Baton-Rouge gazette. [volume] (Baton-Rouge, La.) 1819-1856, 1848-07-15
Communicated
1aev r H. D"iTenweirth.
VERSUS DANCING.

staflii) hearing the lnild ptals OF the
Church going bell" Of The Methodist
Church, we WEI dsd our way thithefWatd
with the fond lbpt II hB swing our spiritual
condition for the evening rendered better
by mipgling with the people Of the house
Of God.
On entering the Church where q very
large and respectable audience were seat.
cd, we felt highly g~ratifed to see the pull
pit filled by the reverend gentleman
whose ma me heads this communication.
He IL a z ntleman, that In former days,
we have known tolerahly well, aud rather
hvorably, especially, while regarding him
q : nm independent, liberia and Jealous la.
bBufpr in the cause Of religion. 10 many
Of the people Of baton Rouge be has been
known, PEI haps + ON his infancy up, We
remember him In ffmer times as the
modest, but fl IN supporter Of the dretrines
If the Bible % taught b, The Methods
de denomination Of christians, willing to
preach Chtist crucifad for the redemption
md salvation Of mankind without pre-
Stunning 10 inIsrf re with the private views
and customs, which a community, or Il
part Of a community might hold and prac-
lice in Common. not being directly oppos-
cd to the plain doctrines taught In the holy
criptures@a minister who could descend
from the pulpit and mingle in tho society
0fhis fellow citizens, with perhaps as few
pref diees against the popular and prevail.
ing customs Of society, and with as much
ofihat "eSterpl polish Of manner and
sehooled etiquette as any mfmbef &C our
religious community.
Bot upon this occasion, much as are our
personal feelings Of respect and friendship
for Mr.. DiffeHweifth, candor TO him, and
Justice to ourselves, compel rs 10 say Of
hin that with a lack Of modesty that WAS
at once disgusting and INSULT g 10 n res
pectablt audi. nee, instead Or combining bis
| remarks TO the text selected for the occa~
sion, or TO the calculation NJ some one Of
The many doctrines taught 10 the Bihl", he
launched forth in II noisy and senseless ,ir.
ade ag inst dancing In the abstiact--alike
unworthy of biz calling, or the dignity Of
the sacred desk-a custom which he said
had recently grown so very fashionable
among the hithe rio pious people Of Baton
Rouge.
What il il ~ him or the church either,
that a very respectable portion ri our c"nt
munity, sanction sud practice among
tbeu,s Ives, and fr their amusement
and grahfcnfiln, the time bonored custom
Of dancing
! They de- not carry their practices into
the church, nor do they meet In ball rooms
10 condemn The us"ges Of the church, or to
denouuce In eloquent or SET terms the prac.
tice and customs of those who profess
christianity
He spoke o fdancing as a crime ! ''dan.
g%erously wicked and demoralizingl" The
practice uf which tended to weaken and
overthrow the moral and intellectual cul-
ture j.; as a mi.erabIe sort of"external polish
of Manner" intended 10 cover up and hide
The more miserable defects Of educa-
ton I
Now this is ali idle talk, with no sort Of
common sense or reason about II. 10 say
that no man who dances can be educa-
ted--can be polished--can be moral. or
can be a worthy and respectable and use
ful member Of society, in the opinion Of
Mr.. DiTenwe;rth, is TO say The least oft,
a contemptably, impudent and insulting
array of individual opinion and selfish pre-
JUDGE, uninyited and uncalled Tor, AFRO
gantly thrust into the faces ola respecta-
ble congregation-msny Of whom, as Pious
and perhaps as LEARNED as the reverend gen.
tleman himself, haze been taught TO dance,
and who honestly believe it no crime to
have their children also instructed in the
innocent and elegant amusements of DAN
cing-and who as members of the Metho-
dist or other denomination Of christians.
feel that they haze d right while suffering
themst Ives abused from the pulpit for the
adoption ola practice sanctioned by the
moral and intelligent "fevery,% community to
demand Of their Gecuser and denouu4er
some shown Of scriptural authority in all
the Bible in condemnation ola custom
which be modpstIy denounces as SHANE
fnl, demoralizing and wicked
Not one passage OF scripture did the
gentleman bring forward to sustain him IN