DANCING AND RAFFLING.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17451, 11 May 1922, Page 2

DANCING AND RAFFLING.

ATTITUDE OF CHRISTCHURCH PRESBYTERY.

At ite monthly meeting, yesterday,) the Cluistshurch Presbytery went into oommittee to discuss the attitude ol the Church towards dancing as fin adjunct to churdh life. After the read-, ing and unanimous adoption of the re-1 port on the matter, the Rev, J. Paterson moved that the report be given to the newspapers for publication, and the motion was carried unanimously. The report was as follows: — "The question of the attitudie to dancing which should be adopted by congregations and members of the bytorian Churdh having been brougn-' before this Presbytery, the Presbytery resolves as follows: — "(1) The practice of dancing, either alone or with- those of the opp°si»« sex not being expressly forbidden o discountenanced in the Word of t»oi, the attitude of Christian people to it must, in accordance with the principles of Christian liberty, be left to the individual conscience. The bytery would, however, urge upon all members and adherents of the congregation;. within the bounds that in tnis matter the rule may well be considered that while 'all things are lawful, all things '.n-n not expedient, ana al3:> the duty of considering the brother. Dancing is not helplul to BT>iritual life, "mid while many, or most, may indulge in it without mucn harm, it certainly awakens in so.no an emotional - excitement tending to the weakening of moral restraint, ana so constitutes a physical and morn danger. Many of the popular modem dances, further, are vulgar and indecorous, exhibiting neither grace o motion nor beauty of rhythm, find tend to break through the ivserve whitih wisely .should be observed in the relationship of the sexes. These, both from the artistic and moral point of view, should bo discountenanced. "(2) In regard to dancing at church social functions, tlie Presbytery earnestly requests congregations to refrain from it as an offence to many Christian people and a possible source of moral danger to some who indulge in it. The business of th® Churdh, in any case, is not to be a. purveyor of amusements to th© community. ~ , . '•(3) Tho Presbytery particularly deprecates the raising of money for church purposes by means of dances, as beneath the dignity and insmtiftj; to the sncredness of the duty laid upon us as members of _ the Church o" Jesus, to worthily maintain the ordinances of religion by offering freely to the Lord of our subst!.nce. . "(4) The Presbytery instructs nil ministers and home missionaries within the bounds to read the above deliverance to their congregations. -Raffling and Gambling. Later in the meeting the Rev. T. G. Butler brought up the matter of the holding of raffles at church functions. Mr Butler stated the question ot gambling was a very important- one. There a lot of gambling at church bazaars and guessing competitions which were practically gambling. The speaker said he could makey if he, so desired, depressing statements concerning the stite of affairs in certain districts. The Church' might be scoffei. at and scorned because of so-called narrow-mindedness, but some definite attitude must be taken, tip. It woul.l be a benefit to mariy congregations u the Presbytery could give some guidance in tlie matter. He moved that the special attention of the congregu-. tion.= should be drawn to the report of the life and work oommittee of the General Assembly on the subject of gambling. , , . ~ 'The motion was seconded by tho Rev. J. Paterson. Dr. Erwin stated that there were definite decisions in the laws of the Church against raffles. It was suggested that the Commit, tee which had prepared the report on dancing should report on tho subject of gambling. - . , The Rev. J. Paterson said that he did not wish to investigate into subtle casuistry as to what was gambling and what was riot gambling. Dr. Erwin said there was a question of skill in such matters as weightguessing. A house-wife could judge the weight of a cake very accurately. The" Rev. J. V. Jacobson said there might be iv certain amount of skill among certain of those who _ entered for a competition, but the main motive was cupiaity—a, desire •to get something at a small fraction of its value. The Rev. W. Tanner said that there was no question of the undesirability of raffles. He would not be minister of a church which countenanced them. The Rev. W. H. Howes said that many people took part in raffles merely '"to get rid of the dear little girl that comes round for the money." The matter was not so bad when the f-n----trance fee approximated to the value of the article raffled. In his opinion, ( however, it would be better if the whole thing were abolished. The Rev E. W. Walker said that there were too many special efforts to raise money in the present day instead of the old method of straight-out giving. t l)r. Erwin said that the Assembly had already given a general order on the matter. He deprecated so much talk of the preva.ence of raffling in the Church. He thought that it was infinitesimal. It was stated that the practice was common in the country. Dr. Erwin said it might be so in a particular district, but in his experience it was not general. The Rev. N. O. White said that the Church must take a strong stand** on the matter. If raffling was ever countenanced, he woulA. "get out!- ol the Church. In reply, Mr Bufler said that in connexion with weight-guessing there was no skill on the part of many who entered while these who had skill merely backed their own judgment against that of the others. The motion was carried unanimously.