The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-03-04
THE HARM OF DANCING.
The Devotees Of Terpsichore are Mer-
eilessly Scored by a Western
- Clergyman.
In the Very Early Ages the Dance
was the Handmade of
Religion.
Eow Its Associations Are Evil Altogether
and That observation-disclosures
by Its Company.

The Rev. Frank D. Altman, of the Luz
theran church of Kansas City, preached
upon 1.-THE Modern Dance on a recent
Sunday evening. He chose his text from
Ecclesiastes, iii, 4: "And a Time to
Dance"
= He said: "In the early ages the dance
WAS devout, appearing in the garb of re-
ligion as the minister of God. The He
brews were accustomed to express their re-
liRious joy and emotion in its rhythmic
movements. As a religious ceremony the
dance is recognized in the Scriptures, but
IA a social amusement it is nowhere ap-
proved. So completely has the dance
changed from its ancient religious charac-
ter that the church now recognizes it as
one Of its most dangerous foes. All who
wish to maintain a cody life are warned
against it's insidious charms.
"The Roman Catholic church has been
driven by the observed evil influence of the
dance to forbid it in many of its popular
forms. The Presbyterian, Methodist, Bap-
fist and indeed all evangelical churches,
give their testimony to the perils to vital
godliness lurking in the surroundings of the
social dance. All dances are not equally
dangerous to good morals. The dance in
the home, under the eye of parents and
friends, select company, may be considered
less injurious than the public hall. And yet
the dance 10 condemned without exception.
II it shall ever appear that the dance leads
as many people toward a cody life as it
now leads from it, the church will no doubt
withdraw its protest, but while the drift ia
all away from God toward the world and
sin, that protest must stand.
ttIA nr,n 80 ,r,.f n.,- 4 l. A H. q
and social development. The love and
practice OF this fascinating amusement sup
plants and destroys the love of solid study,
good reading and intelligent conversation,
and the higher and better forms of social
intercourse. Studies in school are neg
growth and development of the nobler pow
srs are stopped. and life becomes a success
sion of frothy, unaubstRntlal sensations
and excitements There is neither time
nor disposition loft for the best work of
life. Bring together a company of people
and attemp to engage them in intelligent
conversation and the mental vacancy will
be apparent. An intelligent lady said to n
minister on this subject: But what can I
do with my company? The people of fash
ionable society do not read, they are not
conversation. and there is no way OF enter
tanning them but by letting them Dance
This difficulty no doubt exists. People
usually find their highest Joy in the exer-
else OF their strongest faculty. aud if Il
novel-readinR, theater-goinV. dancing. idle,
goddess company is brought together they
would doubtless DO pleased with an invi-
tation to use thor heels rather than their
heads.
'"The dance requires a wasteful expendi-
ture Of money. The dance has a large
place in history, in the work OF individual,
family, and national degeneracy and bank.
Yuptcy. Il IL in close alliance with the god
dess Of fashion, and worships Mt her shrine.
u must have costumes, e~Quipages, splendid