Deming graphic. (Deming, N.M.) 1903-1948, 1920-05-18
TAKING A CHANCE"

To dispute with Gods ministers on
tdItn, no matter now well or how III.
Informed they may be- is 10 he branded
an unbeliever-a hereto. Therefore
the Grapnic feels that 1t Is taking n
chance when II makes some Observa-
tons On the dOgmatlc assertions of the
Key. j. y. RedsOner IN his cUmmunca.
ton to the local press.
y Granting that this is an age OF spe-
clalists, we beg to dissent from the
opinion that preachers are necessarily
moral specialists We take il that
they chiefly are specialists in the doc
tnnes and practices Of the Christian
iengiun winch indicates that faith and
not scientific demonstration points the
way To salvation. Preachers haven't n
corner ON the science of ethics and
the Graphic, Tor one, believes that any
rational thinking man Is more capable
of distinguishing what Is good or bad
for himself than all the preachers in
the wide world Every man has been
created free moral agent. with CON
science and with reason to light his
way. To the preacher we will 20 for
our Plan of salvation aud yield us in
things spiritual. They are defend
erS Of the faith. Free peo-
pies and governments have long ago
CutgrOwn the idea that priests must
censor our laws. In other words we
decline, with thanks, the implied offer
Of the Rev. KeasOner to furnish us
with rcady-madc code of morals.
The Graphic agrees thoroughly with
the opinion that those who indulge In
the dance lose spirituality" Overeat.
ing will also lessen spirituality, not to
speak of "A hundred other social indul-
genceS that prevent Us from becoming
well acquainted with our souls and their
relation to God. Few who have never
danced or who dislike the dance take
the trouble to distinguish between
forms OF dances, proper ana improper.
No reasonable person can fail to OBJ
serve difference m dancing and IL
must he granted that some forms of
dancing are less evil than others. Ii
Is Il debatable question, to say the least.
II Is just possible that the teachers
may object to being classed with
preachers, in the sense Of being forced
to adopt their social standards Min
listers are cUnSecrated to God aud most |
Of them admit u definite call to the |
a great many of our young
women teachers are only pedagOgues /
until they may contract a proper mar |
worthy ambition. They would |
not, IL might be assumed, be 50 at |
tractive to possible lovers were they |
forced to adopt the ascetic way of living |
which many ministers affect. Why /
pick on the teachers! Try the bust
ness men or the society ladies-most OF /
them are parents Of children and ought 1
10 assume some responsibility for their
progeny.
In many cities dance Inspector, a
Of the police force, Is appointed
10 see that propriety. is observed ut
public dances. Why not 'legislate Inn
moral dancing out Of the community"Y
The Graphic will favor such reform
movement. The teachers have re-
'pOnsibility enough in attending TO the
work which they were hired 10 do.
The law now provides for the control
If public dances, as matter OF fact
The Rev. Reasoner asks: school pa
ron. has "A teacher with too little ini-
.iative TO plan a clean entertainment,
sufficient ability TO teach your little
,nesY Does the reverend gentleman
mean TO charge that we have teachers
hat do not have the initiative TO plan
clean entertainment. II so, the Graphic
An assure him that he Is uniformed.
MI OF the teachers have planned clean"
and consummated them
without dancing. il that Is what
: meant h. clean" Why not give
he devil his due? We win venture