New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-09-21
THE GREAT BALL.

To u. Editor Of TIE NJ 4. Tvibs.e
SIR: have read with Interest," will even say,
with painful in,erest-your editorial OF tins morning.
On "Promiscuous Dancing" In your reference to the
at hall in honor Of the Prince of Wales cannot see
that YOU have put the unfairly. 1t as fact that
the Evangelical DENOMINATIONS called do, in general,
dsspprove Of balls. sure is 90 IN the Pfesoy-
,eran Church could quote from the deliveraoces OF
the highest udcstory OF that Church. both OF the od
ard New School, the most decided testimonies on the
subject and bese pronounced with entire unsnmi!y.
1t is also fact that among the mauagers OF the ap-
preaching ball-if may con6de in Unpublished In
the daily papers at very recent date-are some OF the
most pro niDent mbers oftbe Presbyterian Reformed
Dutch, and Congregational Churches. Perhaps, also,
for nv examination of the LET has not been very crit
icsl-of other kindred denominations. Nay, even
cle7gymen are included IreoogDize the names two
excellent and venerable Doctors of Divinity, Chancsl
Tor Ferris, asd the Rev. Dr. George w. Bsthune.
Never, in this city Of ours, | venture to say, was
Bah Ccmmittee 30 siDgularly ssncti6ed
lam confident, however, that there Is some mistake
about the matter Tire names Of some, doubtless, were
psced on the list of Managers 4ithoutther knowledge.
Things Of this sort often The original scheme be-
side embraced as you say only dinner. II was sud
denly char ged without either the cognzance or con-
STINT probably, Of some OF the Managers, to a bail.
Since that ehange was made am credibly informed,
a number of them have withdrawn from the whole
affair on the ground of its not coDpoipg in its present
ebape with their religious views and professions,
Amorg them have heard particularly named Messrs,
Christopher K Robert, and William K. Dodge gentle
men as highly seemsd il the Presby teran Church as
they are in mercantile and financial circles cannot
doubt that others in like relations have done likewise
Indeed think it fair to presume TIL the contrary ap-
pears-such LIABILITY s there to error in giving long
lsts of Dames-thst there are now on the Ball Com
mittee no persons fairly obnoxious to the pungent
structures Of your article.
The difficulty is, however, that the exact facts Of
the Gaze are net known to the public. The gentlemen
who have retired from the Committee have done 30
quietly desiring of course in such relation 10 need
lss notoriety They have no wish to dictate to ser
monte, or to become in any way obtruSve. They
simply desire to keep their own conscences void OF
offense Yet their true position it seems, is still mis-
apprebepoed. Their names still Published among
those Of the Committee. To the surprise and grief OF
many of tbe, brethren, their ofneuce is thus gwen
In the Terpsichorean direc ion. They appear before
the community, not simply as winking az lItie
dancing Of few friends in a private parlor, or as
merely catching fIrtiye glance at someth n8 less
secluded but ss going to phrase germane TO the
su}iec "the whole 6gure"-as the chief function
aries of one of the most magnificent public balls ever
known among us-Day, as lending to it their purses,
as well as their prominent public services. do not
zee that will make much difference as to the moral
impression whether they actually present on the
occasion or not. You quite right on this point
Even if absent yet concerned ostensibly first In
preparing for the dance and then in paying for It, the
keen-sighted world will hold them as accessories both
before ard after the fact
Now, what ia needed-urgently, 1t eeems to me--is
clear understanding of the actual facts OF the case
But, as portion Of the original Committee are In a
false position before the public il ia DUE both TO them
and the cause they love- that their real position should
bs known. Amid the misspprebensions abroad, L 90
net think would be upseemly for them to speak lnd
yidualy To cay the least corrected list OF tho Com
mtee. inst as ii nor stands, should be authenticauy
,1hlisbed. a6k il as q Christian. | desire 1t as
over of consistency and of the honor Of the Churoh
call for il as father, having sons and daughters~
trsin for God in this gidoy metropolis AS i seek"
withhold my dear ones from what the Christian COM
upion TO which btorg regards as unfriendly to vital
ood)i1 ess deprecate such conflict as now seems 70
loom M before me with the authority OF loved aud
even yensrs.ed names. What call for h, that these
names be put in appearance, where l trust they are
in reality on the right ride. In this am sure utter
the desire of very many Christian hearts, both in the
city end country. AfkESBiiLNiAS'
Se,s. Yo1k, Sept. Is, 1850.