Huntsville gazette., 1894-04-07
BIRMINGHAM NOTES,
Dan ncing and Church Balls
immigration Convention.

! IIllniST dIlOn convention.
Editor Gazette:
1t might be interesting to your
many readers to know what the peo-
pie of the Magic City are thinking
about and doing. To say the least
the people have a great deal of en-
ergy, push and business tact, and if
they didn't have these qualities 9ir
mingham would soon burn them up.
The people here cer ainly know how
to look out for No. 1. We find here
as elsew lere some most excellent
and noble hearted people.
For the last two months the fol-
lowing subjects have been freely dis
cussed by the church ard literary
people; First, dancing and church
balls. This theme has created more
gossip, dissention and sensation for
the past months than any other.
The two factions have been the min
listers and churches on the one hand
and the teachers and their friends
on the other. The ministers have
opposed dancing and church balls
and the teachers and lovers of dance
have defended it. This state of af>
fairs has existed for some time, but
when certain church gave a ball
for the purpose of raising money, it
brought the matter to a climax. 1t
was then necessary to have a mass.
meeting and fully discuss the matter
in the presence of the people. This
was done and satisfactory results
have been reached. At the mass :
meeting it is said that there were
thirty-three ministers present and
as unit they denounced dancing in
no uncertain sounds. 1t was seen
that the preachers had the churches
with them and it was The sense of
the meeting to exclude from the
churches members who danced. 1t
was also thought that those teachers
who danced and defend dancing are
unfit to be instructors and leaders of
the young. Il must be said as a
matter Of fact and fairness that all
the teachers do not dance nor en-
courage it. Some IF the m are OPP
posed to it and took bold and decid :
ed stands against it.
The meeting went so far as to ap>
point com nittee to wait on the
school authority concerning the
teachers dancing, etc. After two
excellent papers were read by Revs.
Green and Bant)n and several
speeches by others it was the sense
Of the meeting that tie following
reasons given by DR.. Banton were
sufficient for christians and ministers
to oppose the fashionable dance.
/. 1t has no scriptural warrant
for the practice.
2. Because such references to
dancing for mere amusement as are
contained il the scriptures are con-
demnatory Of the dancers.
3. Because the modern dance in
spires unholy devotions, and leads
to de3oy Of moral principles in the
innocent young.
4. Because it is difficult for mar
ried persons to engage in it without
at least the indulgence of evil
thoughts.
5 Because, "it is the favorite
amusement of the lowest society,"
6. Because it dares to establish
rules which cannot be permitted in
decent society beyond the precincts
of the dance hall,
Z. Because by the association of
acts and ideas incident to its pursuit
it is opposed to christianity.
Unless make my notes too long
proceed with the second point
Second I'm migration Convention.
This convention met here last
Wednesday. 1t was thought at first
10 have been called to consider the