The Cedar County advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Iowa) 1853-1856, 1854-01-28
From the Georgia Citizen.
Is Dancing a Sin.
BY ECU EST.

There is no doubt, that many persons
commit sin the act OF dancing. II is an
act, considered by some, as not having
Gods sanction. II is found sometimes
written in the catalogue of vices; and
those of easy conscience, who are obliged
to cross the line, that separates vice from
virtue, to engage in it, commit what they
believe to be, an ungodly act.
Now dancing, | apprehend, is placed
in the wrong list, it belongs TO virtue, in
stead Of vice. If so, and were it univer-
sally considered virtue, its immoral
influence, il any such, is attached to it
with its power to retard the progress Of
religion, would cease, it would shine
bright as a virtue, and blush no longer in
the garb OF vice.
There are two modes Of worship usu-
ally practiced among mankind. Onc is
an obedience to what is conceived to be
Gods written or revealed law. The
other is an obedience to his fixed laws OF
nature. The two codes from the source,
must of necessity harmonic with each
other; therefore an act found to be con-
genial with the laws Of nature is, virtu-
Gus, and OF divine sanction.
After asking one question, ] nigh
stop. In music and dancing, where are
the laws Of nature violated : Does not
the pleasure of the act arise from our
natural organizations Man is endowed
with five senses, every one of which is
susceptible of impressions, and so happi-
.ly constituted, that pleasure is the resuli
of impressions adapted to their nature
consequently, a man may indulge the
sense of taste in that which produces the
most agreeable sensations, the olfactory
nerves with pleasant odors, and the ear
Nth sweet sounds, and act at the same
time, in obedience to Gods laws.
In opposition to music and dancing, il
is urged, that whatever we do, should be
done to the glory and honor Of Cod
Now, who, how pious soever he may be
Ihcsitates to indulge the taste i'll all tn,
sweets the country can afford To gorge
the stomach with rich compounds, almoS
beyond the power Of the organs TO digest
And for what For the glory and hon
or of God! Simple food Is all the sys
TEN requires. | mention this IN order Il
show. that we are often mistaken III re-
gard to the nature OF the act. We otter
times, ignorantly, cherish a vice tina
public sentiment has clothed In the cos
tune of virtue; and prescribe virtue
because at some unlucky hour, ii ha
been caught in the company of vices.
The ear is forbidden 10 hear music
that is no, sanctifed by sacred verse
". H. .e~s~o aeesaa &c L. i. too" =
lick all the sweets of land flowing witt
Milk and Honey Is the tongue superio'
Ito the ear, that that which Is allowed viii
impunity TO one, is denied to the other
Are music and dancing to be prescribed
because they form part OF the amuse
lment OF the wicl.ed2 The same may b.
said of all the senses OF man. The
are all lndulged by the wicked. In dan
, cling, | ask again, wherein is Gods vii
opposed He who created the ear, ere
| ated the susceptibility TO be moved b,
| the concord Of sweet sounds. Dancln.
, is the visible expression Of that emotion
i. OF the soul, and no more sinful, appre
bend, than laughing, singing, OF any 9th
, er outward demonstration Of Interna
, emotion, produced only by some othe
cause and were il erased from the cata
: logue Of vices, and placed among the VIZ
. tues, where ii belongs, countenanced an
I practiced by the good, IL might cease I
h have It's unhappy influence, and all tn
| virtues of picty and morality-mIght be
/ come It's associates. God mas given I
A man everything conducive TO his happines
4 upon earth. lie is invisible, and | asl
how can he be honored, but by propt
y appreciation Of the visible gt.ts he has b
: slowed upon US These gifts are eogn
;. Fable only through the medium Of ii
five senses, and SO happily adapted
man, that pleasure IS the result. Is ii
:. manifestation OF expression Of The plea
:. ure experienced from these divine gilt
/. ,anitvl Is it Il vice or a virtue Is
= 10 the honor or disaonor Of God Nn
: in beholalng a peasan; scene, does II
: sometimes forget God, and eyerytn,l
!. around him, save that which he is gain
at! Has the eye III this committed