Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1892-01-07
WHAT ABOI'T IT ;

During the last week we nave ic
ceived large number of communl-
cations and have been spoken to not
less than so times in regard to the
position taken bv the ministers OF
Mexico in reference to dancing
There has been IA great deal OF
feeling developed in reference
to this matter and except for
the conservative position taken by
the local newspapers Mexico would
have been in fully as much of an up
roar us Sedalia. The Charity Ball
is over. 1t was a success and at the
same time the ministers partially,
at least, accomplished what they
undertook. As the smoke OF bat
tie has cleared away, the Ledger
desires to refer to this matter briefly,
especially as our attention has been
so earnestly called to it by those
who are conscientious IN regard to
wanting light on the matter. 1t
cant be possible tn at the ministers
in their public statement intended
! to single out the Charity Ball more
than any other ball tor their attack.
The Charity Ball was an invitation
affair and invitations were sent only
| to parties whose presence would be
acceptable. The class of people who
were present compared favorably
with any social gathering that has
ever enjoyed an evening in this city
And the personel was far above
/ that of many so-called club parties.
At the same time a great many
people in this city stayed away from
that dance on Friday night because
the ministers took the position that
church members should not go. Ii
dancing is against the rules of the
church, the members of that church
should not dance. If they do dance
they should be disciplined, if discip-
line don't work, they should be
turned out. On the Monday night
after the Friday night of the Charity
Ball there was a dance in this city
at which there was at least 12O
people, most of them live in this
city. A large proportion of these
We're church members. We under.
stand that every church. except per-
haps one, in Mexico was represent
| ed on the floor at the same time
| What about this matter, why are
some people too good to dance Oh
Friday night and then dance all
night on Monday night? Was the
position taken by the ministers Of
the gospel, Of Mexico, a bluff? Ii
was announced from at least ont
pulpit in this city that dancing was
against the rules of the church anC
those who danced might be discip
lined. Now, personally, the editor
of this paper does not think thai
there is any more harm in dancing
than any other innocent amusement
at the same time We take the posi-
ton that without reference to tht
religious phase of the matter
people who join any organization
either worldly or religious shoult
obey its rules. 1t was claimed thai
the ministers OF Mexico had picked
> out theCharity Bail, given by the
Daughters Of the Confederacy fol
the benefit OF the ex-Confederat,
: home at Higginsville, as an especia
target, and many of the Daughter
: took it as personal matter and IN
less the ministers take cognizanc
of the dance, held before the Chart
!, Ball on last Monday, and tn
ball to be held Oh next Monda,
night, and at least once a week du
ring the entire winter, it looks a
though the ladies have right t,
e say that the ministers had treate
them badly. What about thi
matter? Ii dancing is against tn
rules Of the church, the officers Q
the church should enforce the rules
; and if not, the rules should be re
jscinded. Fish should not be mad
v of some and flesh of others, don
make it sin to dance on Frida
night and not a sin to dance o
= Monday night, don't let some ric
n mans children dance, and raise cal
u with some poor mans children b.
icause they dance. Either enforce th
rules of the churches, or rescind til
rules or close up the churche
J. There is no sentiment about th
matter at all. 1t is plain prope
sition.
Vt AT the next meeting of the Den