Omaha daily bee., 1889-01-27

to a christian life. 1t would be far bette,
for people to put their hands in their pockets
and give to charitable purposes outright.
But this we cannot hope for in the present
era of religious development. The rank
and file even of the churches have not been
educated up to it. TO meet this state of
affairs, to sugar-coat the pill of giving, to
Halter and calole people into charity, the
charity bali was invented. | would not say
that every man who goes to such a ball is a
Top and every woman q silly coquette, and
that both alike are reDrobates in Christ's
sight; but / DO most heartily believe that
such a ball is no help to christian growth, and
| wish that no one who processes to love our
Lord would attend"
Rev. job Williams, of st. Barnabas, said
that he thought the clergy could find greater
evils to overcome than the one of dancing,
which, for the greater part, he considered
harmless. True, it is that when a young
girl Is allowed to throw herself into the
arms of licentions men; men known to be
libertines, which is the case at too many
balls, then there was grave error. But
dancing with proper music and proper attire,
properly done was harmless. "There is one
thing said Mr.. Williams, 'for which Mr..
Detweiler's sermon will be universally con
demned, and that is ascribing TO the ladies
present at the Creche ball such motives as
fondness of display, admiration and news
paper puffs. Although | shouldn't allow a
ball to be given for charity under my charge,
| think that if these ladies' wish to devote
the proceeds of the ball given the other even
ing to charity, it is well enough to let them
do so.
Rev. A.W. Lamar was seen, but didn't care
to discuss the matter much. The members
of his church, he said, were supposed to be
converted, and while the church does not
legislatc against dancing the members are
not expected to attend such parties.
Rev. Louis Zahner. of All Saints, speak
ing upon the subject, said: dancing, amid
proper surroundings, Is not, in itself, harm
full, and the surroundings of the charity ball
Were certainly not such as TO condemn it. A
person governed by the high and sacred mo-
tive of charity does not need the attractions
and social pleasures of u magnificent
ball TO call that motive into
exercise. Very few people, | imagine, who
attended the charity ball take to themselves
any credit for having done an act of charity
thereby. They are too intelligent for that.
They simply went for an evening of innocent
pleasure and diversion. with the expectation
of getting back the full value of the price
they paid for 1t. The term charity balln is
a misnomer, if 1t is intended to express, in
any sense, the motive which induced people
to patroniZe 1t. Charity is defined as that
which is bestowed gratuitously on the poor
for their relief No one, | fancy, will pre-
tend that what the patrons of the charity
ball gave for the privileges of that evenings
entertainment could possibly be construed as
''charlty." They attended the ball knowing
that the overplus OF receipts would be turned
over TO the Creche, but that could not have
been the reason of their going. They cannot,
and, as far as | know, do
not claim for themselves the slightest
recognition as having done a charitable thing
in swelling the proceeds of that evening.
The profits were turned over TO the mana
gers of the institution for which the enter
inme was given, That money simply
represented what the attendants at the hall
were willing TO give, not for Creche, but for
that evenings pleasure. Many undoubtedly
gave for that what they would not have
given at all to the Creche itself. There
being no harm in the amusement of dancing
as conducted at the ball, l am unable TO con-
either the entertainment or the be-
of the profits upon the institution for
which II was held. l fail entirely TO see why
people should become SO wrought up upon
this matter. A really roprehensible thing
one that should cause every honest citizens
fpce TO grow crimson with indignation and
shame, is the education OF our children upon
the wages of sin, paid over for the purpose
by the saloons and prostitutes Of the city.
Here are foemen worthy Of our STEEL"