Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1912-07-10
CHRISTIAN EhDEAvOR
Prayer Meeting Topic For Week Be-
aiming July "a, 1912.

Rev. Sherman H. Doyle, D. D.
proper regard for personal appear.
ance is not inconsistent with true
profession of Christianity. Our God
is the god Of beauty, and all about us
nature is clothed with garments of
glory and beauty. and. this being the
case, surely Gods most beautiful work
10 nature, the human frame, Is to be
City appareled. To this day art knows
no higher subject than the human face
and form. It is not reasonable to sup
pose therefore that God intended that
His highest workmanship Of beauty
should be marred or despised- 1t was
the personal beauty Of the child Moses
that led his mother to hide him from
Pharaoh, and her action was COM
mended by future history. The beauty
of Absalom was renowned, and bis
personal appearance and becoming APP
parel are nowhere condemned. Had be
been as beautiful In character be
would have been one of Gods noble
men.
Many Christians even who have nc
personal beauty and no taste for dress
go to the foolish extreme Of condemn
ing outright all attention to appear
ance and purposely disregard it. But
this is supreme folly. Rags are no
badge of religion. and slovenliness in
appearance is more discreditable to q
Christian than to any one else. More
over, such contempt for personal ap-
pearance is usually the sign of mean.
er and falser spirit of pride than that
possessed by one who Is Unfortunately
vain and extravagant IN dress and
adornment Stamping his feet upon
the floor. beggarly dressed philoso-
pher once exclaimed to fastidious
epieure, Thus stamp upon your
pride" And with still greater pride
quietly answered the other. Il see It
through your rags" He spoke the
truth, and it Is true today. 1t is q
false pride that leads any one to con,
denim becoming dress by going to the
opposite extreme
The Christian should never give Of
Tense by personal appearance. Paul
made himself '.all things to all men
that thel might by all means save
some" He sacrificed no principle. but
he paid decent regard for the opinions
of others where no vital principles
were concerned II the eating OF meat
offended he would eat no meat. and no
doubt If the manner of his dress had
been offensive he would have changed
It. Many Christians are poor and hum
Bile, and when they must mingle with
those who can afford to wear luxurious
apparel and costly adornments their
feelings are not to be hurt by an over
display of this ability. Nor should we
even allow our manner of dress to
cause our religion to be evilly spoken
of. Extravagant display Of outward
adornment often does this. Hence
Timothy urged women to "adorn them
selves with modest apparel.
not with braided hair or gold or
pearls or costly array" This is char
acteristic of the people of the world
and to be avoided By Christians. But
he does not condemn adornment itself.
II will therefore that women
adorn themselves" but with modest
apparel" An immodest display Of
physical charms is not to be thought of
by the Christian. 1t is inordinately
vain and positively sinful. But In per-
sonal appearance even the world is to
be considered. We are here to save
the world Worldly people give spe-
cial attention to appearance. Let US
admit that they overdo # Yet 1t can
be easily seen that those who give so
much attention to appearance could
not tolerate absolute disregard of APP
pearance. and their opinions must be
considered If We have any hopes of
winning them for Christ Not that we
are to initiate them But not to do so
does not demand a manner of dress
that is repulsive and that discredits
the very religion that we profess.
Christians should remember that per-
sonal appearance is an index of char
acter. We recognize this fact In con-
nection with the vain and snobbish at
tire Of the wording. Such attire is
conceded to usually cover vain and silly
and shallow characters All dress is
Just as symbolic. The absence Of care
In personal appearance portrays an un.
attractive and usually an ignoble dis.
position. Nor is there any excuse for
it. Attractiveness and neatness in ap.
pearance are possible to all. even the
poorest 1t is not SO much what we
wear that determines our dispositions
and characters as the condition OF the
garments worn We should never dress
above our means or simply for vulgar
display.
Christians should remember that per.
sonai appearance adds to or detracts
from self respect 1t is not necessary
to be ultra fashionably dressed. but we
all know how much proper attire. be II
ever so modest or inexpensive. adds to
self confidence. A sack suit among
evening clothes is worse than a fish out
Of water, and nothing more quickly