated ts
God, and restored to His service. Now,
the typical cleansing with blood find
its reality in grace, which should make
the Christian meet to serve with every
power restored and renewed. What
did Paul mean when he implored, "the
: - God of peace sanotify you wholly;
Ala l pay Col your whole spirit and
soul and body be preserved blameless :"
It was not this lady's little finger
which supported a symbol of eternal
constancy, which Paul would have
alone sanctified or set apart for Gods
service, but spirit, soul and body.
"Wholly" comprehends all the powers
Of mind and muscle. And how is the
deludsd woman TO serve the Lord with |
her mind while that mass Of artificial
hair is overheating her brain and de,
ranging her whole nervous system
How can she serve God with her body
while she is packed in pads and bound
in cordage and "forty bone oorsets."
How with her feet and limbs when
pinohing shoes with two,inoh heels
prevent one painless step 7 when name
less masses Of skirts and deforming
epshroud and beclog 80
that every movement is labored aud
How with her hands whom
they are burdened to their full ability
with the superhuous luggage of trail
and toggery! How with her soul, which
ia all absorbed In the sertdom Of FASH
ionable folly.
Throwing away circlst Of gold, a
Jewel, a ribbon, that you may bs unem
numbered in the race for crown, that
you may be set apart and consscrated
to holy service Cast away rather
the mansclss which bind ysu to folly
Sever the bonds which defile and de-
form the temple Of the living God
Search out again the wedding ring
and observe its symbolsd beauty, and
let it be q reminder in perpetuity that
Won represent the bride Of Christ. and