Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-12-31
THE INAUGURATION BALL.
Expressions Of Clergymen For and
Against the Institution.

ASAAA~A~e
Expressions Of Clergymen For and
Against the Institution.
The ministers are still excited over the mat
ter Of the Inauguration ball. special to the
Philadelphia Times quotes Rev. Small, the
evangelist, who is in Indianapolis, and who
called on Gen. Harrison Saturday, as saying:
'When people join the church they ought to
abide by the rules. The inaugural ball is not
. time-honored institution. Presidents have
gotten along without them, and it is no priva-
ton. II is q private and unofficial enterprise,
and Harrison could stop it If he would" The
dispatch continues: There is no lack of.earnest-
ness among the Methodist ministers of this
city in their opposition to the ball and to the
expense incident to the Inauguration, and it is
form of resolutions at the first meeting of local
ministers. The Presbyterians to which de-
nomination Harrison belongs, are taking no
part in the matter, and in fact, will not talk
about it. The impression seems to be that
Harrison as a church member is opposed to the
ball, but as President-elect should not OPP
pose it.
INDIANAPOLIS cLERaIMEN TALK.
The World correspondent gives brief express
sions from some of the indianapolis clergy
men, among which are the following: The Rev.
Reuben Jeffrey, First Baptist church, ''The
Baptists have no written law on the abstract
question of dancing. The general tendency is
against any form of excess. The matter be-
longs to the realm of individual liberty, which
every person must decide as he would other
questions of morals and good taste"
Rev. NJ L, Haines, Gen. Harrisons pastor:
II have not thought of the ball. Gen. Harri-
son has never mentioned it, and have no
business to NEEDLE with mans private or
business affairs"
Rev. DIR. Mcleod, Second Presbyterian: ''The
Presbyterian ministers have not taken action,
nor will they, to prevent the Inauguration
ball"
Rev. DIR. Rondthaler, Tabernacle Presbyte-
rian: II never attempt to rule mans con-
science in the matter Of popular amusements.
The inaugural ball is a matter Of state affair,
with which the churches, in their ecclesiastical
powers, have no business"
Rev. DR.. o. C. McCulloch, Plymouth Congre-
gational: 'The churches have no business to
interfere with the inaugural ball of Gen. Har-
rison, nor with any other ball of similar
kind"
Rev. s. E. Keene, Roberts Park Methodist:
81 am opposed to the Inauguration ball. 1
have talked with nearly all the ministers of our
the action Of the Columbus clergymen."
WHAT SOME WASHINGTON MINISTER'S THINK.
Some of the Washington clergymen have
expressed their views to the New York World
correspondent. Rev. DR.. Chapelle, pastor of
St. Matthew's church, said:
''The Catholic church does not condemn all
dancing as immoral in itself As well condemn
the drama outright and throw Shakespeare in
the fire because there are some theatrical per-
formances which are immoral. We condemn
a bad play or an indecent spectacle Just as we
would condemn bad novel. The church con-
dennis drunkenness, but it recognizes that the
moderate use of wine is not bad in itself-on
the contrary, that to some men it is necessary.
The church does disapprove of certain modes
OF dancing, such as the waltz and round dane
ing generally, and would look with disfavor
upon balls where the dresses were immodest.
trust that the Inauguration ball will be kept
free from these causes of objection"
Rev. DR.. W. A. Bartlett is pastor of the New
York Avenue Presbyterian church, which Gen
Harrison used to attend when he was Senator.
He has no fault to find with the inaugural ball.
"Only country parsons" said he, find fault
with it; but they have no idea what it is like.
They call it the Inauguration ball, and the
name gives the country folks vision Of an all
night orgy, accompanied by nameless excuses
and unspeakable goings-on. But we in Wash
ington know that there is little Of the charac-
teristics of a ball about it. 1t is simply a re-
ception to the new President. Dancing plays
a very small part in 1t. 1t so happens that
personally nave never dttenueu one O1 tnese
Inauguration balls, but would have no objec-
ton at all to doing SO except that as a rule I
don't feel comfortable in q crowd. The chair
man of the committee of arrangements for the
Inauguration ball has generally been a member
of my church. John w. Thompson, the
chairman of the Garfield Inauguration ball,
was an attendant of my church. William M.
Gait, the chairman in 1886, belongs to my
church, and SO does Col. Britton, the present
chairman. Presbyterians are not prohibit
tionists in the matter of dancing. Gen. Har-
rison is an elder in the Presbyterian church, a
man of great good sense and he will not put
himself into any wrong or absurd position.
The Inauguration ball is all right"
Rev. E. NJ. Mott, of the Epiphany Protes-
tant Episcopal church, used to be a dancer
himself, but during these last eight years he
has never danced and never attended a
theater. Before joined the ministry said
he. Il frequently danced all night and never
experienced any harm from it. But believe
that since have joined the ministry l rather
disapprove of dancing. 1t is like playing
cards and great many other amusements, not
an evil in itself, but an occasion of evil. The
fault that find with ballroom dancing is that
it is promiscuous. The most innocent girl in a
ballroom runs the risk of being thrown in
contact with persons whose innocence is not so
perfect. But suppose the world cannot get
along without occasions of sin. II is for good
people to see as far as possible, that no i'm
proper use is made of them. The way we must
look at it, / suppose, is this: What is an inau-
guration without q ball, and what is ball with
out dancing?"
THE OPPOSITION NOT WIDESPREAD.
Clergymen in several other cities have been
interviewed, with the result of securing more
expressions Of indifference or willingness that
the ball should take place and be countenanced
by the President than of active opposition. The
hostility to the ball does not appear to be very
widespread.
ssWhareas, an SEEM, an Wherefore
Resolved"
II your waking, call me early, call me early
mother dear,
For I've a heap to resolute upon this glad New
There's lots of things I'm going to say that I'm q
going 10 do,
| And kind Of hope in a thousand things I'll man
age to keep few.
I'm going to do the very best that ever fellow
can,
And viii make no friendship with a very angry
man;
win not look upon the wine when it is growing
| red
So may my evening hat sit loose upon my morning
head.
win not loaf with sinners at the corners Of the
| street:
| Nor will talk about myself to every one meet
IN be the good boy Of the school, and study all the