The River Falls journal. (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1857-1861, 1859-02-02

more directly upon the subject under con-
SHERATON is asa3 3 a9xa ed3 II
Sand Miriam the prophecies, the sis
ter of Aaron, took q timbrel in her hand,
and all the women went out with her,
with timbrels and with Dances" "Thou
(the Lord hast turned for me my mourn
ing into dancing;" "And his elder son
was in the field and as he drew nigh to
the house he heard music and dancing
Then shall the virgin rejoice in the
dance, both young men and old together"
"And David danced before the Lord with
all his might ''Let them praise His
name in the Dance; ssPraise Him with
the timbrel and the dance; praise him
with stringed instruments and Dances"
"'phou shalt be adorned with thy tabrets,
and shall go forth in the dances of them
that make merry; ''To everything there
is season; a time to weep and a time
to laugh; time to mourn and time to
dance" 37Aifii2 .il'455''
The experience Of the world has every
where shown that recreation, exercise
and amusement arc as necessary to the
proper development of both body and
mind, as light, air, and water are to the
proper growth and development of plants.
Even among all the stern, sombre and
rigorous aspects presented by the. pages
Of Puritanic history, there appears an oc-
casional CLEAN of light which reveals the
fact that there did exist in the hearts of the
puritans a natural gayety and cheer
fulness. They had their seasons of hilar-
ity,-their hours Of recreation and amuse-
ment. They had their riding companies
in summer, and their sleigh rides. in win
ter. They had their balls, their apple
parings and their huskings. e IA
q You say that card players and dancers
so far as you know, are not praying peo-
pie. We doubt whether you know who
the real praying people are. There are,
no doubt, many who daily mock God
"with solemn words upon q thoughtless
tongue."l But no form of words consti-
tutcs prayer. Prayer is an earnest desire
of the heart, and may be, felt, if not ex7
pressed But what does your assertion
prove in any event There are many
people who never make vocal prayers,
who neither practice relish nor approve
Of dancing or card playing. Does this
fact prove that they are christians ?--that
they have regenerate hearts? Your sys-
tenn of reasoning would prove the1one as
well as the other.g31 ed asH 9A .nis
: But. there are church members who
pray in their families and claim to have
regenerate hearts, who play cards and APP
prove of dancing for recreation. We do
not suppose they claim it to be a religious
exercise, or calculated to develop the re-
ligious element Of mans nature any more
than it would to hold the plough, jump
a rope, row q boat or toss a ball. sf2d,s
s:God will not make christian of that
sinner who refuses to give up dancing
and card playing. "sasa q 5As
This you will perceive is mere asser-
ton, and it seems to US hardly compati-
bic with the christian grace Of humility,
| for you to assume the prtrogativc Of de
| claring what God will not do. We know
professed christians whose lives cores
pond with their professions, who DO dance
aud you will excuse US if We prefer -oul
own personal knowledge to your mere
assertion.
Among the higher classes Of society in
England, even in religious circles, dan
cling is taught as a science. The Church
of England, as body, if we mistake not
approves of it, and dancing masters arc
employed to teach it in private families
as well as in. public assemblies
You indirectly inquire whysthose who
engage in these samusements,9 can not ASK
God to increase /" dancing schools, card
parties and fandangoes." This is pure
misunderstanding else. Why not tall
about asking Col to make expert swim
mers, swift skaters, &c. /? Why not tall
about asking God to make good black
smiths, good choppers and good mowers
You refer to the example of Christ ane
his apostles. But what does this prove
Did they engage in, any amusements what
ever? If SO, what were they? If they
did, or did not, does it follow as q matte
/ of course that a man should spend hi
whole. time in offering vocal prayer? A
man is liable to die in his sleep, but is thi
fact valid reason against sleeping.
Another. point you urge is, that ''at
tempts are often made to check the influ
| ence OF reyivals of religion with these fol
| lies" and that "such is their tendency i
| this village" Would it not be as logics
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