The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-11-30
CAN CHRISTIANS ArTEND DANCES.
rev. e. j. BuFchett Discusses the Sub
Ject at the First Eaptist Church.

Rev. G. j. Burchett Discusses the Sub
Ject at the First Baptist Church.
Rev g. J. Burchett's theme last night at the
rirxt Baptist church was: 'Can Christians at
tend the social dance without moral dangerf'
his text was: Eph. iv:20-"But ye have not 30
learned Christ"
The speaker remarked that this text occurred
wnsre were drawn two full life portraits of very
inherent characters, one being that OF q de-
voted Christian who was separated from the
world unto God; the other that of q professor
VINO so mingled with the world as to make it
olmcult to tell whether he was . Christian or
not The speaker then showed that we should
not be mised as to the character of
the dance by those innocent frolics of
children in parlors. There could be no
exception taken to dancing in itself
considered. The dictionaries define dancing As
being "a graceful movement of the figure &C
companied by measured steps in accord with
music" This itself cannot be condemned
But this Is not studying the modern dance. 1t
Is just at this point that so many are misled
IL you are studying the dance in itself consid-
cred, you are not studying it at all. You must
study 1t as 1t Is, with its bearings on human ma
ture, and judge 1t by its fruits, rs you would
Judge any other thing. The innocent parior
dance bears about the same relation to the ball
as we have it that the play of "Uncle Toms
CABIN bears to the degradation of the corrnpt
thsater. 1t teaches the road TO the thestsr, fxes
the habit So the parlor dance leads to the
Others.
Again, the dance Is among the most effeminate
OF the amusements. There 10 nothing manly
about 1t. Even the heather have looked upon
IL with disdain, and condemned it as unmanly.
Cicero said that no one would dance unless ne
was either drunk mad savages are fond of
the dance just as they sunken in the scale OF
humanity. The dance as We have it was shown
to be ruled by fashions which have been i'm
ported from q bad quarter; that 1t dictates
dress which Is neither modest nor safe to health;
that il permits and fosters shameful familiari-
ties between the sexes, which would not, and
could not, be tolerated any other place with the
least show of respectability. Here the speaker
acknowledged his delicate position, since he
was speaking OF thing which would not bear
an accurate description. Lord Byron's poem on
the waltz is not fit to be repeated in respectable
company, aud yet all that 1t describes IL the
essence of the ballroom. Then how dangerous
must the ball itself be?
As to ths low and debasing character of the
modern ball Ii was shown that all the Evan
gelical churches have condemned it in the most
decided language. These testimonials come
from bishops, priests, synods, councils and
assemblies. They come from thoughtful men
and women outside of any church. Gail Ham
ilton cannot be accused OF being a narrow
minded church member. and she says of the
bail: "The thing in its very nature is unclean
ana cannot be washed. The very pose OF the
parties suggests impurity. But 1 must go fur
Their than this and assert that the pose and mo-
lions of the parties cannot be spoken of by q
young lady without committing a double en-
tendre, at which many a nice young man will
laugh in his sleeve"
The effects of the ball were described ~ touch
ing character. 1t was not safe for any one
This may be seen from police reports in
London, Paris, New York and San Francisco,
in which 1t is shown that a large majority Of
the fallen women took their first downward
step in the ballroom.
AS to its effect upon Christian character there
could be no question. Such things do not har-
monize with jesus Christ.
II men of the world find that IL IL not safe for
their wives and their daughters 1t would te
sad comment on the Christian religion IL It
should fall below the standard of the world In
such things
The speaker admitted that the ball IL here to
stay just the theater IL, but that makes IL all
the more needful that we should be careful to
give 1t the place 1t deserves. He urged that no
parent should teach the art of dancing to the
child because this IL the training which viii
have no safeguard from ending In the worst
station on that dangerous road which know
ledge of dancing gives.