Brookings register. (Brookings, S.D.) 1890-1894, 1892-03-04
THE MODERN DANCE
Sermon by Rev. l.. w. Miller ut the NJ +.
Church, Jan. IL. 1892


Why do | distinctively discuss the
subject Of dancing?
First, wherever ! have been led to
discourse on the theme Of worldly
amusements from the Bible and church
standpoint | have reasons to believe
that good and not harm has been &C
complished. ] have seen this espec-
tally marked in my first and in my
last years ministry. | have been in
formed by good observers that there
flowed from my first sermon on this
subject results seen even four and five
years afterward.
Let me assure you that it Is not
presented as sensational subject to
draw a crowd, for ] believe that the
gospel preached clearly, intelligently
and in demonstration Of the spirit
will draw the people, and besides, it is
q subject so delicate in its nature ard
which touches so macy places in soci-
ETY. that no man who wishes to have
his personal and public influence to
be far reaching, would venture to
risk the loss Of that influence unless
prompted by motives Of duty.
A second reason for presenting the
theme is that I have been requested
to preach on the subject by some OF
our young people, who are not able
to see any harm in the prohibited
worldly amusements. And when /
remember that the same request was
made last year by good young peo-
pie III the church who refrained orly
because they were prohibited by the
chui ch, but wanted a better reason, |
cannot refuse And again, | teel it my
duty to explain why the M. +. church
is known TO prohibit these things and
give, if ] can, an intelligent answer to
our young people who do not want to
join the church on this account, and
to others who 90 to some other
churches to unite because those
churches say nothing on the subject.
Iwant to say in defense Of other
churches OF the Lord Jesus Christ
that all or nearly all OF them have
more or less restrictions on the
amusement question. Even the
Roman Catholic church prohibits
dancing. especially the round dance.
II these prohibitions and restrictions
are not strong enough or are not en-
forced ! am not responsible. The fact
that they are more or less enforced
in the Methodist church is seen in
that our church is generally known as
being opposed to dancing, the theatre,
card plsylng, the circus and horse
racing. have this, however, to say
that if al churches in common with
the Methodist and some others would
take clearly defined grounds on this
subject vital religion would be greatly
promoted and there would be a clear
er marked line between the world and
the church.
| believe in amusement; our nature
Graves it.; our work and toll demand
it, and people will have it in some
form or other. We can't put old
heads on young shoulders. There are
what NAV be termed innocent amuse'
ments which will meet all the demands
OF our varied natures, all the wants
of recreation which our body and
mind ligitimately need.
But | am to show why some OF the
things | have named are not innocent.
l will have time tonight to consider
only that of dancing. The church be-
lieves the modern dance to be harm
full,
First, physically. The body was
given man as a temporary tabernacle
of the soul, and whoever harms the
body by rendering it less vigorous and
less capable OF giving to the tenant
soul the largest, longest and most
useful life on earth. sins against his
God. Dancing is very largely phys
ical exercise, and physical exercise is
within certain limits profitable and
necessary, But | do not know that
anybody has ever defended dancing
or that any work on hygiene and
health ever recommended this amuse-
ment for the benefit derived from bod
lily exercise. On the contrary it needs
no argument to prove that the excit-
ing and protracted action OF the body
In the dance, the nerves strained to
the highest tension, the whole being
wrought up to the highest pitch OF
excitement must prove deleterlous
and harmful to the entire system.
Witness, as reactionary results to
those who participate in this facinat-
ing activity, the lassItude and wear-
ness, the iii humored disposition
which so frequently follows the next
day. This intense and even violent
activity is natural attendant of the
dance. People may d'ink iEtoxicat.
ing liquor moderately but it is hard
to be moderate in dancing. Why, this
very thing, inspired by the brisk ex-
hilerating music, is one OF it's greatest
charms. Add then to the heated sys.
tenn, warmed by it's own activity, the
heat of crowded room and perhaps
violated atmosphere, the cold draught,