Southern standard. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1851-1856, 1853-04-02
For The Southern Standard.
Dancing.


Solomon has told US that ITO every thing
there is a season, and a time to every purpose
der heaven;'' And because he has also said there
Is "a time to weep, and time to laugh time
to mourn, and time to Dance" many have sup
posed that they had right to spend as much of
the short time allotted to them in dancing as they
might choose, even if 1t should infringe upon time
that should be devoted to the more important con-
Germs of life This they do without taking into
consideration what the wise said in another
place about the inappropriate use of time Hear
him, "Whoso keepeth the commandment shall
feel no evil thing, and wise mans heart discern
eth both time and judgment; because to every
purpose there is time and judgment, therefore the
misery of man is great upon him.
Others again think there is no harm in dancing
because it is not specially condemned in the New
Testament and this conclusion is formed without
considering what St. Paul said in his epstle to the
Ephesians, 'See then that we walk crcumspectly,
not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, be-
cause the days are evil - Or what he said to the
Romans when he entreated them to "present Meir
bodies living sacrifice, holy, and acceptable unto
and that they should not ''be conformed to the
world" And we know that dancing is not a Gus.
tom of the church, but of the world Hence, tc
dance is to conform to the world consequently the
inference is that dancing is forbidden in the word
of God.
Others again justify dancing, because, say they
it is healthfu ercse;-this too, is both hasty
could be brought forward to prove that dancing
is both unhealthy, and improbable exercise
when INDUCED in, as is frequently the case, il
warm crowded rooms until a late hour of the night
Many by dancing unler such circumstances have
laid the foundation of their death, and the sixth
Commandment says, "Thou shalt not kill'' and
we are also informed "that no murderer hath eter
nal life abiding in him." True certain amount
Of physical exercise is important to the health o
every person, and especially that of youths. St
Paul in writing to youth, who had been CONVEX
ted to christianity, admonshes him as to the kind
of exercise he should take-telling him to ECKER.
else himself rather unto Godliness," and every
one, saint and sinner, well knows that the bal
room is not the place to take such exercise. St
dul oISO ICllS VIC oaInO JOUHSo AAdI IA Tile
latter times some shall depart from the faith Civ
lng heed to seducng spirits, and doctrines of dew
Ills; speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their con
sciences scared as with hot iron.
True the New Testament does not say in SO ma
ny words Thou shalt not dance;" but it says
"Be sober, be vigant because your adversary the
devil, as roaring lion walketh about, seeking
whom he may devour; and we well know that in
ball room where all are merry rs marriage
bell" and ''musics vOluptuous swell'' "scts young
hearts romancing' is not the place, nor the time
for such soberness and vigilance as is necessary fol
Ahe christian to exercise at all times. Besides
christians are admonished TO "Give no offence
neither TO Jews, nor to Gentiles, to the church
of God If then the church of God" which is
"The pillar and ground Of the truth" forbids
dancing, believing that the general tenor Of the
scriptures disapproves such course. and that it is
d-rogatory to the christian religion and full de-
trlopns1Dt Of the graces Of the spirit il ls evi'