Smyrna times., 1855-02-28


mentions Tie TACT that such and such an ind
Vldual danced. But what was the Character or
these dances! Let US refer to two or three in
stances: The first &llusion to this subject is
fonnd IN EX ID, 1-27-"Then sang Moses and
the children Of Israel this song unto the Iorj
ana Spakr' saying, | will sing unto the Lord,
Tor he hath trumphcd glor.ously the horse
and his rider he hath thrown INTO the sea" &c.
And Miriam, the prophecies, the sister of
Aaron, took the tImbrl IN her hand, AID all the
women went out after her with tiinbrils and
dances Two things are worthy Of note in
this connection. 1t was an act oi' relioious vor-
stip-"n" mcihod by which they expressed their
gratitude To God for the wonderful dcI,yer,ncn
/ he hat just Ell c'vd l,r ;arm. IL VII san.
unto the Lord" &c. ID. 1t Was by the sexes
seParateIy-M was, in this solemn, mca-
Sur"d procession, Ii. leader o! the nlcu of Is
racl, and together they sung this sonp.-
NJ ram and III" women answered :. lLen.'' 4. =
the men; Tor the prououn ..thenI," in the oriui
nal Is mascalInc,) By repeating tins sublime
chorus 10 their Great Deliver. Now. bct;,re
Dract!HH6
IN our hops, balls, &c, can be drawn from the
Bible, 1t must be shown To be identical with
those mentioned in the Bible Now, no one
VIII pretend that our modern dancing parties
answers tins description. The persons are dlt.
ierent-the object is diticrcnt-thr effect -
different hence the argument from ihs cas-.
IN favor of dancing, falls 10 the ground. There
are other instances recorded in the 4, ,I,le.w wbnra
the same principles apply, and where the same
differences will be found to ex st.-Sre Sam
| Is, 5-S-2 Sam. 6, I2-l7 We come To tbi.
conclusion thrH' that whatever other pleas may
be urged in favor Of dancing, this one VIII moi
avail those who urge it,
The true question is, Is dancing right! Is
is promotIve of vital pcty, or destructive TO II
The latter is the case beyond all question"
+. " But, father, do you think that this is the
necessary tendency Of dancing!"
| f. 81 do, most as>uredly 1t is species of
worldly amusement utterly subyersive Of irl-
lowshp with God Many have lost tleirreln.
ION at the ballroom door, but never heard of
any who have ever found it there. Under IFS
influence the spirit OF devotion dies. and the
desire for worldly pleasure which it produces
destroys all relish for religious enoyment.-
The page Of inspiratiom-the clo,et-,b. cros.
have all lost their attraction; the worId
and the things Of the world" occupy the shrine
OF me affections, which was once consecrated
to God alone. The ballroom is no place tor
the christian. This is the settled couy,ct,or ofI
every honest heart that has reflected upon tba
subject. Was not long since conversiu,r with |
an intelligent gentleman, an apologst for this
Nlhd oil amusement, when asked the following
question: " Mr.. b. did you ever see one whom
You believed TO be ii true christian fond of tLa
dance : His reply was prompt and decided
No, SIR; ! never did. have seen some who
bore the christian name that were fond Of j., .
but do not belIeve they enjoyed particle of
religion"
Il. " see plainly that dancing is inconsistent
with christian character; but does il TO, low thai
hon-proiessors ought not to engage IN IT."
+. Certainly 1t does. If dancing IS IN
nocent for those who make no ptola.s,o,,
OF religion, it is innocent for those who do
Why may not real christians, then, enjoy il. as
well as others Why may not ministers of the
Gospel, with their elders and leaders. n,rt;c;-
pate IN 1t Are innocent pleasures only for
the wicked! But we have seen that = chris
tan cannot engage in it, without forfcitng rcIi-
glouS enjoyment and christian character. II {
would be wrong in him, and would disqualif,
hun Tor his duties as christian. And. fwro,,u
III MN, 1t is equally wrong IN others. What -
required OF hlm that Is not required of ali mont
Are not Ill Under the same moral rovnrnn,,t
Is 1t not the duty OF one as much as it is the
duty OF another 10 love God with all the heart
SOUL mind and strength, aud to love one'sn,.,,,b.
Dor as himself! Or does this great summary
III all oil It's details, as set forth by the Divine
lawgIver, apply oaly to the christian, ,o.,
unquestonably not. The peculiar resnoos,,,l,,.
u professor oil religion consists, in general,
Ill thlS iact, that IN consequence OF his r.l,Iion
TO the cause of religion aud to hls tello,v ,,.,
his actions have an increased Importance. The
conduct OF professor of religion. riobt or
wrong, is more powerful in its Influence tb,,
The same conduct would be, if he was not .
PROFESSOR. III Is more closely observed ana
sccruftnzed cGf by those who witness it. Ills ex-
ample thlcrefore, if right, does more good and
II wrong, 1t does more harm than if he madn
no profession of religion. This is the only
difference. There is nothing the divine law
requires a christian to be, to do, or to avoid
that's not equally binding upon all mcn 1t is
as much, the duty of the sinner to pray. to love
and servo God to shun whatever would grieye
the Holy spirit, as it is the duty of the chris
tianH Both are under the same law. Ifdono-
ing, therefore,os not allowable in the cfr;s,,a,,
it is not allowable in the sinner -. 5. i. :. -
IF f. But father, young people will meet
together, and if they do not dance tbo, ,,d,II LII