The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1921-08-12
One of !ife's beautiful things is the

) One of LIES beautiful things is the
fellowship between young men anti
young women. When delicacy, mod
estv, reticence, characterize that re-
lation, it has upon it the radiance of
heaven. But familiarity stabs the
heart of that glory and grasses that
radiance.
The Modern Dance
What shall be said of the modern
dance? Some of you dance; c.hers
of you attend dances as spectators;
while all of US have either seen
something of the dances of this day,
or have heard the dance described.
No man wants to be fanatic on
anything, certainly not if he is at all
balanced in judgment. l am sure
do not! l also believe in the inalien-
able Christian right of private judg-
ment.
But the modern dance is positively
indecent. Even secular magazines
and commercial periodicals condemn
it. The "old-fashioned' dance is
passing, or has passed; it certainly has
passed in many circles. The modern
dance is disgustingly suggestive. The
dance has always been regarded as a
questionable amusement by the
Church of God. If this has been so in
the ages past how should it be regard
ed today? Instead Of throwing the
light OFF the dance, the light should
be THROWN ON!
Only a few weeks ago the mothers
of Atlanta were called to meet for
the sole purpose of considering the
evils attending the modern dance.
The Atlanta Journal, in commenting
on the meeting, said editorially: eve
are glad that at last some mothers
have been aroused to a consideration
of the terrible evils in the modern
l dance. The modern dance is indecent
and undermines that refinement of
feeling in our young people, without
which all will be lost.'
In Ashevlle dances have been for
bidden, and a public dance cannot
! ho hold IN that citU
I can present to you {. mass of ma
terial, gathered from every section
Of the country, with countless testi-
monies of women who have danced,
that the history of dancing has been
constantly and horribly evil.
How shall we save our young peo-
pie from the miasma of the modern
dance? 1t is filed with malarial poi
son; it is a deadly menace; it exudes
polluting eXhalations; it is destructive
of the finer sensibihties, and is ac-
companied by distressing dangers.
The modern dance is just as danger
Gus in Geffney as it is in the Latin
Quarter of Paris, in the tenderloin
of New York, and in Chicago.
Here is one voice: 80 Lord, re-
vive Thy work" And here is another,
in direct contradiction to this first
cry: "On with the dancep'
Multitudes of men and women,
caught in the whirl of excessive gale
ty, blind to the moral perils to which
they are exposing themselves, and So
Getty. are lightly and gayly cryin :,
"One more dance in defiance of the
hames."
Which Voice Shall Prevail?
Each of US faces the question as a
personal one, (Which voice shall pre-
vail?" Our only hope is in God. No
league or association Of nations Will
avail anything, unless the hearts of
men have been touched by the hand
Of God. Neither is there personal
safety for you and Tor me and Tor
our families, unless this shall be So
God is our hope, our refuge, our
strength. Shall we not approximately
supplicate:
90 Lord, revive Thy work in the
midst of the years;
In the midst Of the years make
known;
In wrath remember mercy"
On every hand there are evidences
Of broken commandments, of slight
est virtue, and a daspised God. The
wrath" of God can but make for dis
tress of soul! But God is most merci-
full! He will hear our cry,-if we
cry. In wrath" He will remember
mercy"
"Let the people pray to Thee,
o God, let all the people pray
to Thee. Then shall Thy mercy be
revealed in the midst of the tumult,