The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1898-01-29
DANCING IN THE CHURCH.
A startling ingbvation by the Rec.
tor of an Episcopal Church.

| Tor OF an Episcopal Chur ch.
New York. Jan. 29.-The Rev. Dr.
+. L. Stoddard. rector or the fashiona-
Die Episcopal Church of st. John, in
Jersey City, has started a class in
dancing. Every Thursday evening the
basement OF the church is packed with
young men and young women, who
may be seem unal midnight dancing
merriiy TO the strains OF an Italian or
chestra III
DR.. Stoddard's announcement has
caused a tremendous sensation in
| church circles, and it vas feared that
| the feeling of opposition would be so
| strong that he would be compelled to
| abandon his resolution. But although
| IL was only week or two ago that DR..
! Stoddard made his first intimation TO
| the public that he would start a class
| in dancing, he says all opposition has
| been blown away and that he is fairly
swamped with applications for mem
| bership.
| 1t has been DR.. Stoddard's contention
| that If we want our young people TO
come to church, the place must be
| made attractive to them, and in the
second place, that no popular amuse-
ment or pastime is in itself wrong or
! harmful il kept free of evil association.
1t is DR.. Stoddards belief that as these
| amusements have become popular they
| must be of necessity what the people
! really want and that if we remove
| abuses more good than harm will be
| derived from taking advantage of these
amuSements.
This is the plan pursued by DR. Stod-
dard: Every one who wants TO learn 10
dance or if he is already familiar with
the art and wants to have an enjoyable
| hop at small cost in respectable COM
| pany sends his name and address 10
| Dr. Stoddard who will investigate the
applicant to see that his habits are
such as 10 fit him for the society or the
young women of his exclusive parish,
and the same way with the appilca-
tions of young women wishing 10 JOIN
1t was DR.. Stoddard's original plan
to limit the number OF the dancing
class to sixty, and have one meeting
every week, but such a swarm Of appli-
cations has poured in upon him that
he has decided to place the limit at 40,
and, if possible, have TWO evenings eN-
cry week. The evening at present set
aside for holding the dancing sessions
is Thursday. After every applicant
has paid his 10 cents per lesson in ad-
vance for one month, he has the ser
vices of one Of the best-known dane
ing masters in Jersey City, assisted by
five young men and five young women,
members of the church, who are adept
in the art.
All kinds of dances are taught, from
the ordinary Saratoga lanciers up to
the quadrille waltz, and various fancy
dances. Refreshments are served ev-
cry evening when the dancing class
meets, and it is the intention to hold
regular hops once every month.
DR. Stoddard is not a young man
looking for not0riety. His innovation
is the outcomef If. conviction pure and
simple He has been pastor of St
Johns Episcopal Church for twenty
one years. He is middle-aged man of
genial temperament, is a well-read stu
dent and an orator of more than aver
age ability. His church has among its
members some Of the wsalthiest and
most aristoCratic'people Of Jersey City
DR.. Stoddard has already won fame
through his founding the Cosmopolitan
club some three years ago. This is an
organization which encourages the
coming together of capitalists and
workingmen for the purpose of ex-
changing views on political questions.
Speaking Of his innovation, DR.. Stod-
dard said: ..I
Ny belief ia a'nutshell is: Give the
young people the, amusements they
want: give them to them without the
moral perils which attend them. if they
are plunged into indiscriminately. and
you VIII ind that the church will be
hlled with a brighter. happier holier
and more trustworthy young element
than You can bring into the church in
any other way