Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1859-07-21
DANCING.

Rev. j. H. Brookes, late of Dayton. Ohio,
and now pastor of the Second Church, Of
St. Louis, lately preached a sermon on dan
cling, of which the St. Louis Presbyterian
gives the following:
1t is contended, he said, by those who are
in favor of dancing, that it is no greater sin
than for party of ladies to meet together
and gossip. In the first place, replied Mr..
B., Christian ladies don't gossip. But look
ing at this as an argument, one who had
told falsehood might as we'll endeavor to
excuse himself by saying that it was no more
sin to lie than to steal.
Dancing is alluded to in the Bible some
thing over twenty times; but in about all
the cases in connection with idol or other
worship, in the open air, and not with the
mingling of the sexes. David danced be-
fore the ark, and was reproached for his fol-
ly. Herodias danced and John the Baptist
lost his head. However, it was not because
of its being sin in ITSELF that dancing has
ever been condemned by the good of all de.
nominations, but because of its associations
and tendencies A young man, said Mr.. B.,
in my former charge, was arraigned before
the session on the four charges of dancing,
going to the theatre, intoxication, and pro-
fame swearing. On his arraignment, he con-
fessed his shame and sorrow on account of
the three latter charges. As to dancing, he
would yield nothing By tender counsel,
however, and few days thought upon the
subject, the young man made confession,
which made the dancing the greatest Of all
the sins for achich he had been arraigned, as
it was the associations of the dance which
led him, step by step, to the commission OF
the whole
Again: There is nothing that warrants
the supposition that dancingisa duty; such
being the case, it is not likely that any young
man or young lady, before going to dance,
can or does ask Gods blessing thereon
Nay more, when returning therefrom, weary,
or excited by the hilarity of the occasion,
it is rot likely that the mind and heart can
be quietly and sweetly turned upon God and
heaven, and the soul put in proper prepara-
tion to meet its Judge, if called away be-
fore the dawn.
We are eujoined to abstain from the ap-
pearancc of evil and as there is much in
the associations of the dance, such as the
dress, the dissipating tendency, the light
conversations, the captivating enchainment
of the affections towards gaiety and world
" pleasure, it must be that dancing has
the appearance of evil. As Christians, there
fore, we are in duty bound to refrain from
it.
In this connection, it may be urged that
dancing may be engaged in without excess,
and consequently no harm can ensue. Facts,
however, substaptiate the assertion, that the
taste for it increases with every new partici-
patton, until the young lady or gentleman
who began it in the parlor, longs for it in
the largest and most fashionable assmbly.
Again: The relish for dancing is dan.
gerous sign, betokening heart more allied
to levity and worldly pleasure, than to hum
BILE and prayerful conservation to Christ and
his cause.
It's also grief to many Of Gods people
who regard it as an unquestionable wrong
And if Paul could say, If eating meat cause
my brother to offend, l will eat no meat whil'
the world stand is it not clearly the Chris