Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1816-11-21

suspend all local animosiiics, and svite
the united Republic 90 total Oblivion OF
intestine pickering or bitterness in tic
ratiOna! amusement and public instruc-
ton OF all claSseS-so cheerful in antic-
patton, so virtuoyS in frui,ion and plea
SAINT or reflection? lin civic holidays-en
which the happiesI race of ireeinen that
ever yet inhabited any region OF this
Globe, ireet IN thousand circles, ce{e-
GJate tie 6isTh dat oftteir osga legitimate esrc
1egTty, contemplate the S,.hesert ,aoiestv at
tier Social condition, era{t TIER aera Petfia.g
aud stimulate tkcir iiging Eoyces? Suchl
have mere than cnce enjoyed with cdn-
scienGous qualification and thought in
The interval, low genius and wisdom
ought 70 combine yet more widely to va
riegase and tiff their embellishments.
Yes, freely confess. that ! have she'd tears
of delight when contemplating the spec
tacie OF twenty free nations indissoIu!iv
united. 81 millions ofmy happy fellow ciii-
zeps throughout such an Empire, ct the
same moment, animated BY the same senti-
ment, acknowledgements, in concert.
to the most heari-f.lt Gladness-in civ
ing free course 60 those beReficent and af-
tecting emotions that banquet soul en-
dowed with sensibilitv.
And yet lam to bs told that numbers
OF Cur clergy, without distinction Of
sect. denounce oil p's'dc GnnSemelqs,
conUjridl Iarties-as npnloral-fe stal rnu-
sic as notwithstanding dancing as
sinful; nag. so sinful rs to d;sqsaiifa TIE
dancing lambs # Ltei'' fold from asy sdqre
cfthe bread ofbfe.
But what intrinsic deforinity-E beg
leave bumblv 10 enquire, is necessarily
attached to dancing and music, modest
ypractised, by polished youths, ofhoth
IN ,>f, ,t-.,
a public bower or ballroom? In other
words, do sin and abomination naturally
cling TO moduIated sound minated
By graceful gesture? Surely, the delica-
cy and dignity attached to the presence
o. polished females, abash bosterous de-
meanor; and shame at least all the
coarser vices-Surely dancing and mu-
sic have been the natural, and allowed
signs of innocent mfa'th, and biameltss ga
fefy and e'aacaiate jog for thousands Of a.
ges.
Still, if these good men of moderndate,
be conscientious in this absolute inter-
diction, if they really believe that ab-
sstlnence rom these elegant amusements
is essential TO the salvation OF souls
God forbid that the inperious dictstes
of conscience should tie dtso5eysd tg
tthem. Even iflhey be egregiously mista-
ken, in such adoption of the anji-dar-
eng dAgna vet,so long as thew think
that IN interdicting all amuseme nts.
they utter the voice of Deifv-disobe-
dlence to the commands, even of an cor
roneous conscience, in them would be
sin. IN like manner, and bv parity Of
argument, if we say Christians do cor
scientIously believe, that in all such TN
qualified denunciatiOns, these spiritual
guides wander and cor.-Then thcir er-
ror ought neither 10 influence, alafm or
mis!ead us. Nay their error may become
our sin (bv adoption) if ace isse act propep.
vigilance 20 haue oar coDSciences pYoUerEy
enlightened, touching ao]iat is matter ofdafS,
Gmdof indifereace. Let us not then reeve
without cautious examination any new
secular restrictions whatever as sacrei
ties, If we cOnsciennOusly doubt whether
or not such ties have d scripturaf founda-
ton.
On every occasion of doubt, let us
resort TO those great fountains Of light
and knowledge which are open to Lcs,-
men as we'll az to PSiests-in the ol,rg
word Of God. Let us learn cautiously
TO distinguish between the austc5,e f;taass
@JdL66ie men, and the immutalie RIM
mands OF the everlasting God. Let us
not exhaust on triBes that zeal wilicI,
ought TO be reserved for the 'oeigItier
matters oftae a~. And let every sincere
christian beware Of chasing cordislal du
ties with carNomcal anaipat6ies--or of o.
verloading conscience with mans OBJ
truded Observanccs, sometimes fivoYoa,s.
ofientimes imPo5hc, and always burden
Somel
Wholly, torefrsin from dance, secular
music, or temperate festivity, We think
IS precept not ordained BY Moses. or
the Prophets. Such entertainments in
deed we're practised in times long anteri-
or to that Of Moses. The coming e,lest
was welcomed by them, and tlie de-
parting made cheerful. Thus we find
Laban tie Uncle ofJacob, when he chode
with him for departing secretly with his
,afniiV-say TO his SON n-iaw, "whcre-
" fore did ihou steal away from me, and
dids'i not tell re that michthave sent
thee away Will nirfh, and with sonre.
with tabret and with harpT Myrism.
q Prophecies 80 Israel, as above mention
Ed, on a proper occasion Of gladness,
PLAYED on timbrci, and danced openly.
and al the Hebrew women followed heT
dancing. Was AiyTidal rebukcd for dan
eng on W'7 occasion, rs she was for
siandcring Moses on chofIer, when for
reproacblng tiis brother on account OF
lis Ethiopian wife. she became lcDrors
white as snow! tile severest chasfise-
ment.p perhaps, for gosipping scandal.thst
history has recorded Did Aaron the
HIGHEST Priest Iarosss,fr, M-...-..