Mexico weekly ledger., 1889-05-16

dance.n
Also at Luke ch: Is, in the para
bic drawn by the Saviour to illus
trate the joy of heaven over those
that repent. Yer. 25. "And as he
came and drew nigh to the house he
heard music and dancing"
There are also other references to
dancing in the Scriptures which the
writer has no desire to escape from
noticing because they are condem-
natory.
Elk: 80. 10. "And it came to pass
as soon as he came nigh unto the
camp thai he saw the calf and the
dancing and Moses anger waxed
hot and he cast the tables out of his
hand and break them beneath the
mount
In Mat. Ii there is a record Of
how the dancing of the daughter of
Herodias was made instrumental to
the behealing of John the Baptist
through the folly of Herod and the
vindictiveness of her mother. What
IS plainly taught by the Scriptures
taken as whole is that all dancing
is not of the same character, and on
that account discrimination is to be
exercised in either praising or con-
demning it. The mistake of some
of the churches and clergy is the
denunclation of a matter in itself
essentially harmless. Unless
among idoIators it is only indecent
or lascivious dancing that can be
sinful, and if the churches and
clergy would confine themselves to
the denunciation Of these they
would meet a favorable response
from the universal conscience, and
would not then have to appeal to
prejudices in their followers, which
if they have not implanted, they
have at least famed and fostered.
In nearly every instance quoted
the dancing alluded to was Of pub
lie character. With Miriam and
David and his followers it was at
the commemoration of great nation
al events, occasions of universal and
individual rejolcings. And there
is certainly nothing in their dancing
or in that at the home of the re-
turning pradigal, to be objected to
or denounced but much to be COM
mended and initiated.
In the absence of proper dis
elimination, the churches and the
clergy that commit this error,
seldom manifest the courage of their
avowed convictions by discipllning
dancers. One of our largest de-
nominations has remitted jurisdic,
ton over dancing to its several
communities with the result tha,
dancing is treated according to the
preiudices of localities, and the
whole organization is not convulsed
by constant discussion of its pro-
priety, about which there would be
great diversity of opinion. Off the
stage and outside of brothels and
the gatherings OF those that fre-
FIent them, with rare and individ-
ual exception, there is no public
and tolerated lewd or lasciviou>
dancing, and the lnsinuation Or as
sertion to the contrary is an insult
to the honorable and pure minded
that participate in this society di.
version, either occasionally OF
statedly, or at national or social
commemoratlons, and the pretence
of ecclesiastical protection against
their baneful example a farce of the
grimest and broadest character
When the church as body is ready
to discipline all dancing and viii,
ling to acknowledge that its teach
ings and legislations are solely fol
its membership and not for gen.
eral enlightenment and reformation
its clergy may be allowed to take
refuge behind such special plead.
ing; but even then if defence of any
kind is needed against the example
of dancing, the exclusiveness, the
tabooings and the exPensiveness o.
the modern ball will furnish by fal
the most practical and effective
one. Y.