Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1858-07-22


tots; translated '~'rioting," ''revelings, and suen
like" The heather Greeks and Romans had On
idol God named Komos, and Comus, from the
Greek word here used) who was esteemed by
them the god of ~feastings, and ~revelings. Hewss
the same as Chemosh Of the Moabites, and Amo-
mites. And part Of the service performed to this
idol by bis ~votaries, consisted in r~eyelings, drunk
cnness, obsceuity, and impurity. Komais is used
to signify ~revelings, lasci,ious feastings with songs
and music, lascivious AMI obscene ballads, drum
ken songs, drinking wine, ~ the music ofautes,
harps &c., with songs, riot with revelings. Ro-
mos signifies ~revel-a joyial assembly Of friends,
met at an entertainment or to celebrate o festi-
val with music, d~ancings, and singing hymns and
odes-a band Of jewellers, who after q feast 90
through the streets, and visit their friends, or
mistresses, singing, dancing, and INDUCING in
wanton, aud boisterous merriment. Komos means
q jovial assembly, or meeting; and the music,
dancing or singingat festive meetings. drinking
party. The services to this idol Comus, were cele-
brated by both sexes together, In their dances,
and with whatever promoted hilarity, and gratif-
cation to the senses. Songs, oblations, and hba-
tons were dedicated to his service.
OF the feasts Of Komos, or Comus there were
some practiced in the most simple and leastobjec-
tionable form, in the best society Of the day, and
place; from these the dances graduated into those
the most lascivious, with songs and. music, even
with lsscivious ballads, to the most obscene and
drunken songs; yet, all were Komois re7elings.-
In st. Paul's day, the feasts Of Com@ among his
~votaries, consisted in the drinking wine, by both
sexes together, and music, songs and dances BY
day and night.
Besides these feasts Of Comus among theheathen,
there were various gradations also Of the Dionysia,
ss festivals held in honour to their idol god Bae-
| chus, in which both sexes held dances together.
There were various gradatious in these feasts also,
according to the varying tastes Of the people, In
the societies of the ~votaries Of Bacchus from
the most simple, and least Objectionable form, to
scenes Of lewdness, extravaganza in behavior, de-
bauchery, and dances in ridiculous pastures, ac-
companied with music. or these Dionysia, or
Bacchaualian dances were the dances Of the Ar
cadisns, SO much praised (as "Comus" ssys) by
Polybius, in promoting the '.piey" Of the Area
dams. Alas! alas for piety. g
The festivals of Bacehus, were celebrated by
his votsriss with the singing Of ongs,rdancsssaud
different exhibitions; and often with great licen-
~tiousness in behavior. These festivalscontributed
much to the corruption Of the morals Of the Gre
clan people. Among the Romans also; both sexes
Joined In the celebration Of these festivals (as.did
the Greeksj In the darkness of night; and the bad
effects Of these on the morals Of the people, called
for and received the interposition Of the power Of
the Senate to suppress them in toto. ~ aaaL
These are the dances to which the writer's (soe.
rates &c., above sllude, as quoted by "Comus,"
and something like these were the dances danced
by the Europeans, England &c.,, Of whom he
speaks in appreciation as civilized nations. Il ID
certain, that all these Comic, and Bacchauslisn
dances, and "such like" are censured by st. Paul
in Rom. 49,: l3, and Gal. 5:19-2l as sin. II
the dances p~raeticsd now in these United States
by the people Of the world the ~votaries Of pleas
ure, DO notsxactly a fac sipils to these in all cases,
and in all places; yet, I do contend that they are
"sueh Ike there is here q simiGtude, . resen.
blspcs to them in some particulars. .3s
The dances for which "Comus" pleads, as I I'M
derstand him, are performed in honor to some per-
SON, event, or for selfish pleasure, irrespective Of
the clarifying Of the LORD; and by both sexes to-
gether, by day or night. On all these occasions.
there is music, dancing, eating, drinking wine, or
strong drink, continued until the appetite is sat-
isfed." The companies are assemblies Of friends,
met together, to celebrate q feast Of pleasure in
dances &c. A dancing party among rs, is q jovial
society, or meeting Of persons in both sexes; they
have music, dancing, eating, drinking wine, and
whatever promotes hilisrity. From this simple
form, many Of our dances graduate into lascivious-
ness, and songs, and dsncings Of l~ascivious sort,
there is often inebriation, and sometimes open
riot. It is to the feasts Of Comw and Of Baeehua
with their dances, ~sllusiou is made by St. Peter
when he says, 1.-THE time past Of our lives may
suffice to have wrought the will Of the Gentiies'
[Greeks and Romsns], "when we walked in las
civiousness, lust, excess Of wine, reyelings' [ko.
m isl "bsnquetings, sc. Wherein they" Greeks
and Romaus] "think 1t strange" les com~ doss]
"that ye' [non.daucing christians, "run not Ito
the dances] "with them" 1.-THE dancers] 'to the
same excess in revels, as 'Gomus' ask,
to two o'clock at night and ''uutil the appetite
is satisfied" las the ~votaries Of Comas and Bde.
ehus did, 'of riot" lin drunkenness 30. &c.]-
speaking evil Of you [non.daucers IS 'Comus".
and dancing Christians do, when they call you
"prejudiced" &C., who shall give account to aod'
1st Peter, 4:3,4.
I contend, that I have known all these grada-
tious In the popular dances Of our time, and per-
formed in "intelligent, and enlightened comment.
ties :" as well as with the vulgar ignorant. Loon
tend, that the immortality Of the popular dances
pleaded for by "Comus," is made out by Scripture
in the plain precept. Here I now stop at present,
for want Of space to proceed further in this dis.
c~ussion. And if 'Comus' speaks tothis produce
ton, I request himto eonfne himself to themordl.
ity Of the dance for which he pleads; for I will
discuss this subject in no other aspect. pasl,
E. A. CRENsHAw.B
For the Yorkville Enquirer.
FATAL ERRORS CORRECTED.
Nr. Editor Seeing that Polemon has not re-
Piled to DR.. E. A. CRENsHAw, o regard to import
ont principles Of Divine truth induces me to ask