Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1922-02-16
REV. MOORE ON
PRESENT DANCE
Tendency of 1t Has Been Ever
Downward Until 1t Has Now
Hit the Bottom, States Pastor

Rev. w. w. Moore preached Sun
day evening on the subject, Should
the High School Encourage Dancing?'
the speaker said in part:
"I have been approached so many
times recently by parents who were
being embarrassed and bothered by
the high school dance that have
been impressed by the injustice of
the situation and therefore this SER
mon. What / say is not intended as
an impeachment of local high school
authorities nor faculty but rather
of the high school dance as an in
stitution. which is altogether too
common through out the state.
"The tendency of the dance has
been ever downward until it hasknow
hit the bottom. The old time min
uette was displaced by the quadrille,
that was overshadowed by the vol
uptous waltz which has been displac-
ed by the, modern indecent perfor
nance that makes the waltz in COM
parison Sunday school picnic.
"The waltz was originated by a
Frenchman who was a libertine who
outraged his own sister and caused
her death. Who was infamous to in
vent the modern dance no one seems
to know.
"My proposition. is this,-thatE a.
dignified institution built and main
tanned for highest ends, is entirely
out of it's sphere when it lendseit-
self to the fostering of the dance.
II feel that in some respects that
the high school is our most impor-
tant institution of learning. 1t opens
more doors to the youth of our land
than another school It takes the
young when but children and turns
them back to the home and society
with sufficient equipment to assure
them useful citizenship. There ais
no more potential period in the life
of human being than that covered
by the days of high school. It is a
mighty serious thing for the high
school to endorse and foster. an insti-
tuition as questionable as the danes.
'It is unfair to the young in that
they have not the .matHred judg gelaankaE
for the relationships involved in the
intimacies and contacts of the dance.
The argument is made that the young
might better dance in the high school
than elsewhere. Very true, but the
fact is if they did not dance there the
vast majority would not dance at all.
The high school dance creates bad
habit instead of meeting a need.
"The high school dance is eminently
unair to the young people who for
their own or their parents conscience
do not dance and are considered wall
flowers or molly coddles. What right
has the schools to make martyrs of
young people who have been taught
the harmful tendencies Of the dance? :?
''The school laws are rigidly just
in regard to religion and fully pro-
| tects the school against the enroach-
ment of any church. A school house
! can be used for religious meetings
only when all the taxpayers are
agreed. Even the Bible has been
turned out of Wisconsin schools But
why turn the Bible out and put the
dance in? Is this fair to the many
taxpayers who pay their money for
educational purposes and lament the
fact that their children have thrust
upon them the thing his conscience
condemns.
But it is not fair to the church to
have the high school endorse and fos-
ter dancing. The church is the best
| friend of the school. The church and
the school are the twin pillars of our
| civilization, and should work togeth-
err do not know of a pastor who
does not consider the dance as detri-
mental to the spiritual welfare Of the
youth of his church.
There are plenty of other places
people can dance who wish. But this
| institution is today under heavy in
| dictment from churches, policemen
! and even dancing masters themselves.
! The Bible was put out of the public
! school because we were not all Bible
| folks, and there is no argument for
putting the dance in for we are not all
dancing folks. My plea is for justice
to the church and the people who op-
pose the dance"