The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1913-05-12
PUBLIC DANCES
LEAD TO EVIL
Continued From sth Page.


these in developing those qualities {
mind and heart that make for IN
highest type of character | wish sim
! ply To protest against the introductio
into our school activities of those prac
tees which are contrary TO other ideal
set M In the homes and church life q
so many OF our young people. And i
this protest ! am not assuming To die
tate in the least as 10 what any paren
shall teach his child about these popu
lar amusements, IL parents wish thei
Ichildren 10 learn Ia dance. il they wis
10 assume the responsibility for sucl
n course Of training there are plent,
Iot dancing teachers and dancing
schools. let them patronize these 1
they must hut let them not involv,
other pupils in such a course who's,
parents have eeen teaching them 9TH
cTSise. Furthermore il these parents
desire or are willing that their sons
and daughters should attend the publ,
halls there certainly are enough oi
these advertised each week To satisfy
! the most ambitious patron of tn.
dance without asking that these ques-
tionable affairs be introduced into the
class functions of our high school.
But Why put a stumbling block un.
necessarily in the path or any of our
Young people who have been taught
Why not arrange for so-rial gatherings
in our public schools in which all can
share without being untrue Ia CON
science Certainly oar efficient corps
OF school teachers could devise plans
of entertainment that would be sane
ana wholesome and At the same time
fun Of interest. The most sacred
thing that any boy or Girl holds or can
hold is a conviction Of right OF wrong
1t is this which lies at the basis Of all
purity and strength Of character, that
which marks the difference between
men Of the stamp al Joseph and Dan
lei ana John The Baptist and thar of
an Esau, an Achan and a Judas, he
tween men like Gladstone ana Lincoln
and our President Wilson and such as
oscar Wilde. Benedict Arnold and IIar-
ry n. Thaw. And no greater injury
or wrong can he done TO any man than
TO break down his convictions through
an overmastering temptation, for 1t de-.
stroys moral distinctions and leaves
the man weak and a prey TO all sorts
Of evil.
mo Wondc, that the Master used
such strong language concerning those
who cause his little ones Ia stumble
saying that IL were profitable for
them 10 have n mill stone hung about
their necks and Ia he sunk i'm the depth
IF the sea. | am perfectly well aware
that some people are narrow in their
ideas. are very scrupulous in matters
~ small as 'aEise and cumin and have
very faulty conceptions Of right and
wrong. Eut however narrow ones
ideas, however wrong his conception II
what is true or false, Ia break down
these convictions ruthlcssly, 10 en-
iure people to do what in their inner
they think To he wrong
is 10 do them an iIreparablc injury.
paving the way to trampling under
loot all convictions, the ruin of noble
character. The only way tn save ones
and yet 10 change his at
Litude in reference 10 certain prac-
Ices is In remain true to his convic-
lions while at the same time he has
IN open mind To the larger clearer
light that may he given him.
Now these high school dances FUR
ash temptations ot unusual strength
10 those Young people who have been
brought up To think these dances
wrong. After years of associatinG ~
he same class the desire TO have =
'hare in all tho class affairs becomes
'ery strong. Most OF our high school |
pupils will never graduate from any |
higher institution of learning, and II |
hey de- have that privilege. no grad
iating exercises will ever mean M
nus II 10 them as those connected with !
he high school. Those are great days |
or them and the desire 10 have II
hare in all the final affairs of their |
~ becomes almost over mastering. |
young people who have never thought |
hey NAV have a share in the Junior |
Top and having once learned II ~
asy to accept other invitations ~
anccs ia the after days. lthinS ! am
evealng no secrets when | say thar
crtain young people in our Sunday
chool would not take upon themselves
mr. church vows because they wanted
q have a share In the high school
ancc This year
What the later decisions of these
DUNG people concerning the church
nay be cannot tell hut I do know
hat these school dances become occa-
ions Of temptation which most young
eople are unable Ia bear"