Daily Republican., 1888-02-23
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DANCING.
BY AMBROSE s orTEy,

DohOihS ie Caileu iOollsnneBS by
some; by others only an innocent
amusement; others think 1t is wicked
to dance, while some think il is a
cheerful and healthlul exercise. II
may be cheerful; but cheerfulness does
not always come from doing right,
Gay and thoughileas people are often
cheerful.
Ladies' who attend balls and dane e
parties are usually dressed very light.
ly. The dancing is INDUCED in until
1t becomes immoderatc. The occasion
Is very often exciting; and when the
dance closes, the ladies go to their
homes through q keen midnight air.
Under such circumstances, the slight
est cold may take strong grasp upon
the system. Gases are known where
those who have danced, and in a little
while they died from the effect of it
The Hebrew word means ito leap for
joy"
Miriam, Moses sister, is the first
person mentioned of dancing in the
Bible-Exodus 10, 20. On this occa.
sion the women danced with tiInbrels.
The cause OF this dancing was because
Pharoah and his host had been drown.
ed in the Red Sea.
AT feast in Shiloh fonr hundred
young virgins went TO dance party,
and each one OF the four hundred girls
was surprised while dancing and car
ried off by that many men. Each
man a wife for himself. Judges 81,
19-25. SO this is what became of
this dance party.
Solomon says ''there is time to
dance" lie does not say it is proper
or wise, but simply that men take "a
time to dance"
David danced before the ark as an
event OF a national character, as well
as OF religious interest. 1t was no
dance in the common meaning of
dancing. We all know that when
people dance they have partners.
David had no partner. His wife was
greatly out OF humor at his conduct,
which she had no occasion to be had
he been accustomed to dance. Dane
ing shows Its perniclons effects, as in
the case Of John the Baptist. He on
one occasion reproved Herod and
Herodius for their sins so that the lat
ter desired his death An opportunity
was given her and she danced so
grandly before the King that he prom.
ised under an oath to give her what
soever she would ask.
She was told by her mother before
the dance, If told that she would give
anything that she desired. She told
the king to give her John Baptlst's
head on charger. His head was cut
of, John being in prison, and given
to the damsel. and she brought it to
her mother. (This is what come OF
this dancing, Mat. IA, 3-12; 81.
Luke 3, 10. John lost his life by her
dancing. This was the dreadful fruit |
of pleasure.
Pagan and savage nations adopt 1t |
in the intllction of their cruelties. |
Savages have their war dances; they
dance around their captives when
they doom them TO death burning, and
dance and yell amid the fierceness of
thunder storms. The lame man heal |
ed by Peter had perfect right tol
dance. This resembled the Hebrew
dancing, the fantastical steps OF mod
ern times.
The Jewish dances always express.
ed their religious Joys and gratitude. |
Sometimes they were in honor of a
conqueror. When David returned
from the killing of Goliath, the
women of all the cities of Israel came
out with singing and dancing. They
said, saul hath slain his thousands, |
and David his ten thousands" This
made King Saul very angry, and he
thought to kill David for the praise
given him. This is what came oil this
dancing.
Dancing, in the Bible wherever
mentioned, is religious in its charac-
ter; practised only on joyous occ ,sions;
only by one of the sexes. Always, or
nearly 30, in the daytime; ana in the
open air. No place can be found in
the Bible where the two sexes united
in dancing.
We were asked this question the
other day: "How many Johns were
theyr There were three-John the |
Baptist, John the Apostle and John
Mark, sometimes SO called.
We also pen this letter on dancing,
giving the Bible view, not our own,
Gu the subject. We don't condemn it |
If the ones who take part in 1t can do
so conscientiously, especially members
OF the christian church.
Claymont, Feb. II, 1888.