Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-01-03
Rtue I,nwtsm Redivivus.

When clergymen apply themselves to
a strict discharge OF the duties pertaining
to their sacred functions they ought to
receive and are generally accorded the
respect of the community, and that to an
extent enjoyed by no other body of men.
When, however, they abandon the we'll
prescribed line of their functions to
meddle in matters that do not concern
them, the case is altogether different.
The public will tolerate no pragmatical
interference on the part OF the clergy in
matters that concern them not. Christ
himself clearly laid down the line of de.
marcation between matters civil and
religious in his admirable aphorism,
Render unto Caesar the things that are
Caesars and unto God the things that are
Gods" The attempts to mix up church
and State in the United States have been
steadily rebuked. The old New England
Blue Lawism is matter of the past
and can never be resurrected. The
other day a number of clergymen
of Ohio and Indiana undertook
to compel the omission of dane.
ing from the programme of the inaug'
ural ball. This was sheer impertinence
on the part of these reverend gentlemen,
and they ought to be rebuked decisively
by public opinion. There was dancing
and plenty of it, at the inaugural bal
when George Washington took his seal
as President, and there has been dancing
at every inaugural ball since. The father
of his country was sufficiently Godfear
ing for most people. Thomas Jefferson
was not only good dancer but righ'
smart fiddler Mr.. Buchanan was q
Presbyterian OF the straightest sect, but
old "Buck" opened the inaugural ball
in 1857 with inimitable grace.
The idea that there could be anything
harmful in an innocent dance seems toe
stilted and absurd for this modern age,
when even religious bigots are obliged tc
show some regard for common sense
The dance is invigorating and innocent
and like fencing, boxing, horseback rid.
ing and other graceful and healthful oc
cupations, develops vigor and elasticity
of body which tend to restrain libidinous
impulses and prurient suggestions. The
old adage, "Evll to him that evil thinks
may very properly be applied to those
who imagine moral transgression where
none exists.
Queen Victoria will probably go down to
history as one of the wisest and most
virtuous sovereigns that have ever lived.
Her gracious majesty has always been a
patron of the art terpsichorean, and the
lady who would venture into her draw
ing room without the approved decolletee
toilet would be sharply requested to
withdraw. Dancing has been usual
and always welcome incident of nearly
every Christian court. Carlyle, who
praised rarely, called Maria Theresa the
greatest and most virtuous woman that
ever sat upon a throne, and Maria The
resa loved dancing and INDUCED in i,
frequently herself. 1t will flourish, and
be an incident of inaugural balls, nc
matter how many Ohio and Indiana
clergymen may try to discredit it.
There are q number of clergymen and
others in the United States who have fol-
decades tried to replace the separation
between church and State which exists
in this country by a straight-laced Blue
Lawism. These people, under the leader
ship of such men as Mr.. Justice Strong,
of the United States Supreme Court,
have tried to graft upon the Constitution
of the United States an amendment
recognizing the existence of God. Any
recognition of Deity was purposely left
out of that matchless instrument. 1t
was intended to be the supreme law and
guide of men of all religion. No disre-
spect was designed to the great Ruler Of
mankind by the omission. 1t was done
to indicate too clearly for controversy
that church and State were in this
country to be forever divorced. The
people who saw evil in little innocent
dancing at an Inaugural ball belong tc
this ultra bigoted group. They are
fortunately powerless to enforce their
views.