Year: 1860

Dnncing-The Clergy on il.


Particular attention seems to be called of
late to the polite amusement of dancing
and the clergy having spoken on the sub
ject with q degree of freedom, others nave
not been backward in expressing their opin
ions also, on the topic. One of our divines
took occasion, a Sunday or two since, to
discourse on amusements, and III the course
of a sermon of marked ability let fall a few
sentences the import of which has been
over and over again given from the pulpit
quite as Extensively, but which grated on
the ears and lodged on the hearts of some
of the reverend gentleman's hearers. Some
little feeling, not deep rooted CT lasting we
opine, has been created in consequence of
the unpalatable remarks, and vent has been
given to the feeling in words.


Free speech is prerogative, of American
freemen, and while we accord it to the critic
of sermons, we should respect the right in
the sermonizer. The minister in the pulpit
should be honored for speaking rather than
for assembling his real sentiments. For
our own part, we had rather feel that
speaker is uttering his honest convictions,
though radically differing from ours, than
our own sentiments which we knew he did
not hold. Opinions that are wrong are to
be respected when honestly entertained.


In the late address on dancing, it will be
admitted that the reverend gentleman was
in advance of his class in liberality. Few
occupants Of the pulpit will countenance
dancing at al, under any circumstances,
while he was understood to offer no objec
tions to the exercise when conducted SO as
not to infringe the laws of health, or to the
detriment of good morals. This is certainly
an admission lovers Of the dance are glad
to receive, for no one is SO low as to be in
different to public opinion, and particularly
the opinion Of so respectable class of our
fellow citizens as the clergy. If the minis
ters of religion are not adverse to our
amusements, not one of us but will say, so





an eye to our moral and physical health,
should see fit to open our eyes to the evils
of late hours, badly ventilated rooms, ILL
assorted companies, etc, surely we should
not take that amiss also. If one of the class,
not having personal knowledge of what
he speaks, but deriving his opinions from
books or those whom our better practical
knowledge would not admit to testify,
should happen to arrive at the same est
mate of fancy dances that so great genius
as Lord Byron did, we ought TO be tolerant
enough to place the error, if any there be,
to the proper source The minister should
not be wholly condemned for entertaining
an opinion at variance with our own, nor
for expressing it boldly. The questions we
may proitably ask ourselves before passing
a final verdict are-Is preaching necessary?
and if so, what are the chances of obtain
ing a parson abier in knowledge and with
opinions on all subjects more nearly assim-
Hated to our own, than the one we now
have? When these are answered perhaps
we may conclude to pick flint and try it
again


The foregoing observations arc called out
by a particular case, but we are mistaken if
they de not find application very frequently
in our intercourse with the pulpit gencr-
ally.