The herald., 1894-12-06
THE CHARITY BALL.

Inc Los ADg6iob Metuouiet fonCusfe
association has expressed its disfavor OF
the charity ball now in preparation by
the Assistance league. The association
has uttered its disapproval in resolu-
ton of protest in which the methods
proposed are designated as question
able," and urging all members Of the
Methodist church ito have nothing to
do with it, either in attendance or in
financial support"
From their standpoint this action OF
the association is proper enough. 1t is
their privilege, under the laws OF the
church, to protest against the amuse-
ment OF dancing. 1t is also the privi
lege OF those not bound by Methodist
law to criticise this action and to claim,
in all sincerity. without rancor or acri
mony, that the prohibition smsnates
in the present instance from q narrow
and ultra puritanical view of tho ques-
tion.
The object OF this ball 10 certainly
to some extent palliation OF the Of
Tense. 1t is the intention to devote the
proceeds to the allsviation of human
suffering. It is possible that some OF
the dollars thus obtained and thus dis
tributed may be the means OF saving
men from ofinis and women from
shame. Surely the sin of dancing is
vsnial under such conditions, aud evan
the members OF the Methodist Preach
ers' association will. in all honesty, ad-
NIT that the source of q charity can
have no deleterious effect upon the
recipient. Many church and many a
school house has been built by money
subscribed at the faro table. over the
saloon bar, and by women whose pres
ence even in Christian church might
provoke resolutions OF protest from
those of tho congregation consciously
and conspicuously without sin" and
therefore privileged to cast as many
stones as their Pharisaical enthusiasm
in the cause of a meek and lowly Christ
might demand. In Los Angeles it
may be the custom Of the godly
to scrusinizs every dollar that
comes to their Golfers and to reject
it if it is found to be tainted by contact
with unclesn traffic or Illicit profit. In
other communities the better use oil this
money, and the good that it will accom-
plish in the new channels through
which it will be directed, is the only con-
sideraton OF thoes thus made custodisns
OF the aims of the people. Il 10 possible
that il the proceeda OF this charity bail
were offered to the Methodist Preach
ers' association, the latter would refuse
to receive it on the grounds that it was
collected By a process contrary to the
laws of the church.
Dancing is forbidden because its Of.
fects are "Gemoralizing" because much
wickedness may emsuate from this as
sociation OF the sexes; because it is car
ried 70 excess as an amusement by the
young, and because in many instances
the wicked use it as means of tempta-
tion for the innocent and unwary. 1t
is no argument to remind those who
hold to theee opinions that Miriam
danced before the ark; that David
was dancing at the feast OF Cana, where
Christ turned water into wine, that the
revelers might not lose heart in their
revelry. 1t was different in those days.
and the modern dance has none of the
pure and elsvatinE characteristics that
made the saltatory efforts Of the an.
clients holy rite rather than a mere
physical relaxation. 1t 10 argued that
too much money will be spent by those
W no participate in this iestivity ON the
non-essen tials OF the affair elegant
costumes, flowers, perfumes, carriages,
lights, hall rent and attendants. 1t
should be borne in mind, however, that
these "vanities" give employment to
many deserving people and that many
honest laborers will receive direct bene-
fts from this joyous occasion, leav.
ing an ample fund to be dis.
tributed among those who have not had
the opportunity to provide the
barest necessities of life, hard
enough to maintain, Notwithstanding
the conatant effort OF the churches and
the preachers and the "charity that pas.
seth understanding" because it some.
times retusea to approve of charity not
after it's own kind.
We do not believe that the reso.
luton of the Methodist Preachers
association WAS intended as
reflection On the ladies and gentlemen
who are promoting this affair. We do
not believe that the association even
intends to discipline" those of the
Methodist congregations who take part
in the function" Such course would
not be in consonance with the spirit ofthe
nineteenth century, and the illiberality
OF such procedure could only operate
to the detyiment of the church organza-
tion. 1t is therefors fair presumption
that these resolutions were adopted
only as an expression OF principle snd
a reminder that the laws against dane
ing we're still in force on ths statute
books OF orthodox Me;hodism.