The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-09-04
OUR SUNDAY COLUMN.
Original and Otherwise-Pre-
pared by Mark.

''IF JOIN THE CHURCH, NAY DANCE?"
If join the church. have you any OBJ
lection to my dancingp"
Mary W was about eighteen years
Of age, of high social standing, intelli-
gent, cultivated, and thoroughly lady
in feeling and manner.
Having been hopefully converted, she
had decided to unite with the church of
which Mr.. A. was the pastor. But
before so doing, she asked him, ''If
join the church, have you any objection
to my dancing?"
II will answer your question by an
other" said tho pastor. "Suppose there
was largo and fashionable party, or a
public ball in town, and you were in
vited to it. And suppose you had ac-
copied the invitation, and that, going at
rather late hour, as you enter the
room you found all engaged in the
dance, and that you saw me, your pas
tor, taking part in it. and leading it,
what would you think?"
a look of astonishment passed over
her face, as she frankly said, II should
think it strange and greatly inconsis-
tent"
WELL" replied Mr.. A, ''if such
dancing is right and good thing, why
should / not enjoy it as we'll as you?
And if in it's influences and tendencies
it is wrong and evil, why should you
engage in it, or wish it more than L? A
minister is but good man trying to do
good to men. And there are not two
standards, one for him and another for
the members of his his church; not two
-
and another for him. If he Is to be
spiritual and set holy ex ample, and to
come out from the world and be separ-
ate, and shun worldly amusements, why
are not you? And if such amusements
are right and proper for you as a fol-
lower of the Saviour, why are they not
for him? And why should you or any
member Of the church wish to be or TO
do what you would not like to sec him
be or do?"
She thought moment seriously, and
then said, sit is plain to me now. l
will mover dance again" And she never
did. Uniting with the church by pub
lie confession of her faith in Christ, she
lived, and after some years died, an ex-
emplary, faithful spiritual Christian-a
help to her pastor in every good word
and work and bright example to all
who knew her.
With this brief narrative in view this
thought is suggested for serious and
prayerful consideration.
AS to all worldly amusements, if you
have the least doubt as TO your conduct.
ii there Is the least conflict between in
clination and duty. go in prayer to the
Saviour and ask him what you ought to
do, and then act as you believe he would
approve If he were present with you.
Dancing church members as we'll as
dram drinking church members and pro-
gressive euchre church members are a
comfort to Sodom. That means their
worldly and inconsistent life makes the
devil glad and helps to build up his
kingdom in the world. How many are
fooled and ruined by the pleasures of
sin for season. Here are two stanza's
was taught in early years:
Beware of pleasures siren cong,
Alas, IL cannot soOthe You long;
1t cannot quiet Jordon's wave,
Nor cheer the dark and silent grave"
"Oh, let your thoughts delight to soar
Where sin and Inst modest ne more
Explore by faith the heavenly fields
EEss'And pluck the fruit that Canaan yields"
'She that liveth to pleasure is dead
while she liveth." But is there no
pleasure for the young? Oh, yes "Her
ways are ways of pleasantDess and all
her paths are peace. She is a tree of
life to them that lay hold of her, and
happy is every one that receiveth her."
Find the receipt for true and lasting
pleasure in Proverbs, third chapter and
from the tenth to the eighteenth verses