National Baptist world., 1894-10-12
EVILS OF DANCING.
DR.. Talmage Discourses on the In
iquity Of the Princess SalOme.
The World Is Too Prone to Repeat the
Riotous Dissipation That Marked the
Banquet of Herod-Innumera-
bic Victims Of Frivolity.


the public through the press was The
Quick Feet" the text chosen being
Matthew xiv, g. when Herod's birth
day was kept the daughter of Herodlas
danced before them, and pleased Her
3D." Following is the sermon:
1t is the anniversary of Herod's birth
day. The palace is lighted. The high
ways leading thereto are all ablaze
with the pomp Of invited guests.
Lords, captains, merchant princes, the
mighty men Of the land. are coming to |
mingle in the festivities. The table IS
spread with all the luxuries that royal
purveyors can gather. The guests,
white robed and annointed and per-
fumed, come in and sit at the table
Music The jests evoke roars OF
laughter. Riddles are propounded.
Repartee is indulged. Toasts are
drank. The brain is befogged
The wit rolls on into uproar
and blasphemy. They are not satisfied
vet Turn on more light. Pour out
more wine. Music. Sound all the
trumpets. Clear the floor for the dance
Bring in Salome the beautiful and ac-
and in bounds the dancer. The lords
are enchanted. Stand back and make
room for the brilliant gyrations. These
men never saw such poetry OF mo-
ton" Theft souls whirl in the reel
and bound with the bounding feet.
Herod forgets crown and throne and
everything but the destinations of Sa-
Iome. All the magnifcence of his
realm is as nothing now compared
with the splendor that whlrls on tip
toe before him His body sways from
side to side, corresponding with the
motions Of the enchantress. His soul
lis thrilled with the pulsations OF the
feet and bewitched with the taking
postures and attitudes more and
more amazing. After while he
sits in enchanted silence looking at
the flashing, leaping bounding beauty
and as the dance closes and the tlnk-
ling cymbals cease to clap ana the
nhunders Of applause that shook the
palace begins to abate. the enchanted
monarch swears to the princely per-
former: whatsoever thou shalt ask
of me I will give it thee, to the hall OF
my kingdom" Now, there was ~
prison at that time a minister OF the
gospel by the name of John the Bap
tist. and he had been making great
deal of trouble by preaching some very
fplain and honest sermons He had de
,nounced the sins of the king ane
brought down upon him the wrath @
the. females Of the royal household
AT the instigation of her mother
.Salome takes advantage OF the ex
travagant promise of the king, AM
saws: Bring me the head OF John tn
Baptist on a dinner plate"
Hark to the sound of feet outside tn
door and the clatter OF swords In
executioners are returning from thel
awful errand. Open the door. The
enter and they present the platter
;Salome. What is on this platter?
new glass Of wine to continue the uE
,roarious merriment? No. Somethln
red and costlier-the CHASTITY, bleedln
head Of John the Baptist, the deaf
glare still in the eye, the locks dabble
with the gore, the features still dl'
tressed with the last agony I'M
woman. who had whirled SO GRACEFUL
den without a shudder. She gloa'
over the blood, and with as much II
difference as a waiting maid mlgf
take a trav Of empty glassware out {
the room after an entertainment, >
Tome carries the discovered head
John the Baptist, while all the ba
.-uueters shout with laughter, and thlr
it good joke that in SO easy and quo
a way they have got rid of an earne
and outspoken minister of the gospel
Well. there is no harm in blrthd;
festival. All the kings from Pharaot
time had celebrated such occasion
and why not Herod? No harm
kindling the lights. No harm
spreading the banquet No harm
arousing music. But from the riot a
vassail that closed the scene of tf
day every pure nature revolts.
not At this time to discuss the old gu
ton: Is dancing right or wrong? I
liz arr to discuss the question:: ID
dancing take too much place and
,cnnv too much time in modern socie
and in nv remarks | hope to carry w
ma the earnest conviction OF
ThOupnLIul c1ooho, e1-
will.
You will all admit, whatever J
xhinlx Of that style of amusement
exercise, that from many circles 1t
crowded out all intelligent CONVEX
tion. You will also admit that 1t
made the condition of those who
not dance. either becaure they do
know how, or because, they nave
the health to endure it, or beca7
through conscientious scruples, 7
must decline the exercise, very
comfortable. You will also adj
all Of you, that it has passed IN mi
eases from an amusement to dlss
tiOn.
Won are also willing to admit, w
ever be your idea in regard to
amusement I am speaking OF,
whatever be your idea of the old-f
tioned square dance and OF many OF
,nrocessional romps in which car
no evil. the round dance is adm
tratiye of evil and ought to De or
out Of all respectable circles al
natural temperament and relle
theory opposed to the position u
~ ali those who are Mortified at
fitness on the part of the young
who think that all questions ar
.;daaouestions of decency and