The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-06-20
DEFENDS ADANCINGF FLOCK
PASTOR soUDDER FINDS BIBLI0AL
LICENsE THE PIsTLME

he OverFpiea Metheaist Elders, Ohlsatisn ts
Dancing At the Jsint Church EHoursisn
and breaches n Special sermsn e EKpIain
His Actisn-wm Dance when Cuba's Free.
There was dancing at the joint excursion Of
the First Congregational and West Side NJ. E.
churches Of Jersey City on Saturday, despite tho
protests Of the Methodist Church elders. Tho
Rev. DR.. John L. Scuddsr of the Congregational
Churchsdeclared for dancing and had his way.
Last night he defended his action in u sermon
en-: rs Dancing q Sini' He said in part:
Dancing has existed among all nations,
and there is psychological basis for this amuse-
ment. 1t is the outward expression OF internal
oxhilaration Of spirits.=A happy child skips TO
school, for walking 10 too prosaic for her state of
mind. Nature was the first dancing. master.
If an organ grinder appears upon the street.
little children. who know nothing of a tWo-step
or q waltz, originate dances of their own. They
dance because they love music and are happy.
The word dance In Hebrew means to lean for
joy. The lame man healed by Peter danced
and praised God at the same time. Miriam
led Off in the dance when the Israelitos crossed
the Rcd Sea and escaped from Pharaoh. when
David killed Goliath there was universal danc-
ing, and when Cuba Is free from Spanish tyr
amy l shall feel like dancing myself.
After a good revival meeting, fruitful in
conversions, Lyman Beocher used to dance
about his house to the music of his own violin.
When the prodigal son repented and returned
they celebrated the occasion with music and
dancing. and at tho wedding at Cana / have no
doubt our Lord looked upon the dancing of the
young people with u favoring suile. l can see
no sin in dancing. On the contrary, 1t is a
graceful amusement, and perfectly proper II
kept within reasonable bounds. 1 see ne reason
why Christian should pot dance. II they dance
with proper company In proper places at proper
| cal sanction for the diyarRiO0. Let the chill.
dren OF Zion DO joyful In their King; let Thorn
praise HIS name In the DANCE From which l
such a character that you can Elorify God in it's
performance, dance all you please. Dance so az
to maintain your self-resPect and purity of
Now, having admitted that dancing is harm
t tons. / viii n MnSa these 6eSs limitatioas sA'TT The FIR nrst
relates to time; Young people should observe
daytime, and In the open air. This is why | be-
where the breczes Of heaven fan the cheeks OF
o1yGon. This dancing after midnight is unhy.
Eienio and contrary to nature. We are not
into day and day into night. There Is a time to
dance, and in my Judgment 1t is not later than
a c1 n; M; a. I sec 3 : no n reason iDs1,S why u Parties I'll 10 esn not
arc growing too stylish for our own good. Tho
The aecond limitation concerns tho manner
ton and requires plainness of speech. a man
should hold his partner at q respectful distance,
using his arms to steady and guide her, and tho
women should see that these instructions arc
adhered. to by the men. No greater liberties
should be allowed upon the floor than else.
Where. When dancing degenerates into peri
patetic ~hugGing, IL becomes q disRraceiu and
sometimes a dangerous pastime. Public en-
bracings are indicate, and no true woman will
allow her partner to hold her too closely. Her
native sense OF propriety will tell her where to
draw the line.
THE third limitation is to be careful where
and with whom YOU dance. Contiue this amuse-
ment as much rs possible to the home circle
and personal acQuaintances. Public balls and
dancing pavilions at irresponsible picnic
grounds, where young women trust themselves
to the arms OF mon they never met before, are
pernicious in the extreme: Pleasure Is q legiti-
mate pursuit. but beware lost the love Of pleas
ure drive out the love OF God"