Saint Paul weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1858-1859, 1859-03-26
Rev. Z. ID. NELL ON Dancing.-.Ihe RI
oneer Ridiculing Christ.

Rev. &. ID. NELL on Dancing.-.The Pc
oneer Ridiculing Christ.
1t has been heretofore observed by many
that those St. Paul Dailies which publish pa
pers on Sunday moming, frequently reserve
that DAVIS issue for the especial display OF
blackguardism, or personalities, or blaspnemy.
The Pioneer and Democrat of last Sunday
morning presented a case in point In an
elaborate leader, replying to Rev. E. D. Neilfs
sermon against the practice Of Dancing by
Christian professors, the Sunday paper ar
gued and illustrated as follows:
But again:
40 Another reason that the church opposes dan
cling is that they lind nothing TO show that Jesus s
Christ would have danced at social festival; ana
further on had he done 80 he would not have been
looked upon with the same reverence
But, we speak it with reverence, did Jesus Christ
play at leap frog? Did He ever turn double SOM
erset on hay-mowy Did ne run aitsr tne oi pr
and exact the penal kiss for catching themH Dld
He ever write love song? Did He IN His caliow
days carve the name of some Rebecca on the syc-
amores of Galilee, or sigh HIS eartnly passion W
the stars unconscious of some hooking mercuuo,
in the cedar groves of Lebanon? Did he ever
ride fractions donkey through the streets of Je-
rusalem, and fail to keep His balance!
We do not say He didnot do these things, but II
He did not, if His Divine nature maintained its
sublime eaupoise, above the accidents or impulses
of human kind, and He abstained from leap frog
at the age of ten years old to preserve the dignity
of His celestial antecedents, never Laughed as the
tradition says never cracked joke or made q hor-
rid pun,-the example proves no more agast dan
cling than against the whole round OF recreative
customs common to mere human nature which,
when not taught by French masters, Mr.. Nell ap-
proves.
And we do not say either that Christ did peril
the dignity of his Divine nature by playing leap
frog but If He did, if His humanity was perfect in
laughter, as we humbly believe it was, then why
should not the Son of David dance, as David danced
before, to harp and psaltery and cymbal.
Now, we submit it to the Pioneer in all
candor, that in the above remarks, it does not
"spcak with reverence" about or concerning
the holy founder of Christianity; but that
their whole tone is largely calculated to throw
ridicule and contempt upon his sacred charac-
ter and person and that the language used
is alike shocking to the pious feelings of the
devout,a as distastefu to the sensibilities of the
thousands who, without being pious them
selves, vet remember the teachings of their
youth to look with respect upon holy things.
In regard to the exercise or amusement
termed Dancing, we do not ourselves wholly
agree with Mr.. NELL and the clergy generally
in their opposition to it-deeming its practice
in moderation neither hurtful to health, nor to
morals, nor to religion But if we attempted
to controvert the opinions of Mr.. NELL and
others on this point, we should hardly consider
it necessary to our argument, nor in very good
taste, nor respectful to the honest sentiments
of the mass of the community, to present Je-
sus Christ in ridiculous light, nor illustrate
our positions by imagining him imbued with
all the feelings or weaknesses, or prurienc'es Of
fallible human nature. Such course only
tends to stimulate and aid the scoffer by low
ering the dignity and lessening the proper awe,
with which as God, the Savior of mankind
is regarded by both actual and nominal Chris
tians throughout the world.
In word, in our humble opinion, the whole
subject could have been just as well argued
without the use of the language, comparisons,
or illustrations in which the Pioneer has so un.
wisely and in such bad taste INDUCED. We
beg not to be understood. In administer
ing this rebuke we have avoided personalities;
and would not accuse our contemporary Of
designed irreverence; but we insist that the
conductors of the Pioneer should be more
fully alive to the responsibilities of their posi-
ton as controllers of public press and re-
member, that YOUTH inexperienoe, nor uncon-
sidered inadvertance will hardly justify, nei
Their their frequent indecent and smutty allu-
sions, nor their thus taking hold rudely of the
ark of holy things: rendering aid and comfort
in this manner to the despisers of all religion
Whatever may be their secret opinions, yet in
their press, decent respect for the opinions
of mankind requires that the religious senti-
ments of the world around them, however err.
roneous they may regard them, should not
be ridiculed or treated with contempt. Com
bat religious error, if you choose; but do it
fairly and respectfully. This much both good
taste and fair play alike demand.