The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-04-26

BROOkLfN, Apru II. - III. lhtmhge Is
now preaching at the Brooklyn Tabernacle
brisf series of Sabbath morning sermens on
s.Rscreations Good and Bad" His subj ct
this morning was "Does dancing occupy too
much place in modern societyr' h ex.
pounded the third chapter of Ecclesiastes,
setting forth that there is time to weep and
time to laugh, and that smile may be as
tacred as q tear. The opening hymn was:
he leadeth me. oh. blessed thought
Words with heavenly comfort fraught.
The text OF the sermon was from Matthew
xiv, 6: When Hsrod's birthday was kept
the daughter of Herodias danced before
them and pleased Herod.'
Following is the sermon in full:
1t is the anniversary of Herod's birthday.
The palace is lighted. The highways leading
thereto are atlaze with the pomp of invited
guests. Lords, captains, merchant princes
and the mightiest men Of the realm are on
the way to mipgle in the festivities. The
tables are filed with all the luxurles that
the royal purveyors can gsther-spiced
wines and fruits and rare meats. The guests,
white robed anointed and perfumed, take
their places. Music The jests evoke roars
of laughter. Riddles are propounded, repas-
tees INDUCED, toasts drunk, the brain befog-
ged. wit gives place to uproar and bias
phemy, and yet they are not satisfied. Turn
on more light. Give US more music. Sound
the II ampet. Clear the floor for the dance.
Bring ia Salome, the graceful and accom-
lished Princess
Inc doors are opened aud in bounds the
dancer. Stand back and give plenty of room
for the gyrafions. The lords are enchanted.
Toey never saw such pOstry of motion.
Their souls whirl in the reel and bound with
the bounding feet Herod forgels own and
tbrone-evsrythiDg but the destinations of
SslOme- The magDihcsnce of his realm is as
nothing compared with that which now
whiTls before him on tiptoe. His heart is in
transport with Salome as her arms are now
tossed IN the air aud now placed akimbo.
He SWAPS with every motion of the enchant.
ress he thrills with the quick pulsstions of
Der feet and Is bewitched with the posturing
and attitudes that he never saw before, in q
moment exchanged for others Just IS amaz-
ing. He sits in silence before the whirling
bounding leaping. flashing wonder; and
when the dance stops and TIE tinkliUg Gym.
hsis pause and the long, loud plaudits that
shook the palace with their thunders had
abated, the entranced monarch swears unto
the princely performer: Whatsoever thou
shalt ask Of me will give it to thee to the
alf Of my kingdom"
woMANs WICKED WISH.
Now there was In prison minister by the
name Of John the Baptist who had made
much trouble by his honest preaching. He
had denounced the sins OK the King and
broueht down upon himself the wrath of the
females in the royal family. At the instiga-
ticn OF her mother salome takes advantage
OF the Kings extravagant promise and de-
mands the head of John the Baptist on q
dnuer plate. There is sound of heavy feet
aud the clatter of swords outside of the pal
ace. Swing back the door. The execution
eTs are returning from their awful GRAND.
They had platter to Salome. What is on
that platter? A new tankard OF wine to re-
kiDdle the mirth OF the lords? Mo- 1t is
rsddsr than wine and costlier. 1t is the
chastity, bleeding head of John the Baptist
It's locks daDbled IN gore. lis eyes set IN the
death STARE. The distress of the last agony
IN the features. That ting form that
just now s#ayed sd gracefully in the da zee,
bsEds over the horrid burden without shud-
der. She glosts over the blood, and Just as
the aid of your household goes, bearing
out on . tray the empty glasses of the even.
mas enterfa nment, so she carried out on
platter the discovered head OF that good man,
while all the baDqueters shouted and thought
IL q good jose that in such a brief and easy
way they had freed tbs ms selves from such
plain.spcken. troublesome minister. What
could be more innocent than birthday fes-
rsoh bad celebrated such days, aud why not
Hsr0d7 1t was right that the pa'ace should
be liz hted and that the cymbals should clap,
asd that the royal guests should 60 to ban
qnet; but before the rioting and wassail that
closed the scene OF that day every pure ma
ture rsvolts.
/ am not going at this time to discuss the
cd question. Is dancing right or wrong? but,
Does dancing occupy too much place in mod
EN- Getty? Ard in my remarks hope to
carry with me the affections of all thoughtful
Jsorie. Whatever you may think OF the
amusement you must admit that from some
circles it has crowded out al opportuny for
all intellectual conversa ion, and made the
condition of those who do not dance, either
tecause they do not know how or are
rot n sufficient health to endure
it, or because they must con-
cautiously deciine. very uncomfortable
You must ad NIT a'so that with many il has
,-sst d to be q recrt alton and become a dissi.
patti, n. With many 1t has become such an
over fatigue that yoa can understand the be-
wilderment of an educated Chinamsn, who,
stan ding in brilliant house where for many
hours the dance had been going on, asked the
wealthy proprietor: why do you not let
your servants do that for your" Farther
more. il will be admitted by all reasonable
people that, whatever they may think of the
old.fashioned square dance aud many OF the
professional romps in which can see no
evil. the round dance is administrative of
harm and deserves to be
aUELzD OUT OF REsPxcrABLE CIRCLES.
sm by natural temperament and relig
ioUs theory utterly opposed 10 the position oil
those who are Mortified &C every demonstrs.
tion of mirth and psyfuluess in social life
and who seem to think that everything. de.
cent and immoral, depends upon the style in
which people carry their feet. On tbs other
hand can see nothing but ruin, moral aud
phys cal, In the designations OF the ball room.
which have dsspoiled thousands OF young
men and women OF all tina. gives dignity 70
character or usefulness to life.
Dancing has been styled 1.-THE graceful