Subject: Bath on Sabbath Sep.

11th, 2002

? Question

IS IT TRUE THAT E.G.WHITE SAID THAT ADVENTISTS SHOULD NOT TAKE BATH ON SABBATH.IF YES OR
NO WHY?

! Answer
Dear Brother _______,

Thank you for contacting the Ellen G. White Estate. Your question brought the following statement to mind, found in
Testimonies for the Church, vol. 6, pp. 355, 356:

On Friday let the preparation for the Sabbath be completed. See that all the clothing is in readiness and that all the cooking
is done. Let the boots be blacked and the baths be taken. It is possible to do this. If you make it a rule you can do it. The
Sabbath is not to be given to the repairing of garments, to the cooking of food, to pleasure seeking, or to any other worldly
employment. Before the setting of the sun let all secular work be laid aside and all secular papers be put out of sight.
Parents, explain your work and its purpose to your children, and let them share in your preparation to keep the Sabbath
according to the commandment.

In 19th-century America, taking a bath was often a laborious process. The water had to be heated on a wood-burning stove
and then poured into a large washtub. When the bath was complete, the tub had to be carried outside to be dumped or its
contents dipped out into smaller containers that could be carried out. Most people did not take a bath more than once a
week. Should the Sabbath be used for a process that involved as much work as this? Mrs. White's answer was No. She
urged that we not use the sacred hours of the Sabbath in a mundane and labor-intensive way such as this, since by
preparation we could avoid bringing such labor into the Sabbath.

Do those same conditions still prevail today? In many places of the world, Yes. In America, for the most part, No. Mrs.
White said this about her testimonies: "Regarding the testimonies, nothing is ignored; nothing is cast aside; but time and
place must be considered" (Selected Messages, book 1, p. 57). Let each one consider how the instruction may apply in his
own situation.

I hope this is helpful to you. Thank you for writing, and God bless!

--------
William Fagal, Director
Ellen G. White Estate Branch Office
Andrews University
Berrien Springs, MI 49104-1400 USA
Phone: 269 471-3209
FAX: 269 471-2646
Website: www.WhiteEstate.org or www.egwestate.andrews.edu
E-mail: egw@aubranch.egwestate.andrews.edu

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