Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1818-06-23

But putting aside the canons of the Chnrcl,
aud The authority of the scriptures. Lncius has
attempted 10 show that balls aud theatres are
OF themselves very perEicionS places of amuse.
ment, and that the Convention and Mr. Mer-
Ger have between them proved II most Concu-
sively. The Convention declare that these in
duigences " stain the purity of the Christian
character, and eDdanger the salvation OF the
souls of meB'-and their high authority may
have imposed upon the understanding of Lu.
Gus, and induced him 10 call these very cogent
reGSOnS-But 10 my simple understanding, they
are neither more nor less than assertions with
out the shadow of argument. Lncius, in hnd
ing out that they are reasons, IN opposition To
the opinion azarded by Marcus, has the merit
OF discovery, which, undertake TO say, has
been made by no other person in Virginia. AS
he alone IS entiiled TO all the credit oft
think he MAY rest satisfied that tie patent right
Nil never be disputed.
Then, as Ga Mr.. MerceT's rhetorical flourish
as. which Lucius thinks are so truth erceilent
what IL there ia them deserving lite eulogium?
w care told indeed thar The theatre has in eve
~ country led tu the corruption OF NOrals, and
ti'at the proof Of II i 10 be found IN the genera!
character oil tie dramas il eXhiGiis--in the dun.
gerOWS circumstances attending The exhibition
itself, and in tie temptation TO txtIava"ance
aud wee To which IL exposes tie actors and III.
dienee. But what is this general character
what these dangerous circumstances what
these extraordinary temptations Both the
conclusion and premises oil Mir. Mercer are de
med, and neither he, nor LuCiuS, nor the Lay
maa, separate or combined. can prove thcni..
The subject has been discussed 81 often. (and
not long ago IN this very paper, J that any fur.
ther remark on the subject is cutirCiN SupeTilu.
Gus. As 10 the dancing department. Mr. NJ.
objects. that, in promscUouS assemblies no So.
Guilty exists for the moial character 0i those
who compose thrm-that gaming aud drunk
euncsS are tolerated there that aiunsciEen nj
reels into dehaurhery, and tine, health aud
fortune are sacrificed to pleasure. These, |
VIII admit, are very pretty specimens ui clio
mCie. Few men 20 TO Il bah room To game
ordrink, because there are other places of re.
sort more convenient aud appropriate. But
SOME, alter they get there, 10 both. This how
ever, does not arise from, The nature of the a.
museulent, or from any extraordinary excite.
hents 10 be met with there, but because the
propensity has been acquired elsewhere, aud
is not overcome even by the innocent fcstiVity
OF the ball room. So far from IL, that have
often seen meu disposed both to drink and
game, aiinIedfrOm i4lPiT favOTltc vices by The
beauty, and Wit, aud ids&ion. and gaiefy OF Que
of these" ~ OmisCuOnsas:enbii They have
Tor a time tUr. - their master passion. aud
yielded tems elves TO the destinations Of TOl;Sh.
ed society. Then, as to the rest, who are inno-
Gently enJoying the exercise aud harmless a.
muSemCnt OF TIE scene, what nJpry can result
To themt Is II likuly that their health or fortune
VIII be injured OF their lime sacrificed, Eygo-
ing 10 three o. totTpGhiic balls during the sea
SON! 1t cannot, i think. be seriously affirmed
Ii lew Immoral aud COUtempiible men do
gam auiIliSotOn into Il Ddtl room, TneE ought not
10 stamp with eNIl The Character OF tue aniuSe-
ment, Or render What is innocent hostile to (he
SptrIf ~ chTtStlgaty such meD are uDhappily
10 be tousd every where. (eveu in Churches, J
and a iheIr very presence Is contamination,
we ought 10 debar ourselves from eGSTy socla
BILE epjoyment-to shut ourselves in d cIoisier
tar from the hauuts of man-ana to foTswear
tl.e company of our fellows. But in ;ruyl,
they affect the moral aud considerable With nc t.
iher sentiments than those ct pity or contempt
L al ltsIr
Is not more contagious in bali room than
elsewhere. Tie sickly bodies, predis posed
to disease, may catch the infection; but the
reallNEcdIthy and viz OrOuS will escape uuunri.
IL rs, then, ridiculous 10 imagine, that well
educated male or female viii he so struck
with The manners of drunkard or gameNter,
III ball room, as TO iallin love with MS very vi
ceS OF that there IRE there anV TENN lions
to immortality than are To be found elsewhere.
Bat these things apart, dane lug, ii must he al
lowed, isa healthy as well as a.reeable selaXa-
ton, luSomuCh that II was once conSeciatcd 10
religious purpcses-l hetc is u time saws the
preacher, to rejoice, and 4 time TO dance. Da.
vid danced before the ark in honor of God,
and 10 express his excess OF 10Y for its return
into The city OF Sion. The daughters of Shiloh
| are likewise said TO have danced yearly feast
! before the Lord-aud ScaligeT informs us HAT
dances were admitted by the primitive chris
tianS wherein the Bishops themselves were
performers.
The effect of music and dancing upon tie
been noticed. We are all familiar with tie
story OF the people of Abdera-3'hat is iilns-
traiive of the happy consequences OF intl0du-
cling them A more authentic account ef the
effects of The rigid, austere system, Is TO be
found ia Il review OF LichtenSteins Travels in
Southern Africa, which / humbly recommend
to the consideration of LuciuS and the I.ayman
for more purposes than one. He has been
speaking OF the comparative industry and CT.
vllizalion of the district Of Roodezand.
But, says the reviewer, " both the haDpi-
| ness and the morals of the coloEists of this dis.
trict, seem TO have been injured not little by
the intrusion of swarm ofmissiondrieS, and the
introduction by their means OF a great degree
| or 6ig0try, which has very much changed the
JTonka6SS ct character, the cheertulReSs aud the
| good uHI to one another, which were formerly
| 50 prevalent in this district Music and Dane
| ing are entirely bauIShed and under the con.
| duct OF his spiritual guides, the African colo
INST who has 80 few sources of euioSment ha
| succeeded perfectly in cutting off great mum
| Der oil them. HEIR tavorite doctrine is, tina;
every man should apply himself to the saliva.
| ton of his own soul, which he is to work out
moi byJustiCe or morality, but by faith aud self
| AMUSEMENT. Thus see the same poison ex.
| tracted from the humane and charitable doc
triues OF christianity, and administered in the
same doses all over tie world"
1T ~ said that none object 10 TIE resolution
| OF The Convention but those who are no com
| nunIcaniS. This certainly is not true-ynt il
| ii were, would they have no interest in The
| question Might they not be deeply concern ed
| tor the success of the Episcopal Church, oil
| have wives or sisters or daughters or friend,
| who are communicates Who Duildand support
/ the churches which ain happy 10 see iisiug
around us commandments alone-it will not be
| pretended-then let us near no more OF ihi!
| objection.
| Bnt the Layman asks Marcus, with great
| sang froid and cool Indifference, " { YOU are
| displeased with the terms OF communion ia thu
| Episcopal Church, are you not at liberty (,
withdraw and unite with some other or ma,
| not those who concur in opinion set about esta
| blishing ReW church of their own Z" &C. Tn,