Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1856-11-26
nIS DANCING SINFUL ~

Mr.. EDITOR viii you have the kindnes
to publish the annexed comments of the Edito
of the Star in the West, in reply to the oft
repeated question "Is Dancing Sinful! 2"
would especial commend it to the particula
attention of some of your readers.
OLD NED.
There is no sin in the simple act of dancing
more than in running, jumping, riding, or play
ing blind mans buff David was a good man
He was appointed by God to govern Israel
and he danced. From all accounts, he excellee
in the amusement On one occasion, at least
he made it an act Of devotion to God Sam
uel vi: l3, ID" And it was 30, that wher
| they that bear the ark of the Lord had gone
six paces, he. DAVID sacrificed oxen and fat
liags. And David danced before the Lord with
all hs might, and David was girded with linen
ephod" Solomon, the wise man, says there j,
time and season for every purpose under the
heaven: A time to weep and time to laugh
a time to mourn and time to dancc;" which is
at least, presumptve proof that Solomon did
not regard dancing sin. And then. God him.
self says, by the mouth of the prophet Jeremiah
(Jer. XXI: IL, 49, in describing the prosperity
the happy and joyful times which should sue
ceed the universal diffusion of the Gospel
among men: Therefore, they shall como and
sing in the height of Zion, and shall flow to-
gether, to the goodness of the Lord and for
wheat, and for wine, and for oil, and for The
young Of the flock and the herd; and their soul
shall be as watered garden; and they shall
not sorrow any more at all. Then shall the
virgin rejoice in the dance; both YOUNG MEN AND
OLD TOGETHER; for will turn their mourning
into joy, and will comfort them, ard make them
rejoice for their sorrow"
This idea that dancing is so dreadfully wicked
that the devil is in music which exhileratcs
the souls all modern affair. 1t WAS but
little while ago, that the Puritan Fathers in
New England regarded smile on the Sabbath
as exceedingly wicked. Mothers were forbid
den 10 caress their children on that day, and
the sin of kissing on the part of husband and
wife, before the setting of the SUM-" was pun
ishcd with the pillory. 1t is said that those
stern, old men were sometimes angry with the
gamboing Of the lambs, the singing of the birds,
and the bright shining Of the sun on the Sab
bath. Of The truth of this declaration, we are
not prepared to vouch. That with all their
goodness and virtue, they were foolishly stern
in their ideas of moral and religious duty, there
is no doubt. To avoid one evil, they overlcap.
ed the bounds of reason, and plunged into an
other, nearly as deleterOus. The young must
and wiA have amusement of some description.
Ses'.;
be but innocent, and rational. Solomon says
that " merry heart doth good like medicine
We believe il to be u better medicine for dys.
pepsia than all the doctors stuff ever invented.
For our own part, we desire above all things
the proper education, the happiness, the posperl-
ly Of The young. We know. that they can
neither be happy nor prosperous, if destitute OF
virtue and correct moral principle Do mol let
them run into eytravagancies, or become ntat-
ualed with any mere pasiime or amusement; Tor
such condition of The mind. if unchecked, will
certainly result in moral or ply sical injury We
would have parents make their homes pleasant
and even ightfuI for their children. Permit
them, especially during The cng winter eve
niugs, 10 invite their young friends occasionally
to their homes, on which occasions, do not be
afraid yourselves, even, to join in lille ra-
tional sport with the "young folks" i they
will permit it. 1t will do you no harm, but be
Il benefit to both you and your children ana
there is nothing in the whole range OF The word
of Gud, in reason or common sense, or The de.
mands of true religion, 10 forbid it. And If
there are any present who love to dance, and you
have piano, or other music, let them dance
If there is ST time 10 dance" surely this must
be the time.
We have never danced, nor even attempted
It, in all our life, and surely we have no dispo.
siiion to begin now; but if the young, or older
church members or others desire TO dance under
the above or similar circumstances, We shall
offer no objections, provided they keep prudent
hours. Dancing on such occasions, and under
such circumstances, is neither sinful nor injuri-
ous. But infatuation-which leads to the neg
lect of duty, promscuous assemblies, late hours,
and finally to bad company, drinking, reve1ry,
and such like-is injurious sinful, and must be
Stunned We shall endeavor TO preserve our
children, and others who come within our inf1u.
ence, from such practices.