Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-05-11
Deacon Block and the Dance.

A correspondent of the Savauaeh News,
writing from Lawrenceville, Ga., gives the fol,
lowing particulars of case, the result of which
has heretofore been announced 10 the Gazstte {:
| At eight o clock last evening Dr. l. ,ftwich
renewed his argument, which had already CO.
cupied two hours, when at six o'clock the Pres
bytery took a TWO hours recess.
The church was we'll filled, the audience DOM .
prisng large number Of ladies. The mem-
| bers of the Presbytery were scarcely more eager
| than the people of Lawencevile and the sur
| rounding country to hear Dr.. Leftwioh' speeon.
A sermon he had preached 10 the same house
on Wednesday night presaged the thunder
storm which he was nursing for this momen
tous occasion. The audience anticipated tho
| outpouring Of vlals OF wrath, but hardly ex
pected the deluge Of denunciation whi,h for
about six hours was rained upon the offender
against DR.. Lsftwich's Interpretation Of the
dance and the laws and the dellverances Of the
church concerning it.
Had this dance under discussion been held
under circus tent, and circus actors and the
most depraved of men and women been MIR.
Blocks guests, MIR. Leftwioh's characterize.
tions of it could scarcely have been more severe.
The province of language and the range OF
fancy were eXhaustlvely explored for terms aud
figures iu which to denounoe the social dance at
Mr. Blocks residence. While listening to this
outburst of uueharitableness, the writer could
but reflect upon the Wondrons influences Tor
good speech equally grand 10 word, figure aud
delivery might accomplish if 10 the torm OF au
appeal, pointing out to the erring the gIorics Of
Christianity, the pleasures of morality and the
bright reward promised those who abstaio
from evil and live for future beyond
the evauescent etj ,yments of earth.
The speaker charged Mr.. Block with sin
10 haviog permitted the dance at his house; 10
having encouraged youoger persons to join 10
the dance; 10 having professed that the danrl x
was not siofuI; ln having defended aud sought
to justify himself when cited to answer before
the session for the otfense 10 having desgoedly
sought to destroy the church or to humble its
court; in denying that any laws Of the church
prohibited the social dance.
He averred that Mr.. Block com mitted sep.
arate sin for each set that Was danccd-that ii
twenty sets were danced 90 the occasion, his
sn was multiplied twenty times He charged
him wi h sin 10 having treated the court OF the
session with contempt; 10 havlog refused to
answer qu' stions a,ked him by the pastor b.,
fore the session; 10 having printed aod placed
before the world his written defense addressed
to the session.
La the course of his argument DR.. Leftwich
undertook to read from vena book, entitled
The Dance of DEATH" one Of the vile scenes
which ill it's pages. But before he had pro.
ceeded Very far be was Interrupted by vlgur-
GUS protest addressed by Mr.. Block to tho
Moderator against Dr.. L,ttwch's being allowed
to read from such vile publication. which. he
declared, no decent man would allow 10 his
house. A round ofappause from the audieno,
greeted Mr. Books forcblc protest, aud the
Doctor Was made to desist from further reading
of it.
Til, speech was widely aud upq1aiiedy
condemned by many ministers and Elders and
others not members of the Preebytery. 1t
was bitter and iotoerant aod greatly wldened
the breach between his church and the til ,nds
of Mr.. Block.
This morning Mr. Block concluded bis argu.
ment bef )re the Presbytery. He cast upon DR..
Leftwich the responsibility of the wrong done
r i'm by the session Of the church. He stated
that Dr. Leftwich had undertaken to assume
dicta !orship over his conscience; that because
be would not sutm to his !mperlous dictates
DR.. Leftwich had become offended at him and
that his trial before the session was really per.
secution of him; that the Doctor had threatened
him. and that before the session he was over
bearing towards him. He stated that when he
gave the party in which the dancing occurred,
he did not believe, nor does he now that soci-
al dance, such as he entertained was sinful in
itself nor that it was so denouace by any law of
the church or Of God
At The conclusion of Mr.. Blocks defense the
members of the Presbytery engaged in decu,-
ing the case. The discussion assumed very
wide latitude, and several OF the spec hes made
70 very able. Upon the side of Mr.. Block
those Of Revs. j l.. Rogers Heary Q lisg,
Donald Frszier, John Jones' J Il M.rln and
of Hon NJ V. McKibben. of Butts county, an
Elder, were remarkably fine efforts In sup
port of the session Rev James Stacy and Rsv.
Mr.. McMurray liver de rnes! peeches
At near IL o clock to- nignt the di'cussicn end
ed and vote was reached upon the case: The
question was upon sustaining Mr.. Blocks ap-
neal and thirty four votes were cast upon the
calls of the ayes and nays. of which nineteen
voted to dismiss the appeal and fifteen to sustain
it in whole or in part. Nj. Block appeals the
case to the Synod of the church, which meets in
Atlanta in November next