The River Falls journal. (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1857-1861, 1859-01-26

OF Tod, and no other is ever given by the
true christian, so long as he lives IN the
full enjoyment Of religion. .lu. Gasa
8 ~ "A gentleman at the east, who was q
great lover of dancing, engaged to attend
a ball. After the engagement and pre-
vious to the ball, he became a christian.
He then informed his young friends that
he could not attend. Determined to per-
suade him to fulfill bis engagement if they
1ipossibly could, they gave him no peace
until he consented to do so. But he con-
sented on condition that he was to have
the privilege Of leading the dance. The
evening arrived, and there was rejoicing
in many hearts that they had succeeded
in getting the young man back among his
associates. He led his partner upon the
! floor. When all were in readiness, he
said "lct as pray" He knet and pray
ed fervently for the salvation Of all pres
ent. Weeping followed. But few dry
eyes were seen in that ballroom. When
he arose from prayer, they began to leave
for their homes. The violin was silent.
/ Not move was made towards dancing
The ball had been opened by prayer and
no one dared to follow by dancing. But
why not? Was it improper to pray 3
Certainly not, if dancing and religion
are congenialwth each other. For tho
Bible neither teaches nor upho'ds what
may not be appropriately accompanied by
prayer. = a#a E ".s@ Il .TA-a
e The fact is, the heart that loves-re
ally Dancing and Card-playing,
as practised by the people of this village,
or any other, does not love the practical
duties of the religion of Jesus Christ, and
cannot be in the daily enjoyment of its
heavenly influence. And when ever they
are brought together, their incongeniali-
ty is at once seen and felt, even by the
lovers of pleasure themselves. Seek TO
become child of God by repentance to-
/ ward Him, and faith in Jesus Christ and
YOU will be led to rcnounce these s'world-
| " pleasures" On the other hand let
| the child of God indulge in them, and he
became backslider forthwith. @oHg25
in / am personally acquainted with a Ia
dy, who, under the convicting influea-
cos of the Holy Spirit was led to seek
the Savior. She was extremely fond of
dancing and felt that she could not give
! it M. She continued in that frame of
mind for several weeks, unable to obtain
that peace which flows like river into
tho soul, when the sinner yields all for
| Christ. She at last attended ball where
she became at once convinced that relig-
! ion and balls are by NO means congen-
ial, and that if she would obtain the one,
she must renounce tbs other. Upon her
return home she endeavored to cast her.
self unreservedly at the feet of Christ re-
nouncing her favorite worldly pleasure,
and then, and not till then, was she made
happy in the Lorl. And thus it will
prove in every case. God will not make
christian of that sinner who refuses to
give up dancing and carl-playing.
F@ Attempts are often made to check the
influence of reyivals Of religion with these
follies. A powerful revival broke out
several years ago in a village of my ac-
quaintance and quite number of Young
people experienced religion. Some young
men-violent opposers of the revival
determined to check its influence ifspos
siblc. To do this, they hired a gentleman
to commence dancing school, while they
put forth their strongest efforts to sustain
7 it by persuading the young people to at
tend. They did not accomplish all they
wished, but all who turned away from
the meetings to attend the dancing school
drove away their convictions and failed
to become christians.
Such is the legitimate tendency Of dan
cling and ard-playing. Such is their ten
dency in our village 50 far as they ope,
rate. They are at variance with religion
always and everywhere, and can no more
| be made consistent with it, than they can
With the songs of the redeemed in heav-
| en-.
/ AS we have already seen. they are in
consistent with prayer. A lady once at.
| tempted to justify dancing and card play
ing on the ground that she was taught
them by her father, who was deacon in
the church. Upon being asked whether
hor father at that time attended family
prayer daily, she hesitated to answer, but
finally said that he did not. And there
| is little doubt but what it is true in every
case. eCard-players and dancers SO far
/ Il