The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1892-01-29

Job of criticising so influential class
as the t'fashfonables." And the
greatest danger in the question is
that parents, as a rule, know com.
parativeIy little OF the actual facts
The intemperance, immortality and
dissolute habits OF young men, are
know of all men before they are known
at home. The imprudence, the indis'
cretion of young girls are the talk OF
the town when their fond parents are
congratulating themselves that their
daughters are not as IS Ime other
girls" When preachers preach
and writer's write, mothers and
fathers apply what tn, y have heard
and read, to other peoples children
The criticism DIR. Steele makes,
and the criticism we would make, il
upon society in general. And that
criticism is that society is ''toO loose. u
The entree to it's portals are too wide
aud open and easy of access. The
credentials to It's inner circles are toe
easily procured and too carelessly
given out. And further, when the
company is made up, the rules that
govern them are too lax. The reins
have been put in the hands Of inn
pulsive, impetuous, though tless,
reckless youth, when they need
above all thinge the steady hands OF
experience.
Society needs chaperone; not the
make.shift of to-day, but the guide
and protector of old. And society
needs that the heads of families direct
it. If fathers would stop their bust
ness long enough, and mothers would
quit their indulgence and admiration
long enough to control their children
for a year, society would be reformed
Parents do not endorse the familiari-
ties and immoralities of the fashion
able society of to-day, and they do
not count their own q part OF it.
There is the fatal mistake. A society
that is corrupt, Is corruptings A girl
may be as pure as = babe when she
enters the circle, but il she remains
long in the company Of fast people
she will become contaminated by
them. Not only so Of girls, but Of
boys; there are as many boys ruined
by fast girls as there are girls ruined
by fast men. There is but one safety
for either of them. That is, that
while they are young, innocent, inn
pulsive, impetuOus and credulous,
they be shielded from the society of
bad men Or bad women or bad infiu-
ences.
We quote from part of DR.. Steele's
sermon, as reported by the American:
AZ am told that some people have said
that L shouldn't come in their homes
and say what have preached from the
pulpit. 1 am not surprised. wouldn't
go into the Hermitage Club and say
what L have said about clubs. I'd like
to, but the members wouldn't let me.
The truth of the business is the reason
so much hubbub is raised about my
sensational preaching is because 1 hit
'em.
81 am not preaching to please any
body. L am preaching to Methodists,
and my purpose is to have them re-
nounce all theatre going and card play
ing and dancing and seek higher things.
There should be more distinct line
Of demarkation between the church and
the world.
81 don't think dancing is the worst
hing in the world. 1t is not as bad as
nor as stealing, nor as cursing,
nor as lewdness in life. 1t is not as bad
rs uncharitable Goodness, as backbit-
ng, as envy and jealousy, as getting
mad because somebody makes a hit, as
osing ones temper and flying to pieces
md raising the devil around about.
"But the character ana tendency and
fleet of fashionable dancing is i'm
moral and inconsistent with religion.
don't say that everybody who dances
8 wicked. 1 know some very accom-
'lished and refined people who dance.
But L don't know any very religious
mes who do"
The preacher here explained the diff
erence between the dance spoken of in
he Bible, which was;religious and did
lot involve the mingltng of the sexes,
nd the dance of the club-room and
'arlor.
He admonished his hearers to avoid |
he appearance of evil, and told of
family,iwhich set out a
unch bowl at recent entertainment! |
The Lord have IN 3rcy on,th family!'
4 number of authorities were read on |
he subject of dancing, and the speaker |
rOved that some of the most eminent |
wines in every church opposed the |
ecreation.
When he reached the Presbyterian de-
he quoted DIR. Palmer, of
mall sensational preacher, no little fell
wv seeking notoriety.
"Some people claim that the dance
ives grace. Well, admitting this; ad-
itting that your girl is awkward, bow
,gged and handy shanked and that
sncing will make her graceful, are
on willing for her to run the risk2
h, what will. become of the young people
f Nashville2 You Christians who are
eeping up dancing schools, schools of
ice, are thus subjecting them to the
everest temptation they will ever have
} pass through.
81 propose to speak out on these
lings even if you ride me out of town
n a rail.
81 would tell your fashionable society
lat it's dress is immodest.
"The dress of the ball room is condu-
We to the pleasures of the dance. A
Dung man who had danced with
,cIety girls told me so not ten hours
90. You mothers and fathers, if you
new how young men talked about
Dung ladies you would rather see your
lild dead than in their embrace.
,uld tell you things that would make
our hair stand on end.
"The attitudes of the dance would
Ot be tolerated anywhere else, than in
le ball room or under other circum-
IS than the dance. No young lady
no values her virtue would allow the
Ime liberty in the parlOr that she al
WIS in the ball room.
''The music and intoxication of the
'nses causes the indecency of the situa-
on to be forgotten.
''God pity the pure, innocent young
ri who in the first blush of passions
OssessiOn engages in the society
ance. In her innocent soul she
Oesn't know why she finds so much
n iOvmant The atmOsnhere racks