The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-11-12
THE DRAMA AND THE DANCE
SPEECH OF DR. n. 0. C0wLING,
or Louisville, Before the Episcopal Com
gress in New York.
ICLOurier-JOIIrnaI.

or Louisville, Before the Episcopal Com
gress in New York.
ICourier-Journal1
Potter INTRODUCED Prof R. O. CowiiIg. Of the
University OF Louisville, KY. who spoke as fol-
DR. cowLINa's ADDRESS.
It was just after the war, when politics were
cunning high. that Southern Bishop visited
fell in With Northwestern p5tisise not n IN
Ing him comfort. showered upon S him his hatred tired
fer the fallen j, foe Do yqg count Yourself
& sSod s Will ns soa tel # the
wherein your as6g is to
don't swear and don't dance" However true
this anecdote may be land got it. BY the way
from a Bishop. 1t is an undeniable fact that the
Methodists look upon both plishments Of
dancing and swearing with unmixed horror.
In their book Of discipline they provide for the
trial and expulsion OF members for q third
offense" In dancing, playing games defiance
attending theatres. horse races, circuses. dane
sermon once heard by the speaker, delivered
by Baptist clergyman-a gentleman who now
occupies one Of the most o pnps
see my Lord crucifed anew when see Christian
men ana women dancing" and although this
OF one Individual 1t was in measure the senti-
ment OF the denomination against this amuse-
!. \. The Baptists and the Reform Baptists the
pai followers Of Alexander Campbell are congre-
ecclesiastical laws of general application; but
the individual churche, are opposed to dancing.
and provision is m ,de in many Of them for ex-
peling members who indulge in it. This Is Gu
rious on the part Of the Reformed Baptists. as
their distinguishing feature is the rejection of
creeds, the adoption of the broad platform Of
the Bible,' ana the acknowledgment of indi-
vidual opinion In its Interpretation.
president of Hanover College in Indiana ends
with this appeal in an argument against
by the sorrows of many pious parents whose
children have stified conviction in the dance;
by the death agony Of many youths whom this
meet God; by the grief Of parents whom it has
sent to t ntmey BY the am test
God against it. entreat you touch not the un-
ing the ndlydaa expressl on Of this esntie-
man, for in 1918 it declared in General Assem-
bly, that the greatest danger is, to be appre,
1889 the Southern Assembly enacted laws
against 1t, and this year at New Orleans it was
courages the modern dance, and urges Chris
tan parents not 70 Datron L dancing schools
with q recommendation to mercy, declaring
IN most cases It is the result OF thought
playing and dancing have nearly obliterated
the line between the church and the world,
against round dancing in national council at
Baltimore, taking the ground that the sin lies
tarians. The Church Of England and the
American branch have not considered the mat
ter directly. The denominations who condemn
tho dance are also opposed to the theatre The
theatre we have. always considered a school Of
immortality" said the Presbytsrians in General
Synod. When the fremont Theatre in Boston
was converted INTO a Congregational church DR.:
Beecher reloisee.d d that temple Of Satan had
actors, and remarked; I have fred many shots
into the camp Of the devil, and Judging by the
The English Church is the only one of the prin-
cipal bodies Of Christians which !, has not con
it at the present day with comparative lndlffer-
snce PIT In the Last century yie ed wta Puritan
dened The the res Of bur
to actors. Moliere, too. only escaped unconse-
Grated ground by the cunning of the King. aud
against Garrfck and siddons, and olddeld Was was
taken with regal pomp to the Abbey.
with the exception Of a single dilcese, has had
nothing to say against the stage Cush man and
have been Individual expressions of clergy
men. In one instance imitation OF the severest
1.-the h was @
upon the stage. but they are in g eat minority
who refused to bury the dead actor has, Joined q
more liberal organization. wherein he, could
This is the official record and the exact meas
ure of condemnation which certain religious
bodies have imposed upon The drama and the
dance, and it Is not too strong to say that these
two amusements are considered by many to
constitute a greater portion OF that WorldlineSS
against which the Apostle preached.
The consideration given by the religious world
to the drama and the dance is not over-estimat-
ed in its Importance, as none others have at
tracted 50 much attention. The circus is only
an occasional visitor; horse racing is confined
n q fayylO du9linU
tions; gambling and drinking deserve no such
gentle term. The drama and the dance are par
make the pisa for the dance that when re-
strained properly it belongs to the field of taste
sacred writings: The opponents OF the modern
dance explain its script9ral introduction and
says It was performed on great national and
religious occasions by the sexes separately as a
spiritual exercise, and its perversion to amuse;;
ment was regarded. as sacrilege associated
with condemnation or circumstance of horror"
This is the narrative Of Herodias'' daughter;
for youths to dance as for lambs to skip. 1 will
not discuss the ancient dance especially upon
Sexes sex but It will Content m myself with thinking
thatif the, Hebrew maid was moi, asked by the
Hebrew lad to join him, or that the Greek and
Roman youth of either sex pursued their
melancholy mea.u apart. the modern dance
has improved then in politeness as well as
Dancing is a rational amusement and ap-
Ia aeals to the natural senses, and springs spon-
lsAneouSly 10 the sound OF music, is one OF the
fine arts, with principles as decided as those of
painting or music, and greater effort of GENT
us is required to produce distinct dance than
q picture or melody. Half a century elapsed
between the minuet and the waltz.
1t is heaihful exercise. and the muscular
activity called into play cannot DO excelled and
+ it is also amusing, which is SO often ignored.
Hundreds Of dumb bell and Indian club vic
Tins waste their energies;, deluded invalids
walk weary miles up and down porches, and
sleep no better and dine rather worse. Health
lifts give better results, there is the daily ex-
element of watching the scale 60 up as the
mysterious cylinder is revolved. These health
seekers are prevented by age and their call
ING from reso, ting 10 the Dance nut they will
find more tonic influence in half dozen games
of whist