Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1877-05-04
Dancing from Church Point Of View

Bethesda, ~ one of the sta unchest
churches of old Lexington Presbytery,
handed in it's opinion of ''promiscuous
dancing" at the Presbyterial session at
Lebanon last year. The term ITSELF how
ever, is deceptive, and should have been
simply dancing; for any dancing to be
enjoyable as the world goes, must be pro-
miscuous.' The idea of a man enjoying
polka with his sister, or a pas de deuc with
his grandmother, is simply ridiculous, and
when the church puts in the word 'promis-
cuous' it just gives up the ground and adj
mits it hasn't the courage to take hold OF
the question right by the nape of its sinful
neck, which is the only place to grab it.
Last week this opinion was reported on by
a committee, of which Rev. DR.. Ewing was
chairman. The report was an able one,
and it was unmistakable-fo it said, that
promiscuous dancing ''has a tendency to
tarnish the reputation of the Christian and
bring reproach upon the Holy name by
which we are called" and it recommended
the adoption of the following resolutions
1st. That we, as Presbytery, earnestly
urge all the members of our churches for
the reasons set forth, to refrain from pro-
miscuous dancings.
End. That in the case of their church
members who persist in this practice. af-
ter admonition from those that are over
them in the Lord. the chul Oh sessions be
enjoined to exercise such discipline is may
have tendency to reform the offenders, Or
at least to free their church from the re-
preach.
Rev. Patterson Fletcher offered as sub
stitute for these decided resolutions, one
instructing each pastor to preach sermon
to his congregation upon conformity to the
world, before the next regular meeting of
Presbytery.
Rev. J. R. Bowman favored Mr.. Fletch-
er's substitute. He read from the book of
Discipline all that was said on the
subject and said that while there was no
rule against daneing, yet he would admit
| the tendency was evil. But the trouble,
| he thought, was to know what was best to
be done. He objected to the report of the
| committee, because it made it obligatory
| upon the pastors to present to the session
| for discipline, all church members who en-
| gagged in promiscuous dancing. He had
| the same objection to this, that he had to
his Temperance brethren, who made a
hobby Of abstinence to the neglect OF other
matters Of equal Importance; for the sin
| of gluttony is as great as the sin of drunk
| enness, and his observation had been, that
| where one man died of drunkenness nine
died of gluttony. Still he was in favor of
Temperance, and opposed to promiscuous
dancing and kindred evils. He saw the diff
| Guilty the church had to contend with on
this subject Of dancing, and thought that
Rev. Mr.. Fletcher's plan, to make dancing
the subject of discourse, was the best
way to meet it.
| Rev. Mr.. Humphreys, pastor of Bethes-
da church, spoke at considerable length in
! favor of the committees report. He
thought that both the spirit and letter CT
| the word of God was opposed to promiscu
Gus dancing.
| Rev. Mr.. Thomas also spoke at length
| in support of the committees report. He
| could not see how a Christian could be
benefited by worldly amusements. He had
known of a man that had pig and lamb,
that went very amicably together, but the
| pig would wallow in the mire and the lamb
| got dirty from the association.
Rev. r. G. Walker suggested that the
opinion of the General Assembly, which
met at Macon, on the subject, be read by
each pastor to his congregation.
The matter was gotten rid of by the
adoption Of resolution, offered by Rev.
Mr.. Bowman, that the subject be referred
to conference to be held at next meeting
of Presbytery.