The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1894-11-12

tantlveIy 70 the sermon Oh sue phttots
Rev. W. Il. Hayden. on "fhe modern
dance; Is It right and should Christians
engage in il |" Tho speaker took mega
tive stand on the question, and gave q
powerful illustration of his yieWA Mr..
Hayden said:
The position OF the church Of Christ
on this important question has moth
ing to do with what others think OF 1t.
The question is only this: Is 1t right
or Is il wrong? II right uphold, advo.
cate and practice It II wrong con.
demn and osChew IL always and for
ever.
Some things are known to be wrong
intrinsically-profanity. lying, stealing,
murder, etc.. are obviously wrong.
Some things are wrong, or become so,
because OF association. Some things
are known to be wrong by reason Of
their antecedents and results. We can
not, In full justice, consider this ques-
ton as wrong for the first reason,
neither Ia 1t necessarily and always
wrong for the second reason.
So In considering the important and
live question in general and In the abb
stract we must place its consideration
under the last heading. The apologist
for the dance asks us there any harm
in dancing2" as there any harm in
the mere act?" An act apart from its
antecedents and results is nothing An
illustration: The vibrations Of the
tongue, there is nothing in the mere
act, it's right or wrong depends whether
1t be in praise or blasphemy. 10 bring
this subject fully before you, commit
the following syllogism and | will in
trodrce it with this self evident truth:
mo one has right to do wrongW this
needs no proof, we might as we'll call
white black, as to call wrong right, and
It ia as obviously erroneous to declare
one has right to do wrong.
The sylloeIsm is this: Firat, anything
that jeopardizes the physical, mental
or moral welfare OF society, home or OF
the Individual Is wrong. p
Second-Tho modern dance does all
this.
Therefore dancing is wrong.
The first premise ia evident, true and
stands unchallenge1. The second we
prove BY the examination OF Eve wit
nesses, which you will please impeach
or accept their testimony.
First-What We observe-People who
practice this worldly pleasure are not
habitual attendants at the divine ser.
vices, workers in the prayer meetings,
Christian Endeavor or Sunday school.
They are not students OF Gods word,
nor found frequently in devotlons at
the throne OF grace, etc.
Second-What people say-"Dancing
means spiritual bankruptcy" Judge
Q. ]. schofield, OF Illinois, in one
OF his eloquent lectures before the
Illinois state encampment, said: "Tell
a lady she is a graceful dancer and
she smiles and thanks you for the com.
pliment. Tell her she Is easily Rugged
and she is deeply insulted and bitterly
offended" Again says the Judge: let
a parent discover his daughter with
a gentleman in a parlor upon the sofa
in the very same position as is occupied
In the dance and the young man would
be hastily assisted in his exit never to
return and it would furnish material
enough for frst-class bonfire in the
way OF scandal"
At this you blush, and indeed you
should, but II we have been raising and
nourishing an animal We dare not name
or practicing an art we dare not describe
IT'S tlme We knew 1t. It cannot be pos.
sible any in my large and cultured
audience have practiced what they
blush to hear me name and describe.
Third Historical Witness Tho
waltz was invented Just hundred and
seven years ago. AS might have been
guessed or prophesled before hand, it
was born of the licentious stage, and is
twin sister OF the ballet This amorous
and gyratory hugging was first seen In
Vienna theatre, December 20, 1877, and
for time 1t was thought too indecent
to DO tolerated anywhere else. After a
time, however, 1t was introduced into
houses OF doubtful repute, and finally
into German society. For long time
even Paris resisted the licentious liber.
tinism OF the thing, and 1t was not I'M
til tho present century that 1t became
fashionable"
Fourth-Oficial records-A Roman
Catholic bishop OF New York says that
"the work oil the confessional revealed
the fact that nineteen out OF every
twenty women who fall can trace tho
beginning OF their sad state to the mod
ern dance" Tho chief OF police OF New
York CITY says that "three.fourths OF
the abandoned girls in that city. were
ruined by dancing" Young ladies
allow gentlemen privileges in danclngfor
which, If taken under any other circum-
stances, these gentlemen would be re.
ported as improper persons. Alcohol
Ia the spirit OF Intoxicating beverages.
So sex Is the spirit OF the dance; take 1t
away and let the sexes dance separately
and dancing would go out OF fashion
very soon. :,
Tho fifth and last witness examined
in proof OF tho question was the Word
OF God. The Apostle Paul mentions
reveIiugs among tho fruits OF the flesh.
Tho great word, "Komoi," translated
"reyelings," Ia defined by tho Greek
lexicon to DO nocturnal revel, lasciv-
Gus feasting and reveling with songs
and music" Tho Bible many times
mentions the dance; sometimes as an
instrument OF music. and many times
as a practice. But never. We believe.
whom the sexes danced together. and
never In approval as a worldly pastime
or pleasure-but abundantly condemns
II in such passages as "Let your light so
shine" etc.. "Be not coniormed to this
world" "Abstain from all appearance
OF evil"
"Whatsoevor 20 do In word or decd do
all In the name OF tho Lord Jesus, Civ
ing thanks to God aud tho Father by
him."
'Finally, brethren, whatsoever things
are truo, honest, just, pure, lovely and
az nnnl rnnnrL-if thnrn BIO my virtue