The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-01-27
BELIEVES IN DANCE.
Clergyman Regards 1t an In
fiuence for Morals.
PLANS FOR DANCING CLASSES
Rev. MIR. Edwards, of Milwaukee,
Would Install Billiards and Pool
and Make His Parish House Social
Center-NO Trouble Entertaining
Young People il There's a Dance.

The establishment Of dancing classes as
"a par, Of the parish work OF ST. James
Church, the opening Of q coffee room, with
billiard and pool tables IN the parish
house, for the benefit of young men every
evening in the week. and the addition Of
cooking classes to the industrial school
now conducted by the women OF the
parish are advocated by the Rev. Fred
erick NJ, Edwards as incidental TO his de-
sire 10 make the church parish house
center or social activity for the neighboT-
hood, says the Milwaukee Sentinel
The suggestion that the establishment
Of dancing classes in connection with the
church work might be desirable was
merely incidental 20 our desire to get the
best possible service out Of our parish
house, and to make II a strong social fac
tor in the neighb0rhoOd, said the Rev.
Mr.. Edwards. Personally, / am great
believer In dancing. although / do not
dance myself My people did not believe
in Il, and ! never learned. / do believe
in dancing, and think it has high cultural
value
Il have had dancing classes IN connec-
ton with every church which ! have
served as rector, and while I do not know
just what the demand for such classes
is here, / think conditions should be in
vestigated and the classes started If the
need warrants it. Ny first parish was in
a shoe town in Massachusetts, and the
establishment OF a dancing class for the
young men and the young women there
actually solved the entire social problem
FOR the church. We had about fifty young
men from the shoe factories, andeit was
| a problem how 10 entertain them for
social evening. A concert would do once
in a while, but they were awkward, bash
ful, and difficult 90 interest until we
started the dancing class. After that Il
was easy. At Maiden we had large
dancing club, and held parties regularly.
Thinks Dancing Uplifting.
Il consider dancing moral, beautiful,
/ elevating entertainment The response Of
the spirit 10 the influence Of beauty comes
as a natural consequence Of the rhythmic
motion Of the entire body TO music. It
/ provides a pleasing and satisfying outlet
for the desire for pleasure. and it teaches
grace. courtesy. and an appreciation o.
the right relation Of the sexes. Dancing
I parties. properly conducted. cannot fail 10
stimulate a love for the beautiful and
/ the taste Of the people for beauty and
culture is constantly reaching higher
standards There are SO many fine pic
lures, SO many theaters. and so many cut
tured agencies contributing to this re-
suIt that il is inevitable.
It believe ia teaching children TO dance.
The dancing class is an invaluable school
/ of manners. II is far more moral and
elevauEg 20 teach a young boy how TO
approach his girl friends properly. to ask
them 70 dance courteOusiy, and TO join
with them happily 10 this innocent and
stimulating pleasure than /. is 10 leave
/ him. awkward and uuiutsrested, 10 hang
around the doors while adults are dane
I ing. or 70 indulge ia ngainly and profit
! less games. and slide around the floor
/ awEWardly
I 4 suggested the desirability Of such
I classes at the Sunday morning service, In
/ cident8l % the announcement OF "a dane
/ ing party. I have been told since that
I there is no special need for such classes
/ in this parish. as there are so many
! dancing schools for the children. II may
/ be-. however. that the cost is prohib.,iye
/ 20 the poor children. and in that event
I I believe the parish house might be used.
/ II has every facility for the work, hav-
/ ing one of the best dance halls IN the
/ city.
should BE social Center.
In fact. the parish house is admirably
/ equipped for all the lines of work which /
should Ike 10 see established in IT,
do not know Of a parish house in the
/ country which is the equal of ST James
( i'm the completeness Of its equipment
/ There is nothing Ike it In Boston. I
/ believe it should be put to practical use.
II costs us $l.5o0 a year to maintain it,
and it ought to be utilized for the gen
eraI good 1t is near the heart Of the
/ city close to the street. and, with the
needed money and workers, might be
made social center
/ "One thing which I would Ike to see
/ established is q coffee room and resort
| for young men. There is plenty Of room
/ for the establishment Of a readins-rOom,
for billiard and pool tables. a place where
men could drop in for the evening any
night I'm the week. smoke as they liked.
read the paper. play a game or so, and
/ get a cup Of coffee and a sandwich or
/ a doughnUt. There are saloons enough
which are made attractive. Il seems as
/ if. though. one church establishment of
/ the kind might hll a need.