The leader., 1901-10-23
aoRAL SIDE OF MODERN DANCING

MORAL SIDE OF MODERN DANCING.
When | received my credentials as a
minister, / understood that the Bible
author zed me to oppose sin in all its
forms, expose its every lurking place,
and warn men and women against the
very touch of its communicating infiu-
ence. Aud since in our secular papers,
time and again mention is made of
dances held in town and country, and
anon the select dancing school is ad-
vert:sed; with no word of warming
from the editors, | ask for space in
The LEADER to say just few things.
The word dance, counting all its
forms, occurs in the Bible thirty or
more times; but there are only seven
distinct accounts given in it of dane
ing, and in every one sin, shame and
disgrace is shown to be the immediate
result. While it is true that dancing
is mentioned in connection with re-
ligious rites, it is also true that both
sexes did not engage in it together as
men and women do now; and further,
that it was a custom among the
heather in that day aud formed
part of their idol worship.
But the Bible says there is "time
to dance" Yes; and the same chapter
says there is ''time to kill" so we had
rs we'll try to justify murder by the
teachings of the Bible as to try to jus
tify dancing. Further, some Bible
murder; then let US be careful how we
handle a two-edged sword Modern
dancing compares favorably with the
revellings mentioned by Paul in his
writings, and which he classes with
drunkenness, foundations and murders.
Indeed the Greek word from which
we get our word "reUeHings," means
jouidl festiUity uiH music and dan
cling.
According to the best information
accessible the modern dance had its or
igin in the beer gardens of Germany,
which were kept by licentious men
and indecent women; so that whatever
may be said in praise of the modern
fashionable dance, it's father was a
whoremonger and it's mother harlot.
But what made it fashionable? The
| infidel libertines of France saw in the
beer gardens of Germany means by
which they might seduce the respect
able but fashionable women of their
own country; hence, the dance was in
| PRODUCED in Paris; and whatever Paris
says is fashionable the world accepts
it. And we can see how near these
men came to accomplishing their pur-
pose when we turn to the statistics
and learn that more than two-thirds
of the children born in Paris are lille
Ultimate. The reason is obvious; the
brute passions of men being aroused
by close contact in the fashionable
dance, with the half nude forms of
the opposite sex.
To be perfect dancer a woman
must dress according to fashion, and
then yield the person entirely to the
embrace of her partner; and custom
requires her to treat all alike; SO that
the most innocent girl or woman is
thrown entirely into the arms of her
partner in the dance, be he what he
| If ha ic not oil 11y1 acYnila1 IF
virtue himself, or despoiler of
women, she is helping to make him
such by the consent that relinquishes
her person to his every guidance and
movement in the "maze of the waltz
and whether or not the mans or the
woman's or the souls of both are
blackened by the demon that lies
sleeping in every breast, they never
tell it to the world; but the results are
sure and certain and the effect as far
reaching as the infamy of man can go
from generation to generation.
Statistics show that three fourths
of the abandoned women in the
United States lost their virtue by at
tending dances. Then, fathers and
mothers, for your own sake for the
sake of the good name of your chill
dren, and for the sake of immortal
souls, keep dances away from your
homes, and your children away from
dances and dancing schools.
Respectfully,
l.. D. PoSEY.
| Cociaty Hill Miss