The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1876-05-25
For the Democratic Press
HTHE LAY SERMON

"A low WcchS DaCh uu dTIiClc WAS
published in the Portage County Re
publican Democrat, called ''Lay Ser
mon on Dancing" If understand
it correctly the writer is willing to
compromise with dancing; proposing
to withhold further opposition pro-
vided he be allowed 10 control the
dance. 1t is somewhat like T. X.
Beecher's proposal to abolish the law
which Furnishes politicians for buying
votes: as votes would be bought and
sold in spite of the law. With the
same propriety we might ask to have
the law abolished that enables US to
punish horse thief because a horse
will now and then be stolen. 1t is
singular that such proposition should
be made at this time, when a large
number of christians are expecting
the church to take step upward in
stead of downward. When an indi-
vidual joins church through CONVEX
sion, he is expected to use his inAu-
ence and means for the conversion of
others. But dancing is barrier to
conversion and the spreading of
Christ's kingdom on earth. Of what
avail will be our prayers 'sThy will be
done on earth as in Heaven" if by our
consent and conduct we use the means
to prevent it's being done.
In the year 1880 President Finney
was invited by the minister and elders
of the Presbyterian church in Reading,
Pa, to come there and hold meetings.
He soon found they did not know
what was needed, or what revival
was, and that all revival efforts had
been forestalfed by an arrangement TO
have ball every alternate week,
which was attended by many members
of the church; one of the elders being
a manager. He told the minister
those balls must be given up or he
would NOT occupy the pulpit in that
place suppose they were given up,
as he stayed two or three months and
large number were converted and
joined the church. Finney's memoirs,
p. 1851
My first objection to dancing is, it
hinders the spread of the Gospel. If
christianity is right, as many people
as possible should partake of its
privileges and comforts. Nothing
of trivial character should impede
its progress.
My second objection is, it lowers
the moral standing of most of those
who engage in it. 1t is so closely con-
nected with evil conduct it is impossi-
BILE to separate them. Its parentage
is bad and the offspring is not free
from evil prove this by compari-
son Of the tastes of froliclng people of
the present age with those of the frol- |
icing people eighteen hundred years
ago. When Salome danced before |
King Herod and his friends, the time |
was chosed when they were mellowed |
up with wine. Such all entertainment |
would not have pleased him if he had
had his natural instincts about him.
No woman Of respectability would be
present at such dances unless she was
closely yelled. Yet the dancing was
no more shocking to the modest feel
ngs of the beholders than some Of
The dances Of the present day. 1t is
true she was not dressed with good
taste, but she danced alone. If we
look for poetry in motion, surely here
IS a better opportunity to observe
han where two are dancing closely
together. She danced to her own mu-
SIC this is less vulgar than to dance
% the music of another. Music has
It's degrading spells as well as its ele-
rating ones, if we take Lord Byron's
word for authority: "Music arose
with its voluptuous SWELL" Almost
every evening dance has waltzing as
part of the entertainment, so that l
see that modern dancing is any
ess pernicious than that which pleased
zing Herod. This was only in the
presence of men; modern dancing is
carried on before a promiscuous COM
,any. Both sexes are permitted TO be
present; young men with their ladies,
married men with their wives. and
mothers will allow their young daugh-
ers to go and look on, or dance with
men twice their own age. So it looks
Is if frolicing people were less par
ticular now than they were under the
Jewish king. In order to make this
part more plain 1 will copy few
ines from Lyman Abbott's "Jesus of
Nazareth" page 300. lin the Orient
ar more than with us, the dance is
sensual and exciting. The loose robes
)ut half conceal the person.; the un-
confined limbs alternate between a
poetry of motion more graceful, and
| freedom of motion more wild than
IS ever seen in America, except per-
maps in the ballet, which we have bor-
owed from abroad. The dancer bears
ler instrument in her hand, and ac-
herself with her own mu-
sic. Her entertainment usually fol-
ows The banQu ct, and appeals, there
ore, more strongly to the imagination
,f the guests, already flushed with
wine." ''But Herodias knew well her
character. Delicacy Of SEN
iment was not one of his characteris-
les. She decked out her daughter in
he habiliments of the dancing girl.
At the appointed moment, Salome, in
,tructed by her mother, appeared at
he door of the court, and completed
he sensual pleasures of the feast and
for their enjoyment an
Oriental dance. The enraptured king
,lOried in his step p-daughter's shame"
This feast as we'll as the dance was