The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-05-04


reason Is either a fool or a coward, but
beloved. we are persuaded better things
of you and believe that you only need
meditation on this question to abandon
II altogether.
Does dancing tend to develop your
moral character? BE honest in your
study Of this matter. Can anyone
anywhere. that has been in constant
attendance In the dancing class take
an oath that the exercise in any de-
gree has done them any moral good?
Can he or she swear that II, has
strengthened his or her morals. inten-
sified their chastity and purityg Facts
published are to .he contrary. II any
of the other kind We're evident, there
would he no lack of funds 10 publish
them in the most elaborate form. The
dance directly tends to develop the hu-
man. carnal. sensual parts of our ma
ture. 1t puts our passions all ablaze. 1t
makes the human being more of an ami
NAL and less of a rational being every
time he enters the dancing class. No
man ar woman can or does go through
the exercises of the ball in the most ar
tistic manner without being improperly
aroused to u greater or less degree.
SOME STARTLING FIGURES.
Let me give you some figures. Pro-
fesscr Faulkner says 'twO-thirds of the
girls who enter dancing schools are
ruined before the year is out. The most
accomplished and most perfect dancers
are to be found among the abandoned
women. Why? Because they are grad
yates of dancing schools The chief of
police in New York has said that three
fourths Of abandoned girls in that city
Were ruined by dancing. II you doubt
it, let these girls speak for themselves.
In Los Angeles out of 200 cases investi-
gated of girls that are public prosti-
tutes. 1853 attributed their down.
fall directly to the dancing classes
and bathrooms. But why should we
hunt books for testimony, why should
we go to the Pacific coast in search of
witnesses? Listen to the warning Civ
en- by Mary Jane Lewis. of Luzerne
street. who died some two weeks ago.
Her deathbed confession vas that the
dancing class had ruined her. Yet, in
spite of these facts, some of our young
lcople risk their reputation and char
acter by going to these places. Some
young people think they are smarter
and cleverer than the majority of their
fellow beings. and consequently think
they can trifle with danger they are too
smart to be caught in the snare.
Il have known young men too full of
ego,'sm and selfconfidence 20 become
total absrainers. but have seen them in
spite of all their blufiing as drunk as
alcohol could make them. Mothers are
So confident that their daughters are
SO good and strong morally, that they
will never be entraDped. so they give
them liberty. but scores every year
have cause to regret their over-rated
c0nhGe nee % their daughters. Men as
good as tie best that breathe in Scran-
ton this evening have become confirmed
drunkards and have been buried in the
drunkard's grave. women as chaste,
pure and trustworthy as any in our city.
have fallen to the lowest depths of deg
radiation because of trifiing with sin.
Why should M. think ourselves bet
ter. and our children superior to- the
ordinary mortal? Wherefore let him
that thinketh he standeth lake heed
lest he fall Il Cor. X: ID. The best way
to stand is to keep away from slippery
places Do not risk your character for
the pleasures OF the ball. The further
you keep away the better and the safer
you are. There is nothing to elevate
you as a moral being in the
dance, but there is enough to de-
grade and debase. Do not play with
such dangerous amusements.
WILL DANCING HELP. ...
"Wil dancing help you to be better
Christians? | am speaking In particu-
lar to Christian young men and women.
What Is the tendency of the dance ON
your Christian life? Do you think that
your devotion to the principles OF re-
ligion and the welfare Of your soul
increases the Oftener you go to the pail.
or are you persuaded that it decreases
according to the fidelity with which You
attend the practices? II the latter be
true. 1t seems to be your duty to dis
continue the custom at once nave
not known any man or woman with Il
decidedly evangelistic spirit who ap-
proves OF the dance. We cannot be
faithful in the prayer meeting II we are
given to dance. And to say the least.
i think il is our duty not to NEEDLE
with anything that dimnishes the spirit
of our religion. No church can be u
spiritual .ower in community II a
large percentage of the members are
given to balls. They may WELD a pow
er, given them by society In virture OF
their wealth and status: but spiritual
power. they have none.
Dancing IL one thing and the spirit
of Chris. Is another thing totally diff
ferent. There is no sense In being Il
member of church and a dancing class
enough. The union of the two Is a mon
strosity. 1t is ridiculous that anyone
should think it possible to be Zealot
of the dance and the ballroom and at
the same time a prominent member of
the church of Christ Christ said II
was impossible to serve God and NAM
mon and to my view 1t Is greater i'm
possibility to be dancers and Christians.
why should we try it? II will be u
failure, your dance Or your religion will
have to go. they cannot live In the same
atmosphere. We have seen some of our
acquaintances trying the experiment,
and in every case 1t is a failure. Some
members Of the church on the West
Side have told their friends that they
were able to take part in PRAYER and
give their testimony as well as Others
before becoming frequent visitors of
the dance and other social gatherings
that meet on the Main street. Why
should We not profit and learn by the
experience of others?
WOULD CHRIST SANCTION IT.
"Would Christ sanction the dance and
the ballroom? | do not think even In
this age OF wild, broad and liberal views
of theology and religion that anyone
would say that Christ was dancer
| something's that are as untenable as
this would be. He in His teachings has
not given notice to this subject of dane
| ing. but we can take it for granted thai
| the tenor of His life was not in accord
ance with the dance. Christ has no use
| for a dancing maniac only Il subject
| of reform. If this be correct. why should
| the church tolerate it? | think tn,
church is responsible for many wild no.
| tions and customs of this age. 1t lacks
discipline. Parents are punished by
their own children for lack of discipline
They have had their own way. until II
is too late, and when the disobedien,
| boy or girl suffers they have to partici.
pate in their sufferings. Personally
| have no use for young people that car
frequent dances only as subjects of re.
form. They are Of no good to the
church. They lower it's reputation ant
in being allowed members they Civ,