| Show CHRISTIANS AND DANCING This I is not particularly the season for dances though lawn parties parti and like Uke entertainments entertainment for tor summer lummer are ar In 18 full swing Within comparatively few weeks week however the time for balls will be again to the tore fore for In is the cycle of society seasons oni and it 1 ii is not out of the way now for tor people to give thought In advance to the class clau ola of amusements which then the will prevail As AI A a form ot of recreation dancing has haa b been the sub sub- subject of much discussion among the In- In intelligent intelligent claw class of ot society everywhere and its ito propriety has hal been seriously questioned d in many places Among some ome religious denomination denominations It has bal been n strictly forbidden while in aU all which power possess l an elevated moral sense U it has bae ha been placed u under oder restraint there being found some ome ome features feature which are beneficial and therefore commendable com- com dable and aDd some ome which are so 10 reprehensible as a to demand their elimination In ID this situation it is II interesting to note the po position now new taken by lead lead- leadIng leading leading ing denominational clergymen in tb the United States State on the question Ought a Christian to dance propounded by bythe bythe the New York World As Ai representative enta the tive of ot the leading loading religious religion sentiment of the New England EDgland center of ot culture and refinement may be quoted the ex of or the great Boston Boiton preacher Rev Dr C A Bartol Barto who says ay he can caB see ee wrong in iD a properly I conducted dance He does doci not approve of the popular style ol of ball dress aress or rather undress SI which pre pre- prevails pro vaili vails and of a number of ot forms of dancing for which there is r an a apparent craze in society Outside of 01 these objectionable features be he believes the amusement is ii admissible for tor Christians but adds add that by Im- Im Improper improper im improper proper associations Improper places and na excessive indulgence it may be b made highly reprehensible The question he says saU ay with him is i is not whether a Christian tian ought to dance but how bow when where and with whom and to what extent The Rev B Thomas K Beecher takes take a similar view and ana says ay ays that in his hil opinion w whether a Christian ought to dance or not must depend largely upon first the character of ot the dancing second the a associates with whom aud and among whom the dancing ie is done third the place where the dancing Is ii done fourth at what hours bourl noun fifth how bow long at a time sixth with Wb what t toilet or ordress dress dreu seventh with what ments eighth at what money cost coat ninth with what after atter effect effect recreation Lion tion or depression Of 01 the same opinion is ii the late Henry Ward Beech Beech- ere erd er great rival as a a pulpit the orator orator Rev R B S 8 orM 8 Archbishop M A Corrigan of New NewYork NewYork NewYork York gives an authoritative Catholic view in im which he be advises e restraint in 10 dancing ai as from any aDY form torm of ot world world world-ly ly amusement He lie Is emphatic in nil his antagonism to some ome forms form of ot the amusement however and aDd says ay All AU kinds of round dancing are contrary to piety There can be no doubt about I that All AU young men and women who wish to be true pure Christians should abstain from nand it and avoid its iti It Impure influences The eminent divine Dr R Heber Newton ewton discusses the sub sub- at some lome ome on about the same lines Jines as ae Archbishop Corrigan He recognizes two of ot dancing just justas juita as there are theatrical entertainments that are ennobling and others other that are in their influences cee ces He points pointe out that where one professing prote to be a Christian indulges io in dancing lob which may be maybe harmless harmle in ln itself yet thereby gives give example and encouragement to lead others to the adoption of ot objectionable forms or improper associations such a course I is sin in and aDd concludes conclude by saying ayin With regard recard to dancing I must say lay that 1 tor for one can see ee nothing objectionable in proper dances dance iu fn pro proper er society un under er proper condi condi- con conditions condition l- l tion I 1 think that all aU f of ot round dances dancel are reprehensible I 1 strongly favor a return to earlier and more dig dig- dignified dignified dignified I forms of dancing such for lor example as a the stately and dignified minuet of the olden time In 10 fashion fashion- fashionable able society at the present pre nt time there is II tolerated freely much against which I would draw a heavy black mark The Episcopal bishop bl hop of nt New York John H M Vincent WO would l not net permit I dancing except where there are per feet home safeguards against possible evil both as ac to companionship and and- the style tyle of dances in vogue U B insists that modern society h has ha no right to dictate to Chris Han Uan people what they should do Take the called lo-called society lety so of ot this thie world world What are if Us objects object The good of the race The promotion of cb character Of self control Of hla high ideals of purity and goodness goodner C Certainly not The key note of society It la gratification self The radical element in iD it Is pleasure Preference has bai taD fuU swing wing Conscience and aDd its iti protes are silenced by popular verdIcts usage urge by the exuberant life lite of crowd bent upon fun and frolic Wha ever gratifies the palate the sense of off beauty the love of ol admiration and conquest is i favored and aDd defended b byi society The world and aDd the flesh h rl ri in ID society Extravagance ana it i t modesty in ID dress drew hypocrisy in con cony convey affectation in deportment rivalries in all aU things petty and aDd dishonesties riot riol in society T poor are rejected the rich courted a simplicity ridiculed Shall the an of such uch society at modesty good t true culture and Christian have weight with the folio era of the ta Saint of N zar tb This l lj lter j ter question he be answers at length in int- int negative and adopts a ai as his bla view expression of a leading minister Fashionable dances are to every reeling feeling of dell deli delland d and propriety and are fraught wi wIthe withe the greatest danger dancer to millions vi bl his Hook flock to keep their child away away While he is Ie i toler tolerant nt a aa as to dH d forms forme of ot dancing as ae an aDlO went anent he be would exclude entirely t whole list lilt of round dances He Be o calves it to be an indecent act to gage in an amusement which wing minx the sexes exen in such closeness clo eneM of perso touch and approach ai as outside of tb dance Is nowhere tolerated in roe ree able society denounces denounce it for opportunities it affords on the par part the vile vUe hearted and declares declare to tb the round dance of fashionable m In mern ern society is i undermining the sa guards of ot modesty and virtue I The opinions opinion herein quoted are t 0 of men meD of ot extensive observation experience in the field of ot moral search and in instruction and aDd as su are entitled to thoughtful consid tion Rather Bather than being the ex Lion of a theory they are the oute of careful inquiry into cause and off em relating to the practice under und r d by men whose whole Judgment high educational at wants mente and aDd keen perceptive taco have railed raised them to a high pi among their fellows fellow So 80 far tar a aa as day Latter day Saints are concerned ti t realize or ought to that there Ia fa fatime time to dance and a time to toila aln sing time to be grave and a time to be g gand and ai as there are kinds kindi of food that healthful and palatable and aDd that are injurious and nauseous to cultivated taste so 80 o are there daD dap ant and songs that can be beneficially dulled Bulged In and others otien that can cannot DO mingled In la or associated with In sl way because of the contamina which they bring as a part ot of their Iture Lure ture Thil This principle impressed li is u- u u the Saints by the divine word rove reve in ID this age ace axe And M as to a A z i t toilet place and time of ot amusements feature that is ii suggestive of im- im impropriety impropriety im impropriety propriety should be rigidly excluded from all II such uch assemblages as ai a necessary sary ary condition of conformity to sacred obligations |
