“Ścisk na podatki, a suknia tak długa, że się po ziemi wlecze”, or the political aspect of fashion in the sermons of rev. Joseph Męciński, delivered in Lublin at St. Spirit’s Church during the Great Seym

Abstract

Rev. Joseph Męciński (1748–1814) was a significant figure in both studies of the history of Polish homiletics and socio-economic issues of the Stanislavian period. Between 1786 and 1793 Męciński resided in Lublin. Starting from 1788 when he delivered a series of sermons addressed to the nobility at St. Spirit’s Church, in which he referred to current events – the meeting of the Four Years’ Seym. His opinions about fashion fit well into the contemporary discussion about the above, as well as customs and role of craft. In his sermons Męciński elaborated on mercantilist ideas, popular as they were during the Enlightenment. He would also compare dressing lavishly to leprosy, advocating the nobility to wear clothes produced from fabric made in Poland only. It was possible to trace similar ideas already in 1770s in the “Monitor” newspaper. These problems were being dealt with by Polish parliamentary constitutions as well. Yet it is hardly surprising that Męciński elaborated on the dressing code, which gained significant political dimension during the Great Seym. Short as it seems, Męciński’s Lublin sermon summarizes the essence of Stanislaus period’s discussions about clothes and opulence (the national costume issue was not covered). Some of his views seems to be unchanged.

Keywords

• rev. Józef Męciński
• Stanislavian period
• homiletics
• Lublin
• Four Years’ Seym