Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1854-06-15
For the Mineral Point Tribune.
Is Dancing Sinful!

MEssRs. EpIToRs.-In your paper OF May 25th
find another communication from b. J. ON the
subject of Dancing. Without wishing unneces-
sarily TO prolong discussion which, perhaps, may
have become dry and unnteresting, wish to say
few words with regard TO It's sinfulness
Those who have read the articles of i" s. J. = will
have noticed that he gives no quotations from the
Scriptures in condemnation of dancing and the
reason is excellent one they do not condemn it,
Then why does he condemn it? If he is of that
class who believe the Bible to be an i,fiible moral
gsade. this fact should put an end to his prejudlces
against dancing. In his last article he informs us
that it is not the simple act of dancing which
he would speak against, but its legitimate tendei.
cy, which is, to disspate the mind would beg
leave suggest thar its legitimate tendency as well
as that of playing ball, riding horseback reading
or any other proper exercise of mind or body is
to elevate and improve the man, while the ieeiti-
mate tendency in other words the improper use
or abuse Of any such exercises is injurious.
| What reason has any one to suppose that dan
cling tends to dissipation AS it is condemned by
religious people, and in consequence rendered un-
popular with a very large proportion of the moral
B
proportion of those who 90 dance are among
the idle and dissipated, and that they have too
much control over the management of dancing
parties. The wonder with is, that, under such
circumstances, balls not of,ener made scenes
of revelling and riot. Ii balls could have thrown
around them tenth part of the interested and
watchiul care which camp-meetings have, believe
/ there would be less lewdness, blasphemy and dis
| sipation exhibited than is usually among the
idle and vicious at such religious gatherings. One
reason for this would be- that the vicious general
y go to balls with better motives than they go to
camp-meetings while religious people think that
with them it would be the reverse, so that there
would naturally be less antagonism of feeling at
the former than the latter.
What are the amusements which fill the place
of dancing? Universally in the younger classes
of society, such plays as e chase the squirrel,
/ :; needles eye wink em slyly," &c, and who
/ does not know that proceedings at such parties
are altogether more silly and nonsensical than at
dancing parties. Perhaps B. J. :" would say that
such plays ought not TO be allowed Well, how
would YOU have the time occupied then 3? By
conversation This appears to be the only way
/ left. But before you can make it work you must
change the nature of youth to that of mature age
Conversation is well enough in its place, and its
place is perhaps as much at parties as anywhere
and with old people it sufices to occupy the time;
but the active spirits of youth cannot be satisfied
with merely saying something, they must do some
thing. They must have some amusements and
what more pleasant and harmless is there
than dancing?
But, says some one, among those who dance we
frequently find the vicious and the dssirated =
Well what of liz Among those who eat fire.
quenty find the vicious and dissipaed. Does it
prove eating wrong? If 50, stop it. Dancing is
no more violation of Gods commandments than
eating II you doubt it, read the commandments.
" B. J." says did not say that it was the dan
cling of Herodias daughter that caused the death
of John the Baptist" Are you not mistaken 3
Read your article over again and you will find
that you did say so not in these same words, but
in words equally as definite.
+" B. j." says in substance that dancing is not
an act of benevolence philanthropy nor religion,
and that that spoken of and ordered by the Lord
in the 3lst chapter of Jeremiah, not for
amusement or pleasure. Then what was it for
The occasion is, the coming of Christ and the re-
storation of Israeli when, among other Teioicings,
the virgins to go forth in the dances of
them that make merry" Don't this mean dan
cling for pleasure or, being ordered by God in view
of great religious event, for religion, if you
please for religious pleasure, or, il it suits J. s
understanding Of language any better, for religious
happiHess He thinks | must have been driven
to desperation to select the lst chapter of Jere-
mah to prove dancing for pleasure right Where
would you have me select my proof then2 There
are many other passages in the Bible which speak
commercially of dancing, but l selected this be-
cause it is said to be the word of the Lord not
of man. What is there in the chapter that is so
obnoxious 10 B. j." If it would please him.
would as soon select it from a chapter on geneal-
oges or in Nebuchadnezzar grazing expedition,
but sngulary enough, was obliged to find it
where it was.
But l need not pursue this subject farther. In
conclusion l would respectfully sugge2; 70 those
who are disposed to anathematze dancing as such
a heaven daring and hell deserving" crime, to
commit to memory the ten commandments and
the Lords prayer, and repeat them thoughtlully
once day. L. l.
SextonviIle, June 9Th, 1854.
Repeal Pe'ifi2n-The following petition was
Yesterday placed in the Merchants News Room
To the Honorable Senate and House of Representa-