"“Since the article on dress appeared in How to Live , there has been with some a misunderstanding of the idea I wished to convey. They have taken the extreme meaning of that which I have written in regard to the length of the dress, and have evidently had a very hard time over the matter. With their distorted views of the matter they have discussed the question of shortening the dress until their spiritual vision has become so confused that they can only see men as trees walking. They have thought they could see a contradiction in my article on dress, recently published in How to Live , and that article on the same subject contained in Testimony for the Church , No. 10. I must contend that I am the best judge of the things which have been presented before me in vision; and none need fear that I shall by my life contradict my own testimony, or that I shall fail to notice any real contradiction in the views given me. 1T 462.3"
"And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking."
The EGW passage directly quotes and alludes to Mark 8:24, using the phrase "see men as trees walking" to describe the confused spiritual vision of those focused on dress reform. This is a clear and intentional reference.
"Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch."
EGW directly alludes to the phrase 'men as trees walking,' which originates from Mark 8:24, not Matthew 15:14. However, the underlying theme of spiritual blindness and misinterpretation is present in both the EGW passage and Matthew 15:14. Given the explicit allusion to a similar passage, and the thematic overlap, I will confirm, but adjust the relation type.
“In my article on dress in How to Live I tried to present a healthful, convenient, economical, yet modest and becoming style of dress for Christian women to wear, if they should choose so to do. I tried, perhaps imperfectly, to describe such a dress. ‘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.’ Some have contended that by the top of the boot, I meant the top of such boots as men usually wear. But by ‘the top of the boot,’ I designed to be understood the top of a boot, or gaiter shoe, usually worn by women. Had I thought I should be misunderstood, I would have written more definitely. If it were the custom for women to wear high- topped boots like men, I could see sufficient excuse for this misunderstanding. I think the language is very plain as it now reads, and no one needs to be thrown into confusion. Please read again: ‘The dress should reach somewhat below the…
"In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;"
Both passages address the topic of modest apparel for women. EGW provides specific guidelines for dress length, while 1 Timothy 2:9 offers broader principles of modesty and avoiding extravagance. The EGW passage can be seen as an application of the general principle found in 1 Timothy 2:9.