The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1875-02-14
Round Dances Again.

An emineut clergyman of this city, calling
our attention to the following article in the
Pilot of the 9th, says that sit will come in
well in the next issue Of the STAR"
Dear Sir Il, for one, sincerely thank your
reverend correspondent, "A Priest" for taking
the trouble to give us such o concise and lucid
statement of the law of the Church in regard
| to round dances. confess am surprised to
find it so clear, unequivocal and positive.
| Let pastors of souls attack and altogether
| condemn immodest dances, which are daily
more and more frequented. Let them sdmon-
ish the faithful how they not only offend God,
but also do an injury to society, to their family
and themselves, who give aid to these dances
or even seem to favor them by their presence
What could be more comprehensive, more
| pointed and direct The only question il
seems to me- that can arise in the interpreta-
tion of this law is as to what are meant by
"immodesp dances. If the round dances are
not immodest should like to know what are
Are there any dances more immodest than the
round dances have heard it remark ed by
those who favor these dances, that they are
not necessarily immodest they do not see anv
harm in few friends who have met in pri-
vate social party INDUCING in what they are
pleased to term the beautiful waltz, the de-
Hghtful polka, or the poetic schottishe Sun
pose it were possible thus to indulge without
harm, is that sufficient excuse for violating
law of the Church 1t at least cultivates
the taste for these dances and stimulates tho
desire to indulge them. How much better |
more noble and more loyal to our Holy Mother
the Church, TO say, No; the thing itself is |
prescribed ana condemned, aud / will not |
even give countenance to il under any circum-
stances. But do not admit that the round |
dances are perfectly harmless even under the
circumstances contemplated. If they are
an occasion of sin on a large scale they must
be on a small scale, and the fact that one or
more persons of happy temperament and IN
usual power of sef-control can, under certain
favorable circumstances, indulge in these for
hidden dances without sin, is no more reason for
a general and indiscriminate indulgence than
the fact that some men can take q glass with
out detriment is a reason for universal and in
indulgence in Intoxicating drinks.
But what strikes me specially scandalous
and disgusting even, is that people calling
Catholics should live in open vio-
lation of an express law of the Church. and
that merely for the indulgence of a momentary
and doubtful qualification. 1 cannot appre-
ciate the feeling which would prompt q young
Catholic to ask leave of his or her confessor 1
20 dance the round dances. Infinitely more do ,
admire the example of the daughter of
'ur great military hero, General Sherman, who
s not afraid to have it known by all the
world that she positively declines to indulge /
n the round dances simply because they are ,
orbidden by the Church. Would to God all
'ur young Catholic ladies would display a ]
outrage and self-denial equal to that OF Mrs. I
itch, then We should NOT have to deplore the
csnda1 now so often witnessed 81 ( Dublic
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