The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1853-11-09

aSheu Ior pub lsatIon, now forward them
for insertion in the Baptist. AS they were
delivered eXtompore write from memory,
lhe substance is embodied in the article
| send, though some difference in the form
doubtless sxists.
WM. b B.JouNs2Ss'
Query. Is it justifable in Professors
OF Religion to suffer their children to
dance1
MH. MoDERAToR.-In order rightly to
answer this query, we must unders. and
The duty of the parent to the child. The
direction of the Heavenly Parent on this
subject is:-"Tran up child in the way
he should go, and when he is old. he will
not depart from it" And that the parent
should not be ignorant of this way, the
Apostle directs fathers mot TO provoke
Their children 10 wrath but TO bring them
up IN the nurture and admon;tion of the
Lord" Now if the dance forms any part
of the way in which child should 90.
then it will be justifiabIe in the parent to
suffer him to dancc-if the dance comes
in AS part OF the instruction, which is
necessary to his being brought up N the
nurture and admonition Of the Lord, then
will 1t be the duty of the parent, not only
to suffer his child to dance, but to have
him taught 10 dance well. But if the
dance forms no part OF the way in which
the child should go or of the instruction
IN the nurture and admonition of the
Lord in which he should be brought up,
then is the parent not justifablc in suf
fering his child to dance or 70 learn 70
dance.
lhc dance consists in describing alone
or IN company with others, certain iinures
10y the motion Ct the body to the sound
of muse, usually of the Violin. If this
were done for exercise to promote health,
1t would be commendablc, rs TO take
walk for Our health would be proper. TIL.
act of dancing then, is not wrong; neither
Is the act of walking wrong. But if |
suffer my child to carry the act ofwaIkinr
to excess, to pass stu,i.ously through
places "fa demoralizing character. that
drive CD, Heaven and Hell from III.
thoughts, that make him forget hi. ac.
countabllity, his sinfulness aud the Sny,nur
then am mt training him up in tie WAY
he should go--then evidently | am not
bringing him up in the nnturc and al.
lnonition Of the Lord. And therefore
his walking. | should not suffer him to
take such walks.
Now if it be true that, in the halls Of
dancing parties of the young people OF
the present day, there is any resemblance
to the wicked walking above described,
then it will satisfactorily appear that a
parent should not suffer lis child To Al.
tend these dancing places.
begin with the preparation for the
dance. This involves an amount of ex-
pense, and waste of time, not for any
profitable Use, but solely for the gratifca-
tin Of the carnal mind in the form of
vanity, or pride. In the provision of the
habilinentS and ornaments and their adj
justment for the dancois there auoh,
friendly to the consideration of holiness,
prayer, humility, repentance, faith, prcpar.
alton for ,'eath and etcrnityi The con.
trary OF all this Is the painful fact.
proceed to the party assembled. One
OF the company Uses and proposes--as
every creature ofGod is good and to be
received with thanksgiving and prayer
that they give thanks for the dance and
ask Gods blessing TO be bestowed up,n
the entertainments. Would he not be
told that such exercises would be unsui,a.
bic. and be forbidden. The mortifyino
truth 70, that by common, though tacil
consent, 1t is understood, that the dance
no place for devotion, or religion, o,
instruction IN the nurture aud edmonton
OF the Lord. In the dancing room. tber1
is nothing that tends to make a guest fee
sorrow for sin, TO repent and turn 10 Sod
to think OF his accountability, OF Hell d
Heaven, Of God and the salva,ion Of the
soul. All tends to frivolity, and stbs
bsnishmeut Of all that Is serious from the
soul Is this the way IN which child
shouIi DO trained, the way from which he