Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-02-04

Christians. can you read this faithful
picture of the Ground dances" and still
maintain that they do not endanger the
holiness of that body which you profess
to have consecrated unto the Lord2
This is not false charge. Proof; The
of the dance tends toward
more and more improper forms. The
german" is comparatively recent in
PRODUCTION, which grievoCsly shocked
many regular habitues of the tsll at first
But, although "Vice is monster of such
frightful mien, as to be hated needs but
to be seen, yet seen too oft familiar with
his face, we first endure, then pity, then
embrace" Our morning paper contained
few mornings ago this salacious item:
"a new dance called the "Chow Chow"
has become popular. A portion of it
consists Of waltz in which you can hug
the four ladies in rotation" Chow Chow
indeed Ought christians to be found in
that mix. Does the item not reflect the
thoughts that were in the mind of the
man who wrote its
IT this charge is not true, why do not
our ladies' at their afternoon receptions,
where we gentlemen are so carefully ex.
cluded that even the master of the house
must dodge in at the block door to get
bite of supper, engage in their favorite
and fascinating dancingP Did you ever
hear of an old bachelors ball, with the
ladies excluded? Why is it that this
amusement of all others must have both
sexes if this charge has not some TRUTH
3. Dancing is also violation of
christian consistency. This eXhortation
says ''be not contormed to the world"
The New Testament is full of such de-
Clarations. Know We not that the
friendship of the world is enmity with
God" Love not the world" Christ
died that he might deliver us from this
present evil world" Pure religion and
undefied before God and the Father is
this. to visit the widow and fatherless in
ted from the world" Therefore pure re
ligion and real charity will find some
other way to exercise itself than through
charity ball. For the dance is I'M
questionably worldly amusement.
Dancing is also inconsistent with the
VOWS which christian takes upon enter-
ing the church--to renounce the world.
the flesh and the devil; to take the word
of God to be the rule of faith and prac-
tice; TO render obedience unto the auth>
GRITTY of the church and to give himself
soul and body, time and talents. powers
and possessions unto the Lord" Why
even u dancing young man of the word
laid to me Il don't see how a christian
can dance after taking these vows, and
don't see how the church can allow il"
Dancing is also inconsistent with the
modesty of manner and attire which arc
the beauty of real refinement and chris
tian character. 1t might be enjoyed with
out any violation OF these points, but it is
not. From time immemorial it has been
accompanied with extravaganza. display
and q coarse spirit of vanity and ostenta
ton. Can you imagine anything much
more unbecoming in modest, christian
woman than the wearing of the Iashiona-
BILE decollete dress2 Four pictures in a
recent comic paper struck at this perni-
cious fashion Even the Corean minis
ter at Washington was shocked 10y it and
asked if these ladies were the hired
dancers. VIII anyone have the unblush-
ing hsrdihood to maintain that this cos
tune does not increase the moral dam
gers of the ball roomr
Dancing is also inconsistent with
growth in christian character. Like
plants subjected TO repeated frosts, thous>
ands are spiritually killed, and those who
are not. bear few flowers or fruits. She
that liveth in pleasure is dead while she
liveth." Dancers are also i. con-
sistent in their res rictions upon minis
ters II there is no harm in it, why DO
they conclude that it is wrong for the
ministers Why is he never invited to be
floor manager? Why does etiquette
demand that dancing shall be postponed
at party until he discreetly takes his de-
parture? If there is harm in it for him
is there not also for his Sunday school
teachers and members?
Dancing is inconsistent with a chris
tian's influence. Some christian Young
ladies', wives and mothers make this con
cession TO the world in the honest effort
to bring brothers. husbands and friends
to Christ. l have yet to see the first in
stance IN which it was successful. while l
have seen many in which it resulted dis
sstrously to those who made the conces-
sion. The religion that has power is not
the religion of concession or of the ball
room.
Dancing is also Inconsistent with chris
tian charity, which requires that we have
regard for the souls of others. Jesus
pleased not himself" They who would
be counted his disciples must take up
the cross, deny self and follow Him. u
People argue, ''patrouiZe the ball for
charity's sake" Is there no such thing
as charity for souls as well as bodies
Which is the most christ like. charity to
insist on going TO the ball. and running
all the risk of receiving spiritual harm
and doing harm, for the sake of contrib
uting perhaps 81 SO ont of SO. 80 to the
hospital, or to remain away from the ball
for fear you will receive and do spiritual
harm, and send the whole of your Sc SO
to the hospitals If the dancing citizens
of Rock Island want to exhibit some zeal
for the hospital, let them go to Mitchell
& Lynde's bank and sign those proposis
tons which l have written out and
signed.
commend the ladies who have been
carrying on this institution. pity them
in the burden they bear. While / differ
emphatically in regard to this method of
raising money, sympathize with the OBJ
Ject Hence these propositions which are
not made in any spirit of bravado. but in
good faith. If Rock Island has the en-
terprise she wants the outside world to
think she has, she will not let them fail.
Now that these views which have ad-
vanced are not the views of the Presby.
terrain church alone, let the following
testimonies witness. The plenary coun-
Gil of the Catholic church in the United
States save in pastoral letter issued al
Baltimore in 1866: The fashiona BILE