The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1876-04-12

do them. Need we say that such thing
are inconsistent with the profession you hav
made of unreserved conservation to Christ !!
If then they are inconsistent with true re
ligiOn as admitted even by worldlingS, ough
not each of our sessions to be annually calleC
upon to report their action in regard tt
them ? In regard to promiscuous dancing
the General Assembly is clear and decided
in urging expulsion after friendly admoni
tions have failed in their effect.
But to satisfy the doubts of some and
make our pathway clear, we will set forth as
briefly and explicitly as possible the scrip
ture doctrine in regard to prOmiscuous dane
ing, and omit other topics.
l. In the first place We see from the
Psalms of David and other portions of Holy
writ that dancing among piOus people is only
spoken of as a religious exercise, and never
for the purpose of fun and folly. 1t was an
ancient mode of keeping time to sacred music,
and of course was performed with the utmost
solemnity and decency. But what thought
of this do we have in our balls and parties
How commonly do we witness among our
youth on such occasions not only unbecom-
ing levity and giddiness, but disgusting in
temperance, profanity, and rudeness And
the whole night is spent in these Bachana-
lian revels, to the injury of health and com
fort, to say nothing of the waste of time and
money, for which we must all give account.
Job speaks of these wicked practices when
he says, (Chap. xxi: 11-15) "They send
forth their little ones like flock, and their
children dance. They take the timbral and
harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ.
They spend their days in wealth, and in a
moment go down to the grave. Therefore
they say unto God, depart from US, for we
desire not the knowledge of thy ways
What is the Almighty that We should serve
him And what profit shall we have if we
pray unto him ?" Reason and conscience
are laid aside, and reckless in6delity fills
the soul.
2. But another tact still more in point is,
that in the religious exercises spoken of the
boys and girls were not suffered to dance TO-
gether. Good people knew the danger to
which weak and wicked human nature was
exposed in view of such actions by promis
cuous crowds, and scrupulOusly guarded
against it even in religious worship. We
learn this from Ex. XIV: 20, where we read
that " Miriam, the prophecies, the sister of
Aaron, took timbrel in her hand, and all
the women went out after her with timbrels
and dances" We see i, alse in judges xxi:
81, where the daughters of Shiloh went out
in their yearly dance. But David on one
occasion in his joy and exstacy for the re-
turn of the ark seemed to forget himself,
and went leaping and dancing in the sight
of male and female. His wife, seeing him
through a window, was SO much disgusted
that when he came in she gave him very
harsh reproof for violating the established
custom. She said, How glorious was the
king of Israel to day, who uncovered himself
in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants,
as one of the vain fellows shamelessly un-
covereth himself" While her passionate
language offended David, it shows that such
exhibitions were not expected except among
vain and shameless men and women. The
dancing on the return of the prodigal son
was evidently religious dance appointed by
the good father in praise to God, and must
have been conducted by females alone, as the
old man had but two sons, and one of them
was in the field and knew nothing about it
until he came within hearing. This is evil
IDENTIFY what Solomon means when he says,
"There is time to mourn and time to
dance. But the facinating dance of He
rodias's daughter on Herod's birthday was in
full view of the drunken crowd, and ended
in the death of John the Baptist.
We would ask then, can any man or wo-
man who is acquainted with the Bible, and
desires the salvation of precious souls, de-
light in such demoralizing scenes? In this
day of light and zeal, we need pure church
fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and
terrible as an army with banners" We
want no drones in the hive, no clogs to the
wheels of the chariots of salvation, no stumb-
ling blocks in the way of sinners. In do
ing our duty We may dread the loss of Pc
cuniary support, and feel weak, but God
whose word we regard, knows how to give
strength in weakness, and light in darkness.
We may lose in numbers, but will gain in
power and influence. OF the faithful rem-
nant that remain, one shall chase a thou.
sand, and two put ten thousand to fight.
SENEX.
A oooI Ouo